Help, calm me. House buying and selling stress

Oh no I had said about the windows. Groundhog day!

I hate being alone too mosaics. Today I just wanted to hammer 3 x 6` tall metal poles for 3 standard gooseberries that are arriving soon. I hammered, first one went in a foot and thud, same for second one and the third went in 2 feet and again a thud and my heart sank

I have spent the last 2 days on hands and knees again, on a small bit of garden in the front because I hit builders rubbish a few inches below the soil they put back, only it was not just stones down there but something like sticky compacted render, full of stones, many of which were large and flat, so rainwater could not drain. 2 full aching days for the small front patch

My heart sank when I had those thuds today. I had to excavate and all 3 areas had that massive amount of very compacted goo and very big stones, this time 12" down, so I spent the whole of today on my belly going deeper and deeper, clearing ground for precious plants. I kept seeing my husband with a crowbar and ok I have ordered something similar because I have to make homes for at least 12 more fruit trees and bushes as well as 6 roses. I wish it was not just me, I wish it was husband and me working together

Why oh why all this penny pinching from builders? I would gladly have paid the cost of a couple of skips, rather than them burying everything that would cost money to take away. k rend is what was buried and it is acrylic and like plasticine boulders under the soil. In the front it was k rend, massive stones and concrete. The big heavy machines went back and forth over all of it and the ground has no structure, it is so compacted. When I have time I will have to excavate between the trees and shrubs but this month I need to do individual places just for the plants, which will start arriving in 4 weeks

Mosaicwarts and Craftyone. It sucks not having your husband but don't you think they would be proud of all things you are both doing on your own. I know mine would be. My kids didn't think I would cope on my own. But I didn't want to be a worry to them. They tell me all the time they are proud of me and their Dad would be to.
I have to laugh at myself sometimes about the silly little things that do defeat me. For example 2 weeks ago I couldn't open a jar of jam. None of my usual methods to open stubborn jars worked. Had to wait 3 days until my nephew came to open it.

yes whiff you are right.

I have a jarkey, it is brilliant, just releases the pressure in a jar or I use an adjustable strap around the rim of eg a kilner jar

Good morning Movers United. I have been away for the weekend but it's now full steam ahead for the move on Thursday. I am in awe of those of you who have to do all this on your own. My husband is a great organiser and has dealt with all the problems and paperwork while working fulltime. I guess I could have managed on my own if I'd had to, but his support makes it easier. Also the support here on this thread.
Please keep the last minute tips coming. The discussion about keys reminded me to sort out ours and get a new key box at our new house. Thanks.
Due to the mess up with late exchange we're having to move to our daughter's on Wednesday for three nights before our furniture and belongings arrive. The worst bit is the two cats as it was too late to reserve a cattery and they're all fully booked. The cats will have to live in her garden summerhouse as she has two of her own indoors.
Also I'm going to put all jewellery, pills, laptops and iPads in a bag to keep with us as I'm concerned about them being swapped from lorry to lorry.
Cleaning the house here is next to think about. I think I'll start at the top and work my way down. The stair carpet is going to suffer from all the treading up and down but that's to be expected.
Fingers crossed all goes well for everyone.

Ellianne glad everything is coming together for you. Pickfords are going to put down floor protection when they come on Thursday it is all part of what they do. They also have special padded covers for things like the tv. Covers for furniture etc. They also use a brand new mattress cover . Your removal company should have similar things. I should check with them. My brother cut the lawns and cleaned the tops of the cabinets and top shelves in the kitchen . I had done the rest yesterday morning.
I have put all the things not going into storage in plastic boxes e.g. food ,kettle,mugs pills jewellery computer etc.
Made more lists of things I need to do each day. Wednesday morning turn off fridge. I already defrosted the freezer 2 weeks ago.
Ellianne don't forget to put the travel bolts in the back of your washing machine if you are taking it with you. My son reminded me about that I haven't realised they have to go in or your drum will be damaged.
Sorry if this sounds preachy but don't know if you are like me and my mind is just in a whirl of all the things I need to do.
House with will be cleaned top to bottom once it is empty on Thursday.
Have a good day everyone..

ooh I am liking the `do it` advice and progress between Whiff and Ellianne, the sheer practicality. Don`t forget the insurance docs and all the paperwork, passports etc, keep them with you. My tip would be to order some delivered ready meals from cookfood, for once the freezer is up and running. I could not have survived without those, at least I ate properly once a day. I didn`t have time to prepare a meal for over two weeks, other than that it was toast, fruit and cereal

Keep the "to do" list coming Whiff, it's very useful and I'm ticking your suggestions off, as well as craftyone's and any others. Because we're going into store we can't now take food, also garden pots. Shall I just ditch the geraniums etc. and empty the compost?

Good luck Ellianne,

I hope you have good weather for your move. So excited for you! Sorry your puss cats have to go in the summer house, but better safe than sorry, could disappear with all the disruption. Vets recommend keeping them indoors for a minimum of two weeks when you move, I know it's hellish with all the cat lit/tray lark, but I'd be devastated if my elderly cat was lost when I move.

As the geraniums are nearly over would you consider leaving them for the new owners? I've already started emptying my garden pots but they are soooo heavy - managed one small one the other day as I'd promised them to my neighbour, nearly killed me. Since I've gone on the market he's become very odd, he doesn't seem to be working anymore, I often find him in my drive trying to tame the ivy. He's obviously very bored and I can't help but be a little short with him - it is my drive, and he puts his cigs out on the ground which really annoys me. The wall on the inside of the drive is mine, and a few months ago he asked me what I was going to do 'about the ivy'. I said I didn't have time to think about it with the house and garden, so he's out there with a bag quite regularly. We've been neighbours for twenty years and his partner is my solicitor, we are 'friendly'.

Good news so far. It's week 2 after our offer was received and they have appointed a solicitor and been back to measure up for curtains carpets etc. Hope it's a good sign fingers crossed

Sazzl. Please for your own sake don't get friendly with your buyer. My first buyer came twice once on her own and once with her daughter. My second buyer came 10 times. She was here with her window man and pulled out on me the next day. The buyer I have now came twice once on their own then with her parents. We complete on Friday. You can't get your hopes up until you exchange contracts. If you have read all the posts since Craftyone started this thread in March you will see what has happened to some of us.
Craftyone ahead of you with important documents ordered my tablets on Friday and collected patient statement from my GP's today.
Mosaicwarts your neighbour needs a hobby. I have left the shed all my pots and plants . New home new garden foe me.
Ellianne Hope all the packing etc is going well.
Went to see my solicitor and her legal assistant also my estate agents and took them a thank you card and a bottle of wine each. Finely seeing real I am moving this time

Our buyers came once on their own and once with her parents. They haven't been back for weeks but I know they are busy working London people.
I too have a bottle and card ready for our brilliant estate agent, our solicitor was an online company .... very good but about 250 miles away.
My cousin emptied all the pots today and dug the plants into the flower beds. We cut the grass and cleaned out the shed.
I bought a litter tray and cat litter and packed the dogs' toys.
My husband brought his office box of stuff (?) home today. He reminded me of all those bankers who had to clear their desks.
I'm not sure what's on the to do list for tomorrow, I'd better go and check Whiffs comprehensive list!

So exciting Ellianne! I thought it was sweet you packed the dog's toys My dog has so many and some really pong, but he loves them and they'd fall to bits if I washed them.

Enjoy your lists tomorrow - have you redirected your mail yet? That's something that worries me about moving, I'd hate to win the premium bonds after 57 years and miss out!
I've only got a quid's worth for 1963 and 1965.

Finally finished cleaning and off to watch some rubbish on tv. No treats left and the biscuit tin is empty, thankfully, can't make any crumbs before tomorrow!

A premium bonds' win would be nice for your new home mosaicwarts!
Thanks I'll do the post redirection in a minute. I asked John Lewis to change my account's address today but they said they couldn't until we moved.
I phoned the bank to tell them we'd have a large amount of money into our account on Friday. (I couldn't face a money laundering check like one buyer in our chain had to endure when she paid her deposit).
It's bin collection here tomorrow so I keep looking for rubbish like emptying the hoovers.
The dog is looking a bit worried, he's such a needy boy!

I phoned my bank to tell them about all the money being moved. I started moving money back into my savings accounts as soon as I completed on my house, in spite of telling them I had several fraud checks after online transactions were stopped. All had to be done by phone and were really horrible. One abrupt jobsworth said to me `you hesitated when you said that` I almost yelled at him that I was shattered and my brain not functioning. He was horrible. That was stressful too and all done when I had no internet connection or phone and had to learn to use a mobile phone all at once as well as being tethered to my laptop so I could do my banking

I just realised that I did not send my EA a card but looking back it cost me £4800 and was a job to them and they only got paid because I completed. Ok they were nice people but so are the people who are going to service my car today

I did RM re-direction for 12 months, just in case there is anything important that only comes to me once a year. My buyer does not know my new address, I wanted nothing to do with her after her untruths

I must say that I am being very careful when online buying, making very sure that my new address is being used. First things I changed were paypal, ebay and amazon. I like using paypal, it gives me another layer of protection

Mosaicwarts thanks for the premium bond reminder that's one thing I didn't have on my list. My parents brought a £6 one when I was born in 1958. I did the redirect on Saturday but just for 3months. I am going to write some stickers and leave a note asking if anything comes other than catalogues to put it on and pop it in the post box. I will just write on them redirection set up for this name at this address. Don't want to give the new owners my address they are a nice young couple but when I leave here Thursday that's it no looking back. It will be strange as I always think of this as our house even though I have owned it out right since my husband died. The bungalow will be my home. Once the contracts are exchanged tomorrow I will go and say goodbye to my neighbours. As Thursday is going to be a busy day. Got my last load of washing on. My brother is coming tonight to unplumb it. Would it be ok to put the pipes in a plastic bag inside it?
Where I live its quiet hilly it will seem strange living somewhere it is flat. I don't have any pets just me and a house plant to pack. Can get a couple more boxes done today. Have my last shower here in the morning. Won't bother Thursday need to strip the bed as soon as I get up and pack bedding . I hasten to say not the sheets I will wash them at my daughter's.
Hope everyone has a good day.

It's not just the actual move that's stressful, it's all the other things around it, isn't it? I keep saying I'm never moving again.
The weather isn't looking too good for the end of this week so that won't provide good conditions on moving day. Our house has mainly wood floors but the stairs have a cream carpet. I just hope the removal men cover it well.
Today I'm shifting some stuff to our daughter's house as our bed is is being thrown out tonight. She has made up the bed at hers like a hotel room with towels and toiletries! Bless her! They are on holiday for two weeks and we won't see them now until October. In a way I'm glad they won't be here to say our goodbyes when we leave. I'd be too sad because I see them every day and 250 miles will be a long way away.
Have a good day today Movers United!

My washing machine is being unplugged tonight too. I can't see any reason why you shouldn't put the pipes inside Whiff. The drum presumably won't turn by itself during transit but you could wrap them in a pillow case if you wanted extra protection.

Wish me luck, I think every spider and wood louse has been evicted!

Mosaicwarts got my fingers and toes crossed for you. Hopefully you will get an offer. You deserve to have some good luck.

Good luck mosaicwarts but you do realise you will be going through the jobs all over again when you actually move!! Our house has never been so sparkling!

Good Luck both to Whiff and Elliane on their moves to their new homes. I am still waiting for the Surveyor for Barclays to come for my new would-be purchasers. I am doing nothing this time regarding buying, except keeping a watchful eye on RightMove. I just do not believe it is ever really going to happen, and have such mixed feelings as to whether that is is good or bad!!
I have not been well for the past month, which has rather taken over my life at present.
What I have done over the past few months, is slowly go through every cupboard in the kitchen and bathroom. Throwing out loads of stuff, and cleaning that cupboard. Not only is this nice for me, but should I actually move, all that will need to be done when I empty each cupboard is a quick wipe round with a cloth. Still have the kitchen under-sink cupboard to do and that will complete them all.

Franbern sorry you are not well hope you feel better soon. I found it helped to keep occupied. Just having a cuppa before I do more packing. My only worry now is my buyers solicitor is so inept and has dragged her feet through all these months. They are signing tomorrow and then the exchange is set to take place. I know my buyers and theirs are having the day off work on Friday and have arranged transport and bodies to help them move. I will email my solicitor tonight to ask her to bombard their solicitor with telephone calls and emails if they don't hear from her within a couple of hours after they sign. Cuppa finished off to more packing . Clothes next.

Sending positive thoughts to all!

I don't think the viewing was positive though I was chatting to the viewing agent when the father arrived, and walked to my car and waved at him as I got in. He didn't respond at all, got out of his car and looked very concerned.
Viewing agent texted me 25 minutes later which isn't good, it takes 45 minutes to see the house. Onwards and upwards, another viewing tomorrow, also one on 13th. Both people have somewhere to sell.

Have a great day all. I'm off to get some crumb free microwave supper I can eat out of the carton so my sparkly sink isn't affected, then back to choose some shows to watch at the Fringe.

I think emptying cupboards and cleaning well in advance pays off in the long run whatever the outcome. I've tried to streamline all our belongings over the last year. Part of the reason for our move is health related so I have been pacing myself to achieve the goal. The under sink cupboard is always the worst Franbern.
Sorry the viewing wasn't hopeful mw but it doesn't necessarily mean the next two won't be positive.
Onwards and upwards everyone.