Help calm me, house buying and selling stress part 2

The money keeps going out.

I brought my lamp shades with me but now the lights are on more, I really don`t like the shades I have used downstairs. They were from JL in 2009 and were just right in the other house but they sit too heavy and dull here. They are made of heavy pottery, a dull matt dense off white, so not enough light comes through. I have used biobulbs which should be giving me a pure white light. I have had to bite the bullet, I don`t tend to get winter sad if I use these bulbs and I want a light sparkly look, not heavy and oppressive.

Different looks for different houses I suppose. No doubt the rspca shop would welcome them to sell. I think I will take the heavy shades off tonight, I expect the new ones will arrive this week

Oh and I decided the other day to get a stock of 25w biobulbs in for the future, I was so worried that they would stop being made now that leds are so popular. I was excited to find them at big green smile so I splashed out on 5 to keep in a box, they came today and I could have cried, I had ordered the screw in ones E27. Then I found converters, E27 to B22, they fit into a normal bulb holder and you can put a screw bulb in there. I had a big sigh of relief, it saved the day

oh crumbs, I think I have been lucky and will be taking 2 more of these very heavy shades down. I had to buy adjusters for inside the shade hole because the new light fittings are all a different size from those in my last house. I remember rushing around here, putting the shades up

I looked at the one on the landing and to my shock horror, the shade adjuster has slipped off and that heavy shade was balanced on a cheap thin led bulb. That could have knocked me unconscious or at the least would have put a dent in my floor

There is another one over my bed, at the foot end and it looks secure but I would not sleep with them up now. They are fine for me to take down and I am putting them all downstairs on the floor, 5 good lampshades, to give away. More money spent, second lot tonight and this time at wayfair. I did look at B and Q but just didn`t like them. I am having white and between 20 and 25cm deep, so that they hide the bulb and don`t hang too low and definitely not glass

I used to likeBHS for lamp shades but of course they’ve gone now. Dunelm have a good selection of lamps and shades, and bulbs!

Had all my lamps shades from Ikea. Plus my 3 floor lamps. 2 are the same the third is a combined up lighter and lamp on a flexi arm which is great for when I cross stitch. Kitchen fitters cleared all the kitchen and took up the hall flooring. I'm having the same Karndean flooring in both as it will flow nicely. Never used to bother about things like that but living in a bungalow it looks better. The carpets are all the same colour. Heart foundation coming for my 3 yrs old washer today it still works. But wanted a new one as all my other appliances are new. They took all the rubbish to the tip in the van so I didn't need a skip.

Hope Scaredykatt and Franbern got on alright yesterday.

Hopefully we all will have a good day with plenty of sunshine.

I bet neither slept last night but the will complete today and say goodbye to their homes, to start a new adventure

I had karndean a time ago, it was very good, just be careful to not use chemical cleaners on it. I used a couple of drops of washing up liquid and a gentle microfibre mop. I like flooring to go all through too, I did that here, quickstep, looks like wood but is very easy care and it is warm and I don`t fret if something spills

I ordered a de-humidifier because there is some condensation on my bedroom windows. These new builds have double glazing and very insulated lofts and moisture finds the coldest place. I have many vents open but it is not enough and mould is not on my bucket list. My last house never had condensation, triple glazing but it wasn`t the glazing. I remembered that it had mechanical humidity ie air was sucked through 24/7 via mechanical extractors. My DS has discovered that he has mould and it has affected his well being. He is doing something about it now but I am surprised that he never knew that drying clothes indoors could have that effect, also cooking even with an overhead hood

Morning everyone, just coming on to say hello and wish everyone well.

We've had very high tides and I'm dreading my beach walk in case there might be an orphaned white coat baby seal - hopefully the British Diver's Marine Life medics will be able to cope. No idea why nature decided to not waterproof seal babies in the first weeks of their life, they are born into the worst weather and bad tides. The medic has posted that it is likely they've been swept off the rocks at Holy Island

You've made me think about 'spending' craftyone, especially about lighting. I won't be taking my tiffany style glass shades and will have to buy new when I move.

House was freezing last night and I've woken up to condensation everywhere because of our single glazing - oh for triple glazing!

Have a good day all, I'm collecting my daughter at 1 pm in my new 'safe' car - had to have both front brake pads replaced yesterday, was definitely worth the cost of paying for a taxi for them to the station!

I never knew about the seals, that is very sad mosaics

I would have gone to dunelm to look but there isn`t one. B n Q used to have good shades but they didn`t look good on the whole. BHS was my go-to when we were setting up home, they had huge lighting departments.

My shades are a necessary expense tbh I want nice ones that will do me for ever and that I will like, hence neutral and hence the right depth, its very easy to get shades that are too deep or too shallow. I went around with a tape measure last night.

I think I have spent the last now, got to keep this house dry enough inside without me faffing with humidity levels. I had a bit of tax back yesterday which helps. My bank account is still growing slowly month on month and I am shifting some every month into a savings float. My expenses last night have come from capital from my house sale

Mosaics, forgive me asking but does the house have woodworm anywhere? I m only saying because of furniture that you may take. My mother went crazy, coating every stick of wood before she moved to a much cosier smaller house. I remember it well, the old area was being erased and everyone had to move. She was widowed with 7 children, I was the oldest at 20. We went into a 3 bed semi with one lounge and one bathroom. It was absolutely fine, we all eventually left to get married. I never appreciated how difficult it must have been for her but how she must have been so careful to think ahead to a manageable house

I'm back - luckily no seals to be seen. I was astounded when I moved here to find many locals don't have any interest or knowledge about seals who often haul up onto the beach for a rest. Very sadly, when I first moved here in 1999, a baby seal left on the beach by the mother when she went into the sea to feed, was dragged back into the sea by ignorant people and died The local marine life medics are now informing people through social media, it does have its plus side.

Woodworm wasn't mentioned on my survey, but there is evidence of it having been in some of the floorboards in the past! Your Mum was obviously where you got your steel core from, what a woman. As we are on the line we do get beetles coming in, and I look them up, just shield bugs and things. Haven't seen or heard my wrens this year, they come in through the cat flap sometimes and my dog goes mad! Such a huge song for such a teeny bird.

I've just heard from the EA, she's made a note of that young visitor's name. No contact from him so unfortunately seems to have just been an opportunist visit - he came here as a child as he was friends with the previous owners son. Nosey with a capital N!

I'm having a bit of trouble with the time difference, takes some getting used to doesn't it. Raced about yesterday because I'd glanced at the town clock ... which was still on old time! Must buy a watch!

I had a perching seat put into the side of a small open porch. He put wooden supports for the oak top and a covered in front so it was like a box. It looked damp at the bottom today so I unscrewed the front and yes nothing there is drying and it also partly covers an underfloor vent, potential future trouble

The top is lovely, nice curved thick oak but already it needs some protection. I dismantled it all and am busy coating with osmo oil and various paints for the supports. I have decided to leave the front off permanently so it gets air and I cut off part of the side supprts touching the ground. It should keep it all drier. Problem is that it now needs a central front support, just in case. So I have made one. It needs to be secure in place so I have stuck 3 small strips of wood on the underside of the top, so it does not slip and I bought a rubber ferrule for the bottom of the support, which was a wooden broom handle

Primer, undercoat and topcoat on the supports. osmo on the oak and central broom handle. Goodness me, I was never going to get into a mess with such an easy job. I never got changed. first the drips and splashes appeared, doing this on my butchers block btw. Then my finely balanced supports tumbled, having just been painted, I reached to catch it and my first worn top caught all the paint. S*ds law that this was the undercoat that was soluble in turps not water. I had to work on that top darn quickly, then use the washing machine. Now fingers crossed and I hope I did it in time

He is a young man, a skilled cabinet maker but not old enough to be knowledgeable about air and ventilation and construction onto render. So now I have to try and make good and hide the holes he made. They just don`t listen sometimes, they think a woman cannot know

Just back from a dog walk around a local estate (have to search out places with streetlights again now). All bungalows. No-one about, didn't see a soul during the walk. Few curtains twitching as obviously no-one walks down there! Many houses without lights. Definitely don't want to live somewhere like that - and the pavement was dreadful, just tarmac and very uneven, definitely a tripping hazard. When I view houses I think I'll go at night as well as during the day before I decide.

Chaotic here now. We were e-mailed contract and land registry papers at 3pm today. Solicitor rang and said completing sale Fri 1st. So 3 days notice. Signed and returned papers special delivery 4.30pm. Booked van for Thursday 4.50pm. Feel dreadfully but pleased sale is now going through. Really would have liked a weeks notice though as we're told would be next week at the earliest.
Moving to caravan until 15th as can't have new house til then. But sister and daughter have offered me to stay there if I want. OH Packing tonight moving stuff to storage Thursday in Devon. All the best everyone.

sazzl good luck, what a frenzy it has turned out to be

Mosaics that is such a sensible thing to do.

The stress has made me ill I'm sure of it. On 2nd lot of antibiotics and steroids for chest infection but feeling better this week. Can't remember ever having so many questions and indecisiveness from EA, buyer, and seller of our new house. Now not even 3 full days notice to completion. Have bought and sold 7 houses over the years but never had anything like this fuss. Both EAs were ringing every day pushing for dates etc. Total nightmare.

Sazzl fingers crossed all goes well for you know. Hope you feel better soon.

Thinking of you sazzl, good luck, so sorry you've been so stressed, careful with your chest. Hope Friday goes well and the weather is kind to you during your move. I won't moan about my viewings again, I must get stronger to face what is coming afterwards.

Craftyone, you should take that boy on as your apprentice!

sazz1
As you can see from some of my posts I know exactly what your going through.

cant remember ever having so many questions That because every solicitor and EA is covering their backsides because we now live in a litigious society.

Do hope Franbern is getting on ok and everyone else too. Best wishes to you all.

Just popped back in whilst at my daughter's home for tea and using her laptop and wi fi. The packing day on Monday I found incredibly difficult. I was so fortunate and having my eldest daughter who lived (past tense now) near me in London, and my son who drove down from Warrington to help, without the two of them I do not know how I would have copied. I actually became quite tearful as it went on. Stayed at daughters that night, son collected me in morning and we went back to empty house. Last check around (good thing as we found three kitchen cupboards still with items in them!). My wonderful son actually offered to drive himself down to WSM to make sure everything was okay. We met at a motorway service station for lunch, and whilst there I telephoned my E.Agent to ask how the Completions were going, The previous day I had already been to see her with card, flowers and chocolates to thank her for all the work she had done for me, She said she would find out and ten minutes later rang me back to say Completion had finalised on my house so just waiting for final bit, I phoned my daughter in WSM who was going to pick up key She confirmed removal company was already there. 45 minutes later further telephone call confirmed I was now the owner of a flat in WSM!!!!
When I arrived daughter, SIl, and all four g.children were busy getting things in place. Cannot believe how many boxes there were, - trouble with having packers, some boxes had little in them. By the time they all left last night I was still very hyped and could not sleep, so spent a lot of the night unpacking,. They came back today. Not sure how I would have managed without them. SIL had my tv all up and running well before he left, my recliner chair and electric bed all working before they left.
It will take me sometime to get the flat sorted out and the way I want it, but it already feels like home. So lovely not having to worry about stairs, and it all feel so warm there. By the time I arrived yesterday they had my heating and water all working perfectly and meter readings taken,
I cannot speak more highly of how wonderful my three eldest children and my SIL has been,
do not think I would have really coped with them, Need to wait until next Monday for my WIfi to be up and running.

Franbern I'm glad you are now in your flat. Your family sound wonderful. Just take it easy. As Craftyone mention in recent post beware after move stress. It wasn't until I read that I now realise that was happening to me. As since my move I have been non stop getting things done. Look after yourself and enjoy your new home.

Must comment how mortified I was when the removal company moved my lovely wooden units in the living room, Been in place some 14 years, and walls behind were covered in cobwebs, Even more mortified when my elected bed was taken apart. Impossible to move that, do sometimes get both ends as high as possible to vacuum underneath,but it has a very thick headboard and evidently it was horrible when it was taken down, My lovely son cleared it before I even saw it,
sazzle, I know what you are going through, such a similar story to me, No idea why this happens so much these days I am told that they nearly all end well, but I also was so ill time last week,

Ahhh, the happy ending is very much in sight franbern. Thank you for letting us know, we have all been concerned and excited

Hey Franbern fantastic to hear how everyone rallied around! Woo hoo you are there for Christmas, how great you'll be able to go to the beach on Christmas Day! Take it easy now, you've got all the time in the world to sort your stuff out. Wishing you much happiness and nice neighbours in your new home. x

Franbern know just how you felt about the thick dust. My wardrobes and bed hadn't been moved for 20+ years. Lost track of the number of times I emptied the vacuum.

Has anyone heard of mischief night? I heard my bin go over so went to pick it up and a couple of my neighbours had done it. They told me 2 boys had knocked over all the bins for mischief night.

Who was the man who never dusted? Saw a documentary about him twenty years ago - Quentin Crisp? Seemed a very happy chap! I remember painting behind our fridge when we moved, after wiping off the cobwebs!

Whiff, as for 'mischief night', seems kids in the local village were throwing eggs at car windscreens last night, 'idiot night' more like. We don't have a police station or any local police any more, there isn't anyone to stop them and they don't go near the CCTV cameras.

Have a good day everyone, I've just whizzed my dog around the village and have to wait all day for the chimney sweep. He seemed very put out when I asked for a certificate and said he'd give me a receipt, I hope that suffices.