Help calm me, house buying and selling stress part 2

Busy busy Franbern. What is U3A? May be quite obvious what it stands for but I can't work it out.

Recliner chairs were mentioned here a few posts ago. I can thoroughly recommend these (not manual ones, - electric). Earlier this year, when I had the fall which caused me such back pain (eventually turned out I had a spinal stress fracture), I found my recliner chair really came into its own.
The first night (I did not go to hospital or even see a doctor - as I thought it was soft tissue injury), I managed to get upstairs and into my electric bed, Great - until I woke in the night needing the bathroom and found myself totally unable to move at all, Took me over half an hour and lots of pain before I was able to haul myself up and out of bed. After that I spent the next few nights sleeping in my recliner chair - as this would lower my feet to the ground, and I would then haul myself up on my trolley.
When I actually moved, my daughter and SiL were told that whatever else, I needed my television, my electric bed, and my recliner chair set up that day!!
Yesterday had aerial man come in and run an tv aerial socket into my bedroom, so I can now have my small tv on in there.
Found out that when they delivered (and installed) my new slimline dishwasher they damaged the inlet pipe - long time spent on Ao site going through their on-line 'chat' found out that they cannot just replace this pipe, but need to change out the whole machine for me,. Coming on Friday, as is my new under counter freezer.
Over the weekend went to DFS and order a sofa bed to go into my spare bedroom, to provide a bed for visitors,
Off this morning, to a coffee morning for local U3A to learn of the different groups they have.

sazzl. thank goodness for some movement for you at last. Sue I hope you are mending and I do hope you are not near the aussie fires. My sister had to get away from her home near perth a couple of years ago. Her husband was on the bungalow roof putting fire flares out. They moved last year, could not take any more and too much work on their small farm. He is 75 and she is 70 and he was still up trees picking oranges until he fell 2 years ago

Mosaics at least your EA is getting viewers, I understand the need to plump the cushions. I am sure you know how to conserve your energy, its the relentless raising of spirit and then the crashing disappointments. Its grinding on you

They are flushing water pipes in my area and we have been advised not to use the water for 68 hours. I re-connected my water butts and now have ample water stored outside for loos. . I bought bottled water and have filled every bowl and pan with drinking water. I put masking tape on taps, I don`t want that brown sludge to get into my system. I think I will go out to cotstco, a 45 minute motorway journey. I can get lunch there and spend a couple of browsing hours

Sazzl hope your daughter feels better soon. I love being closer to the children as I can help them out especially looking after my grandsons. At the moment the boys are aware nannie isn't as mobile as usual, as young as they are they seem to understand. The oldest is 3 his brother is 15 months old they are my son's and my daughter's boy is 22 months old. Hope everything continues on track for the 20th.

Mosaicwarts even though you don't like the sound of the man from abroad he may be the one to buy your house. Also if he does he may want everything done within a short time limit. As other countries don't take as long to exchange and completed as they do here. So if you can make sure you have all your paperwork to hand. Did you ever get that chimney sweep certificate? I really hope you get a buyer soon.

Franbern it's great you can reuse some appliances. My kitchen is nearly finished. I have had all new appliances my fridge, freezer which lived in the garage and microwave are 20+ yrs old. My washer was only 4 but I never liked it . It broke after 6 months. My old one I had for over 25 years. I had to leave my hob and oven in my told house as they were built in. My kitchen has a high level built in oven just like I had before. Induction hob and extractor fan. Under the counter fridge and freezer. Washer and something I never had before a dishwasher. My tumble dryer is in the garage. I am ridiculously happy how my kitchen looks. Wood effect Karndean flooring, olive green cabinets, wood effect work tops and cream tiles. Walls will be painted cream as well. Lovely lights in the ceiling and not the dreaded fluorescent light. My old kitchen was 30 yrs old and had promised myself when I moved I would have the kitchen I always wanted.

Craftyone glad you are feeling better . Your scandi tree sounds lovely. A wooden snowflake would look lovely to. Wooden ornaments always look pretty.

Hope no one gets flooded.

Good luck sazzl, we're all routing for you. With this odd weather the sooner the better, got caught in a hail stone storm on Friday - I don't remember it being this cold last autumn. I'm sorry your daughter is poorly and hope she gets well soon.

I do recommend the OTTY memory foam mattress which comes in a box - has a cool gel top, so can't have an electric blanket. They take your old mattress away if you have it, clean them up and recycle them. My daughter thinks its fantastic, she has a shoulder and neck injury and both are a lot better since we bought it. I used to have a Vi spring mattress but I got rid of it when my husband died, weighed an absolute ton, was like fighting with a sumo wrestler trying to turn it. I'm sleeping on my son's 13 year old quite knackered Ikea Sultan mattress now, looking forward to buying a new one when I move.

Thanks for good luck wishes, I need to keep recalibrating myself for these viewings, it's exhausting keeping everything in 'show room' order. I do listen to the advice on here and know I should relax, but still feel the need to plump the cushions, silly, we are living here and signs of life are inevitable. I've finally found my make up bag, hidden underneath the clean towel pile, I've had a naked face for over a month!

We've heard from the solicitors today and everything is set to move in and complete on the 20th of this month. Fingers crossed it will happen. Have moved in with daughter for a few days as she's v unwell and on her own with 5yr old DGD, so trying to support her and help out with school runs etc. It's not an ideal time but needs must as they say. Brought the dogs with us and they've settled really well which is good. The pregnant dog is very big now she's due 2nd December so about 10days to settle in.
We need to buy a mattress as soon as we complete as we only brought the bed frame as our mattress was very old. Also I need a washing machine as mine broke several weeks ago. Good job we have a comfy bed in the caravan, and a launderette.
Hope Sue is feeling better now and her infection is healing.
All the best to everyone especially Mosaic really hope you get a genuine buyer soon xxxx

Hey Franbern we posted at the same time - ingenius, so glad you are a 'creative' thinker in bed! As I buy a lot of veg substitutes I still want a biggish freezer when I move, I like to have lots of space for bargains too. And ice cream! Another thing to think about when I move, I'll add it to my list.

My best friend from London has asked to come up early December, but my daughter's work pattern doesn't leave much room for manoevre. I think I might ask her to meet me somewhere half way - so difficult I have this awful snoring problem, we'd have to get separate rooms ... on different floors!

Enjoy your evening

All your positive thoughts and good will have worked ... thanks so much! Boiler needed new motor and pump, somehow they did have the parts, so it's back on and working, thank heavens. House is always freezing but without the central heating I am very frightened the pipes might go.

Also heard from the EA again today - two viewings with different people booked for the next two Saturdays. The second one is for someone from abroad, apparently he was asking for 9 am and most disgruntled the EA said 9.30 am is the earliest they can get here as they must attend the office first. Don't like the sound of him at all, not sure where we are going to go that early in the morning. Glad I won't have to meet him, I've decided I'm never doing another viewing myself.

Haven't got a recliner yet craftyone but sounds like a good idea to sleep supported when poorly. When I used to put my legs on the poufee they 'locked', I think the height was wrong.

Off to make the tea, veg sausages, cheddar mash and veg, yum!

The kitchen in my flat left a lot to be desired. Really strange - underneath the counter top electric oven was an integral fridge!! Then under the electric hobs a built freezer, then a under counter free standing freezer . (I unerstand it was a very elderly widower in here and I think he just used frozen ready meals, instead of doing any food preperation and cooking!!
Just two proper under counter cupboards as remaining spaces were taken up with washing machine, slim line dishwasher and tumble dryer.
When I moved in, most of these were just spaces, just the integral freezer and fridge, and the oven. All rather elderly. No space to put a fridge freezer.
I did not want either the faff or the cost of totally re-doing the kitchen. I am usually pretty good at 're-jigging' the arrangement.
Got the oven taken away firstly, (not replacing it - have purchased a convector combination microwave, and will just use this along with my halogen oven.)
I have ordered and had delivered new washing machine and slim line dishwasher.
I had brought with me a large upright larder fridge and matching freezer. This made it more convenient for me before I moved and these were stored in the garage for now. Either to sell (both are nearly new and still under manufacturers guarantees), until I either sold them or passed them on to a charity,.
Thank goodness I did.
Lying in bed in the early hours of yesterday morning I had a brainwave. By taking out the integral fridge and the shelf above it, gave enough space for my larder fridge to stand. My lovely Son-in-law sorted this all out for me yesterday afternoon. Took him quite a long time, as, of course, there were problems. But it has made such a difference, and so good having a good sized new fridge in place.
As I will not have a tumble dryer in the kitchen (condenser) and will go in spare bedroom), I will use that space for a new frost free under counter freezer (now on order), and then replace the old one under the hobs, with a three drawer unit for my Pots and pans and cutlery,
Although it sounds a little complicated it is all working out beautifully. Thousands of pounds less in cost, and very little disruption.
Should all be totally in place within the next couple of weeks.
Mw do not give up. The reason that EAgents do not Sunday viewings, is purely that they do not work Sundays, like evenings - so as long as you are willing to take viewers around then, that is okay,
As others have said,. The stress involved in selling what with the viewings and the solicitors questions, et. etc. are horrific - BUT when it does all work out, it is so very worthwhile Good Luck

I saw that article about norovirus, I gave my hands a good wash when I came in but eek, I had bare hands on the trolley. Gloves for me from now on. I had a terrible sickness bug a year ago, might have been noro, all I`ll say is that if you feel ill and are on your own then for heavens sake don`t lie down. Sit up in a recliner. I fell asleep and woke up covered in vomit, could have died if I had lain down.

Your post came through after I'd finished craftyone, very glad you are feeling your old self as well as having nice things to look forward to. I'm not sure I can pull Christmas out of the bag this year, I just feel like hibernating right now. I had sickness and diahorrea twice last January - I've just seen an article about norovirus being transferred on supermarket trollies. I'm wearing gloves next supermarket visit!

Thanks Whiff, I've just had feedback. 'Doing their numbers'. It's so disheartening to hear this so often. EA said they are going to ring them again on Friday. I wasn't keen on doing it on a Sunday afternoon as for some reason it felt like an intrusion, old fashioned feeling of the 'day of rest' I think on my part. At least I don't have the big family lunch to cook any more, I'm sure others do. My daughter and I waited until after the visit to eat, couldn't mess up my kitchen with crumbs!

Septic tank man has been and drain was a disgusting sludge, so has been dangerously full for some time. £265 to empty it, worth every penny as I couldn't face it as a job if there was a way of doing it yourself. I only pay £170 per year water and sewage so it balances out. Hopefully neighbour will be as quick to pay his half as I was when he asked me last March. As for seeing the coal house I have no idea why, perhaps he was hoping it was full of tons of unused coal I was going to leave behind! After the sofa debacle I'm trying to be far more business like about money and won't be leaving anything I can sell to finance my new life.

Talking of finance my daughter's train was delayed twice this morning and she was late on her first induction day I'm going to have to budget for more diesel and take her to the remote station, which has more train choices, otherwise she might lose the job. I hope she sees a car she likes soon, although I will worry about her terribly. I took her to meet friends at 8.15 last night, and collected her around 10 pm. I found it hard driving home in the dark in sleeting rain. The deer unnerve me the most as they cross so erratically - two last night in our country road but far enough ahead for me to see them.

Off to light the woodburner so it builds up heat for later on. Great thought I can visit the bathroom now and enjoy pulling the chain instead of hurling a bucket of water down!

sigh, no real news yet mosaics. The coal house! a bit strange, maybe they think they could convert it into something. Its truly a money pit mosaics

I am feeling fine today, over the worst and been out and bought more smokeless ovals and some christmas bits from lidl. They have lots there, nice packs for eating over the break. Dd invited me to their family
dinner out on christmas eve, lovely to be asked but she thought i would turn it down because of the night driving. I find driving at night is becoming too difficult these days, older eyes get macular degeneration and cannot accomodate bright to dark very well ie headlights. I will be at hers on christmas day, she is on call all day so we will be having easy fish fingers and chips. I am not dreading the christmas break any more, I have plenty of nice nibbles in, old dvds and lots to read and do

I am thinking about putting my scandi tree up soon, it is wooden, made from dowels and packs up small but it is lovely. I might even get a snowflake wooden ornament carved for it this year, even if I do it over the holiday

Chin up Mosaicwarts you got through another viewing. Why did he want to see the coal house? Mind you I had one viewing where they never asked a single question about the house and were only interested in the garage.
Hope the boiler and septic tank problems don't cost you to much . Started my Christmas shopping in September only got chocolates for presents to get. Adults apart from my children and their other halves are only getting token presents this year. What with moving and having things done on the bungalow I need to be careful. But once I've had the things done to it next year I won't need to spend anymore on the bungalow for years.
Hope you get more viewings soon.

Hope you are both feeling better Craftyone and SueH49.

Morning all, have a good day whatever you are doing!

Viewers came with their two very well behaved children. I started in the garden and the storeoom, took them right round the garden and up the back platform to the north end of the house. I showed them the north courtyard from the platform, and avoided going down where the septic tank drain is. We then went back along the platform to the south end and in through the house, the children were very excited and it took ages. Ended up in the kitchen where I have the 1910 plans/history of the house in several books, and I felt so relieved I'd avoided the issue - and couldn't believe it when the viewer asked to see the coal house. He'd just seen 261 sq m and wanted to see the 3 m sq coal house. Had to confess. I was so surprised he asked I can't even remember what I babbled. I've got to find some reserves somewhere as I must keep going, I feel so down about it all.

Boiler engineer coming between 1-3 pm, septic tank man coming 'at some time today'. No idea when stone mason is coming, porch joiner is pencilling us in. My daughter starts her new job this morning so train station at 10 am, doggie to beach, then a day of waiting.

Has anyone started Christmas shopping? I feel really panicky about it, I've only got my daughter two small things so far.

Oh, Mosaics I feel your pain and frustration.

When we moved to Bulgaria we were told we had a holding tank. I forget how long we had been there when brown sludge came up through the drain in the downstairs wet room ?

When we contacted the previous owner to ask where the holding tank was he couldn't remember? just vague descriptions of "somewhere down there"

Its too long a story to tell here but it transpired that the bodger builders had made a pigs ear of the soak away pipe which meant hiring a pneumatic drill to dig up the stone patio ?

Mosaicwarts how did the viewing go?

Oh no, the septic tank mosaics, not quick enough breakdown and settling, too much waste water too quickly. I suppose ground water could be getting in through cracks as it has been so wet up north. Mosaics, yet another thing you would be glad to leave behind.

I am getting toe and finger ache from keeping them crossed right now

So I feel much better today, I can smell the thieves oil and have started to taste what I eat, am damping down the tickling cough with bronchosan, contains pine which will help to stop the microbes reproducing. I haven`t had a cold for several years but am always very aware of stopping one very quickly, mum got sinusitis which developed into autoimmune rhumatoid arthristis. Cough can turn nasty, I am doing my level best to avoid bronchioles being affected. Once that happens, they are difficult to wipe clear

Thank you all for your kind wishes. I'm not sure getting the t shirt qualifies me to offer advice, but it certainly focuses the mind. I still think the most stressful bit is the selling of one's own property. As for the new purchase there are always compromises but everything works out for the best in the end. Good luck to all! I will pop back on this thread frequently, so friendly.

Hello all, hope you are having a happy Sunday. Hope you are continuing to brighten Craftyone, thieves oil? Does it open safes? Hope you are feeling better too Whiff - and have your phone in your pocket!

Ellianne, that is so exciting your family may follow you down - and can stay with you whilst they are looking, marvellous. Talk about different to London, that was my experience when we moved to Northumberland. Lots of shocks for me having come from Twickenham, I've never settled in this rural countryside. I do love the beach, that's about it. I know lots of noise/rubbish and pollution/people/crime is the price you pay in towns/cities, but do so miss all the facilities I once had. We've got one taxi driver - grumpy - no good restaurants locally, and no big shops without driving 35 miles because of lack of population and footfall. Local cinema gets films four months after release. Diesel probably the most expensive anywhere! Thankfully I got purchases on the internet. That's when I managed to reinstate it - telephone line and router conducted lightning in our first month, burnt out my computer! Ha ha have never seen a storm like it since and now have candles and torches ready at all times. I hope you enjoy yourselves there and make lots of lovely friends xx

I'm miserable as sin about the septic tank, and so disappointed to wake up this morning to find it even worse - the neighbours obviously did washing, or showered. I can't understand why it's happened, we've not had any problems for ten years or more since the neighbour in the house next to ours admitted to breaking our soakaway pipe. It goes into his garden as he is on station land too, it was sold off separately. The courtyard is very obviously flooded. I can't get it cleared until tomorrow and am going to try and avoid this area with the viewing, both of the people work all week and only have the weekend. Not sure why EA doesn't do Sunday viewings, perhaps they have poor experiences of people doing it for something to do.

I'll let you know how I get on, off to put my doggie in the car.

Ellianne at least you will be the perfect person to give help ,advice and support to your daughter and family through the hell of buying and selling. You're been there and got the tee shirt. It will be lovely for you to have them nearer.

Craftyone hope you are feeling a bit better today.

Good luck Mosaicwarts with the viewing.

Life is ups and downs isn`t it? All those downs and now some are settled and Sue had an up and now has a down. Ellianne that will be so nice for you, having your very own community. I have only been to London four times in my lifetime, hated every bit of it especially the crowds at paddington and on the tube

Yay I have found my home made thieves oil, one of those things that I put away and never unpacked. A few drops are now in a diffuser behind my chair. I found all my oils, glad I never threw them away

It has been a long day tbh but as always I am grateful to be in a warm house with plenty to do. Also been spending money, I gave away a fantastic ss salad spinner when I downsized, a big one and I thought I would not miss it but I do, very much. It kept my salad leaves nice for quite a long time. I nabbed one yesterday. Today I bought a shark vac cleaner qvcuk tsv, very buy with excellent reviews all over. I will give away my useless hand held. It helped me decide when I had wood chips to clear up last night and that tool that I nearly gave up on, I am almost there, almost have a razer edge.

Hello everyone, great to read your news. So sorry you have an infection SueH, sending positive thoughts the anti b's work quickly and you can avoid more surgery. Poor you, how horrid, get well soon.

I just popped out to put the key in the gate for the oilman and have a disaster - shared septic tank drain in the courtyard surrounded by brown stuff, and it's not mud. You really couldn't make it up, could you.

I've contacted my neighbour on fb and have left a message on his home answeering machine. They had a new bathroom fitted just after my husband passed - the men didn't seem that competent to me and I was angry they left all their building rubbish in my courtyard. I'm not going to phone anyone until I hear from them.

Back to the cleaning! Getting dark already at 3.30 pm, I can hardly believe it's happening so quickly.

I'm still reading this friendly thread. Hope those who are under the weather pick up soon.
Those Somerset carnival floats sound amazing, we had a few here in Devon and several troupes of majorette girls turned out in style. It all seems very different from the bright lights of London, but no regrets.
Our daughter and family are now thinking of moving down here too so no doubt a bit more house selling stress coming our way!! Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Franbern glad you enjoyed the carnival. It's lovely feeling settled.

My kitchen is coming together they started tiling yesterday. Washing machine, oven , induction hob, fridge, freezer and sink working. Dishwasher going in next week. I have decided not to use the kitchen until it is fully completed. After it has a through clean then I can start putting things back in. Need to swat up on the instruction booklets to learn how to use everything. My son has already checked my saucepan to make sure they are ok for the hob. Only 2 wouldn't work small non stick omelette pan and non stick milk pan.

Bliss this morning I was stable enough for a shower. Still not well enough to go out on my own. That slow walking at the moment not worth either of the children taking me shopping. They are taking it in turns doing it for me. So glad I moved closer to them both.

SueH49 sorry to hear you have an infection. Hope you don't have to have it washed out. Must be very frustrating for you. Hope you feel better soon. Can you choose your own number plates in Australia? And can it say anything? Here you can't.

Craftyone hope your cold gets better soon. My brother has a cold he coughed so hard he has pulled muscles in his stomach. The Dr prescribed rest and take pain killers.

Mosaicwarts hope your viewing goes well.

Hope everyone else has a good day.