Help calm me, house buying and selling stress. Part 3

Afternoon all, just back from a very windy beach walk with my doggy. Such a biting wind.

I walked my dog at 8 am this morning, then went down to the cottage. The young men arrived to change the door at 9.30 am. As the front door opens into the living room and faces the stairs, I couldn't take everything up as planned. They were absolutely freezing, so I came back to the house and made them a flask of tea and coffee to take down. Very nice young men, they took great care and showed me how it worked, I'm not used to 'modern' doors. Owner is coming to collect the door frame and door on Saturday so I can give her a key then.

I thought I'd concentrate on the heating control - the batteries are flashing, and need replacing. Tried to get it off the wall and couldn't, young man had a look and as he's taller saw it was held together at the top with two screws, so I'm going to have another go tomorrow with my screwdriver selection.

I took my ladder outside to check the oil level with my phone torch - and three inches does mean three inches of oil. I've been everywhere looking at 'formulas' to work out what it means, in this case it means the tank is empty! Rang my oil company and they hope to deliver on Friday, when the chimney sweep is coming. The previous tenants were burning wood from the woods opposite, it is coated with at least a cm of thick soot. I've got my electric oil radiator down there so will put that on when I go tomorrow.

Off to the estate agents now to deliver the chocolates, hopefully no trees down on the way.

Stay safe all x

I am shocked at the state of that cottage, please keep notes for when you leave. Everything should have been in ship shape condition for you. If you have any bills such as for the sweeping, make sure that the owner pays, surely there is a legal resposibility on the owner to make sure the chimney is swept. I do hope the removers put your bed together for you, wear socks tonight, it sounds pretty darn cold as though there has been no heat in there for a long time. I should think you will be comfortable enough in a few days time

There is an upside shandy, you are learning the hard way, what you need in your own home.

I can understand that there would be little oil for heating - you would be expected to purchase your own for anything to do with heating. although would have thought the proper way would be to have tank more filled up with a note stating how much was in it and you would have had to ensure that you had the same amount in it when you leave. The sweeping of the chimney must surely be down to the owners.
You do need to get this heating sorted out (often the heating control batteries can be changed without taking the thing off the wall. Does seem a pity that this is your third day of paying rent and yet you are still not actually living there. Why are you having to return to The Station to make tea/coffee?
Wind has finally dropped here now and the sun has come out. As the balcony of the flat above me overhangs where my patio doors lead onto my balcony, those patio doors and surrounding windows never get the rain - and they need both water and daylight to self-clean. I have been spraying them over other week. However, for the first time since I have been here, they have actually had rain on them as the gusts of wind blew that rain against them. Now the sun is out, they are sparkling clean.
My balcony is about three times larger than any of the others, as it is built over the roof of the offices on the g.floor. So, I have a large triangular shaped balcony, surrounded (not by glass as the others are) but by a stone wall. Have not done anything with it yer - my 'project' for the Spring. Fortunately, it is fully tiled on the floor.

I agree with Franbern, heating controls and chimney sweeping are all landlords responsibility. You need to think differently Shandy, lots of these jobs are no longer your responsibility! Hope you have a happy and snug first night.

I would have thought all those things would be landlords problems. But the only time we rent was holiday cottages.

Signed my will this morning and went to a talk at U3A about Victorian New Brighton it was very informative and funny. There where over 60 of us. I was surprised as the weather is awful. Just made it home before the hail. Stay safe everyone.

I've had a fall. Went to my craft group had a lovely time. Whilst walking home I got half way down my road next thing I new I was falling. Shouted for help and 2 workmen picked me up and took me to the bungalow they are working on. Phoned my daughter and she took me home. Luckily I haven't broken anything. But badly bruised my left arm and leg which happen to be my bad side. I didn't trip. It was very windy and the wind must have blown my stick and me at the same hence I ended up on the floor. Learnt my lesson I will never go out when it's this windy again. Hope everyone stays safe.

Oh Whiff, so sorry to hear this. Hope you have your feet up and a cup of tea to hand. The wind is very fierce and cold. Take care of yourself.

Oh what a shame Whiff. You must feel all shaken up. Take it easy.

I'm so sorry Whiff, it really shakes you up. I hope you feel better soon.

Ooh no! Poor you Whiff. It's so easily done. The wind has been wild today. I hope you are resting up in a warm place.

We braved the snow storms for a trip with my DB and DSiL to see a beautiful winter garden. It was the first day it was open and we were shown around by the owner. It was freezing but sheltered behind the ancient stone walls and near the sea so not much snow.
It's the Shepherd House in Inveresk.
www.shepherdhousegarden.co.uk/

Take it easy Whiff. Hope there are no delayed injuries and you are not too sore.

Oh Whiff, so sorry to hear of this. Do take it easy for a little while, often find that shock of such a fall comes out later. I did go out this morning (U3A) on my scooter. Was very cold, had my big winter coat back on (had not been wearing that for a few weeks), cold wind, but not too wild.. Mind you, do not know what it would like if I had been walking. It was fortunate that those young men were there to come to help you.
Do hope that Shandy is okay - and is - finally actually staying in her new rental.

Thank you all for you messages. As you might guess my children torn a strip off me for going out. I went out yesterday and was fine. It wasn't very windy when I went out that's no excuse. I'm am idiot should have know better. Even when we had gales in the Midlands it was never this bad. Keep forgetting I am not far the sea. Taking it easy but have to keep getting up as I seize up otherwise. Good job I now live in a bungalow. Got an appointment to see a neurologist on Friday but my son is taking me.

I hope all of you and your families are keeping safe.

Big hugs Whiff, what a fright for you. Hot cup of tea and a brownie made with your recipe coming your way over the web! xx

I've not been on today because my dog could have drowned this morning. I was talking to someone and not watching him as usual, and he fell down a riverbank. I've been in a bit of a state.

Hope all are keeping warm and well and have lots of supplies in xx

OMG Shandy! What a horrible fright. Poor dog. Poor you.
Whiff would you be able to have a soak on a warm bath tonight? I found that my muscles had sort of seized/tensed up after I fell over once. It did help (but I had such a struggle getting out of the blooming bath it was my second last ever one) Might be worth your whole though.

Sigh. While!!

Shandy57 how awful. Hope you are both ok. How old is he? Take care the weather's going to be worse tomorrow. Storm Denis on the way.

Jane10 thank you. Due to problems with my limbs haven't been able to have a bath for 32 years. Because of how the shower cubicle is here won't be able to shower until my stability is better. That problem is being solved end of March when I have my new shower room fitted complete with fold up chair fixed to the wall. It will have legs and arm rests so when I not so well I can still shower.

Oh Whiff I hope you won't feel too sore in the morning. It could gave been a lot worse.

Shandy it's scary when your dog gets into trouble. Was the river fast flowing? Our retriever jumped over the cliff once but luckily didn't land on the beach, he got caught up in brambles and grasses. Just a few damaged ribs but we were all distraught, especially the children.

oh no! Whiff and Shandy, hope you are both feeling a bit more mentally settled. What a dreadful shock, you have both been very lucky.

Oh Shandy, you poor thing. Many, many years ago we had a young dog (clone for Tramp in the film Lady and The Tramp). Any family was on a day trip to Oxford and we walking over a bridge with a lowish wall at the side. We could see over that this led to a good drop to The River, but dog could not. My young son had taken him off his lead and usually he was v. good at walking to heel. But his curiosity got the better of him on this occasion, and without looking he jumped over that wall. Imagine his shock as he fell about 10 feet into the river!!! Problem was there was no bank there and he just had to keep frantically swimming. My son was even more frantic and raced ahead off the bridge and eventually found where there was a bank and called him there. Silly animal - never again did he 'leap before looking'. Fortunately he was completely unharmed.
Not the prettiest dog in the world, he had a great belief that everyone loved him as much as our family did. Once, we were in Hyde Park on a very hot day, and he decided to take himself for a cooling swim in the Serpentine. Nothing too wrong with that, except when he wanted a rest, instead of returning to the bank, he went to the nearest trippers on a rowing boat and rested his front paws on that!!!!
Do hope you and dog are over the shock,Shandy. Do let us know how things are going in the rental cottage.

How frightening Shandy. Our dogs are so precious to us, they give that totally unselfish and unconditional love.

Thank you all for your good wishes. To add insult to injury I've got a cold. Been years since I had one. Got 2 bruises on my left leg 1 on the right and 2 bruises on my left arm. Luckily all the swelling has gone day. Thick tights under trousers saved my legs from more damage , got my ankle boots on so think that saved my ankles. Had my thick Regatta jacket on and that saved my arm. Unfortunately my jacket now has 2 small tears. I will buy the same sort again as it's waterproof and windproof.

Shandy57 hope you and your dog are ok. And now safely in the rental.

SueH49 how is your husband doing?

Best wishes to everyone else. Stay safe .

All going reasonably well with husband Whiff. He has gone to rehab today for a week, maybe more. He wanted to come home and do out patient rehab but one of his specialists pushed him into in patient rehab. Ideally he should 2 to 3 weeks. We really have underestimated the recovery time from this.

I've had to give myself a good talking to as I was falling into the trap of not doing anything - as my Mum would say "so much to do and don't know where to start so I'll do nothing". Unfortunately doing nothing is not really an option for now with just 5 weeks before we settle on our sale.

I have a few potential rentals lined up but none are able to be inspected yet so I just have to wait until they are. I know we will not be without a roof over our head but it would be nice to know where it is going to be.

I think I have broken our paper shredder in the process of clearing out decades of papers that have collected. How I wish we had a fire place and they could be burnt. Although with the temperature in the 30's I don't think I'd want a fire going.

Take care everyone.

Goodness whiff, you were lucky not to have broken a bone or opened the skin. I learned only the other day, from my sister who is a nurse for the elderly in australia, that it is highly important to moisturise the legs particularly the lower legs. She said anything would do, a small bang on the shin could mean an ulcer if the skin breaks.

Sue I must say that I am glad that your husband has gone to rehab for a week. I am sure that exercises are uncomfortable and if he is typical male, he will moan to wifie but it will be stiff upper lip in front of strangers. He will make better progress I am sure. So Sue, you really are on your own doing all this moving prep. I hope you can call someone in to help, it is very daunting but little steps add up.

SueH49 glad you husband is having rehab. By the end of the week he will probably feel stronger. Hope you are taking care of yourself. All the best to you both.

Craftyone when I had jaundice the dermatologist drummed into me how important it to look after your skin. Whilst I was ill I used a steroid for the worse skin. Washed in double gel and used 500 lotion all the time. Since that time I use 500 lotion everyday on all my limbs face and body. My skin has never been in such good condition. I'm sore today but the pain is nothing more than usual. It's my cold which is making me a misery. Don't get them for years but we I do they knock me about.

Regatta have their sale on. So phoned as I wanted the same sort again. Hadn't got teal so had a nice burgundy one. Told them how the padding in the sleeves saved my arm from more damage. The jacket was £35.99 and didn't charge me delivery as a gesture of good will. Saved me £3.95 p&p. It pays to be a chatter box. Jacket should have been £90.

Hope everyone is well .