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

Morning everyone, pinch and a punch for the first of the month!

This storm is the worst we've had here, I lay awake for ages listening to it. I feel anxious about going up to look at the house. The cottage open fireplace is in the centre of the lounge and the wind is actually blowing the cardboard box I've covered it with, and the kitchen extractor thing over the oven is clacking and banging. I've just noticed the person who owns the acre of land to the right of the cottage garden has her washing line alongside my fence - what a strange place to put it, I'll have to look at their underwear. I am looking forward to letting my puss cat out but hope the neighbour's unneutered tom doesn't terrorise her. When we lived in London there were far too many cats in our small area, awful territory fights in the night.

No beach today unless the wind drops, I can't risk my dog getting sand in his eye again, he's been in the vets twice over the past few years because of a grain stuck onto his cornea.
My friend criticised me because of my worrying about my dog, but it's just me and him, he's my mate

I made great progress with my legal pack paperwork last night and feel a bit more relaxed about it. Apparently I can do the copying in our local library between 10-1 tomorrow.
Unfortunately I cannot find either the electrical certificate or building regulations certificate for the annexe conversion, but do have a letter from the surveyor saying he'd forward them when received. I am going to have to write to him and ask if he can help me trace them.

Have a good day whatever you are doing

Shandy there was a programme about cats and their territory, it was found that the cats adapted their going out to fit in with when other cats were in! Hopefully this will be the case for your cat.

Shandy those missing certs were the sort of thing that flummoxed me, solicitor can work around them with indemnity insurance but it may never come to that.

Wind is nasty and we can do nothing about it, it makes people so uptight and scared. I used to envy my neighbour who used to switch his hearing aid off.

I have finished for the day, started early, had a coffee and lunch, I was like a beaver once I got going, I thought it would take me a few days but I did it all in 5 hours. 3 tip trips and the men put my corten steel planters to one side destined for the community shop, I saw the official man loading them so was happy. I always get a cheery word and smile from these lovely men

I am forward planning today, decided that I can never go wrong with 80cm tall vegtrugs, they are making perfect dividers here, not casting much shade like my willow trellis which was always battered by wind. Removing the trellis and 4 bulky planters has opened up the nice big patio behind my house. 2 more vegtrugs will go in but in a different place, to keep the open aspect and help create a utility area. I love wood but cannot be doing with wood, care and the fact that it eventually rots and is heavy. Aluminium ones for me now

My tyre warning light came on and I am thankful to have a gauge and mains pump at home, was ony one tyre, only a bit lower than the others. I check all first with an old fashioned metal gauge that pops up to the pressure

G and T this afternoon for definite, cranford is on at 2.25 on drama, perfect for old fashioned slow tv. Several are on and they finish at 7. I admit that I do love days like this, when I have worked and see a real difference. Very satisfying

Craftyone think you deserve that drink. Inspired by you I have been trying to plan my gardens. Only pen and paper at the moment no actual work. Decided what plants I don't want to keep. My son has asked if he can have them for his garden which I'm glad as I don't like to get rid of plants unless they have died or are weeds. Told him about the rubber stepping stones so he will work out how many I would need. Also he said I would be better with an electric awning . Saw some nice ones on Primrose site.

Shandy57 I had to have an emenity for some missing paperwork cost less than £100 for it. Seems there is always a way round things but of course it always costs money. Your friend should realise your pets are part of your family and mean a lot to you.

Hi all, good to hear what you've been up to today. I'd love to go to the Chelsea flower show this year, I might arrange a trip down specially. How very posh Whiff, an electric awning! My aunt was going to have electric lounge curtains, but she has now spent the money on prepaying her funeral instead. I did offer to pay, but she wanted it all wrapped up.

The wind has dropped a bit and I've finally finished checking and rechecking the paperwork. So fed up, I've gone daft, I can't work out how to make the printer work attached by a cable to the laptop like the old days before Wifi! Keeps referring me to an 'app'. As I'm on this temporary wifi I can't attach it to wifi, thought it would work with the cable. Will just have to handwrite my letter to my solicitor with all the info tomorrow.

Thank you for the reassurance about the missing paperwork, I think my late husband had taken it into work so it would have been destroyed by his company - they never offered me his desk contents, I suspect photos also went at the time. I had to clear his lease car out the day after my husband died as my son wouldn't come home with it in the drive, he was so very upset, heaven knows what I chucked out then I was in such a state. I did find a lot of kitkats - he knew I disapproved of the Nestle company because of the dried milk scandal, and I never bought them.

Thanks for that bit of info midgey, my cat had a huge territory up at the station and we were only bothered by the odd feral farm cat once or twice a year. Stupidly I haven't got a signal to call her, I use her name, I'll start shaking the biscuit box today.

Off to try the beach, it is hard on my dog here as it is so much smaller and he can't take himself off out the cat flap.

More Crown for me tonight, what a marvellous drama, I'm really enjoying it.

Enjoy your evening.

Shandy - I wouldn't worry too much about certificates. My buyers were difficult but did not query that I didn't have electrical certificates etc. When I had electrical work done the electrician did not give me a certificate. Generally having correct paperwork seemed much less important than I expected.

Shandy57 you made me smile I thought I would be strong enough to work a manual one but as my son pointed I can always depend on my hands and arms doing what I want. I always hand wrote letters as I don't own a printer. We did have one but it broke a few years after my husband died and never bothered to replace it. Because my hands shake I always write in capitals or no one can read my handwriting. Sound as if I'm an old crock. Not really but like everyone we all have problems but with a bit of common sense we make the world around us work for us. Find my walking stick handle very handy for reaching things.
Didn't fancy the crown but am watching Wisting on iplayer. Really enjoying the pottery throw down as well.

I am another whose handwriting is becoming unreadable. My hands don`t shake but I just cannot do nice writing any more, it used to be very neat. Maybe it is lack of control of the writing implement, I do know that my hand aches quite quickly. I used to take masses of notes at lectures at age 40+ no problem with aches then

I loved the crown, I thought it was one of the most enjoyable programmes I ever watched and it filled in the gaps from when I remembered a little bit, like at the coronation, Mountbattens role and so on

As it has been windy today I was thinking about our electric awning. It had a clever sensor that if it was too windy and bouncy it would pull itself back in so it didn't break. Thinking about it, I'm surprised it didn't play a tune too!
We have decided to redo our bathroom in the house and think we will take out the bath and have a big walk in shower. We got the idea from a hotel room we stayed in in Windsor last weekend. It had a sort of (non slip) slab for the base rather than a shower tray.
I think The Crown is brilliant too especially when distant memories crop up. I enjoy history and royalty. Last Sunday I attended Evensong in St. George's Chapel as my husband was singing in the choir. It felt weird to sit in seats of previous monarchs and their families. The light was fading, the roof was amazing and it was all very etheral. I almost had a tingle down my spine.

Hello Everyone,
Today is the day we get the keys to our temporary abode. We will collect them and then go and fill out the 71 page Entry Condition Report sent to us by the agent. What a detailed report it is, mainly photos of pretty much everything you can think of in a house as well as the garage and shed. I would imagine it will take us quite some time to look it over.

I too loved the Crown and was quite disappointed when I watched the last episode of the third series. I do hope there will be more. I read there is supposed to be another two series. I also enjoyed The House of Windsor and found that interesting.

Shandy, our dog, like yours will have a lot of adjusting to do in regard to her backyard. She currently has two acres to roam/run around and in a couple of weeks she will have well under a quarter of an acre. I guess she will cope but I do hope she will not get too bored and start barking. Not a good way to impress new neighbours. I will have to try and find someone who can walk her on a regular basis. Lots of changes for us all are about to happen.

SueH49 hope all goes well today for you both. The only time we rented was holiday cottages after years of caravan holidays. It's been interesting hearing all your experiences regarding renting. Hope your husband is getting better. You must be counting the days to leaving your home and it belonging to someone else. At least you can move into the rental at your own pace and not have a mad dash on completion. Hopefully your dog will settle , he will have a lot of new things to see and smell. Barking dogs have never bothered me . I fine noise from neighbours reassuring that I'm still alive. Apart from my radio and later in the day my TV I am quiet. Of course that all changes when my grandsons are here. What's the old saying change is as good as a rest. Now I think about it doesn't really apply to moving house. Take care.

Sue, on the move at last , embrace the change, it keeps us young

It is going to be a lovely day today so my task today is to clean the grubby patio slabs. I have a new karcher pressure washer with a patio cleaner head, round and flat. Never used this new karcher before. Time to turn on the outside tap, was turned off in case it froze.

I cannot start until the delivery of my new log basket. Again, forward planning, I decided to keep a stack of dry logs in the hall. I chose a tall rectangular basket on wheels and with handles, it cost a lot but will last, like my collection of carry baskets that I use all the time. I cannot understand why I never see anyone carrying a basket to the shops any more, they are so useful. The oldest one is 45 years old and I remember buying it at a county show, I remember thinking that it was expensive but is still like new and I use it all the time, it holds stuff for recycling and for the garage. Like all crafted items, they take time to make and time is money

If anyone has aches, I recommend napiers capsicum and ginger warming cream, it contains 9 ingredients including arnica. I used it last night on my shoulders and again, I slept through when by rights I should have been tossing and turning with aches from the lifting I did

Breakfast now and I hope apc turn up early, I am itching to get cracking on the patio. The slabs are rough concrete and non-slip, much safer in ice but they gather dirt

Another busy day for you Craftyone. I used to love shopping with a basket. I've had it since I was 12. My parents brought it for my for HE lessons at school. It's large ,oval and deep. But since having the children it's been used for toys, then crafting supplies but since moving here it's used to put my recycling in . It's so easy to carry to the wheelie bin outside. Don't know if you remember the elasticated plastic covers you used to be able to get for them. Wonder if they sell that sort of thing anymore? Funny how reading everyone's stories here brings back a lot of memories for me. Mostly happy.

Put my slow cooker on at 6. I prepared the veg and brisket yesterday so it was just an assembly job. That's my dinners for the next 6 days sorted.

Off to sit fit this morning. Haven't been for 2 weeks due to my fall and high winds.

Have a good day everyone and have fun with your cleaner Craftyone.

Morning all, a cold but sunny day here, nice to read that you are all happy and busy.

SueH49 wishing you the best of luck in your new rental. I was so surprised to find absolutely nothing here, I thought they'd at least have a guide to the oven/heating etc, hope you can 'work' everything when you move in. Thinking of you.

I'm feeling ridiculously nervous about going to the library to copy everything, isn't it silly. I'm going to take my dog out for a quick village walk then go. I've got my staple extractor and stapler, it's just such a lot to copy, I hope I can have the copier to myself. Just so nervous I've done it all wrong, comes with having a lack of confidence I suppose. I'll be bringing it all back to the cottage to put it all together, then delivering it and taking my dog to the beach to relax. I do feel very detached from the station now and have included the curtains, I will have blinds in my 'new' home, I don't want to have to hang curtains again in the future. The rail here fell down when I pulled them, and I was teetering on the ladder trying to fix it, I don't want to have to do that.

Enjoy your day

PS Whiff I have a stair basket, really handy. I stopped using my open shopping basket as I was scared someone would pinch my purse.

I am glad you are detached now shandy, I realise it is a period of limbo for you, neither here nor there. Chin up, you have gained so much knowledge and confidence, it beats sitting in a corner waiting to get old

Patio is done, oh these things are so difficult to work out, the instructions are rubbish. I could see the green water moving and at least it will dry today. Log store is arriving soon and then I will get another 10 bags of various compost for my trugs, which I expect will be delivered in a couple of days. I do like being busy

I am shifting things about to make room for dry outdoor furniture covers, hence the logs will come out of the keter mini store. I am going to find some osmo stain/oil for my new bench, I bought 2 small pots last year. It is very good stuff and will help my bench to last. I need 3 dry days and must keep some large cardboard to protect the patio and bench because will I do under the bench too

I used to be jealous of the girls with their gondola baskets, doing cookery while I did science. Their beautiful christmas cakes and baskets of goodies to take home. I did cookery for one year, my first lesson was making tea and toast!! that when I could cook a meal for 9 in a pressure cooker at home, still it was nice sitting eating in a group

Hi all, I went to the library and it was a new fangled machine and the librarian had to do all the copying Luckily I'd found my staple remover so managed to get organised in a very tight space by the copier, and she did a few singles that had creases on their own, then the whole pile of 80 pages in one lump. Machine jammed, huge hoo ha, impatient looking people at the desk, I wasn't popular! Had a quick wander round the charity shops then came home and tackled it all, restapling and collating, then hand delivered to my neighbour's partner who was very luckily at home.

I did email my hostile surveyor and he has just sent an email with a copy of my Buildings Approval and Certificate of Completion, not sure what I owe him yet, but I've forwarded his email to my solicitor's office and have had to ask for them to print out and add to my Property Info Form.

It's not over yet is it, I'm going to be asked for all manner of things and need to continue sorting out twenty years of bad filing!

Shandy57 glad you feel differently about your home. You will feel relieved when it is finally sold. Then you will be able to look to the future and what you want out of life. Hopefully you will start to look at properties to buy.

Has anyone here sold old jewellery to one of these companies that buy old or broken things for cash through the post?

Hi Whiff, just coming on because I've got a 40 minute wait for my dinner, I do miss the microwave! Thanks for the encouragement, I do feel as though I have gone a bit mad sometimes, the sale of the house has dominated my life for sixteen months and now 36 viewings, and it's not over yet. I have been looking at houses, I wish I could afford a bungalow, I'm finding these narrow stairs here quite difficult and put off going up to the bathroom! I have another viewing on Thursday so will go to hoover on Wednesday, curtain pulling and polishing etc on Thursday morning.

I've not sold to one of those companies, are there any reviews on line about it? So many scams around, isn't it good that we are so on the ball. Although having bought things from Amazon with good reviews and having been disappointed, I'm not sure I believe all reviews are genuine. I was upset my daughter didn't want my Mum's jewellery, only costume, but I'll keep it until she's older as she may change her mind.

Hurry up veggie curry! I am sorry I haven't got any nan bread, but remember it was something silly like 20 points on SW, so best I haven't got any!

new houses have to have a decent size hall, wider stairs and a downstairs toilet with easy access. I could easily have a stair lift if I ever needed one. I only started to use a microwave because one was built in here and now I use it every day. I got one of these
www.lakeland.co.uk/71124/L%C3%A9ku%C3%A9-Microwave-Cookware-Red-Shallow-Steam-Case-650ml

and it has enabled me to eat veggies every single day, even on days when I am working all day. I sometimes put a piece of salmon on top of the veg, sprinkle some herbs and cook 6 minutes. It makes me eat well

Shandy, I know you still have a long way to go with regard to selling The Station - but it is good to hear that you seem, now, to be well on in the process of mentally detaching yourself from it and forward thinking to a new home.
If you do go for a house, do ensure it has a downstairs toilet - and can be future-proved (if necessary) with regard to wide enough stairs to take a stair lift, etc. It needs to be looked on as your forever home. And, do keep on looking at bungalows -may well find one that you could afford.
Could you not put your microwave in your car and bring it to your current home? They are very easy to move, unless built-in - and if that is yours might be a good idea to purchase a new one now.
I am having a very pleasant trip to London, catching up with several of my old groups, etc. This afternoon I will be going to my old knitting group, and tomorrow morning, just before starting off back home will be visiting a weekly discussion coffee group I always attended.
Have been fortunate that the weather has been cold, but bright and sunny. I mentioned to my daughter how I miss being able just to 'pop in' to Ikea in my new home as it is the other side of Bristol. For Chingford, it is ten minutes down the road, - so we went on Sunday morning and I got a few bits and pieces to bring home with me. They are very good for food container covers to replace cling film.

Morning all, I want a piece of salmon now craftyone!

Glad you are having a pleasant time Franbern, I do miss the old smoke - and Ikea! Those bags you recommended craftyone (with zips) were great for my move. I will get my microwave and toaster today, my toe is finally starting to get better, it's now been a fortnight. I do admire nurses, I can hardly look at it, it's absolutely frightful.

I spent last night going through old paperwork again, since my husband passed I have forgotten so many things and found our original searches for the Station purchase. His name cropped up a lot, a common name for naughty people! Have you all kept your mortgage documentation? I have so much, a huge amount, but am not sure whether it will ever be required again. A sentimental journey looking through the kids paperwork - I found the most beautiful poem my son wrote about a Christmas tree.

Just wanted to say I was nervous this morning as it's my cat's first day out. I have to put my dog on the lead as the 'yard' doesn't have a gate, I went outside with him and called her, but she just peeped out from the kitchen doorway and went back upstairs. I have given her breakfast, and will try again tonight. There are many, many birds here, as well as baby bunnies, hopefully I won't get any 'presents'.

Off for a village walk this morning as the tide is in until 1.30 pm, will go to the station afterwards, beach later. I have left the landing light on and realised last night this is rather silly as it is costing money, as well as possibly shorting the house if it blows.

I haven't heard back from the Halifax regarding my husband's account yet and keep speculating on what amount I may receive - whatever it is I'm going to gift it to my children for their savings.

Better go, I feel a bit groggy this morning, woke up with a sniffly nose.

Have a good day

I think Shandy is a babe compared to some of us so maybe her next home won't be her final one.
I am thinking about my in-laws who kept trying different styles of living. The only thing they never did was to build from scratch. They restored 2 houses from derelict. Now they are in their mid 90s they have stopped talking about moving house!.
We had a lovely look through their photo albums yesterday, trying to work out who everyone was and to label them!

I do agree about having a downstairs loo. We had one put in.
How nice to see your old friends and haunts Franbern. It's not so far away.

We didn't actually set out to choose a bungalow, infact we only viewed two amongst several houses and ended up buying this one. I think it was location that really swayed it but subsequently we have discovered many advantages.
It is of course easier to get out of bed, stumble into the kitchen for a coffee, go back to the bedroom to grab some toiletries, head for the shower, back to the bedroom to get dressed, into the kitchen for breakfast, back to the bathroom to clean teeth etc. etc. all in a few steps. That path must have a permanent trodden indent.
Then there's the sociability aspect. I know many of you live alone but while there are two of us it's quite nice to be closer together to chat as we go about daily chores and even when family come to stay it's quite funny and less formal bumping into people getting dressed or just pottering from room to room. And we're also hoping it will be cosy and compact for one on their own too and easier to manage.
Shandy the dog and cats love it too and find different areas to stretch out. In our previous house we used to have a stair gate for the dogs which was a pain and several times cats got shut in accidentally in upstairs bedrooms (even once when we went on holiday!) The garden wraps round the bungalow so they have plenty of exploring territory and pop up all over the place.
I could go on ........ the only downsides are that you get bungalow knees and it is actually just as costly to heat because the warmth has further to spread round more corners.
Franbern I know Edmonton IKEA was on a busy road but be prepared for a scary drive on the roads around the Bristol one if you end up on the motorway. Cribbs is equally frantic too. Luckily we have a lovely new IKEA on our side of the estuary just outside Exeter. We have joined the family loyalty card.
Have a good day everyone.

I am glad you are enjoying yourself Franbern. Have you persuaded anyone else to move to the west country yet?

co-incidentally this morning I shredded legal documents for my last house, the ones that referred to the land registry, that the solicitor sent. I need the shreds anyway, for the new tiger worms in my compost bins. They are digesting compost quicker than I can provide peelings

Cafty have you disposed of EVERYTHING relating to your previous house? I can't remember the rules because several of our main houses were businesses and we had to keep everything for 7 years. Are residential properties over and done with at the point of sale? If yes, I'll go and look for my shredder too.