Help calm me, house buying and selling stress. Part 4

I read this thread every day even though I am not buying or moving . I moved here to a granny annexe we built with my DD and her OH , over two year ago,they have been great
Anyway why I am posting
I darent move without my phone and stuff it in my bra in the summer when I have no pockets , my kids are sort of horrified !

My mobile phone case has a wrist strap. But have used my bra to pop things in not big things as I'm not well endowed in that department. My brother has had his orthopaedic appointment cancelled it was for January 2021. That's forward planning!

Daughter and two g.children have given my patio balcony a really good scrub with bleach and hot water, also ensured that the drain on it is clean and clear. Have really done an excellent job and I 'paid' with making them all lunch. Saved me £120 for professional cleaners!!! The two reclinking chairs and two small tables that I purchased will go out there perfectly. May add to to the chairs. Now looking for a small patio storage shed type thing to keep these chairs/tables etc in the winter months.
At least with the summer weather promised for this weekend I can now use this outdoor area.
My g.son is ten years old on Saturday, his birthday party at the local Clip & Climb place has been cancelled. My daughter and her husband always go out for a family meal on each birthday, allowing the birthday person to pick which type of restaurant. That has now been cancelled, but are going to have a take-a-way on Saturday and I am invited round to join them for that.
Dismal weather out today, by I am going to have my daily trundle around the park, etc shortly
Just to say, that this morning - on her way to me my daughter popped into her local very large Tesco to get a few things including milk. None to be had there. So, she and I went over to the little Tesco nearly opposite the flats and there was plenty there. Seems as we will all have to start trawling shops to get our normal supplies.
My oldest g.son, working so hard for two further A levels (He already has two under his belt an A and B), needs a further A to get on to the course at the uni he has chosen. He was really stressed out, but as projections for the two he is working for at present are A -he has been persuaded to calm down, continue working and even book accommodation at his chosen Uni.

Just to give you all a little laugh (a puzzled one), when I was cooking the Pizza for the 16 r old and 10 yr old, I asked if they would eat some salad with it, if I prepared one. Ten yr old, being honest said 'No thanks', but the 16 yr old asked 'What Flavour'??? Could not think of any better answer than 'salad flavour. When I asked him a bit later what he meant, he seemed as puzzled as me and his Mum.

Hi all, just back from Morrisons which had the empty shelves you've all been mentioning, but I got the few basics I needed, including my dog's special dog food, Encore. What a change in the British diet with pasta so in demand, my late mother in law used to criticise me for serving my husband pasta. Said it wasn't a 'proper' meal. Had a shock when I went to pay - card was missing. I'd paid a bill in the car outside the station earlier, I kept my fingers crossed all the way home it was in the drive - very luckily it was! Must have slipped off my lap when I went to check the post box.

My friend in Amersham has a choice of Sainsbury, Waitrose and Tesco, and can't get anything, she said it is now getting ridiculous. Her partner is poorly and only wants jacket potatoes, none to be found. She can't find paracetomol either, I'm just off out to get her a packet. Her partner is 77 and has diabetes, so he is self isolating. Her boss laid her off from the lingerie shop she works in today, without pay, for a month, so she's now looking at 'signing on' at the age of 63. If only we had our pensions, I feel unsure that I will get it at 66 now.

My daughter has phoned and her landlord isn't willing to waive her rent or accept a reduction until she returns to work, her brother is driving her here on Sunday. She has tried to get Universal Credit and said the phone line was engaged for 30 minutes.

I had a scary 'council tax' demand this morning threatening court proceedings - I thought it was being taken by direct debit for the cottage too, but seems I hadn't set it up. So lucky I have the money as I sold the bench.

I'm still thinking about the salad flavour Franbern. Do you think they meant the dressing like in a burger restaurant, like blue cheese, french etc?

shandy, I hear that tesco are trying to employ very many p/t workers, all sorts of shifts and hours. Maybe dd could apply. Worth a phone call

dd is very stressed, the only dentist in work out of 6. Will only be emergencies very soon and she will be working 1 day a week shortly, as will 4 of the others on rota, equipment is in short supply. She She and her husband are both key workers and have no idea about which schools are taking their children. Poor thing, she has been carrying the work for days and has had a bad stress headache every night. The vulnerable patients have been contacted and told not to go in. What a flipping knock on effect this virus has caused

That's awful craftyone your poor DD.
It's a country of extremes. Here am I feeling as though I'm on permanent holiday with everything cancelled.

Our DC are at the coal face working harder than ever before and having big worries.
My DSis has 3 DC all working at their local hospital. My DiL is at ours.

I just pray it doesn't become like Italy here.

yes me too Grammaretto, son just e mailed, he thinks he may have had covid-19, had the symptoms and some breathing difficulty, he said it was mild and was saving the paracetamol in case it was not covid. People need to know if they have antibodies, so they can have some semblance of normality. He is the one I worried about, his immune system is not so good. He and his oh have self isolated for 14 days, working from home and he is very essential in IT, the bank is desperately trying to keep banking facilities going to help the economy

On a brighter note, I have managed to get a weekly delivery to my porch, small veg box, fruit box, milk, eggs and yogurt. I don`t need anything else. I definitely don`t want to go out

Sister says that tesco is online looking for thousands of workers, just an online form, interview and straight into work.

It's a very worrying time for so many on this thread especially when family members are struggling. My feelings change not just by the day but by the hour. We will get through this and hopefully the horrible memory of it all will fade. Goodnight All.

I heard that dental nurses are not key workers, every dentist relies on their nurse. So many people are going to suffer badly with tooth problems, painful and debilitating, gum disease affecting hearts and one of the causes of heart failure, lost fillings, finding mouth cancers etc. DD is down to 25% worktime. What a flipping waste of expertise, she is one of the rare breed who can do sedation and is highly trained

Morning all. Reading all your messages there are a lot of you with family working on the front line. Without all these workers the country would grind to a halt. We forget exactly how many unseen workers we really on everyday. All health care workers, delivery personal, shop workers, water treatment, power companies,local government, school workers,any one in public transport, charity workers to name but a few. There are many more we rely on that we take for granted. An enemy you can see is easier to fight but this virus being invisible is making it harder to fight also to understand. The trouble is the news insists on all the doom and gloom. They say how many have died from this but not how many people have recovered. I understand they might not know but it's always bad news. They say how greedy and selfish some people but not all the good people out there who are helping each other.
I'm not worried for me but like a lot of us I worry about my family and friends.

I suppose I am being reflexive is not feeling back to normal and had to slow right down again. Got phone consultation with GP on 2 nd so far anti seizure medicine not given me any side effects. Spoke to neurologist's secretary and she confirmed he has referred me to a neuropsychologist. Apparently they run different tests and have things that can be done to trick me brain to work in sinc with my body as it's out of wack.

Shandy57 only 5 days to go. Will your son and daughter help you move things?

Craftyone can wait to see a pic of your garden. It sounds amazing. Franbern your balcony will be to.

Hope everyone is ok. And finding plenty to do to keep occupied.

Hi everybody - another boring day ahead. I really cannot understand why food rationing has not been put in place. Remember back in very early 1970's ration tokens were issued for fuel during the oil crisis. Think it is time now for food rationing to be brought in very quickly.
Saw that emotional video by critical care nurse, and I know from my own daughter on the front line - of the problems she is having in purchasing basic food supplies. No point in having special times if the shelves are still empty - need total rationing based on numbers and ages in family.
Sunny, but cold here this morning. I will have my usual trundle to park this afternoon, and really do need to try to sort out other things to do.
Lots of on-line courses, will look into these. Some years back I started on my computer writing about my life and my parents, etc. This was meant for my children/g/children after I die. So often, I have regretted not asking my grandparents and parents questions about their younger lives. Got bored with this, long ago, add to it every few months or so - think now would be a good time to put aside, maybe an hour each day, to finish and then edit it.
Although there seems to be masses of stuff on -line for home education, do feel so sorry for people with young children trying to keep them amused for months without them being able to mix with their friends - children are social animals.

Like you Franbern I began a story of my life but got bored. Someones a subject will come up that reminds me of something I did as a child and had completely forgotten. The DC don't know and perhaps they should! For example I once travelled to France on the Lydd to Le Touquet air ferry or air bridge as it was called which carried cars and passengers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjiraM-BPr8

My little car has just been collected for its MOT. I hope it passes - or perhaps the Government will relax the rules?

I keep hearing of more disappointments. Summer holidays called off. My DGC go to a music camp which they love with a passion. All off. But you are quite right. It will be awful trying to entertain them if they cannot mix with other children. At least it will be warmer weather. Our French friend says he's been teaching his little sister chess.

craftyone that's not good that DD won't have a dental nurse. How will that work?

Keep well everybody.

Hello Everyone, at last I seem to have a few minutes to update you on our move. It has been a whirlwind. The packers arrived just after midday on Monday. Two of the roughest looking men one could imagine was not what I was expecting. Somehow I imagined the packers would be female and in fact the other to companies who quoted on the job did specify that. Anyway, the two men went into overdrive and had the whole place packed up in just over 3 hours. All that was left was literally things that we needed for breakfast on Tuesday and anything that we put aside for them to leave. In spite of their appearance they were delightful and polite.

Tuesday morning arrived and the truck and three men - somewhat less rough than the packers arrived at 7.15 am. By 9 am the truck was well on the way to being packed and I headed off to our new house - just 10 minutes away - The truck arrived about an hour later with the first load then returned for the second. All up the move in was completed by just after 2pm. These people really do earn their money it is such a physical job. However, to date the only thing broken has been a plastic storage basket. Of course we are surrounded by boxes. A couple of friends came to help us unpack and we did get a lot done but as I'm sure you movers know it will take quite some time. Funny things we cannot find - dishwashing detergent, in spite of everything else from that cupboard being found, still looking for my slippers among other things. It is also a bit of trial and error to find just the right spot for the best working outcome. Just one issue was that the fridge does not fit in the space for it so is now in the family room. Not ideal but we will live with it for the time being. Even though I did a huge cull of stuff, it is amazing that as I unpack I wonder why I did not throw out a lot of other things. Time was one factor.
So all in all we are settling in albeit slowly and on Monday will bring our dog home from the kennels where she has been for the last week. It will indeed be a massive change for her too.

Next Tuesday (24th) is the day for settlement, when all will be completed and we end that chapter of our lives.

All is well with us in relation to the virus at this stage. GS 1 started school this year and so far is still attending as normal. The end of next week will see the end of Term 1 so it will be interesting to see if the next term is started on schedule without closures. There is a lot of resistance to the closure of schools in part because of the disruption to the student's education. The ones just starting out are still learning so much about school life and any disruption to that would be very unfortunate a the ones at the other end of their education have so much stress placed on them in this final year that closures would, I'm sure be unwelcome.
One of my sons will be very safe financially if anything happens to his job -which at this time appears unlikely - he has worked very hard to establish himself and his family and protect against this sort of thing although I don't think anyone could have foreseen the impact this is having worldwide. The other son who runs his own business and has a "live for today" attitude will be in all sorts of trouble I would imagine as the products he sells mainly come from the UK and USA

Whiff, sorry to hear of your health issues, i so hope it can all be sorted out soon and at least controlled if not cured.
Shandy, I know how you feel about your upcoming auction. It is very stressful trying to anticipate what will happen. All you can do is wait and see. I'm told that places that are priced correctly will sell but those overpriced will not but over the next few months I think we can expect to see some properties come on the market as people loose their jobs and financial issues force the sale of their home.

This is turning into a novel so I'll just say best wishes to everyone and a special G'Day to those who have been unwell or needing tests for various issues.

Sue, life sounds more normal in Oz than it is here. Mind you this has all happened so quickly, last Friday things were pretty much as usual, now - school, colleges closed, supermarket shelves empty of nearly everything, public transport being severely restricted, all groups and meetings totally stopped. We oldies are being told, strictly, to stay away from everyone else. The lights on our society are definitely going out very quickly, just hope we all live to see them re-lit!!
Remember that feeling of not being able to find things in boxes. ..... couple of items never did emerge, can only conclude they were left behind (one was my old tupperware pastry rolling-out sheet that I had from the mid 1970's). Have replaced it, but new one does not have the memories for me. On the other hand things came that I had meant to leave (like my basket of clothes pegs for the whirlygig).
At least you are in now, and can spend time slowly unpacking, putting away and disposing of stuff, ready for whenever you make you next move. Hope all goes well.
I telephoned my usual ostomy supply company for my repeat prescription for these items. I did thank them all for still working and supplying us all (they arrange to get prescription from my GP and then supply the items in a box delivered right to my front door. Such an important service, as these are so very bulky. Also, yesterday collected from my little local pharmacy a number of repeat prescription items I had ordered, as usual, on line. They are also working as normal. So impressed with these shop workers and so thankful to them.

Strange day, did my usual daily trundle round park, as I went up to higher part of it, scooter shuddered to a stop. No power!! Stayed calm and phoned my daughter who drove over the park, took her about ten minutes to get there and park and find me, then she just pressed the 'RE-SET button on the battery and all was well again, except leaving me feeling rather stupid!!
Back home opened lovely Mothers Day card from my son which had me laughing out loud - on front printed was this message
MUM, JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS - I HAVE TURNED OUT PERFECT!!!!

Franbern, he does sound perfect! That made me laugh out loud. Modest too!

Sue, gosh you have done a lot since you last came on here and you sound so upbeat. My aussie sisters are both upbeat too

dd has got a dental nurse, it seems that equipment is impossible so they are having one dentist in per day, instead of 6 and it will only be for emergencies. I am going to do a round robin e mail to tell them to ask if they need temporary financial help, a loan. I have done that before and have aleays been paid back over time. I want to take a little stress of them

I have only had the news on for a short while but it seems more dreadful again, one hospital in london has run out of ventilators and that video in italy was heartbreaking. I did have a dither about my haircut appointment, after seeing that today, no way at all will I go. I will still go out cycling and talk to anyone I see but at a distance and I can drive and see dd and the dgc but cannot hug but we can talk

Outside in my garden all day, cold and windy but I have prepared a backboard for behind my new mini greenhouse, a lean-to but I just ordered a glass back, rather than the marine ply going rotten, the greenhouse has a spray facility. I never took into account that wood is not always straight. The greenhouse came and there are so many pieces, screws and all sorts. I hate putting these things together but I have started tentatively.

BJ is on now, he is showing good leadership qualities. It is very very sad, so many losing jobs but masses of jobs are appearing at supermarkets

Brilliant!! Franbern.
I had a message from DS3. "You'll receive a letter. Open wearing gloves with a letter opener! DGC probably swarming with virus"
I cant wait ......?

Yes BJ is being very clear with the advice he is giving. He is also good at thinking on his feet when asked a question. I'm relieved it isn't Theresa May leading us.
I attended hospital today for a procedure and the doctors and nurses are terrified. Seriously when I walked into the room they were wearing those hard face shields over their masks and apologised for looking scary. I am neither 70+ nor in a high risk category but I got a lecture from the doctor to keep indoors for 12 weeks because it is going to get worse in the next couple of weeks. He was a young doctor, very nice, but I could tell he was worried how the NHS was going to cope and fearful for all his team's safety.
Mothers' Day will be hard for everyone. I hope we can all make contact at a distance with our children in some way or other. Thank heavens for technology.

Evening all, I hope you've all had a good day, great to read all your news - and watch your videos, that looked terrifying Grammaretto! Did you actually sit in the car inside the plane?

Life at the moment is like being in the worst 'B' move isn't it, If this was a film, you'd think it was too far fetched and wouldn't go to see it. Bit King Kong. It doesn't quite feel real to me.

I am wondering if Artificial Intelligence programmes will be rushed through after this - I would like a robot to do my shopping at the moment.

I am also worried because I feel that I'm missing something that we should be doing, but I can't quite work out what it is.

Craftyone, I'm being haunted by 'if only' and I don't even know what for!

My daughter rang earlier to confirm how long we've lived at the station - three times she's tried to register on line with Universal Credit, three times it 'cannot verify her address'. Ridiculous, we've lived at the house for twenty years, she's on the electoral roll, how can this be?

Two viewings tomorrow, hope they turn up for the very pleasant sounding but very young man doing them. I'm so bored of cleaning ready for viewings now, it's like the hamster wheel of hopelessness, but I will make an extra effort tomorrow as it's probably the last viewings before Wednesday's auction.

Whiff - I really hope your meds kick in soon and you feel back to your normal self. I hope you have a good meeting with the neurologist and get some answers I watched a very interesting programme called 'Hospital' for the first time last night, it was about the Walton Centre, the country's only dedicated neurosciences centre.

So off to the cupboard to see what I can have for supper - I don't know what to eat at the moment, Think it might be baked beans out of the tin camping style

I forgot it's mother's Day Sunday. My son and family are insolation for 2 weeks . This will be the first year since they both moved out that I live anywhere near them. My daughter might popin . But they love me every day so for me everyday is mother's day.

SueH49 glad you have all your things with you. How is your husband's recovery going?

My shower room is going ahead on the 30th. Fitters brought supplies today just incase the builders shut down. At least everything is here ready for the work. As I had all tiles etc for it delivered weeks ago.

Had my tablets delivered today. The pharmacy is an independent one and deliveries to anyone not just the old or ill. That old fashioned service for you.

Talking to a friend earlier said near her Argos how sold out of fridges and freezers and don't know when they will be able to stock up. Are people buying extra appliances to hoard ? Makes you wonder.

Made some lemon marmalade today. Hopefully feel able to cut things down in the garden.

Anti seizure tablets I started Wednesday haven't given me any side effects yet. But only on minimum dose until next week when I have to up it to 2 a day.

Hope everyone is keeping well in mind and body.

Shandy57 crossed posts. Walton centre is were I go. It's on the same site as Aintree hospital. Which is massive. Main hospital building with different building around for different specialist departments. Can not fault the care from different departments since I moved here.

Hope your the viewing goes well tomorrow. What time is the auction on 25th? How long will you have to wait for the results.?

Can you tell me what flooring you have chosen for your bathroom Whiff? I'd rather like tiles but the anti slip ones are so ridged I think they would shred the mop. The normal ones are are somewhat slippery.