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

And a photo from this morning's solitary walk.

Oh SHandy,we will all be (metaphorically) holding our breath for you today.
My daughter - whose hubbie is now in total isolation in their bedroom, spoke to me via skype,and mentioned she had no potatoes. So, knowing that my little local Tesco opens at 6 am, I went over there at 7 am,. Was a little too early, the lorry had just driven off, and a couple of men were desperately trying to get stuff onto empty shelves. One of them kindly went and found a a large bag of potatoes, but they had no eggs and no flour. She wanted to get the kids doing some baking, I will let her have some of my SR flour - I am not going to using that much of it if not having visitors. She has also asked to borrow my 'spare' kettle for hubbie to keep in bedroom, and I have also offered my old small microwave. This has been kept in my garage waiting to see if one of the teenagers would want it when they go off to uni.
She sent me a message this morning, and did sound a lot less stressed than yesterday and is allocating time today to actually be able to work (on line) with her students.
Do not understand this shortage of eggs!!! They cannot be stockpiled in peoples kitchens - and surely the hens are still laying!!!!
Today, I need to complete the cleaning of the wall to my balcony and to start painting the panels of my small patio shed that will eventually go on to that
Keep well and as busy as possible everyone.

Morning Shandy.
I'm sending out the virtual good vibes to the auction house ?
Craftyone mentioned technology RE older people. I have 2 neighbours ( both 85) one of them embraced the internet when it came along, so now she's not completely isolated because she's on FaceTime with her huge family and friends.
The other one has only just got a mobile phone ( under duress from her family) I've tried and tried to show her how to text but she just dug her heels in and won't do it.

I just looked up an article on house auctions and it was positive reading. Apparently they have all switched to auctions online and this has attracted a host of different viewers albeit virtually.
Also it said the speedy process at auction will appeal to people especially as Michael Gove (Monday) advised dropping out of usual chains to avoid moving at the moment.
Fingers crossed.

I have a lump in my throat and want to give our shandy a big hug. I watched it online via the link she gave us

Someone on here was asking earlier, about vehicle MOT's. DO hope they received the information from Gov/uk, that any MOT due after 30th March, is now delayed for six months., and they just need to ensure their vehicle is in good order.
With so many on here getting their food delivered by children/g/children, must say I felt really good and useful being able to deliver a bag of necessities to my daughters house, Potatoes, Flour, Bread, eggs and electric kettle (the latter is so that her hubbie (in total isolation in their bedroom) can make his own coffee and not having to keep getting her to run up and downstairs. She seems a lot calmer this morning. All children were sitting round dining table, each on their own computer type machine, doing appropriate school work, very peaceful, She expects that she will now have some time each day to continue her own on-line work with her students.
Know it seems the wrong way round, but trundling round to their house, and getting these supplies actually gave me fresh air and so very few people outside at all, I never came anywhere near anyone else.
I had heard of the death at Weston hospital -but do not live close to that, and would not be going there for any reason at present (I am assuming that my next appointment there for later in April will be cancelled) - so really has no effect on me.

Craftyone is the auction over did she sell it?

Hello everyone, I had four bids on the house and the highest was £235. I am very fed up.

Apparently 'Richard' from the auction has been trying to contact me.

My neighbour's grotty bungalow is on the market for £275.

Oh n, how sad. You need to find out what Richard suggests...as it did not reach its price, does it go without further charge into next months auction? Oh, Shandy, we are all so disappointed for you - dreadful time for you to have this further set-back. Please try to keep strong, your daughter is living back with you, she needs to step up and support you in every way now.

Yes, our car was due to be collected for a service today but was cancelled. It has only done 7,000 miles so hardly in desperate need. In a world where we get hung up on constant checks for everything it feels like a relief.

Great to hear your grandchildren are keeping busy with school work Franbern alongside your daughter working. My daughter is doing a brilliant job with two under 8's. Maybe we will see arise in the number of young mums going into teaching? It can be very rewarding (and dare I say it, isn't too difficult).

Oh that's a shame Shandy, we were all trying to be positive. I guess you just have to keep trying as things are changing all the time. Stay healthy.

The pandemic isolation is creating more equality, at least among our DC. The DGC are all off school and being creative. One wrote/filmed a vlog which is a video blog apparently.
Another is writing a diary illustrated with cartoons.

So sorry for those who have the virus Franbern that can't be easy for your family. I hope SiL recovers very soon.

So far, we are both well and enjoying ordering a delivery from our local community shop. They have closed the shop to customers but the young volunteers are packing and delivering fresh local produce and we pay directly by bac. So far they are doing a roaring trade. I wonder what will be in the veg box?

I thought the auction was to be later on. But all the luck in the world Shandy ☘?

Shandy, no wonder you are fed up. .
Sometimes people selling at auction accept a private offer from one of the bidders after the auction. I wish you all the best whatever you decide to do.

Sorry Shandy that wasn't meant to be. Will it go in the next one? or back on the market?
Gutted for you.

My sister and her husband are registered for the volunteer army to help nhs and my brother is in process of registering, he is already a blood biker, another who needed to be busy after his wife died

Like my sister said, it feels surreal. I did a short cycle ride, felt suprisingly strong, must have been all the heavy lifts and all that getting up from kneeling in the garden, Did a flick with a duster but I have no heart for skirtings and anything more, it doesn`t matter in the scheme of things. I am worried about dd dentist on her one day a week, they have no PPE outfits and are very much in the front tine, working so close to saliva, which is carried all around the room when they use drills and airspray. It is best for all patients to not go, only an absolute emergency. That ditty from Pam Ayres comes to mind

Shandy I am so sorry, what an absolute pain!
This Corvus 19 can’t have helped, can you put it on again later rather than let it go so very cheaply?
I would normally suggest that you rent it out , but there are so many rules and regulations that it would take ages to set it all up at the moment.

Anyway to cheer you up a teeny bit [cake]

Blow they’ve obviously sold out of cake.......

My SiL does NOT have the virus. He has lots of health issues and a very compromised auto-immune system due to these and the meds he is on, Due to this he has been told to totally self-isolate at home for 12 weeks to prevent him getting the virus. The hospital told him this means staying in a room away from the rest of the family, having sepawrate washing and toilet facilities, having his meals separately and everything else separately from the family. Concern is that the children could bring the virus home. Fortunately, all the family are okay at present.
TBH, I am more concerned about my daughter in London who had her spleen removed some 30 years ago, and is now working so very many hours trying, desperately, against all odds, to keep some sort of mental health teams operating amongst so many very vulnerable people in four east london boroughs.
For myself, I have little worries, probably being rather fatalistic about this, easy at my age. Much more concerned as to my mental health holding up.
At present do have some jobs to do - still half way through cleaning (bleach and water), the walls surrounding my balcony, then painting the different panels of what will be the small patio shed out there.
Felt good today, able to be of help to my daughter with getting her some food supplies.

Afternoon all, I've rejected the bid and asked to be entered into the April auction.

The person that had the 'winning' bid hadn't seen the house, his bidding was against someone that had.

I'm a bit slow on the computer but eventually found my auction account 'page' - there were 33 viewings apparently.
The person that had the survey didn't bid

I couldn't believe my eyes, the creepy mortgage buyer I rejected had been to view the house.

I'm now in a difficult situation really. I think I might start drinking again!

Shandy, this post may sound hard, but I do think you have some very difficult decisions to make. Firstly - seriously - do not resort to alcohol -no good will come of that even on short term.
Then you have to decide if either (A) you will not move at all - can you afford to keep that property considering how much needs doing to it, and how much it costs to run?
or
(B) Could you sell it for a much lower price than you had every imagined? It is no good comparing it to prices for any other properties locally. It is so different to them, and the places you are comparing with are those that a buyer can just move into without having to spend many tens/hundreds of thousands on essential repairs.
I would say that the house I sold last year, went at nearly a hundred thousand less than the one directly opposite to me had sold a few months earlier. Main reasons - well, that one already had bathroom in loft area, mine did not - it was purely a large bedroom meant for visiting g.children. Mine had through lounge and long galley kitchen, Opposite had large kitchen diner at rear and separate living room,. Also their rear garden, shared a boundary with the garden of the house in neighbouring road, mine shared that boundary with Esso garage in main road.
Comparatively minor differences, and Yes, had I really decided to dig in my heels and wait - I could have probably got up to 40- 50 grand more for mine =eventually!!!. But it was hard enough as it was, and once I had decided how much was the amount I needed (remember I only received half the money from the sale), for my move, I was happy with the price- and YES someone did get a good bargain.
£235 grand would surely be enough for you to purchase a small flat or bungalow or even small house somewhere you wish to live, with low maintenance costs, and easy to run.
Perhaps give it until April, and maybe ask Richard if he feels that any of those four bidding would be willing to go up twenty or thirty grand for a very quick sale.
But choices do have to be made.
I do hope this does not sound too harsh - if you were my sister or one of my children this is what I would be saying to them. Now, you understand why we all said not to give any monies away until such time as you know what is happen`ing.
Pick yourself up - dust yourself down and start all over again
GOOD LUCK

was it 2 bidders shandy?

I would sell it to that bidder, get that line drawn and start living again. Money means nothing at the end of the day and it would be enough to move, albeit to a smaller property but so what, as long as it has a small garden and the neighbours are nice. You cannot go on like this month after month, a property is only worth what buyer will pay. I would have given my house away and would happily have gone to live in a flat by the sea or to a small bungalow

I do not believe that more bidders will appear out of the woodwork and the one with the final bid may well give up and find something else. Never forget that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. the uk will be on a financially downward spiral after this pandemic, full blown recession. Get out quick

Shandy, I am sorry that you didn't get the price you wanted.

Shandy57 I'm with Franbern and Craftyone. I know it's not as much as you wanted but surely it's enough to buy you a 2, bed home which is all you need and money to have work done on it. How many more thousands are you willing to waste . I know I took less on my old house as I just wanted it all over. And have not regretted that decision one bit. Sell and get on with your life. You need peace of mind you haven't got that now.

Dental practices have new guidelines and are shutting up shop from next week, any contact is via phone, advice and prescriptions only. extra good toothcare is more essential than ever, esp down to the gum edges and using tepes. I will not be sucking any sweets or even biting into a hard apple.

Lucky are those with full dentures