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

Ellianne - one local primary school has a trained school dog, a chocolate lab, who is there for any upset child, and also for reluctant readers to read to, and is of great therapeutic value to the school community. You were just ahead of things!

Such wise words Franbern and your family sounds so caring. There is enough love to go round in schools, in clubs and in activities, and most professionals know which children need it and when. In my school my dog, a soppy golden retriever, used to lie in the classroom and the children were allowed to give him a pat or a cuddle whenever they wanted. It wouldn't be allowed now! Pupils would cuddle up to my staff and on several occasions I smiled when I heard a child start a question with "Mummy" before the realisation set in. It all proved how secure and comfortable our charges felt. Times changed and not always for the better. Hopefully we will now get a better balance put in place.
I won't get started on SATS.

Ellianne, hear, hear!!!
I was a senior tutor for British gymnastic coaches who trained to become pre-school coaches. Very specialised training.
When I first began tutoring these, back in the 1990's I would encourage these trainee coaches not to indulge any one individual who seemed to 'climb up them' for cuddling. But if a child was upset in any way, then a cuddle was wonderful.
Sadly, as the years went on I had to revise this totally - I also became an NSPCC trainer for courses re. children in sport. We had to stop any sort of cuddling at all of these children, and even older ones, Always struck me so sad, to see a small child (maybe only 7 or 8 yrs of age) at their first or second competition, and they made a serious mistake in their routines and would cry, and their coaches were not permitted to cuddle them to help console them.
I do realise the dangers of child grooming, and know it goes on in all walks of life - sport included. But do think that physical contact of a cuddle is so very important to humans.
Must say, that all my daughters are still cuddling their own young children in their homes. And, trying, best way they can to answer their questions on this current situation. They all have worry books, where they can write down any concerns that they feel they have, also 'worry dolls' - you tell them what you are worried about at night, and they gulp it all down to help get rid of those worries.
One of those children is an Educational Psychologist, and is telling me how concerned she is about the forthcoming boom in childhood problems. They have been struggling to keep up with demand due to funding cuts for years now, and she says it is just about to explode out of control.
What with her and her older sister who has worked in NHS Mental Health for thirty years, they keep saying that it will several decades for the result of these few months to be worked through.
Two other of my children work in Education, one with SENCO youngsters, so the family, as a whole has lots of professional knowledge of young people.
Just hoping that doing away with the GCSE's and A level exams this year, may lead to a total appraisal of exams for the future and other (better) ways of assessing youngsters. And, surely, the SATS for next year 6 children has got to be stopped.

Good post Franbern but sad thoughts. Children need to be reunited with their teachers and their peers. I don't care about the 3 r s, just get them communicating face to face and bring back teacher hugging in school for the little ones.

Oh I really do hope they will start getting the children and young people back to their education establishments asap. Hopefully, soon after what would have been the half term at end of May. Probably might need to do these slowly, year by year.
Not on the educational side, (that is not the concern), but I think that the worries and mental health issues of the youngsters, worrying as they are and scared about the adult world being so totally out of control, and then being cooped up for so long - they need to go back into schools, colleges for a few weeks prior to when they would break up as usual in July for the Summer, So, that they can return totally to normal schooling in September.
To me this is the number one priority - I am dreading to think how this is effecting, and will go on effecting a whole generation. I am afraid that educational psycholiogists and children's mental health workers will be over-whelmed with the fall-out from this for many years.
I have waited on the phone for nearly an hour for barclaycard to talk to me. The voice keeps telling me they are busy but will be with me shortly!!!! Have now sent them an email telling them to stop a payment, just wanted to do this over the phone person to a person!!!

Hello everyone. I can't believe it's afternoon already. I must get some lunch.
A busy morning for me. Yoga on zoom. Though my internet cut out before the end so the relaxation went on for a very long time.
I managed to phone the council about the horrible fly-tipping which has been bothering me. The switchboard robot asked if I wanted the Kindness Team! I didn't as I needed waste management but it's good to know

Please be extra careful all of you when lifting or changing a light bulb or gardening. I got a splinter yesterday in the garden and wished I'd worn gloves.

DD at last has a phone in the new house and WiFi. She is sooo excited.

They are window shopping for houses too for when this is over.

I used to babysit in London for a rich family who had that built in hoover system. So they must have been around since the 1960s. It's funny the things you hanker after, especially when you can't have them.

Sorr, fat fingers today

*there will have to be a NEW normality soon.

Maybe "normality" was the wrong g choice of word Franbern, but there will have to be abew normality soon. For example, children will have to return to school as is happening in France on May 11th and a number of families will be desperate to move for September, our DD being one. It depends how robust the housing market is. Although there was a lot of doom and gloom about it during Brexit, reports show it was hardly affected at all.
I'm also glad rough sleepers are being helped.

One of my daughters manages a NHS Mental Health team for rough sleepers. Previously, it was almost impossible to find hostel rooms for them, many/most rough sleepers have many problems with mental health. Now, rooms have been made available to all of them as this was ordered to be done.
Unfortunately due to their vulnerability many of them have caught this virus, two of her team of NHS professionals have caught it from them, happily - both not too bad and recovered quickly.
The mark of a caring, civilised society is how they treat and care for their most vulnerable citizens (without regard to whether or not they are somehow responsible for their conditions) These people are definitely amongst those.

rough sleepers, it takes two to tango and just maybe they have been `scared` into accepting shelter. I do hope that some of these have been able to take up some of the many jobs available in supermarkets and perhaps can get a foot on the ladder of permanency

House prices will most definitely fall and shandy is in the best postion she will ever be in. House price graphs are like any share graphs, up and down and there will be a steep (and overdue) decline after continually rising. The housing market will not see a surging of activity, not until 2021 summer at the earliest. Even my EA niece, that house sale which was going to be fast and furious, it is sticking and has not yet exchanged. It was supposed to be done many weeks ago and then the virus reared its head above the parapet

ellianne, first of all there will not be a return to normality for very many months yet - not really until such time as a vaccine is being used. Also, it will be such a different 'normality' with so many people having lost their jobs, or having many more debts, many business' will not recover and will just cease.
High Streets, which were already having serious problems will find this exacerbated - I do hope that the zero business rates for small shops will be continued long after lock-down ceases,but would not hold my breath on this.
So, this will effect the housing market (except maybe at the very top million pound plus end). Fewer people able to obtain mortgages, fewer people able to find deposits. etc.
Shandy is in such a very strong position, one of the golden few.......sure she will find that whatever she feels she lost out on in the sale, she will gain when she purchases.
One of the really, wonderful positives that is round is the moment and that there are NO ROUGH SLEEPERS. Amazingly every single one of these have now been taken off the streets and have hostel, etc. places. It can be done....please let that continue.

Franbern I would absolutely have a ducted (built in) vacuum. If there is not one already in the house we buy we will have one put in. We bought ours new 30+ years ago and it is still going strong.

If businesses and households are allowed to return to normal fairly soon then the housing market will undoubtedly see a surge in activity. As for prices dropping dramatically I am not so sure, but there will be bargains to have amongst properties where previous sales have fallen through or probate etc. If you can see anything you like that has been on a while Shandy that is where you can score, but in my experience properties that have not been snapped up within a few months are not the best for whatever reason. I would always start with deciding on your location and work from there. And yes, do include us all. We are dotted all over the country (/world) and probably dotty too!

Sue, I was so interested in your comments about having a built-in vacuum at your last home. I have heard about these but never known anybody who every had one. Was it good? Would you want one in your new home?
Over many years I tried virtually every type and make of vacuum cleaner, from cheap to very expensive and none of them really gave me what I was looking for.
Then a couple of years ago I discovered GTECH. I have their set of cordless upright and cordless handheld. Both at house and now in the flat I cannot fault them in any way. They are so very light to use, yet very powerful, easy and quick to charge, easy to empty and keep clean, take little storage space, even the handle on the upright can fold down. Do not now need the handheld for stairs but it is wonderful for the car. Love them AND they are made in UK..
Also for mopping hard floors - in the house needed those for the whole of the ground floor. Again tried various things, normal mop (no matter how hot the water used and system of squeezing this, floor still seemed to take ages to dry. Steam cleaner, - do have an elderly one, which I still use on small areas of carpets and rugs (also have a larger carpet cleaning machine), did not really like that. Then I discovered the Vileda 1-2 Microfibre flat spray mop -and suddenly there was my desired method. So easy, it comes with two of the microfibre cloths, and these just go into washing machine after use ready for next time. Floors are clean and dry within minutes. In Uk these sell for about £30 might be worth looking at.
Shandy,- do include us all in the on-line viewings of the properties you look at. Except for Sue, who is still in that process I think some of us are having 'withdrawal' symptons, from looking at rightmove. I still do for flats in Weston - and in doing so I know more and more how good was the decision I made to get the one I am in.
Tomorrow, I am going to do my weekly Sainsbury shop (oldies hours), and give my car its weekly outing. But today, going to enjoy the wonderful weather we are experiencing (at least in the South), top-up my slowly developing tan, and try to keep away from any sort of on-line shopping (non-essentials), and sweet snacks.

Shandy, and all of you - can I just advice you to be very, very careful about not causing yourself with some sort of injury at the moment. Much more careful than normal times. It is not the time to be needing medical intervention either for soft tissue injury of for a broken bone.
Shandy, you should not be moving up/ downstairs such heavy items. Just think what you would do if you did have a bad fall, etc. Six weeks time, sure you will be able to get a company to take everything out and dispose of them. Particularly as you can point out that the house has been empty for weeks, so no danger to anyone. It would be very worthwhile paying to have this done all in one day, and no effort on your behalf. Just collect from there smaller/lighter items that you wish to keep, leave the rest and arrange with disposal company to come whenever they way they can.
Agree with advice by craftyone about really searching NOW for you future home. You are in such a very strong position, no chain, cash in hand, - just look for properties that are already empty -and YES, obviously much lower offers. Go for it, Shandy.......you know you can.

My house cleaners are not working at the moment so I eventually accepted that I would have to bite the bullet and mop the floors myself. The mop left so much moisture on the polished tiles as well as streaks and left them very slippery and they took ages to dry so I decided a steam mop might be the way to go. Went online to look at buying one and was overwhelmed by the number available but as I could not see them work had no idea which to buy. Spoke to DS to see if they had one and he said they did but never used it (came free with their vacuum cleaner) so DH went and collected it from him (contactless collection of course) I have to say I am quite impressed with the result. Easy to use and little or no residual moisture left to make the floor slippery. If you look closely you can see streaks in some areas but nowhere as many as using the mop and a lot less effort to use.

I think I will invest in a slightly better model that also has a hand held option and will do glass and other material as well. One even suggests cleaning the oven with it. Worth a try as that is my least favourite household task and it would be good for cleaning the shower recess.

For the first time in decades I have to get used to pulling a vacuum around. We had an inbuilt one and it was only the hose that was needed as the unit was under the house.

Craftyone I agree with what you said to Shandy about being ready to pounce on possible properties. Being cash buyers will be a huge advantage, it is just a matter of the properties coming on the market and that is not happening here yet. The other thing is being able to do an in depth inspection. Agents are saying look but you cannot touch anything and I'm not sure that is satisfactory. If I'm going to spend over a million $'s on a house I want to know what I'm buying. This place is quite comfortable but it was never the plan to be here too long.

Hope everyone has a great day, nearly time for me to think about preparing dinner, it is definitely wine o'clock.

it looks as though you will be fully justified in putting in low offers shandy, when the time comes. There is very likely going to be a second virus wave and sellers will want their homes bought and wrapped up by about october to november. Keep a beady eye on homes that are empty and there will be several due to probate etc, be absolutely ready to jump in august at the latest. Look at homes a above your ideal budget and go in at offers below your budget with proviso to complete in say 6 weeks ie no chain and empty property

Alternate days is good for clearing and why are you doing all those steps? not needed at all, you are stepping and lifting enough. I know you are anxious about completion but he legally has to complete ie the money has to be in your bank on the agreed date, this makes you a cash buyer now. Time to ring around all the EAs and be forceful, tell them exactly that and that you are ready to move fast. Tell them you will be offering less than the asking price on all properties due to market conditions and tell them to weed out any seller who would not accept a reduced offer. Any time wasting will not be tolerated

It is time shandy, time to be thinking seriously about the new home, forget the `what ifs` and stride ahead, the ball is in your court now but you need to get moving

Shandy57 you be careful. Fancy you having to haul oil filled radiators about. When your daughter moved out why didn't she take all her things with her. Don't necessarily mean furniture but I think you mentioned moving clothes and other belongings the other day. When my children left home they took everything they wanted and said charity could have the rest.

You sound very focused and positive which is great to hear. I know we are in lockdown but isn't there anyone you trust who could help you. You could work in different parts of the house to keep the distance.

Unless those vinyl albums are rare no one will want them . I was shocked how picky main charities are . But found animal ones welcomed all washable fabrics. Homeless charities were very good especially those that help people off the street into homes of there own. Trouble is I don't know if with lockdown they are able to collect.

Doing all lose steps wow. Do you feel fitter or knacked? Silly question knacked. Hope you are sleeping well.
And having plenty of healthy food and of course treats.

Not pushing but had a quick look on Rightmove the areas I mentioned have 2 bed bungalows for sale ranging from £300,000 to £150,00. Just to give you an idea of cost.

You take care and try not to injure yourself.

Looks like it's going to be another nice day. There's a rose bush in the front garden and a few shrubs need coming out. Plus weeds.

Stay safe everyone.

Evening all, you have been busy this afternoon!

Sorry your cc temporarily disappeared craftyone, I'm glad you found it. My purse was stolen years ago and I don't use one now, I keep my cards/cash loose in the zippy pocket of my handbag but once I get receipts it gets too tricky, must find a proper card holder.

I've just come on because I'm feeling pleased I've thought of a new way to tackle clearing the house. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount left there, now I've started. I was so disappointed I couldn't finish clearing upstairs today, it was just beyond me. I nearly finished but ran out of leg/arm strength after 'sliding' my daughter' heavy Ikea vanity unit down the stairs (I had taken the drawers out) and two heavy oil filled electric radiators - D'longhi. I don't recommend them, they still give off an oily smell a year later.

My new method is now alternate days - one day packing and stacking in the porch, one day collecting and unloading at the cottage/garage. I'm just not fit enough to continue doing it without making a change, I am finding it too gruelling. I nearly turned back on the beach walk this morning - I am doing 11000 steps a day. We have lots of vinyl albums, I could only carry about a dozen at a time. Should finish upstairs tomorrow, then I can relax a bit. I was glad to see the overmantel, mirror and huge pot have been taken by someone. And hopefully in their house, not the hedge up the road.

Still have five weeks, I can do this

Glad you found your credit card Craftyone. Hope the other remote turns up Franbern.
Grammaretto it was from e bay this is the description. Folding pruning saw good, quality heavy duty bush, tree branch cutter. It's got Toolzone written on the blade. Had it from seller called jagstone.ltd from Boston, Lincolnshire. Push a button to release the fold out blade and then push again to fold back. I used it to cut through various size branches and roots on very old rose bush, 2 trees and holly bush. Hope that helps.

Is yours a bow saw or a pruning saw Whiff? I have been eyeing up some stray branches in our patch.

I investigated the pile of litter and found a letter addressed to a man in a town 10 miles away. It was from the Sherrif Court. I don't think I want to argue with these people.

DD took the DGC to a very nearby loch for a picnic. "This is nice mummy" said DGD. "Can we come here on holiday?"

So annoying with that credit card. but it is better to be safe and at least you do not have to worry about it being used by someone. New one will come quite quickly.
I have lost one of the two remote controls for my garage. The company can replace this I(at a cost), but as they have to come to 'join' it up that cannot be done at present. So, every time I use the remaining one, I guard it as if it were gold.
Today, I have finally got round to giving my larder fridge a good clean. Been meaning to do this since lock-down began, but found an excuse each day Glad it is finally done.
We had been told to expect much cooler weather today, and it was this morning. but sun is glorious now in totally clear blue sky - so I had my half an hour sunbathe (Vit D intake) on the balcony this afternoon and drank a glass of milk with mashed up banana in it. It was really lovely and virtually guilt free.

you are tenacious whiff, well done on tackling that rose. It turned up, my cc was on a side table, oh well better safe than sorry. Telly time for me too now whilst knitting. Early risers ie larks do tend to get most work done before lunch.

Craftyone is right as it was an auction sale should be a firm completion date. There was went my brother and sister in law brought their house. Neither party could change it. Also rest of money has to be paid on completion date by set time or penalties are added for every 30 mins it is late.

Sods law you will find your credit card at bed time. Like you Craftyone my husband was my one and only. Frightened me to think of spending the rest of my life alone. But he was irreplaceable. After 16 years to set in my ways. Did get chattered up a few months back by a taxi driver. It was only when I told my children separately how the conversation went they told me he was chatting me up. He was a widower of 10 years. I was totally clue less.

Spent another 2 hours battling that big rose bush. Finally triumphed. It's out. Only took 3 days of trying. My tree saw off e bay is great only cost £7.99. Even with my dicky hands I was able to use it with great effect.

Having a rest for a few minutes then portioning out my sausage stew into 6. Then lunch and telly time.

Here is me getting all excited about half a pound of butter and now I have mis-placed my credit card, silly me, I only took my card in my coat pocket and never put it back into the purse, I was so concerned about washing my hands etc. I have looked over everywhere and have bitten the bullet and reported it as lost. I tell myself all the time, not to put these things down while I do other things. I bet it turns up but then again, it could have slipped out of my pocket

Is there a firm completion date as agreed at exchange shandy? I think that is usual and he would not be able to change that date without quite severe penelties. Don`t agree to any extended completion and I do agree with you sitting on your hands for now