Help calm me. house buying and selling stress. Part 5

Just a quick update, aunt is OK, just iodine and a melanine pad ?

I’m not alright though - apparently it is time for the rental agency to inspect the cottage, as we are still in lockdown I have to take photos of every room and test the smoke alarms? I’ll start making it look good tomorrow.

Shandy57 don't worry from what various members of the family who have rented or are renting it's normal. It's mainly to see you haven't defaced walls ,broken doors etc
Just have a tidy up don't worry about it being spotless clean as it won't show on the photos.

I speak to a friend in the Midlands every Sunday and Wednesday night. She is lovely . She was asking me if I had heard from my son and when I said no she got upset. But assured her. I was fine. The balls in his court. He says not to contact him or his wife so I'm not telling him about the echo or I will be staying with my daughter from 1st.

All you gardeners will laugh at this I have been growing some seeds ready to plant out. What should have been primula turns out to to be a mushroom/ toadstool. Think my seeds have failed in that tray or I have over watered them. I used bio degradable pots never used them before. The other seedlings that have come up I will transplant into bigger pots outside now. Have a little weed in the back for a while. Then I need to start moving furniture around just a piece a day to make room for the odd things to come out of bedroom prior to plastering. Must phone decorator with my colours for each room.

Franbern hope you had a lovely time with your family. When I phoned my daughter to check it was ok about the echo appointment she had to phone me straight back on wapps app as my grandson got upset he didn't see nana because we just talked on the phone and not face to face. He wanted to show me his trowel .

Have a good day everyone.

Morning all,

A cold wet and windy day here and likely to be the same for a few days. We had a massive thunder storm on Tuesday night. Our poor dog was beside herself. By her choice she sleeps outside albeit under cover.

This morning I have had a MRI of my knee. The result will be sent to Belgium and, from prolific measurements, a made to measure knee joint will be made specifically for me. How amazing is that?

Still no action on the house buying front here. While open inspections and auctions seem to be pretty much back to normal there just has not been anything that interests us come onto the market. Plenty of time I know and with having my knee done in 4 weeks there is no rush. Hopefully by the time I am back on my feet from the operation the market will have picked up.

The rental garden is pretty much non existent. A dozen or so yucca's and four standard camellia's in the front and a grapefruit tree, a lemon tree and another citrus tree in the back. We have just discussed adding some colour via spring bulbs or annuals. Technically we should get permission to do this so we may just do it in containers. It would just cheer the place up a bit.

SueH49 that's wonderful that the knee joint will be made specifically for you. Learn something new all the time here. No gardening for me after all today it's raining. Hope you and your husband keep well. The time will fly by for your operation.

technology can be so good these days, imaging and 3D printers to make and form complex joints, wonderful. You will be a new woman Sue

Can you send some rain here whiff? the lack of rain here is adding up and I am going to have to set the hosepipe up in a few days, lugging the watering can upsets my shoulders

A good start to today, I have just repleced one element in my very old toaster. Dualit and I think bought in 1993, I bought spare elements 2 years ago but never replaced one until today, very fiddly with awkward small nuts, washers and screws. I was so careful to replace the correct element, it has 3. I love that it can go on and on because parts are available

Bionic knee Sue very posh! I am always interested in the 3D body parts Supervet has made for dogs and cats. Even vertebrae.
Dualit appliances are great. I have a toaster too. I did get rid of my jug like kettle for a more modern one, plus it had furred up badly with the hard London water.
Off for dog walk before it gets too hot. He loves the cool water.

Had pleasant afternoon in daughter's garden. It was very hot, that garden is very much a sun trap. I sat in the shade. Earlier this year, when I started getting my daily dose of VIt D on the Balcony, I notice that I had white spots in my tan (like reverse freckles). Checked these out on internet and they are a warning that my aged skin is not able to cope with direct sunlight. So, I now use a high level protector, but just sit in the shade. Many years ago, a dermatologist told me that I will get enough Vit D from the shade as the direct sunlight. I took ice lollies and ice cream for the family, and daughter made me a lovely tall tumbler with Pimms and Lemonade.

Daughter in London phoned to thank me for the flowers and choc. She has actually taken the last couple of days off work (working from home), I have never heard her in such low spirits - she accepts there is nothing she can do, but just wants to get back properly to her job, even if it is just a couple of days each week in a very safe environment. She has a telephone consultation with her GP this morning. I feel so helpless, so far away and not able to do anything to help solve her problem.

This afternoon we have our first U3A zoom lecture - looking forward to that. Used to have lectures (talks) monthly.
I purchased a new toaster last week. Have had my old one ages - was working okay, but I am changing all those small kitchen appliances from white to black. Gave that old one to my daughter - their family one for four slices of bread was on its last legs, 2 slots did not work at all, and the other 2 slots were so very, very slow. So, now they have just a 2-slot, but a quick one. I am happy that I am not being too extravagent in just replacing an item for the sake of a colour!!

At the commencement of Lockdown I lent my 'spare' kettle to them for hubbies use in his isolation in his bedroom. I am now considering telling them to keep that I will get a nice, new black kettle. For everyday use I do not use kettles at all, having one of those hot water heater machines which I love.
My goodness, if anyone had told the 20 or 30 years ago younger me that I would replace items just for the sake of cosmetics, I would have called them a liar!!!! Still feel guilty about doing so.

Another purchase I have made this week, are some Alexa headphones. This links to my phone, so can use them when I am away in hotels or visiting people to continue having my bedtime stories read to me. Also, can use it at home, as without my hearing aids (I take them out at night), I have to have volume turned out so loud it concerns me if I am disturbing anyone else. My bedroom, shares a party wall with next doors bedroom. These headphones are brilliant, my daughter came round to set them up for me, but we still could not get them to work on voice command. Took them with me yesterday and they were handed to my son in law who took a whole five minutes to sort that out for me!!!

Nice and sunny here in Weston, I must start to remember to move the pots with the real plants in them forward on my balcony when it is likely to rain overnight as I am sure that rain water would be better for them than the tap water. At present they are covered by the overhang from the balcony above.

Hope everyone has a good day. If we have to have this horrible lockdown type thing, thank goodness it is in Spring and Summer - it would be so very much worse in the cold and dark of winter. (Okay, Sue - I know you are now going into that season over there)

Morning everyone, interesting news! Overcast here, think it's going to rain heavily.

I'm sorry to see the beach car park is reopening today, it's very popular here, back to bonkers busy.

Nothing interesting from me today, I'm not looking forward to tidying up here, will start when I get back from my dog walk. Thanks for the heads up about the rental inspection Whiff, I'll make it look as good as possible. There just isn't any storage inside the cottage, apart from the damp built in wardrobe in my room.

I've run out of cake!

Enjoy your day

I have too much cake shandy!! I baked when I wanted something to do, thank heavens for a full freezer and the cake is hidden in there

So I watched the sewing bee last night and it has certainly awakened my desire to sew again. I will not do anything at the moment, I want to make the sewing room fully functional, I need to have those pegboards, hope they will be on their way soon. In the meantime I ignored the fact that I have mountains of fabric stash and have ordered 3 patterns and sevenberry small dots fabric for the day dress with the plain front and 2 darts up from the waist. The patterns are all by the avid seamstress and are the blouse, the day dress and the gathered dress. I do like indie patterns

Craftyone I love the sewing bee but my dress making skills are non existent.
The skip is still on my drive so couldn't put out my household rubbish bin. Only when I went to my water tap on the drive did I notice it was gone. My wonderful neighbour must have lifted it over the garden wall to put it out for me. I couldn't have moved to a better place to live.

what lovely neighbours whiff. Similar here,my bins are always brought in before I spot that they have been emptied

I had one of my frozen yoghurt lollies today and by golly they are nice. I managed to get some stacking ice lolly makers, made from silicone with lids that just pull off. They are excellent and the stick is also re-usable. I had some coconut yoghurt in the fridge and have just made 4 more lollies

Not sure what to do with the rest of the day, I am at my best in cooler weather

I've just received a great kindness. I can't tell you what it is but it's made my day. I've not done any tidying yet, I'm so bad!

So glad your spirits have been lifted Shandy57.

Been awake since 5. I was tired last night so was in bed by 9. Once I've had my sleep out can't get back to sleep again. Heavy rain here today so going to make some blueberry jam. Finish the cushion I was making for my daughter's birthday next month. It has 12 yoga positions on it , but the figures are of normal women. Made her a card last year with her name using a yoga alphabet but all the figures were stick thin. My daughter is slim . But I think she will like the cushion as it's real women. I always ask if there is anything she would like and get that plus a little surprise. This year she has asked for a bag from Seasalt. She took me in the shop in Chester before Christmas
that's where I got my dress. Love all their clothes. But promised myself no new clothes until work done on the bungalow this year. Before losing the weight I only brought clothes that fit and usually in black or dark blue. Now thanks to my daughter I am colourful.

Must finally email my friend of 52 years today. We haven't see eachother for 3 years but keep in touch via text and email. The email may be in 2-3 parts depending on how I get on telling her about my son. We met at junior school aged 10.

Feeling hungary now so better pop in the shower so I can have breakfast. Have a good day everyone.

shandy, people can be so kind

whiff, the cushion sounds lovely, made with care and love, she will treasure it forever

I am determined to try and focus on what is causing my horrible shoulder and arm aches, I know it is carrying heavy things and using a screwdiver and digging for rocks. It always but always has its effects hours after the event, if I water in the evening, then it happens overnight and bang goes my sleep. I can do something about the watering, I can stop carrying so many heavy cans and have already put my hosepipe handy by the outside tap. I shall have to learn to glide around with my sun hat on and secateurs in hand, like Penelope Keith

My pegboards have been sent but it is parcelforce and they never deliver on time, should be today but I will expect them next week. In the meantime just pottering

Morning all, sunny again here but a lot windier. Outfit I'd laid out last night isn't right.

Lovely to think of you cross stitching away Whiff, home made gifts made with love.

I made great progress sorting out the cottage last night, I will be so glad when the charity shops open again. Talking of clothes Whiff, I'm going to try and make my wardrobe work and not buy any more. I'm trying everything on and if it doesn't fit, it has to go. I love patterned clothes, good you are more colourful now. As for jumpers I hope I don't need to wear huge bulky ones in my new house, I'm going to halve my collection.

During my sorting I kicked something and my injured big toe nail whizzed off, argh! It's been feeling odd all week. Light in the bedroom is bad and I couldn't find it for ages, I was knee deep in clothes, typical! Rushed to the bathroom and soaked it, hope it grows back OK. I must send a thank you note to my chiropodist, so nice of her to help me on that dreadful night it happened.

Last trip to the dump today, I've got the bin full of stinky paint in the car.

I've been worrying about locking the house up on Monday as the chubb can be difficult on the front door - I was just going to sleep and realised I will be leaving my keys inside, so won't be able to chubb it anyway. Still feels like a dream.

Enjoy your day

I meant to add that a thief has yet again been in the station garden, must have jumped the gates. Several pots I was leaving have been taken, as well as an old zinc bath. I think the auction house have been very remiss in leaving their sign up for all this time.

With the 'bad' toe nail having come off, the new one should grow normally now, Shandy. You are so very close to the end of that selling chapter of your life. Any more thoughts as to where you are looking at for your next stage? Think properties are slowly coming back on the market now - and you will be in such a good position to have an offer accepted.

Today, I have an arranged visit by the lady from my local curtain and blind shop. I will need new curtains for my sitting room, the ones in here are fine, but the colours are not really me. Also, requires a new very long curtain rail for these across the windows and balcony patio door. The present one is broken and, although, I have managed to push it in place, if I tried to close those curtains it would all fall down. She says she cannot open her shop until next month, so I cannot look at materials, etc. But at least she can see what I need to be done as I would like this before the Autumn.

Also, now have an arranged visit - next week, from my bathroom company (also local firm), He will finalise exactly what is to be done (schedule of work), but not sure if he will be able to give me a start date.
Just makes me feel that things are starting up again.

Must say how pleased I am with my Alexa headphones. They work very well, and as they are linked to my smartphone, it means that (when I am permitted) to visit people overnight or stay in hotels, I will always have my talking books and radio with me wherever I am. Useful, that they answer to the name 'Alexa', whereas the two little ones (bedroom and living room) respond to being called 'Computer' (my choice for that - I am a trekkie fan!!! )

I remembered, last evening, to move my two pots of sweet pea plants and the pot with the meadow flower seed bomb forward, and it seemed to have rained during the night, so they would have all had a good soaking. Never enjoyed anything to do with gardening, and am enjoying the fact that do not have to worry about getting out the hose for my garden (as I would have needed to do if I was still in London).

Weather not so hot today, have a little bit of tidying up to do, then plan an hour battle with my current jigsaw.

Trouble is Craftyone we see an job that needs doing and just get on with it. Never thinking of the damage we can cause to ourselves. I get very frustrated if I can't do something but persevere all the same . May take me days to work out how to do it but being stubborn I hate things defeating. Usually I work out how to do it but then can hurt myself not always just some times.

Shandy57 hope your toe isn't to painful.
The skip is still here and we have high winds. I had to rescue some plastic and bags that had blown out of it into my neighbours garden. Text my home improvements guy to make sure they fetch it today. He offered to come over which was kind of him. But I will just keep my eye on it and rescue anything else that flys off. Noticed the large safe that was in it has disappeared.

Franbern lovely to hear all your plans. It makes life seem more normal having plans in place. Also something to look forward to.

I have been having a bit of a re-vamp too franbern. My sofa is exactly the same as shandy`s big brown one, the one she managed to sell and it needs lots of cushions or a few big ones.

I have made do with the cushions and rug that I brought but the rug is looking past it and the cushion covers are getting a re-vamp. I am going to have 3 x large cushions instead of 6 assorted. I only need to get 2 large covers to make it work, I already have the cushions. I get those from pure cushions. I will just store the excess covers and small cushions

The rug has been annoying me for ages, it was cheap and now looks past best. My new one is also cheap and from costco online and a bit lighter in colours as are the new cushion covers. Cheap thinner rugs are best for here because of the underfloor heating anyway

whiff, the skip divers seem to come out at night

Just had to do a running repair on my fruit cage. It's so windy nearly got blown over. See Dunelm have starting opening their stores. Bet a lot of others will be following soon. Made 5.5 lbs of blueberry jam. Bungalow smells lovely all jammy. Take care anyone going out if you have these high winds.

the wind here is frightening, so glad I'm here and not up at the station listening for tiles!

Shandy the positives will increase every day!

I need to watch a film this afternoon, I spent the morning fastening down various nets over my hoops and I set up the hosepipe to water, I am going to leave it sprawled over the patio, no more heaving and lifting for a while. Not seen a soul again today so I will either talk to myself or watch a film

Youtube is good for old films, I happened upon old mother riley, we used to love them on a sunday as as children, oh dear, not any more. So northanger abbey it is and a mug of tea and easy knitting.