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

Happy birthday Franbern. What a lovely family gift to you!

Happy Birthday Franbern.

Fantastic, many happy returns of the day Franbern! xx

I have had the most amazing video from all my children and their partners and their children, for my birthday. It is brilliant. Must have taken them ages to make and edit. It involves every single one of them (five children, eight g.children, four partners), sending me a special message on a piece of paper, which is then scrunched up and tossed to the next person to catch - with a different message. All together it is a special birthday poem for my 'lockdown' birthday. A total surprise and far, far better than any sort of present any of them could have purchased. I did tell them NOT to send any present.

I am at my London daughter's today - but am in tears of joy and appreciation at this wonderful present, which I can keep. It is so clever, worthy of any professional production. No idea how they did it - she has admitted that it took a long time, and several 'takes' with the younger children. Had no idea they were all so clever.

A great birthday for me today. Hope everyone else is well.

Next year, hopefully, we will be able to have a real family gathering to celebrate my 80th!!!

Morning everyone, fog here today, I think I overdid my bad weather spell ;)

Glad to see you craftyone, thought you'd be busy with the children, hope you have better weather for the drive. Unfortunately I'd never be able to do that for my kids. I love the sound of your new colours, I had a look at the Gudrun Sjoden website yesterday, marvellous colour combinations. Didn't buy anything, very tempting but I musn't spend at the moment.

My dog isn't very well this morning, I'm off to get dressed and I'm going to phone the vet.

Have a good day

craftyone you seem unstoppable. I love the sound of fushia coloured cushions, I often mix that colour with orange, (picture gerbras), for clothing items to good effect.
Yes, the rain has many purposes other than just watering the plants.
Off to my weekly appointment at the farm shop where I have it all to myself for 15 minutes. I think I will make this the last one I book because they are open for everyone now in the afternoons so I can pick and choose when I go.

morning everyone, I am bright and breezy and up early again and I will be sorting my sewing room after my marathon unholstering session.

The new look sofa is very nice, the light seats are much better than the dark ones that were on there, the seats became too soft and the seat covers looked out of date. The sofa is tetrad shackleton, cost a lot initially and has a perfectly good foundation and all the leather is perfect. I am thinking of cushion colours now, away from nutmegs, browns and creams. I will be going for fuschias etc and have sent for samples. The new seats are oatmeal and have made a heck of a difference, they are still outgassing vocs that all new furnishings have but I will keep a window open and that will soon go. I am keeping all the cushion covers and the other rug is rolled up to hide under a bed. It is darker and better for seeing to the fire. So I will have a summer look and a winter look

My new strawberry runners in the strawberry bags are all growing after only 3 days, 24 runners and I have a beady eye on one almost red strawberry in a vegtrug. That rain was very welcome yesterday and the garden is growing like crazy

I am catching up with some housework today, very easy in a new build and will be potting hm sauerkraut and making easy yo yoghurt. I would normally be cleaning cills outside today but they are made from blue lias stone, no work required and the lashing rain has cleaned my windows. I have cleaned the outside twice in a whole year

Wave back craftyone! I remember sewing cushion covers for the garden swing seat and broke a few needles and finger nails the canvas was so thick.
Well done for helping out your family. Take care driving in the rain.

Just passing through and waving to everyone, I am busy right now, up to my eyes making sofa seat covers, upholstered with piping. Its hard on my finger joints but worth it to get a bright new look. Also just about keeping up with my garden and am managing to eat properly. Haven`t really sat down yet today

I am child sitting every week now, travelling there and back, around 90 miles round trip. I have to do it, I am the facilitator to enable dd and sil to cope with being back at work

I'm just watching a bidding programme and there was a knocking at the window, made me jump out of my skin! A beautiful bullfinch was cleaning off the spiders - unfortunately phone was too far away to capture him. This is a nice place to live

Thank you for the info Ellianne, so nice of you to help me. I'll research Exmouth too, I've got toothache today and feel horrible I've joined the Sidmouth facebook page to see what the community is like. It seems ridiculous to base my move on my dog but he is my only company, and I do enjoy going to the beach every day.

I won't be rushing to the shops either, I had to pop into Sainsbury's today and forgot my mask, tied my scarf round my face. People still come too close for comfort.

Enjoy your evening everyone, very very wet here.

Sue glad to hear Australia has got on top of the virus and that cases are low. My family in NZ is happy that Australia and the Pacific Islands are all singing from the sane page. It's the Americans NZ is apparently desperate to keep out! I hope your surgery goes well and that hospital visits will be a thing of the past for you. The right property for you will come by soon.
Franbern hope you enjoy your birthday weekend as much as possible. The weather needs to brighten up a bit, we all feel better when the sun is shining.
Shandy the cliffs are falling all around the British Isles, but as long as your house isn't perched on the edge or you aren't picnicking on the beach underneath you shouldn't need to worry. I get the impression you like sandy dog walking beaches in which case you need to look at Exmouth, particularly Orcombe Point. Exmouth has a hospital, train and buses to Exeter, plenty of shops. Property is probably cheaper than Sidmouth too.
I can't honestly say I will be rushing to the shops on Monday. There's nothing I really need and John Lewis can bring me my favourite toileteries and make up. It is however nice to see the lights on and activity in the local shops, although the main department store has it's new window display full of suitcases and swimsuits! Is anyone actually going to be going away?!

Debutante - I live not too far from you. There is a local Gransnet group though don't know when we will be able to get together again. Please feel free to private message me.

Morning all, rainy here again.

I was angry yesterday. By mistake I'd put out my recycling bin, instead of general waste. The men have to walk around the back of the cottages, and both of my bins are almost next to each other, I just have to drag it out about six feet to the edge of the property. As usual I'd put biscuits as a thank you on top. When I went out biscuits had gone, but they hadn't walked the six foot to take my waste bin. I rang to complain, I'm fed up with people treating me badly. I've now got to take my waste to the dump.

Nice to see you SueH49, good luck with your surgery next week. Amazing you only have so few deaths and cases there. A young girl has started a Covid Bereavement enquiry group, many here feel lockdown was too late and death could have been avoided - there were photos of her with her Dad, reminded me of my late husband and daughter. Such love

Debutante, I will be moving soon and my heart goes out to you. I hope you can find a walking partner, or find a walking group. Is there a U3A group there perhaps? I'm banking on it in my new area. I'm a bit put off my new area - Sidmouth in Devon - the cliffs in the area I'd walk my dog have had several severe rockfalls recently.

I do think lockdown has brought out the best and worst in society, it's been eye opening. I've been made very aware of my lack of friends here, I really am completely alone. My old boss from the charity shop emails occasionally but is full time carer to her grandson, she doesn't have time to socialise. Last time I saw her was a cinema visit in January. I am so glad to have my two lifetime good friends in London.

I am glad you are happy and well in your new flat for this landmark birthday Franbern, isn't it great. You won't be able to move for flowers!

My boxes are due today, so I can start repacking.

Have a good day whatever you are doing

Franbern, you have to remember there is more than 3000 kilometers between the top and bottom of Australia. Sure if you are in the northern half the temperatures are always warmer but in the south we can get quite cold days. Not of course by your standards. It is colder this year though and also has been wetter. I think the temperatures we have been having for the last month we would usually not see until mid to late winter not late autumn early winter.

Yes we feel very fortunate to be able to get together for the birthdays, other grandsons a couple of weeks ago and now this one. Have missed other family birthdays during the restrictions though including my Mum's 98th

I agree with what you say about the nastiness regarding the restrictions. Even on GN there have been some very santamonious (sp?) posts and in many cases do not even have anything to do with the original post. Oh to be so perfect that one can question what everyone else does.

Our social distancing has only been 1.5 metres between people so less than yours. We also have a requirement that there are no more than 1 person per 4 square meters in a shop etc. at any one time. We have been lucky here in that there have only been 102 deaths and just over 7000 cases throughout Australia. Yesterday there were only 7 new cases, several of which are returned travellers. Many people are wearing masks but from what I see most are not.

Disappointing for you not to be able to have your family with you this weekend but I'm sure you will make it to next year and then you can really celebrate it. Anyway hope you have as good a birthday as you possible can under the circumstances.

It is really great that Whiff and you are able to have your home improvements done still, I'm sure you will appreciate them.

Just wondering if anyone on this site lives in Chislehurst, Kent or surrounding areas? If so, is anyone interested in meeting up (socially distanced of course) for maybe a walk? Is it even allowed when arranged via this site? I’m fairly new to this area and the LD has highlighted how much I need to make some friends. I lived on the coast until recently and was perfectly happy as there was so much more interesting stuff going on down there. I miss the amazing coastal walks and walking to the butchers, bakers and the amazing fishmonger on the beach. People were so much friendlier too so it was much easier to make friends. Anyway just thought I’d ask ....

Sue, think everyone on here will envy you being able to say 'We will get together for a family party'. So many delayed childrens' birthday parties over here for past months. Not even sure how many of them will be able to run in the Autumn now.

Try to sit back and relax, perhaps it is good that you will be able to get over all the medical procedures before being plunged into the house viewing/buying/moving scenario.

Is it normally that cold there at this time of the year? We tend to think of Oz as always being quite warm - even in winter

Life is very far from normal or even close to it here. Confused messages from government who are more concerned about the effect on the economy than they are at being top of the table of deaths from this virus are leaving people worried, upset and suspicious of each other. Rules are so confusing, that most people can make their own interpretation of them.

Old folk are probably finding it the easiest in some ways, as there is no worry for them to leave their isolation as they do not have to think about either going to back to work or (for many tens of thousands) finding a new job.

I am getting quite unhappy at the amount of nastiness that I read on social network about neighbours, friends, etc. who people think are not obeying rules as strictly as they are. The Blame Game is well and truly in control - people blame their neighbours, people going to the beach on sunny days, going to countryside, having people in their homes, demonstrators (Black Lives Matter), everyone for the fact that UK has, probably, the worst record with dealing with CV19. Now, we are also being told that they are likely to being amending the social distancing down to one metre - and that chances of catching virus outside is for less probable.

Lockdown is being lifted, but in a way that encourages people to go to work - so grannies can now have a'bubble' with a family group - (whisper.....does this mean they can child mind??).

Sorry,- it is not all doom and gloom......although our glorious, hot summer weather has decided to have a little break at present, it is still long days, and nature is being wonderful. Those of us happily in our newly purchased properties are once again able to consider getting in people to do work. I am. next week. going to my local shop to choose curtaining material for my living room and bedroom. Lady did come in to do all measuring, etc couple of weeks back, but shop can now open as from Monday.

Whiff, has had her bathroom and other work done, my guest bathroom is being refitted at end of August.

It is a much nicer feel (well, it is for me), to see shops getting ready to re-open, although with so many new rules in place.

Today, I should have been welcoming my son and daughter in law on a visit , and my daughter and eldest g.daughter tomorrow for my birthday weekend. Obviously, all cancelled. I am still hanging on in the real hope that we will be able to have a grand whole family get together NEXT year to celebrate my 80th -(if I and all the family make it that far).

Good morning All.
It's been a bit quite here for the last few days. Hope everyone is OK.

Still no influx of properties coming on to the market. I know we have plenty of time but it is very frustrating. I'm quite settled in our rental and sometimes I have to remind myself that our journey is not over and I cannot just sit back and forget about finding our new home.

Not much news from Downunder. Our restrictions have been lifted greatly and over the next few weeks even more will be lifted. We will almost be back to "normal" apart from travel, particularly International travel and social distancing is still required.

I had to have an echocardigram this morning in preparation for my surgery next week. Hopefully this is the last of the tests I need. I seem to have been at a hospital, doctors or pathology place every week or so over the last few months.

Mornings with hard white frosts turning into cold but sunny days have been the norm for the last week but likely to return to rain tomorrow. Grandson number 1's birthday tomorrow so we will get together for a family party.

Cheers to everyone.

Shandy, I loved Wareham for a holiday visiting Monkey World, but not somewhere I would wish to live. Poole is nice, but horrendously expensive.

Problem with going anywhere where someone says it is important to be able to drive is what happens if sometime in the future that is not possible. I know at your age that seems unlikely, however, there are aging problems which often mean that the DVLC do not permit a driving licence.

Do consider this very carefully, even something like a fracture or problem with any of your limbs could mean several weeks or months not being able to drive - it is very risky to have to rely on that as a method of getting around. You do need to be somewhere where there is a reasonable public transport system close by.

Collected a mask made for me locally, with see through part for my mouth, so that people can see me smile when I am wearing it, and anyone who needs to lipread can also do that. Yes, I could have tried to make one myself, but local lady was doing it and offered and I accepted.

Morning all, sunny and warmish again here.

I have a fat ball feeder outside the kitchen window and a mummy blue tit is feeding her baby in it, a delightful scene

Enjoy choosing your 'bubble' everyone. If everyone could be tested every week, it would be so much easier, I wish home kits were easily available. My son offered to come up on his birthday on 22 June, but as his girlfriend works in a care home, I refused. I'll definitely see him before I go south. I've bought him a cheap laptop for his birthday, he has a video interview with Aldi. Will be good if we can Skype.

I had to drive past the station yesterday for the first time in a week as my gardener came and I had to move my car - the owner is smashing down the pagoda now. Someone had offered to buy it but it looks as though he is just smashing it up. It didn't hurt as much yesterday, I am doing my very best to look forward.

My A-Z of Exeter arrived yesterday and I am enjoying 'looking up' the roads the rented properties are in. I'm not that great at Google maps with the screen sliding around all over the place.

I've looked at the crime rates for the area and am shocked, almost every road has suffered a crime, the crime here is mainly theft of quad bikes etc, I'm going to have to wise up and become a townie again.

Thank you for telling me about the River Otter Ellianne, I hadn't even noticed it! I've started a comparison with Sidmouth and Wareham and facility wise, Sidmouth is winning. I also contacted a GN member on here who loves living in the area, and she said it is important to drive. I am thinking of leaving my car up here and buying a smaller cheaper car down there and having lots of driving lessons. I'll deal with the vertigo next. Getting my pets down is a problem I'll deal with when it comes.

Have a good day whatever you are doing

Don't spend it all at once, Shandy!!!!

Cul de sacs can be pleasant to live in, as they usually encourage neighbours getting to know each other. My last house was in one, 16 houses, and everyone was very friendly.

Must say I do find living in a flat very comforting for security. Exterior doors are always kept closed, and obviously I still have my own front door. When the small patio shed was being put together I said not to put on the lock, it would never need locking. If anyone could manage to climb up to my balcony, climb over the wall to get on to it, and then get back down that way, with anything being kept in that shed, - Good Luck to them!!!!

Thank goodness for 10-year olds, the Alexa in my living room seemed not to be speaking to me yesterday - knew it was something to do with something my Son in Law had done with it when he popped over to finish off the shed last weekend. Thankfully, my daughter turned up yesterday with her youngest for a brief visit, told them and he calmly sorted it all out for me.!!! ,

They are my 'bubble' family - except for my daughter, have not had them here until about a fortnight ago, but have been meeting up with them prior to that in the park, and then in their garden. Really felt that I was actually part of that family, just with my bedroom in a different building.

Morning everyone, rainy here today.

What a lovely post Franbern, good on your daughter for fighting for her son's education and life chances. I didn't ever have any autistic students in my FE classes, my first experience was when I volunteered as a 'helper' in reception at our local school. I witnessed some dreadful mismanagement of one child's distress, there is still a lot for people to learn. Wishing him the best of luck in life.

I've ordered lots of boxes - too many I think now - to repack all my possessions so I am ready to go when I find somewhere suitable to rent.

I am lucky my station gardener has agreed to come today - my neighbor is a herbalist, and disagrees with weed killer, but I cannot tackle the long rooted docks that have sprouted absolutely everywhere.

Do any of you live opposite a park or similar? The house I like faces open common land, and as I was going to bed I thought about being alone there. The house is in a dead end road and semi detached, so there are neighbours. Think I am just over thinking.

I forgot to tell you I found a savings account letter to my husband dated 1993 - I rang them, and all these years later, there is £10.11 in there

Have a good day

Many thanks Grannysyb - he is so looking forward to it, and thankfully, Southampton, has said they will be opening student halls fully. He has arranged for one with en-suite - not good at sharing - and as he considers that his daily shower must never last less than one hour - not many would wish to share with him.

He is very ready to leave home and go his own way now. Will need some support, S'ton, is where his Mum did her degree, so he actually gets slightly reduced fees because of that. We are all so excited for him. His social skills are still about a decade behind his actual age - never had, or been interested in, a girl or boy friend, no interest in that side of life. An allergic reaction many years back convinced him he is allergic to alcohol, and we are all happy with that -he does drink lots of water. He can cook for himself and does his own washing (in the machine) at home, does understand money - so he is well ready. The SENCO section of the 6th form College he attends has introduced him to board game social life, and also he can travel by all forms of public transport. A success story, I get so sad when I hear of so many autistic young adults who have not had the advantage of his special education and are isolated, depressed and have little future prospects.

What a lovely post Franbern, hope that your grandson enjoys university when he gets there.

Enjoy your new laptop, Shandy. There are loads of special laptop mats out there, I have one, that I use all the time for mine, search 'laptop mats for beds'. Most are pretty reasonably priced.

Hospitality is due to re-open at beginning of July, so you would be able to book hotel rooms for a couple of nights at any of the towns you are considering then.

I still have the last three episodes of the A word to catch up on when I get some time. Looking forward to that. My eldest g.son is Autistic. He will be 20 yrs old in a few weeks time. His parents had a dreadful time,, particularly in his first years at Secondary education. He had got through primary school with a special attendant. The secondary school had a good SENCO department, but despite knowing all about him were not able to cope.

Within a few weeks of starting, he was being isolated there, only permitted to go in an hour after all other pupils, and leave half an hour before them, and taking classes totally by himself with his attendant. By 12 years old he was seriously clinically depressed.

After a huge and expensive battle, my daughter and Son in law managed to get the educational authority to pay for him to attend a special school for autistic children as a weekly boarder. Huge sums of money involved, but only for a few years. He left there with an clutch of excellent GCSE's, loads of knowledge on management skills for his condition, and a well adjusted young man. He asked not to continue there for his A levels as he wanted to stay at home for them.

Went to local College for those, they would only permit him to start off with one A level for first year, starting second one during Year 2....and so on. He is due to leave this summer, with A in Maths, B in Physics and a projected B in further maths (fast tracked as one year course, and an A or A* in Chemistry and a place at Southampton Uni for September to do Chemical studies.

That money for a few years was well spent, as he will continue for the rest of his life as a happy, and very useful and productive member of society. I am proud of him, but TBH, even more proud of my daughter who led that battle, and now advises other parents with autistic children.

Must say, I have four daughters and they are all very strong women.

Evening all, hope you have had a nice day. I've just been crying at the 'A' word, what a lovely ending

I can't describe how marvelous it is to have this new laptop with a clear bright screen and a working keyboard. The old one had lost the screen as you saw but had also lost the letters, q, s, c and f and I had to have an old plug in keyboard by my side for those. I'm still reaching across for it!

I do wish I was a brave driver craftyone, a caravan or motorhome would be perfect at the moment, wouldn't it. I'm off to order more boxes from kite. I've finished all the paperwork now and it's neatly boxed. I know where all my husband's things are and feel at peace now, I've just found his old passport and everything is done.

Now to concentrate on repacking everything that I won't need again until I buy a new house.

Sleep well!