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

Millymouge hope your move goes smoothly.

Thank you Whiff, very glad to see you, hope your whirlwind allows you to sit down now and again!

I am having a huge wobble week, I think it's knowing how my kids will be feeling on Father's Day. I have decided on a two bed property, house or bungalow, and location is more important to me than the property. Not being able to drive in the future is on my mind, I hate driving, so a bus stop nearby is important. My poor Mum had to walk about a mile in all weathers to the bus stop for work, I want to fall off the bus and into my house!

I am repacking in readiness and have tasked myself to have all the books in the lounge done by Monday. I'm on book box two and will be keeping a few more than I expected. I saw a bird at the beach last year and googled madly trying to find it, couldn't. I have just opened my AA Book of British birds, and there it is, a red shank. Only photo showing the bird in flight, so I can identify it. Books are good! Just so heavy, but this time I'm not going to help with the move at all, horrible thinking back to that day. I've also found my 1975 book of fabric dyeing and printing, definitely keeping that now you can dye in the microwave! I am a collector of interesting things, I just don't actually do them.

Enjoy your afternoon

Shandy - you mentioned the scary flyover to Thanet. I think you mean the flyover to the Isle of Sheppey - I wouldn't recommend moving there. There isn't a flyover to Thanet.

Also, most parts of Thanet have plenty of buses. I think the bus service is as frequent as London suburbs. It's also near Canterbury for shopping or a day out. Kent coast towns are much cheaper than Sussex, you just need to avoid the run down areas.

For me, one of the scariest bridges is that one in Dartford, I think it's called the QE2 bridge. I used to use it to go to Bluewater but felt much happier using the tunnel on the way home. I've always liked the bridge into Wales because it takes me back to my roots. My very favourite bridge to cross is the one in St. Nazaire, Western France that looks down on the shipbuilding yard.
You have to have a good head for heights crossing high bridges. I'm getting less brave now.

Elliann
My favourite bridge is the Millau. I absolutely love it.
I'd be in a spot of bother if I was nervous of the Dartford bridge: I live in Southend. Did you know there was once a service for people to have someone drive you over?
Another useless fact. The money for the first tunnel was put up by Dartford council. It paid for itself in 3 years!!!.

Shandy
If you do decide on Thanet your property will certainly increase in value because there will definitely be a lower Thames crossing at some time.

Used to need to use QE2 bridge quite a lot. Enough for me to actually have a Dart account, so money (cheaper with account) was taken directly from that rather than me having to remember to pay each time. I normally dislike bridges - have a fear of heights, but provided I stayed in one of the inner lanes on this one, had no problems. Annyoyingly when it was first built, there was a promise that once it was paid for all charges would cease. In actual fact they increased at that point. No toll booths there now, so if you do not have a DART account, you do need to remeber to pay on line.

It is a vey wide bridge, just one way (return journey (Kent to Essex is in the tunnel. I cancelled my Dart account just before I moved down here and got a refund of the money still on it. Does need another river crossing there, long gap between that and Woolwich Ferry, then Blackwall tunnel and Rotherhithe tunnel. All of those are, of course, no charge. Loved Woolwich Ferry, as would switch off car engine whilst on there and pretend I was actually going on holiday somewhere exotic!!!! But so often very long queues for this.

My first knitting lesson with g.child seemed to have gone well. Taught them knit and purl.......sent them home to practice stocking stitch. They are less than ten minutes away from me so can just pop over if (when) they get into a problem. They want to knit themselves a red scarf, so need to look for some suitable yarn for them now.

Okay for those of you who are puzzled at my use of the plural when referring to them - this g.child, told us she (as she was then) was gay when she nearly 14 years old, fine by us.......less than a year later decided that was not the case as she wanted really to be a boy Again, fine if that made him happy - and he was definitely more outgoing and made more friends over the next year or so. However, no transitioning - much too young, thank goodness. Over past months has now decided that 'they' are non gender specific - therefore, the correct way of referring to them is in the plural. Yes, I am confused also - but do as I am told)!!!! Love them whatever they are or will be.

Nothing planned for this weekend. Have just started a new jigsaw and finished my Future learn course, so have started a new one. A little bit of housework, and that is about it.

Shandy, go for it, be brave a little longer and start to really househunt now.

it must be tremendously hard to feel trapped in the wrong body. Thank goodness that people can speak up these days and so lucky to have such a supportive grandma

My rug came, I was expecting a colour pop of bright mossy green, it said mossy green but is a dark moss like the shade in a wood. I put it down and lived with it for a few hours and I love it. That will be my winter rug, I prefer pure wool in front of the stove. It is woven in chequerboard squares and I have fallen in love with woven, good woven are extremely expensive

I had fabric over, finished mt second set of sofa covers, lovely uplifting colourful fabric, so I have made a table covering for the dining table and cut out for a large cushion. I still had things to unpack and put away, a table protector, now back on top of my cuttingout mats and backed cork shims that I had made to create an even top, these mats have to be kept flat and they are now perfectly hidden under the cloth

postie came in a van at 8pm, she said they had a lot of parcels for fathers day, no post tomorrow. She brought me 30 geraniums so I had to go out in the rain, they were posted days ago

Hello everyone ,
Thanks to Whiff for updating everyone with my new username.
My new first post since my operation which went well although I do have massive amounts of pain which hopefully will diminish quickly. The surgeon says I’m going home tomorrow however I am trying to convince him to wait until Monday as I just don’t feel in control of the pain enough or confident enough on my feet. Not sure I’m going to manage that but do have physio on board. The knee is much worse that the hip.

After Victoria’s great effort with the virus and the lifting of restrictions it is disappointing to see a large number of cases over the last few days. There have been over 50 after several weeks of less than half that number. This among other things means that social distancing conditions are being re-imposed so we will go back to only having five people instead of 20 in homes. It’s hard to know just where cases have popped up from but fingers are being pointed at people who have abused regulations and also people returning from overseas. Maybe too much too soonw.

Hold tight spice101, you will get through this dreadful pain, you have that determination. I am glad the op went well, you are now officially bionic woman

This intensive sewing is good for me, my sleep has improved a lot. DD and DS invited me to take a chalet holiday with them in the lake district in feb, I kindly and gratefully turned it down. They had a lovely time this year but having lived in the lakes, I know that there is a very high risk of getting snow and ice, they do a lot of outdoorsy stuff like fell walking and mountain biking and tbh those days are over plus I need to be where there is a loo these days

I may take a chance on washing my bedding this morning, on a second look, sunday looks better. I am going to test my bike later and the only work planned is a kitchen clean

That sounds painful Spice101 but I too hope it won't be for long. Keep up with the exercises, they may hurt more but all in a good cause.

I've never visited the Lake District. Someone told me the scenery is a bit like New Zealand but I can imagine it's bleak in February.

Nice to hear from you again Whiff. Crack on with your jigsaw Franbern.

Spice - I hope your pain lessens soon.

Spice, hope pain does lessen soon. And, in no time at all, you can continue your search for a new home.

Only been to Lake District a couple of times, always in summer, do not think I would go in winter. February - might not even make it there if really bad snowfalls.

My daughter and her husband have always been a great support for all their children, regardless of gender. Indeed, my daughter won a award and trophy for her work locally for youngsters in LGBT movement. All the extended family are happily supportive and have no hang-ups, thank goodness.

Looks like we are in for a mini heatwave next week, enjoy your cycling, Craftyone, my son in law has really been using his special wheelchair cycle - going up Cheddar Gorge with it. Very healthy for him, and his youngest child (10 yrs old) often joins him on these trips and now has a new (second-hand) cycle with gears to assist on hills, etc.

Good to see you back here, Whiff, we are a good circle of friends on here, and always welcome new joiners.

Franbern
I spent my childhood on the woolwich ferries: that's my home town.
The men who worked on them would only let us children stay on for a couple of trips and then throw us off ?

That sounds like a fun memory Meryl. I like watching the Woolwich ferry and up the estuary when we take off from City Airport. Wasn't one of the boats called the Vera Lynn?

Ellianne
Yes, there is a Vera Lynn. She's one of the new ones.

Spice101 hope you feeling better today and not in so much pain.

My decorator phoned Friday he will start work on the bedroom and shower room tomorrow. Going to pop over later to see how everything is looking.

Shandy57 hope you are feeling more positive today and feel up to looking for your new home. I have noticed around here more houses going on the market in the last week. Think people just want to get on with their lives.

Have a good day everyone.

As we now near the end of another 1000 entries on this thread, and a new one will need to be started (No. 6), it is very interesting to go back to read some of the earlier entries,.

This morning I have just spent a fascinating half an hour or so, reading the thread on House buying during the very early days of this Pandemic - in early to mid March.

Honestly, these threads would make a really interesting and historic book.

So far, all of us seem to have come through these last few months, and survived. And moved on, back then, Shandy was still worrying about the auction, etc.

A historic and interesting time for all of us. Do wonder what the next six months will bring?

Afternoon everyone, I've finally managed to repack all the books and they are moving ready. Four bags for the charity shop, two boxes of train books to sell on ebay. Now to find my big cloth to cover all the boxes, I have them stacked behind the tv.

I am guilty of still thinking family, and have just emptied my huge 'cover all situations' shoe kit. Laces, polish of every colour, rugby boot studs, golf shoe things … don't need it any more.

Ellianne, you diddle tell me Exmouth has a bowling alley! ha ha only joking, my kids absolutely loved bowling. Strike! Strike! A horrible windy 45 minute drive from here to the nearest alley. I was always worried about falling in those slippy shoes.

Just watching Bargain Hunt then I'm starting on the kitchen. I do like Octopus for my electricity, but don't like having to read the meter every month, I do get nervous up the ladder and am very very careful. Why did they put them so high up!

I wonder what the next six months will bring too Franbern, I am worried there will be another spike in the colder weather. It has made me think twice about being near a good hospital.

Shandy, good times ahead. Do not be pessimistic about the future months. Yes, probably be a small pike in late autumn/winter - but those months, every year get serious illness epidemics and increased mortality. Bet you have never worried in advance about that in other years.

The ever-increasing knowledge of best ways of treatment of this virus is probably the best hope and the way things will progress. Still think the chances of a virus are not very high - but treatment is getting better and better as more is known about it.

As a whole I have discounted the whole of this year. My high spot was to be next month and watching (on Tv) the Olympic Games. First week I would have watched Gymnastics, then second week the Diving and some Athletics. Hopefully next year......

Also 2021 I hope to be able to celebrate my 80th birthday with all my children and g.children present. Current thinking is to arrange for a weekend at a good hotel in WsM for us all, with a celebratory meal there on the Saturday. Have to arrange carefully as my birthday falls during GCSE exam times (assuming those will actually be held next year), and also could be A levels. Also, my oldest g.daughter will be celebrating her 18th on that Friday.

Next year, will be able to have my friends come to stay with me - and by the time will have done more to my flat to show off to them how lovely it is.

Next year will be able to resume going to restaurants and theatres and coach outings.

So, yes, I am working hard at being very optimistic - what I cannot change I must endure.

A first aid kit, reminder, put one handy. That first aid kit that I so carefully packed and put in the utility. I used it just now, I`ll just say, no gardening gloves and very sharp secateurs. I had to use steri strips and they were a fiddle to open with one hand, I had never tested these and had no idea they opened as a set of thin strips. Also a plaster on top and pressure from my thumb to base of left forfinger

I always always use gloves, except today and I had to do all this with fairly dirty hands. I think the cut is clean, thank goodness for saliva. Was no time to get the sterile wipes cut out either, one of those horrible cuts that I didn``t want to see in great detail. One the bleeding has properly stopped and I think I have stemmed it, I will clean and re-plaster. Lesson learnt, again

Oh craftyone, those sort of cuts can be a real pain in more way than one,!!!

My standard method with a sharp instrument cut that is bleeding profusely, is kitchen towel bound tightly round the cut area then covered in cellotape. Know this may not appear in any first aid manual, but - it works. Padding of kitchen towel and firmness of cellotape helps to get bleeding to stop. after about an hour like that, I will carefully release it and then apply more appropriate first aid dressing/plaster.

In my last post, I re-read it and note that in the second line of the second paragraph I meant to write the word 'vaccine' but somehow this appeared as virus. 'do not think the chance of any vaccine is not very high'.

Have given my balcony tiled floor a good sweep down with mild bleach water, amazing how much had assembled on there, over the weeks (leaves, compost, bits of flowers, etc. etc.. Moved everything out of the way and it is all lovely and clean again.

Good luck tomorrow Millymouge, hope you have a sunny day for it

Best wishes for removal day Millymouge. Looks like weather is going to be kind to you. Hope all goes well and you will be able to come back on here soon to let us know.

Craftyone hope your finger has stopped bleeding. Hope it isn't sore. But if you are like me you will hit it on everything even though trying to be careful with it.

Franbern that was a lovely thoughtful post. It's strange to think how this country and world have had to adapt in such a short time. It's brought the best and worst out of people. But like the majority am hopeful for the future.

Millymouge hope it stays dry for your move tomorrow and a long and happy future in your new home.

Went to the bungalow the shower room is all fitted out and looks beautiful. Some more plants had arrived so I quickly planted them into temporary pots just before the rain.

Have a good evening.

A beautiful day to be moving millymouge, have a lovely future in your new home

I think I am going to make preps to keep the heat out from today, it will start to build up again and I am not looking forward to the very high temperatures. All upsatirs blinds will be down soon and all shutters everywhere tilted upwards, a bit cave -like but worth it

I had a very satisfying day yesterday, lots of gardening , composting and dug up enough charlotte potatoes for this week, enough in the ground for weeks to come, tops cut off and composted and all my washing done and dry outside by lunchtime care of the delay timer

I spent a happy time with my bikes, swapping saddles, putting a new leather saddle on that I have to break in, I cannot be doing with a long thin pointy saddle, it has to be short and wide. I raised the handle bars and lowered the seat post. I think I will soon get used to having a fast responsive bike but am still very happy to trundle along on my very heavy old bike, it weighs almost 3 x my new bike.

My second set of sofa covers is finished and so nice that I made a tablecloth with the same fabric, am sitting tight for a bit and will make some cushions in the colder months

I have a hair appointment in 2 weeks and am raring to get out and about more, the virus does appear to be weakening and I feel that we will be back to a better normal by spring

The competition has started, me and the blackbirds as my blueberries have started to ripen. I have hung up some old dvds and put small windmills into the soil, I have to go out twice a day to pick them, soon there will be a glut, enough for the freezer

Have a lovely, things are certainly looking up