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

I've just heard back from my solicitor. The two things I asked to be paid for have been rejected, and he wants confirmation one of them be 'removed' - but he'll have my furniture for free. A despicable individual.

Hey whiff, one busy bee to another

House martins are protected and I suppose swalows are too, I hope your neighbour has far seeing eyes to keep an eye on them

I am jiggered now, drawers for another day. Spoke to my ex neighbour friend who was widowed last weekend. Was ridiculous nervous about ringing her but pulled myself together. She is holding it together and in the very busy paperwork stage. 5 days ago she heard that her son who lives in sweden has cancer, only 34. She is a doc and very pragmatic and it looks as though the ashes will be interred near to my husbands in a brand new wood with his own tree. It is all very unreal right now and puts other troubles into perspective. She spoke about moving, it has been on the cards for a while. I can help her with that once she is ready

Fingers jerked and pressed the post button.
Craftyone busy busy as always

Roofers came this morning but have to get some things which won't be in until tomorrow so they will start work tomorrow. Meant I could get into the garden. Weeded again. Moved some more rocks to edge the one bed. My first shrub from Thompson and Morgan arrived today a cotoneaster looks lovely. Gave it plenty of room to grow. They have an offer on. Choice of 24 shrubs five for £25 . All sorts and sizes. Good price as some of the shrubs to buy individually where £12.99.

Last time I lost my reading glasses they where on my face. Doh,!. Shandy57 don't worry about the swallows they will always find a home. Like you need to.

Craftyone b

If you are leaving the freezer.....don’t bother to clean it! Have you tried the kitchen table for your glasses? Just found mine after four weeks!

Do any of you have any idea where my reading glasses are!

Hello, I am back, I've picked up the two chairs and now the house has Henry, my ladder, and a few flat huge boxes. I need to go back later to clean out the freezer.

It doesn't sit well with me not to leave a note, it is in my nature to be helpful, but this man has been so absolutely ghastly I will not acknowledge him in any way and have just left the appliance instructions. I looked up my email to my solicitor about the furniture disposal, I wrote three weeks ago on Thursday, still no response.

The swallows will be going into the coal house soon to nest, that worries me, I hope he will allow that to continue.

I think the same way about my property whiff and tbh it is a big release, that letting go is what sets them and us free. In fact yesterday, some things that my husband made, they have gone somewhere a bit more out of eyesight, I know they are there in view but I need to turn my head

I unscrewed most screws from the foot massager, we have no tip open here and no-where for it to go, so I have dismantled it and it is in the bin. In big bold letters inside `made in china` pfff, not buying their stuff again if I can help it. Very many screws and I had to press the screwdriver down to get a grip, I think that is one of the motions that sets off the muscles around my right shoulder. That has put paid to any outdoor exercise, anyway I did all that dismantling outdoors in the sun

Scones made, Mary berry English recipe and a door shelf in the fridge washed and all extract bottles wiped because the pungent smell was from a bottle of lemon extract that had opened and tipped. I had my big treat of hot chocolate outside and am now going to tackle the remaining living room drawers before lunch

So far so good, I am managing to find good productive `jobs` on most days so don`t feel I am wasting the time stuck at home. Oh yes I went on amazon kindle deals yesterday and have downloaded 4 decent books at 99p each, a tremendous saving. I put them on my kindle and also on my fire tablet,

Shandy57 I echo everything Craftyone has said. Time to look for your new home . And it will be your home not ours. After my husband died even though the house was mine out right I still thought of it as our house, the family home. Only when I started looking for a new home it became mine. My bungalow my garden. It was always ours now everything is mine. Took a while to get used to thinking that way. But it's lovely. Take the garden it's the first garden that I can have what I want in it and don't have to run it by anyone else. May sound selfish but I have found it very liberating.

Sorry about your pies Craftyone. With soft fruits I tend to make crumbles that way if the juices bubble up they do through the crust and leave yummy puddles.

Yes shandy, you really do need to be looking seriously and take note of homes that have no chain, with garden, gas, double glazing, good epc etc no point at looking for work, you have had enough of that for a lifetime. Bathrooms, kitchens can be easily updated. Then look at google satellite and be wary of any field around the property, many fields already belong to big builders as part of their housing bank. Best to choose a property with other homes around. Google will show bus stops, play with google, it also shows shops etc if the scale is right and if you dig deep enough you can find eah property`s postcode, which will give further information

When you see a couple that might be suitable, take your car out, put your bags in as though you are going shopping and go and look at the area with a drive around.

You can always e mail the EAs with an expression of interest too. You have 2 months to get areas and potential properties, ready to make a short list. You need to start the legal process by mid september, so you can be in and cosy for winter

Thank you for your comforting words, I will think of a leaving ceremony. I won't be leaving a nice card and a bottle of bubbly!

Sorry your pies spilled over craftyone, too juicy?

I've just come on to say I've started changing my address, and I'm astounded at the amount of information the council want regarding council tax. My completion date makes sense but they also wanted full solicitor's details as well as the buyer's contact details, the agency details I'm renting from etc. No idea why they need so much information. Not sure I like being a 'tenant', I need to be a home owner again quick!

That`s it for the day, I am resting now with a GnT. Much better in the living room, it`s the first time I have tweaked since I moved in. I have swapped the 3 lamps around, moved some faux flowers and pushed the tv along a bit, it just looks more balanced and I lit a yankee candle a while ago, nice scent and light.

I have a big black elephant with an uplifted trunk on which a rectangular lampshade is fitted. I put him high up on the top shelf of a unit and the head is now at my height, so the light is above that and to my surprise, it looks much better, it shows off the elephant better.

I have 8 drawers in the living room and have done 4, the rest tomorrow, I am delighted to have found some long lost sun glasses ideal for cycling. I found stitch matkers and some other things. I must have been in that mode of `put them anywhere` One full week and my buying /selling year will be over and here is me still tweaking. No more extra expenses though, which is a good thing

Shandy it is natural to feel a bit down right now, the final goodbye is looming. When the house is empty, take a candle down and make up some sort of little ceremony to say goodbye to the house and farewell to the happy memories that the house brought you. Tell the house that the memories will always be in your mind but now it is time to say adieu and move onto the next stage in your life. The house will understand and your husband will be breathing a sigh of relief, so that he can at last stop worrying about you as you carve your way into a new bright future. Define your final exit, rather than leave in dribs and drabs

I hope you cancelled the insurance. Buyer has to carry that from exchange

So my blackcurrant pies well and truly overflowed, doubt I will be making any more, jam is much safer. I have Marie Kondo on again and take bits from what she says, mainly the impressions. I saw my exercise bike standing there and no point keeping it if not used, so I cycled while watching and then I felt a bit restless in my living room, so have done those important tweaks. The fire fan eg is going to the garage for summer as is the companion set and I have moved a few things. It has made a difference. A big massager for feet, it was just sitting there, a great black lump, never used and not loved. It is out of there and is going.

Do you think you could do the goodbye ceremony on the 17th?

Shandy57 it took me 14 years before the anniversary of my husband's death stopped upsetting me. Birthdays and anniversaries didn't effect me . Still saw the run up to his final week as if it was a film. On the day think of all the happy times, times you laughed and all the silly things he did. My husband was a kultz couldn't do any DIY or gardening without hurting himself.

You are doing brilliantly sorting out the station on your own. You should be very proud of yourself . Look how far you have come. You are stronger in mind and spirit otherwise you would have given up a long time ago. Hold you head high . What's the old Carole King song I am woman hear me roar or was it Carly Simon.

I'm back, didn't take me long this morning. Back tomorrow for kitchen chairs and to sort all the rubbish outside ready for the dump. I think the queue will be huge, I'll go later in the week.

My neighbour was out in the garden so I offered him the chest of drawers and table, he took them as he stencils wooden furniture. Emptied the chest freezer and turned it off, bought back everything I might eat, luckily it did fit tiny freezer here. Had some cornish ice cream, just doesn't taste as good nowadays.

I'm feeling a bit down about it all this morning, only natural I suppose. I have a horrible buyer who tried to cheat me, and well as my husband's 4th anniversary is looming on the 17th.

Craftyone and Shandy57 you are being very industrious. My end of the month jobs done. In other words strip and air the bed before making it. Get all the shelves etc out of oven and wash. Put the dishwasher cleaner in ready for turning on later. If it's nice in the week clean windows inside and out. But that will have to be done after roofers have finished the pointing. Pest man didn't come Friday I will phone tomorrow. Had arranged for him to come on 11th. But if all the roof is sealed and no squirrel I need all the insulation out. As after it and mice it's a health hazard. Repotted my seedlings into bigger pots. Only 3 types have sprout so far but I was surprised they did do in a week. Hopefully the rest will sprout in a couple of weeks.

Can't do any baking as I always give it to the children. Daren't do it for myself as I will eat it all. And then all my hard work I've been doing for 3 years getting my weight down will be undone.

Hope everyone has a good Sunday and hopefully a sunny week.

that's what I've forgotten about craftyone - emptying the freezer! argh, what a bore, I haven't got space for it all here, will just have to save the most I can and very sadly dispose of the rest.

Morning all, first day I've woken up to an overcast sky, I really have been so, so lucky to have had good weather during this move.

I only need about 30 minutes for last packing, a huge mirror, some tools and a garden ornament. My friend was delighted with the bike yesterday, she has promised to wear a helmet even if it does mess up her hair!

I was going to keep a hand painted chest of drawers and a side table, but think I'll let them go and just put them outside. I don't think I'll be able to get the matching mini wardrobe down the stairs, I seem to remember being trapped on the bend in the past, not going to risk it.
Hopefully the recycling opportunists will take them before bin day.

There are a lot of rabbits here and I was upset to walk out yesterday morning and have the neighbour point out a rabbit lying by my car. It was still alive and struggled when I picked it up, but didn't seem able to stand. I would normally go to the vet with wildlife but know rabbits are hard to anaethetise for sterilisation, let alone euthanasia, and would they accept it now with the virus. I feel guilty I couldn't put it out of its misery with a brick as I should have done. I carried it into the garden and put it underneath a tree in the shade - I went back to check later and he had died. Another neighbour said she had found one too, perhaps poison A miserable event.

Have a good day poddling around your gardens if the weather is OK where you are

A dull day today, all day, yuk. We had zoom last night, it was lovely and of course I was a bit hyper afterwards so I prepped for baking today and the last bit is in the oven. I made a honey and sunflower loaf in the bm, this will be my last panasonic bm, when it dies (and it will), then I will use a mini bm as appropriate for me. It turned out lovely.

I am in process of baking 2 deep blackcurrant pies which I made in deep analon sandwich tins, was very careful to trim with my plastic lettuce knife and made jam tarts with excess pastry. I have nice carrots and cheddar in wax from christmas so have made 2 x riverford recipe of carrot flapjacks. Everything will freeze and I am slowly taking some bulk out of the freezer. Looks like a forthcoming glut of blueberries in summer and they freeze very well, I will need space

Tomorrow I will make courgette poppy cake and some scones. I want to use up courgettes whole milk and eggs and the poppy seeds will arrive tomorrow.

I found the circle of tin liner that I cut out a long time ago, for on top of tarts etc if getting too brown. I was pleased, no point in doing a sort of kitchen drawers, I use everything one way or another

I have a couple of reasons for mass baking, using up ingredients but also me suffering after eating sainsbury hot cross buns, ok they look nice and taste nice but their flour and ingredients did not agree with me and they gave me heartburn and they were not at all satisfying

I have been very lucky catching riverford at the right times and have added 6 weekly organic eggs to my order and last night caught the sourdough bread and have added a sd loaf every week. It was lovely bread and freezes well in slices, it will help me stop the mouth hunger that I get easily. Toasted with a little butter and some hm jam, yum. If lockdown is eased soon then I will take a road trip to dd and the dgc and supply them with flour and baked goods

I sense cheerfulness today, lovely, it is catching

Sitting at last with a cup of tea and prior I folded all the washing and washed plant pots. Now that is a job I loathe doing in autumn so best for me to do it as I go. I am very happy and satisfied today, particularly because I feel as though I have been moving a lot

Clever re the barbeque tool shandy and almost done, now that is very good news. Make sure to take everything out that is not on the written list of fixtures and fittings, last thing we want is to hear that he has charged you for storage and removal. I wouldn`t put it past him, the devious begger

So whiff, you are an inspiration, in spite of your health, you have set too and are making a picture of a garden. Being earthy is good, it helps us to appreciate that no matter what, the cycle of nature keeps on a constant turn and it steadies us in our lives. I know exactly what plants I have put in and hence can easily hoe weeds, latest was more bergamot and 6 echinacea. The bergamot were all from seed. The cosmos put in last week are such pretty and jolly flowers. The helleanthemums are all flowering, they are close to the ground and now spreading, they lift my spirits, how could they not

Craftyone what sense of achievement you must feel. Should put your feet up before zoom.

Shandy57 I admire your ingenuity with the barbecue screwer. What a lovely surprise yummy lemon cake. It's nice to know that people still want to do nice things .

Did go out into the garden for a bit but only to arrange some large pebbles I dug up and am using as an edging to one of the flowers beds. After Craftyone's description of her lovely garden I felt I had to make an effort to make it pretty. Must say I am pleased with how it's coming along.

Finally decided to buy a new walking stick. My old one has only lasted 31 years. Didn't have one the first year I was ill. It's a NHS one so I brought the same sort. My old one will be just for garden use. My children asked me if I was feeling ill. Cheeky monkeys.

Afternoon all, I have had a good morning and in two more trips, will be done

Our ceilings at the house are ten foot, I think I've already told you about our huge Christmas trees. I wanted to remove my art deco glass shell lampshade on chains, but the chains were attached onto the shade with a nut, its too high up the ladder and heavy to hold up while I unscrewed them. Just dropping off to sleep last night when I realised I could use a tool to knock the chains off the central holding hook on the ceiling. Armed with a barbecue skewer I've just succeeded This shade is still opaque white glass - I have two others that were obviously from a pub, nicotine yellow. I had included lamp shades so I've left him a lovely pub one on the side, he'll have to put it up himself, I'm not going up there again

I would be ashamed if any of you saw my wardrobe, it's a mix of black sacks and ikea bags, I just hurled it all in when I got here and drag things that are on top to get dressed. Soon I will tackle it all

I had a nice surprise yesterday - the person that took my tin trunk and other things appeared with a thank you lemon cake. I take it all back!!

Yay not long to completion day

My mission has been accomplished. [grin} I released 32 hangers from the wardrobe and btw they are those slim velvety hangers, very space efficient. One drawer left to right, folded stacked row of short sleeved t shirts and tops and appropriate folded trousers. Next drawer similar but long sleeved tops and trousers. I am very happy and made super good progress. All winter stuff is now packed away as is all the surplus new stuff. All garments containing wool or silk or cashmere or alpaca are all contained in zip lock bags as I have a dread of moths. Most made from yarn I spun myself (world of wool when you could make your own blend)

Boots with sheepskin linings plus slippers are also packed in bags, lakeland zip bags. Moth hangers are hung and the wardrobe floor is cleared. I have 4 empty small and neat storage boxes, nice ones, to put in the wardrobe. Socks, knee highs, tights, lots of camisoles, petticoats are all done. This has been a major sort since moving. Nothing to throw out except one woven round storage container. I must have been an efficient thrower-out for moving

Folding was excellent as I have a purpose made folder, sides in, top down and one more fold and stacked

I dont think I am cycling today, have done many steps here, back and forth, up and down and still have to put clean bedding on. Then I have zoom at 6.30

Shandy -don't worry about lack of answer re furniture. I made an offer to purchase some kitchen 'whites' at the flat to see me through until I purchased new ones. On the list they showed as 'negotiable' so I sent in (via my solicitor) an offer, and never ever received any reply to that.
When I arrived, I did not know if they would be there or not - there were not!!! In fact that was best, as I managed for a couple of weeks until new ones arrived and did not have the problem of disposing of them.
Did you include these items in your Fixtures and Fittings form? If so, unless you were hoping to get some money for them,you can leave them. If you did not, then you would best to dispose of them - as otherwise you could be charged the cost of the new owner getting rid of these.
As has been said, it is your FORMER home, not your current one, take with you the good memories, and put it behind you. Concentrate on whatever will be your new home later this year.
I am sure that during May, your son and daughter can make the trip to visit their old home (if they want to). They may not, just preferring to keep their memories as to how it was for them.
Do involve them in whatever move you make to a new home. They are adults and should be there giving you both physical and moral support.
I could not have made my move last year without the support of my son, who came down from Cheshire to stay with me the last few days and actually followed me down to WsM before returning home and my daughters both in London and in WsM.
My daughter here involved the whole of her family on moving day, to help getting everything in position, whilst her husband sorted out my televisions, etc.

Thank you for explaining Craftyone. I have always had different drawers for items but in folded piles . When I put clean washing away it goes on the bottom to make sure I use everything in turn. Sun very weak here and cold so decided to finish all the stitching on the boys cushions.

The flies are bluebottles. It was cluster flies I had last time. When you mentioned them last time I read up on different types of flies. Since my daughter taped the hatch haven't had one.

Shandy57 please stop thinking of the station as your house. It will just make it harder when you hand over the keys. Legally it's not yours as exchange has taken place. Think of it as a happy place with your husband. Those memories travel with you. Be honest you haven't been happy there for a while. I know when I put my house up for sale I had to stop thinking it as home. Take care and don't hurt yourself with the last of the sorting out.