Help calm me. House buying and selling stress. Part 6

Looking at 2-bed bungalows in Broadstairs, your will be spoilt for choice, So many and all close to station, shopping centre and beach, Looks ideal for you Shandy. Several of them offer on-line viewing, so you could those done before you actually go, and if any of them seem to be pretty nearly perfect, the you could go to see them as a second viewing.

Looks like it is the perfect area for you. GOOD LUCK

There you go Shandy, always someone on this thread ready to find out information for you. I've taken a quick look and Broadstairs appears to be on a par with Exmouth price wise. I love Canterbury, very handy for jaunts over to France.
You paint a wonderful picture of your seaside day Franbern. What fun!

I am very excited about Broadstairs, I don`t know it but it sounds very much as this will be `the location`. I cannot wait for shandy to find her forever home

I have been up for 2 hours, I spring out of bed every morning. I have finished the utility sorting and made room under the sink in there for buckets etc. Been out and tweaked outside dry storage for garden stuff. Put a few things into a big black (costco) bag for the tip again later this week

cookfood is bringing me a few things this afternoon, I needed a large vegan cake and this was the excuse to add a few ready meals and small pack of puddings just for me

All my whicker baskets have gone, all have been used and re-used but it was time, I have replaced them with wham, which are very much lighter, stack empty and take up far less room.

My howgate wonder tree has a lower branch that was groaning under the weight of 3 massive apples, of course I left it too late and the branch has bent and damaged itself. I may have to cut it off in autumn or it could get disease. I left one huge apple on it, picked 3 in total, very much bigger than bramleys. I cooked the 3 gently, switched off now with lid on. It seems to be a beautiful apple for cooking and later on for eating. It holds its shape and is sweet. Crumble calls

Finally finished sorting all my books yesterday. Bookcase filled with books I want to read in the coming months. Rest put into boxes labelled with authors name. 12 heathers arrived yesterday started to rain whilst planting them out. But finished the job. The green bin had been emptied on Monday. I had piled up a load of branches and weeds to dry out which they had. Didn't want them to get soaked again as the branches were easy to snap now. So filled the bin with them and the weeds and spent soil. I was very muddy so clothes went straight in the wash. Another job done. Today is cleaning the bungalow now I can move round it all. Hopefully my extra under the bed boxes will arrive today.

Shandy57 hope you are enjoying looking at properties you want to visit.

It's raining so can't weed. But hope to go and put a coat of varnish on my bedside table once housework done. Must admit I am looking forward to it. Read the instructions and have to add 10% of water to some varnish for the first coat as it's new wood. Been a very long time since I varnished or painted so excited. Do the underside first to get my hand in.

Love apple crumble much better than pie. Love it when the fruit bubbles up and makes sticky puddles on the crunchy crumble. Tend to eat mine naked no custard or cream. Hope you enjoy it Craftyone.

I was up (for me) very early this morning. 6.20 am. Woke and knew I was not going back to sleep. Thursdays are my Alendronic Acid tabs day, and have to have one of those with large glass of water thirty minutes before eating. Other days, I get out of bed, straight over to kitchen, get my brekkie and sometime later get showered and dressed. Thursdays, shower as soon as I have taken my tablet, change bed lines, (also washing day for me), by that time, getting on for half an hour and can have my brekkie, etc.

Also rubbish day (this evening) collections are early Friday mornings. All I have to do today is relax, need it after yesterday an pop out to collect some specs from optician at 11.30.

I need a small repair to one of the hinges on my bedroom window, also looking to try to find a window cleaner. Probably this will keep me busy most of the day, between coming on here, having a rest, doing my jigsaw and catching up on some emails that I have been 'putting off'.

Ellianne, we are all waiting for the good news story from you this week, and anyone else in the process of selling/purchasng property. Think, that between us, we have more expertise and knowledge than most of those who would sell their services in this regard.

My son and DiL have now sent me a date in September, when they are visiting me. Son saw the flat, briefly, when the removers were bringing everying in. They were due to visit for a weekend over my birthday (mid-June), obviously all cancelled. Hopefully, by the time they come even the bathroom should all be done and finished.

Next week is busy going mid-week to see my eldest daughter who is going to be holidaying in Devon, then having a friend stay for a couple of days, and then my youngest daughter and her two girls here for a few days. So, will take my chance now to relax. So lovely we can visit and have visitors again.

I am quite happy pottering and doing very little on days like this, but love hearing how busy Craftyone and others are.

Morning all, raining heavily today.

I couldn't sleep last night, overslept, and was woken by the bin men - leaving. Guess who forgot to put the bin out yesterday, it's the general one. I could ring for a collection by another team, but will just go to the dump with it. Can't believe I forgot, but I was upset over the wasps yesterday. There were two nests. When the man knocked at my immediate neighbours to warn them about the powder, they said they have just found a nest in their coal bunker, and have already been stung.

Great to read all your news.

Thank you very much for asking your friend for me GrandmaMoira, I've made a note.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing

I'm just having a look at my area on Rightmove. We have a very, very large holiday accommodation business around here who own many local properties, and I've just come across one for sale. I am tempted to stay locally because it's easy, I know I should move away. I drove past the old house yesterdday and a man was standing in my pond, destroying it. Poor frogs and dragonflies.

I almost wish I hadn't interred my husband at the cemetery, the thought of not being able to visit his grave is one of the things I am finding difficult.

Shandy57 you need to move away. Stop looking locally. Stop going by your old house. It's not yours and the person can do what the hell he likes with it. I know I'm being harsh but wish you had someone to hand to could say this to your face. Sorry but the grave is not where your husband is. He's in your heart and mind. He's in your children. You take him with you everyday. Same as I do with mine. You are just being scared and that is understandable. I was.
Change of any sort at any age is frightening. But you need to move far away. You need and deserve a new home, new you, new life and new friends. No matter what life throws at you have to get on with it.

What would your husband say? I know mine would give me hell. He told us we had to live the best life we can and we promised him we would. And we are doing that.

You seem to think it's been easy for us who have moved on our own. But I can assure you it's been bloody hard. It's been 80 days since I had the email from my son. Do you think I have been wallowing in self pity. No I haven't I have got on with things. Am I still heartbroken you bet I am. But it's not stopping me live my life.

You have so much to look forward to. Pull yourself together and get the new life you deep down want and more importantly need.

Shandy, you so often complained about the weather in Northumberland - probably with summertime, forgetting how harsh it can be. Down south, it is very, very different. We have been enjoying balmy weather for months now, and a lot of sunshine. And, this also effect things like energy bills. You are having a panic attack, with the thought of so much to do and think about.

Whiff has said there is nothing of your loved Husband in the graveyard, he will remain in your heart wherever you live

Take a deep breath, and think about all the many advantages it will mean for you to move right away. The Station is your Past - you need to be really concentrating on your future.

Don`t dither shandy, it could destroy you, draw that line right now and get that excitement back, you let some of it show when you wrote about broadstairs. Your choice of course, either humdrum or something to really look forward to, to plan for, to explore. Weather is most definitely warmer in the south

Whiff says it for me too. It has been bloody hard for me on my own too. We may give the impression that life has been plain sailing but that could not be farther from the truth. Franbern, whiff and me, we have a positive attitude, go with the flow or remain stuck in a hole for the rest of our lives and one day it will be too late to do anything new apart from nod off in a chair in a care home. None of us sat back and wallowed and we each have life`s crosses to bear but we know that we have one crack at life

Shandy I can only echo what the others have said on here. I moved after living in the same house for over fifty years. At the age of 73 moved into a 5 year old 3 bedroomed house after living in a victorian terraced house.
The main reason that I moved was that the area had gone down, most of the close neighbours were in their nineties and probably their houses would have been sold and rented out to goodness knows who after their death. I thought given my age that I could not put it off any longer

You've done the hardest part, clearing out and selling your family home. It is harder to do when you are on you own. There is no-one to talk to, and use as a sounding board. I'm close to my children, but sometimes it is easier to speak to someone of the same generation, they know where you are coming from.
I'm so glad that I moved when I did, the house is so much easier to keep clean, have toilets up and down and less bills to pay.e.g. My water rates have halved because I am now on a meter. This house has much better insulation and therefore the energy bills are less. For me it was a win win situation.
I do so hope that you find something suitable soon. All of us on here are rooting for you.

The experts have all said it, Shandy. Looking backwards is no help to you, though I can understand that the feeling that you could go anywhere is very daunting. Once you have narrowed your field of search it will feel less frightening but staying put is not an option. Listen to your friends on here who care so much that you get on with doing the right thing.

WOW!! Had a mad couple of hours. Firstly, my bathroom rep phoned (on my landline), to make arrangements for him to come to see me to make final arrangements before start date of 24th August. Whilst he was on, my mobile phone rang - was my curtain lady, asking if it would be okay for her come next week to get new rail put up in living room and new blind and curtains in bedroom. Then, I rushed downstairs to go to optician. Whilst in garage, getting my scooter, the royal mail postman saw me and had a couple of small parcels for me. Took those, left on top of car, went to optician, just got in there, sat in chair - when phone rang again. This time a window cleaner I had emailed earlier on.

Now arranged for him to come to me this afternoon. Had my lunch, washing all done and dried ready to be put away. Really am going to take it easy this afternoon.

Shandy, do come back to us and let us know that you are really going to make this final hurdle in your story.

The class of 2019 is giving you so much good advice Shandy. It's because they care so much that they won't allow you to make a mistake.
Staying w

Staying where you are may seem an easy option at the moment, but there are too many things to irritate you. You need pastures new, a change of scenery and a fresh beginning.
I have no idea how I would feel if I didn't have my husband, but I can imagine how daunting it must have been for you all on your own. Your achievements are amazing and the contentment resonates through your daily postings. Shandy please follow their lead and be guided by their wise advice. This is such a comforting thread you can share what ever thoughts you want to and people will listen.

Afternoon all, I'm soaked through to the skin, I'm going to write to 'Joules' and complain.

Thanks for the virtual kick up the derriere, I won't look at anything local I promise. Just having a scaredy cat day. I have found my compass ;)

For interest I just had another peek at Swanage and a pretty little semi detached purbeck stone cottage has come onto the market in my price range - sadly, everything changes once you go onto street view. Looks like they are the last two standing, the rest of the road is really ugly huge new red brick houses, still with scaffolding so probably lots of lorries zooming past too. There is one more cottage available in my range but I doubt even the mice visit it, almost derelict.

Onwards and upwards!

And, do not forget, Shandy, to check buses nearby and easy reach of station, etc. Also, doctors, shops, within easy walking distance.

This morning I put the remaining instructions and receipts into a small storage box, I used to have several thick files, anytime I gave anything away I was able to provide instructions and date purchased. In 2018, when I started to sort for a potential sale, I think I got rid of most. I remember making an inventory list in a notebook so that I could work out contents insurance. I figured that I don`t need instructions for many things, so they went. I even had receipts for furniture purchased in 2006, not any longer. The good thing is that I had put details and dates purchased into that book, wherever it might be right now

It felt a bit `naked` not having the instructions and receipts this morning but I cherish the space it left. Most things can be found online these days, if needed.

I was just too jiggered to do this last evening, I reached a point of not being able to put one foot in front of the other. Besides the daily stuff yesterday my cycle tyres came, ds in scotland said `good luck with putting those on` but I did it, changed both tyres and inner tubes on my electric bike. I could not fathomn the complicated wiring from the gears to the hub so I balanced the wheel in the upside down bike and did it that way. I checked everything multiple times, it all works and no inner tube has been pinched in the tyre. These tyres will almost never puncture. Peace of mind for me and the others were old enough to perish. I might gently vacuum but everything will be done slowly and I will be sitting down between times

Today has to be a rest day, seriously, just one tip run and that is all

Craftyone you have the get up and go of a dozen women. Take it easy today. Had the most vivid dream last night. Thought it was real. My son and grandsons came to see me. It was like it was when they used to come on a Friday. I know my new grandson is in the world. I just feel it. Sounds daft. But the other 2 where 6 weeks early. He was due next week.

My daughter and grandson where here yesterday for a couple of hours. He loves to play but yesterday he wanted me to read to him. We went through a lot of books.

My husband never liked his parents but loved them . I hated them. But we never abandoned them. Even after my husband died I visited her every month and phoned weekly. Always went with her to hospital appointments. She would never say his name and told people she had no grandchildren, always when I was with her.
Of course I put that straight which she hated. My son says he loves me but if he did he would at least text once a week just to see how I am even if he only wanted a yes or no answer. As you can see the dream has unsettled me this morning. But I will snap out of it. Off to the post office and Aldi this morning.

Hope you are house hunting Shandy57 and back to being positive. As I have said you need a new life, new friends and new challenges. Life's short live it to the full. It's not easy but we'll worth it. You deserve to be happy and I think sometimes happiness is under rated.

Have a good day everyone.

Whiff, although he may not reply - you could just send a THINKING OF YOU card to your son, asking him just to let you know if and when the safe arrival of their baby takes place. Explain in that, that he occupies your thoughts and you love him very much. Just ask him to send you a quick email regarding the bitht whenever it takes place.

Do not mention anything else, and for the sake of the cost of such a card and a stamp, it may get some sort of response, and, even if not, cannot do any harm.

Stay strong, Shandy, we are all rooting for you in this home search.

Ellianne, has your daughter had the goodnews she is waiting on?

Got up this morning to discover I had not shut my 'fridge door properly last night, (it is one of those self-defrosting one. So, first job this morning it to take everything out of that and defrost, etc .

New open air market started yesterday for four days in WsM. So, provided it is dry, will trundle down to have a look around that this afternoon.

Franbern thank for the advice. It's his and his second son's birthday early next month on the same day. I was going to pop a note in with their cards and cheques saying just that. I did that with the freeze door luckily only for a couple of hours though.nothing had defrosted just a large puddle of water.

Fridge all done. I was vaugely thinking I should get round to giving that a clean - has forced my hand. Good though, to get that done, I have visitors staying next week.!!

Open air market for four days in Weston, popped down there and bought some nice cheeses. Do love cheese!!

Also popped into wool shop to get some yarn. Only think not open is the large Hospice charity shop that I pass a lot. Often used just saunter round there on my shopping trips, and miss being able to do so. Invariably bought something or the other. Others in this group are now open, do not know why this is not -maybe lack of staff. I have been thinking of volunteering there when they do open, it is just down the road to the flats.

Rest of today, reading, knitting, jigsaw, watching tv - will clean inside both bedroom windows. Oh!! isn't a hard life!!!!

It is very good to listen to your body and it will always tell you when you need to rest and recover. I am watching downton on prime, in between just pottering, nothing at all strenuous today.

I was thinking of doing windows this weekend but we are due to have a big downpour, that might do the trick. I have only had to clean the outsides 3 times in 15 months

Our middle child, a dd. hardly ever gets in touch, maybe once in two months. I know she loves me dearly but she has this bubble around herself, I don`t even know her phone number. So be it, her choice and all I can do is go with the flow. I am never unkind to her, or any of them and I make allowances for the fact that all people are different. This is how I cope. My thought is that this `behaviour` started after her vaccinations, when she was 4.

Oh No!! Craftyone one, NO VACCINE ever alters behavior, but they DO SAVE VERY MANY LIVES"!

Everyone is different and some people need people more than others. In anycase, as children grow into adults they have their own families, friends and interests and whereas they do no forget and love no less, their parents they may just find it difficult to find time to fit everything in. I have had many guilt feelings about my Dad, after my Mum died and felt I should have given him more time. But then, I was so very busy with a large family, difficult husband, lots of problems, it was not possible. Also, I think children cannot really envisage a time that the parent will not be there, so feel that they can catch up when they have time.

I am very grateful when any of my children contact me, always tell them how much I appreciate their phone call, etc. Try to ensure they feel good about making that contact. Can totally appreciate with their jobs, families partner (and partners parent(s), to consider -there just is not that much time.

Good to see that the 'flu vaccine is going to be extended this coming winter, wonder how my son is going to react to being considered 'nearly elderly' as he is in the over-50's group!!!

Glad that weather is not as hot as it was this time last year. It is mild today, a little muggy,- quite pleasant in fact, cloud and some blue sky and sunshine. The sweet peas on my balcony are looking lovely and colourful.

Put 3 coats of clear varnish on my bedside table and shoe rack today as it was so warm. Did it in the garage so insects wouldn't stick to the varnish. It was called No nonsense clear varnish it was white which was great that way you could see where you put it. Washed out with clear water. Also touched up a couple of knocks on the bedroom walls. As the decorator left me the paint. Really pleased with the results. Haven't done any painting or varnishing since we had our first house in 1980.
Think I might be embracing my inter DIY er. Doing flat pack now this. I have a flat pack bench in the garage. Think I might unpack it tomorrow and see if I can put it together. Have a good evening.