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

Shandy - I have taken advice from a family member living in Thanet re the best areas for you in your price range.
He suggests the St Peters area in Broadstairs or Westgate/Garlinge which is the other side of Margate.
Palm Bay, between Cliftonville and Margate, is nice but may be too expensive. I know someone else who relocated from the N.E. to Palm Bay to retire.
Birchington is probably too expensive.
Deal is a few miles away but apparently cheap and up and coming.
I'm not sure how long you are staying but you could possibly do one day to view in St Peters and one to Westgate.
Two good things about the area is that there is a large out of town shopping centre, Westwood Cross nearby and it's a short distance to Canterbury.
Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Had a wonderful day out. Spent morning at Farm Park, nearly empty when we arrived, Just me, daughter and 10-year old.
very pleasant, when we left in early afternoon, back home for half an hour relaxation. Then joined by 17 year old,as we decided to spend the rest of the day being 'on holiday'; in Weston. Glorious weather, and I have long wished to go on the Weston 'eye. But needed company for that, and so the four of us went down there and on to this, As it was not very full, they sent us round about five times, instead of the usual two - I was like child I was so excited, even the men running it were amused by me. Then I took them down to beach front fair ground. I had seen some very scary looking rides on there, and had already suggested I would pay for them to go on these, if they were willing. 17[year old was very happy and willing, so we spent the next two hours, happily in that fair ground, - I purchased a whole lot of tokens which they used to go on different rides and I enjoyed these vicariously. Finished it off by treating them to a burger or hot dog, etc. Not for me, I had my tea waiting for me in my fridge at home.

Absolutely brilliant day - felt like a wonderful seaside holiday. Back home now, having had my tea. Feel really good.

Shandy, when I was flat hunting last year, the most viewings I could manage to fit in one day was SIX, and all these were within about a mile of each other, and I had my own transport (Daughter driving me around). We hardly had time to stop for a lunch. First one at 9.45 am and the final one was 3.30 pm. It was an extremely tiring day.

You would be well advised to hire a car and ensure you have a good satnav to go in it. Collate as much information on each property you are intending to view in advance. I used a clipboard and an A4 pad, with a couple of pages for each property. In advance I had written down the particular things I wished to see 'in person', and then wrote quite copious notes once having done the viewing.

Do not use one EA, use something like Right Move and list the properties you think they may be suitable, then contact those EA's. It is unusual for EA to take you to properties these days -they usually just arrange to meet you at the property. So, you need a good map of the area, try to arrange the viewings in a good order so you are not having to double back on yourself. Take with a packed lunch and plenty of drinking water. Start looking at RIGHTMOVE for properties in the areas you are looking at now, and the majority on there for sale now, are likely still to be there in four weeks time. Do note most, if not all, EA are closed all day Sunday. You have just a few weeks to get this all in order, do start your research now. Happy Hunting.

Poor old wasps have been exterminated I do feel badly but as my luck is not great, and they were just above the bathroom window, I booked the pest control. When I taught at the RNIB in a large house in Notting Hill Gate, I went into the bathroom once to find about a hundred wasps on the toilet seat/bowl. Lucky it was sighted me, rather than a client! Man said I should watch out for the white powder and I went out to buy a new hose, to take with me when I leave. The one supplied is obviously old, it is very hard and has bent in places and I can't unbend it.

Up the ladder again for the circuit breaker, lights on again. I'll ask the electrician on Monday about it.

Just had a look at Kennington Janetvw, are you thinking of moving there? I might try and hire a car when I'm looking around Broadstairs, but wouldn't have time to visit there unfortunately.

Hi - does anyone live in Kennington, Kent? Would like to know what it’s like to live there

The circuit breaker might just need resetting Shandy?

shandy it sounds like they have been wired in series, like christmas lights of old. They should be wired in parallel, either that or there is a shorting fault and the trip switch for that circuit has tripped. You`ll be better off out of there, it cannot come soon enough

A relief for your daughter Franbern, phew! You sound upbeat. Enjoy the Farm Park.

Thanks everyone.

Just a thought Shandy. Don't allow one estate agent to monopolise or manipulate your viewings. (Or they will end up showing you what THEY want to sell). They are a but naughty at doing this if you only have limited time and are coming from a distance. YOU need to choose the properties YOU want to see.

Would you feel confident enough to hire a car at your chosen resorts? Then you could get out to the surrounding areas without the need for taxis.

Franbern, congratulations to your daughter on her new job.

Thanks for the compass reminder craftyone, the cottage faces north east, I'm woken by the sun but it is lost by early afternoon. Not helped by the overgrown trees.

Does your electric lighting go off when a bulb goes? Just came back and switched the five shaded ceiling lounge light on and bang, electricity off. It's really high for me and I managed to get the bulb out, but can't get the new one in, I've been up the ladder for ages and have given up. The landlord has booked in an electrician for Monday 27th, luckily.

Ellianne, everything I have is crossed for you to get that happy result in the bag

Franbern, very nice news again and I hope more good news next week.

Shandy, don`t forget to plan loo stops if you can, slip a compass into your bag so that you can stand outside the back, facing the garden and get the absolute direction for yourself if it is N, NE, NW just turn tail. Maybe you can work all that out in advance via google earth, the top is north

I think a week before is just about right to organise viewings Shandy because properties do come on and get sold very quickly, especially at the moment. Having said that, however, do be ready to keep on at the agents during that week. Coming from London my daughter couldn't believe how slow EAs in the provinces were to get back with viewing appointments. When you're coming from a long distance you need everything to be well organised.

Whiff, EA's won't allow me to book any viewings until the week before I go, so 14 August. Hopefully will be able to find a taxi driver happy to follow the EA around

Franbern enjoy your day out. Hopefully the weather will be kind, but I know you will enjoy yourself whatever it is.

Shandy57 have you lined up any properties to look at on your trips? If so how many?

Ellianne fingers and toes crossed for your daughter. My nearest beach is Crosby it's sandy and has the Gormley statues . First time I saw them years ago I thought someone was brave in the sea in December and it was some of the statues they go quite away out. But there is a marina 30 mins bus ride away with a sailing club for all ages.

Hope completion takes place this week, Ellianne, OMG, does bring back all my horrible memories of that last week.

Today we are off to a Farm Park, only about 15-20 minutes drive away. Good the weather is holding for us today.

I love going down to the Promenade. Do not go on the actual beach, but the atmosphere is so good down there, now that all the little kiosks and amusements are open. Each time I trundle along there makes me feel that I am on holiday. Yes, when there is wind, it gets very windy - the local council seems to have to spend every day getting the sand back to the beach from the Promenade.

I was worried about my daughter getting another job quickly, each day we hear of more redundancies, and jobs disappearing. As I have always maintained, I really do feel that the fall-out from Lockdown is going to lead to decades of real misery and hardship for so very many people. In the long run, feel that this will result in many more deaths (and of much younger people) than came from this Pandemic. Going to be a very difficult winter for millions, as Furlough finishes, and more and more people will become unemployed and so many of them with mortgages, rent and debts. Very, very sad!!!!

My daughter did keep reassuring me that she would get another suitable job in good time. I was more doubtful, but she has been proved right. She does have a wonderful CV and references and much experience in working with SENCO youngsters.

Morning all, raining today.

I'm very pleased for your daughter's job news Franbern. I was listening to Radio 4 yesterday and a 26 year old female graduate, like my daughter, was still looking for a job in her field and getting by through doing low paid unskilled work. Fingers crossed my daughter is considered for the internship.

Nice beach Ellianne. We don't get much seaweed on the sand here, only during the very rough spring tides when mountains are left for a short period. I'm surprised at the amount in Kent. Good luck for your daughter's exchange, hope you have the prosecco ready!

Does anyone have any tips on what to look for/visit when I go to visit locations? I've ordered an A-Z of Broadstairs, and am staying centrally. My legs seem to get very tired by the end of the day so I'll have to be up and out early.

My late husband's cousin lives in Sandwich but has just bought a cottage in Megavissey and will be away when I go, but her daughter has an exhibition in Margate, so I will go there for a look too. Might pop along to Birchington and Westgate too, and see what the smell is like - locals are now commenting on how bad it is.

Off to check 'alerts' on gmail.

Have a good day whatever you are doing

The beach, especially a pebbled one, always make my troubles seem tiny Whiff. How far away are you?
Exchange for DD might still happen this week. Their buyer is ready, just a few bits of paper to chase on the one they're purchasing. And breathe.

Beautiful pic Ellianne. Been here almost a year and only been to the beach once. I went with my daughter and grandson. It was that windy nearly blew us over but loved every minute. Sorting out books again today. Hopefully have a go at varnishing my bedside table and shoe rack/ bookcase/ craft store. When I decide what to use it for . But it was free and very nice. Not much else on today. Have a good day everyone.

Calm at 6 am this morning.

Franbern that's wonderful news about you daughter and the job. Fingers crossed good news also for your other daughter next month.

Have had some good news......my daughter came round, and I knew she had an interview this morning so asked her how she had got on. Told me that they would be letter her know, but she has already accepted the offer of another job. Then whilst we were relaxing on the balcony, the college phoned her to ask her to come along for an interview for a further job. She says, it is like buses.......

Good to have that worry gone, she does not actually leave her current position until end of this month and is paid up to end of August, and also then has redundancy money. Her now job will start on 1st September, so we can enjoy the summer holidays now. All I need now is some good news when my eldest daughter has her liver scan on 5th August.3

I did the paper exercise, graph paper and scale drawn furniture cut-outs, everything fitted in as it should and anything that did not was given away or left, with permission, at my old house. Moving/tweaking positions after a time helps to alter the energy flow a little bit and tbh the positioning all worked in theory but it is when you actually come to use space, that is when a small position swap might change dynamics.

Gosh it is so warm again, I woke up too hot last night. Much prefer cool and bright

Spice, I am sorry to hear of your loss.

Interesting to hear how you are moving around your furniture, Craftyone. My Large living room, here is a rather quirky shape (makes it very interesting). I did draw it all out before I moved, with lengths of each wall, showing windows, patio doors, doorway, etc.

I actually, worked out exactly where each piece of my existing furniture would go on that paper. I have beautify modular units, each one is just 3 feet in length, but not quite a metre (scandinavian - purchased back in 2005/6). I have four of these with top units for them. Bringing these with me, and having a wall to put at least three of them was very important. Found so many flats I saw just did not have a wall of that length (some that did had stuck a fireplace along it).

This flat could have got all four along one wall (just), but I decided to go with three, and then the other unit along a different wall. With those in place, and my tv in a corner, the rest sorted itself out, with my recliner chair facing the tv. and the 2-seater recliner sofa in place, with that single unit behind it, but with a large space between them.

I got rid of my fold up dining table, as had room here for a lovely round extendable one (had seen the one I wanted in a local shop several months before moving). So, all that was needed to purchase was that table, plus chairs, and a further small cupboard to take all normal office things, with printer on top. This sits along a small wall in space behind the sofa, so is hidden away yet easily accessible.

Must say that how I worked it out on paper is exactly how it has worked for me. I am not interested in feng-sui whatever it is called. A room has to suit me, do not worry about ley lines, etc. My small 3 nest of tables sits happily in front of a long window next to the patio door and the top one has three Peace Lilies on it, they seem to like the light there, and are all constantly flowering, which is lovely.

Do think it important to know how you want to have existing furniture situate in any new home, unless you are intending (as I did, when I previously moved to the house) on virtually completing re-furnishing.

Interesting U3A talk on Cabot going to the New world and also on other brave adventurers and explorers sailing to Australia in the seventeenth century, long before the official discovery of that country. These people must have been so very brave to set off in those tiny wooden boats into the unknown.

To get my slow cooker going with tonights meal, then plan to enjoy the wonderful sunshine. Great believer in the power of Vit. D.

Shandy - do let us know about places you decide to view. Getting very excited for you now.