Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

My flooring company has had a cancellation and has brought our job forward by a week. I'm glad we said we would happy to move up the queue during lockdown to help out.

My Dads surname was Vogel. In the 1947, my mother, who always hated this as, her mind it was German, managed to get him to change it by deed poll. I was only a child at the time, so did not care, but my brother, who was then in his mid-teens, resented it and went by the name of Vogel for a further ten years before he finally gave in and used the new family name.
When my niece was born, my mother asked my brother if he would use the name of her mother as her middle name (Amelia). Back in the mid-1950's these sort of names were not fashionable, and my brother and his wife were reluctant to saddle her with that name, but they changed it to Merrill.
And, of course, she has then had to spend her whole life having to spell that middle name to people!!!

Had a lovely coffee morning out today 95 year old lady, as sharp as can be. We sat (in a totally empty pub) and ate their gorgeous chocolate gateau and had cappacino - and just chatted and gossiped.
The this afternoon further long gossip on the 'phone with my Sister in law. Then a further chat with cttee member regarding a notice I wish to put up. So good, just doing these normal things.
This evening have a zoom meeting to attend.
Checked by email with flooring people regarding another of their Terms and Conditions which stated that the price quoted would be held for 30 days. Wanted to know if that meant thirty days for me to accept it, or thirty days for work to be carried out. As I do not want this to be done until 15th February next year, needed to get this sorted out. They replied to assure me that there would be no price change for the work to be carried out in Feb next year.

Shandy you have every right to complain it's your name. The name your parents gave you. You know yourself picking a child's name is very important. Your aunt is silly being prejudice against the way it's spelt.

Hope your dog is feeling better.

explaining!

Just coming on for a rant.

I've just received the LPOA forms from my aunt's solicitor - and my middle name is spelt incorrectly.

I phoned the solicitor and asked them to email another copy with my name adjusted - hasn't come. Phoned my aunt and said I'd done this - she said it was her fault, she didn't like to give them the correct spelling of my middle name as it 'seems foreign'. I obviously can't tell you what it is, but my Dad saw it in a 1957 Girl's Annual, and it has always needed explaning my whole life. My husband was always very kind and said to ignore her as she was just a silly old lady, I know I must exercise more tolerance. Thanks for listening!

Do not think we will know who is USA President for several days yet.
Off shortly to coffee and cake this morning with U3A member - last 'hurrah' for at least four weeks.
Don't worry too much about your Aunt, Shandy do not suppose she goes out much and, in any case, we have been repeatedly told that masks are to protect OTHERS from us, not US from others.
I only wear a mask where I have to (ie: going into any shop or shopping mall, public transport if I went on any, etc). When I am outside in the fresh air I do not wear one. Although it has been shown that Asthma sufferers, etc can still wear masks with no bad effect - except through their own imagination.
Will discuss my flooring with my daughter when she comes for her weekly tea and chat tomorrow evening.

Oops Shandy these things happen! I'm sure the landlord will be fine about it, a carpet is only a carpet. I once stained the cream marble hearth of a fireplace in a Christmas cottage we were renting with red candle wax. We left a cheque for £100 when we left but the owner never cashed it.
We too are having a last supper with our DD and grandchildren outdoors on the beach. Good old fish and chips! You order them on line and they have it all waiting to pick up.
Have a good day all, keep in touch over the next month.

Morning all, a frosty one here!

Hope you can budget for the flooring you really like Franbern, I had cheaper laminate down and always hated it.

Talking of flooring, I am so cross with myself. I think I told you the fireplace here is huge, about three foot by three foot, it's a big draughty hole, and I've been lighting the fire for over a week. Last night I noticed a black smudge on the carpet ... somehow I've burnt a hole in the carpet! It's just melted I immediately told the landlord who was very nice about it, but I feel very badly. I've now put my door mat rug in front of it, which I should have done in the first place, I'll be extra careful. I think it happened when I dragged the big fireguard out to use the bellows, must have been a bit on the bottom. Who'd be a landlord ;)

I'm seeing a friend for a last coffee in our big second hand bookshop at 3 pm for late lunch, she was very kind to drive me around all the local bungalow sites. I am sorry her sale fell through because the bungalow needed eighteen months of underpinning due to the subsidence.

Hope everyone stays warm and well. I've been worried my aunt isn't wearing her mask as she has asthma and says it makes her feel panicky, I have just bought her the designer cotton ones recommended by Which, Bags of Ethics. I've also bought my son the NEQI masks. Posting them all today.

Next time I see you we'll know who is President!

Yes, Ellianne, I do agree about doing out best to keep local business able to operate. The reason why I am having this work delayed until February is because it will take them three to four days, and will involve my hallways and Living Room. So, the idea is that I will let them in each morning - and then go round to my daughters house (this is during half term week) and only return home to go to sleep. I think I heading towards having the Karndean flooring down - my feeling is that if I do not - then I will get more and more disgruntled with myself over the next few years (assuming I have that long), and kick myself for not spending the money to get what I really wanted.
Have had a good day today - have been doing some admin work for my U3A eco group, which a couple of us started earlier this year. Then myself and another new cttee member had a good hour in the office of the flats, to see where things were, etc. ....and have a good gossip!!! Then sorted out my first Notice for the flats Notice Board and sent this both by email and hard copy to all cttee members for their approval, etc. Felt so good being back to doing something
really positive.

Should have said knight tile. My friend missed the k off when she text me.

Franbern my Kardean was from the Opus range my friend is having Kardean night tile range £25 sq metre.

Ooo Spice it sounds as though you are entering a warm period of sunny days and a more normal lifestyle. I hope this means you will soon find the property you like.
Franbern that's interesting about the charge for moving furniture. We have a heavy marble dining table, 6 chairs, a mini sofa and an armchair to move. The charges must have been swallowed up in the quote somewhere, but it is worth it to us whatever. The flooring company actually took the time to phone yesterday to tell us they were still working throughout the lockdown and were we happy to allow them access. We said yes. Why wouldn't we? In fact we said if they have any cancellations we would be happy to move up the queue at short notice. These days there needs to be the will to help others out all round. Good luck with your choices.
That mug sounds lovely Whiff.
My husband is eyeing up the large magimix so my worktop area will be shrinking soon ceaftyone! As long as it's a trendy colour!

Franbern had laminate flooring in my old house in living room ,hall and porch. Can't remember how much it was but when I sold it had been down 20+ years and everyone commented it didn't look that old. I have Kardean in my kitchen and hall here. I had it from a company up here Flooring supplies, my home improvements guy told me to go there and got me a discount. He fitted it. My friend was going to have Kardean for her kitchen extension but was to expensive I will ask her what she is having its like Kardean but cheaper.

My two handled mug arrived today for my sister in laws Christmas present. All the ones on disabled sites were ugly or plain weird colours. Finally found on Esty a beautiful hand painted mug. Had many emails with the producer. She has painted beautiful flowers on it and put my sister in law's name. It was £28 but well worth it.

I have had both quickstep laminate and karndean, I believe I did post on your flooring thread franbern. I could have afforded karndean here but chose quickstep and never been more glad

I have done a little bit more clearing today, amazed at how many areas have not been cleared since I moved in. My kitchen worktop space here is the smallest I have ever had, could not manage without my big butchers trolley and glad I got a light bright stainless steel top. It does hold a great deal underneath, all my best pots etc

Anytime I want to put one appliance permanently onto my worktop, I do have to remove the equivalent. Toaster is now below in a cupboard and coffee grinder is in the utility room. (Dangerous) remoska from the cupboard is gone and I have ordered my big christmas present to myself. Tefal actifry genius, the smaller one with 9 different programmes.

For flofreyal

Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) Tweeted: Housing market update ahead of Thursday’s measures:
? Renters & homeowners will be able to move
? Removal firms and estate agents can operate
??‍♀️Construction sites can and should continue
?Tradespeople will be able to enter homes
?But all must follow the Covid safety guidance twitter.com/RobertJenrick/status/1322969631330652161?s=20

Spice really not something to fall out with you OH. If there is so little property coming up for sale, he probably has a good point and could take away the stress of having to find somewhere to buy and get it all sorted in such a short time. Perhaps a trawl of agents for rental properties would be good.

The first flooring place I went to, in their written quotation had, as part of their general Terms & Condition' an £86 extra charge if any furniture has to be moved during the course of this work. Obviously, there will be furniture left in my Living room, so I telephoned them to enquire about this cost. They have now emailed me to say they will not levy that charge for this job. I have replied saying I am taking my time before accepting the quote (I want to see what the other option will cost me). Decisions.....Decisions....!!!!

So, anybody who can give me any information and advice regarding the relevant 'Fors and Againsts' laminate -v- Karndean - Please do so.

I might just have to do that midgey but then again I could be lynched if I do as it is one of my very few culinary winners

Spice be radical and try a new recipe! You never know....

Fortunately, craftyone cost is not an issue for us so it does allow more options. That being said I don't like spending unnecessarily.

Onto brighter things, summer is nearby, temperature today was 30 and yesterday 29. Back to mid teens for the next few days though.
Victoria, after having 723 new cases in one day (our highest), for the last four days has not recorded any cases. We have now been out of lockdown for a week and so far no adverse effects have shown up. We still have a travel limit of 25 kilometers and must wear masks if off our property but it sounds as though the 25 k limit will be removed next week.
It was great to be able to have the family visit and hopefully we will be able to have a near normal Christmas.

I usually prepare ingredients for my Christmas cake about now but I have no idea where my recipe books are and although I've made the cake at least once a year for nigh on 50 years I cannot remember the recipe quantities well enough to put it all together. I did have a quick look in boxes with books but will need to look more seriously which involves moving boxes to access others. Note to self, scan recipe and save it on the computer.

That friend of whiff`s had to be organised 100% but just think how nice it must have been afterwards, with everything in the right place. I think that arriving in a new home, with goods in a jumble, must be a nightmare

Spice, I am mostly of the frame of mind that you get a 12 month rental, with removers that will do absolutely everything for you and cleaners to clean after you. I think your DH is right but squeeze every bit of help that you can, no matter what it costs. Being able to actually move into your final home at leaisure will be worth the wait. I do fear that there would be too many compromises otherwise

I finished my beautiful ham hock stocks this morning, 17 lock n locks of varying sizes packed away in the freezer plus 8 packs of lean hock meat. over 6 hours simmering in my massive bottling pot. Hardly any steam because it was a slow simmer. I bought those lock n locks a very long time ago and have used them endlessly. I keep them all outside in a keter storage box, I have many boxes of all sizes. Been worth every penny and it all started with qvc

I lit my stove this morning, only smokeless ovals, so that the fire will be low and slow and I will keep it on 24/7 for a while. Crafting today, everywhere is pretty good but I need to think about what to have for lunch

Flofreyal a friend of mine moved during lockdown down one. The removers all wore PPE including gloves and wiped down everything they touch with wipes even though they wore gloves. She had given them a plan of where to put everything in her new house. All boxes where numbered with which room they were to go in. She sat in her car while they did it all. When finished they sat in the van while she checked everything. After they went she locked up and left it all for a couple of hours before going back . Wiped everything down again. And started to unpack.

I should ask your solicitor, estate agent and removers. They should know. But imagine if everyone takes precautions it would go ahead. Also depends where you live and are moving to.

Spice sorry you and your husband are a logger heads over what to do. Craftyone's idea might work if someone doesn't want to sell they may know someone close by to the area you like who does. Anything is worth a try. I hope you have some good luck soon.

Does anyone know if you can move whilst lockdown 2 occurs, we are due to move but I cannot see anything from Boris or the media that covers this! Thanks

Thanks for your comments on our situation.

I really feel as though I've been kicked in the guts. DH is saying that we simply find a new rental now and move out straight away. I'm for hanging out to buy so that we only have one move and one set of costs. The problem of course is that there has to be something to buy before you can buy it. However, if we cannot find something during the next month we most likely will have to rent again. Finding a suitable rental is not an easy task either. Sods Law says that as soon as we took a 12 month lease on a new rental our ideal property to buy would appear. I can see positives in doing this as it would most likely be a 12 month lease so we would have plenty of time to find something and also have any work done if necessary. The worst of it is that DH and I are now constantly at loggerheads about what to do. This is not what we planned but it is 2020

Craftyone your idea of letterbox dropping in an area we like is a good one and worth trying.

I feel this is really wasted time at our age, these years were supposed to be ones for us to enjoy not ones filled with stress. Had I known it was going to be this hard I would have stayed where we were and lived comfortably.

Such a pity Ellianne, having waited so long for the chairs to be disappointed with them.

Chairs, sofas and beds are things I would never consider purchasing without be able to try them out first, sit and lie on them. It does amaze me when I go onto QVC sometimes in the early hours of the mornings to see how many of these articles (none at cheap prices) are sold.

Having received my quote for the Karndean flooring which was nearly a third higher than the estimate in the shop, I have today visited another local flooring shop and they recommended that I consider Laminate flooring - still in golden oak colour - but much less money. Their fitter is coming to me in just over two weeks time and I will see what that comes out at. Do need to find out more about the difference between these.

Any dog that is still eating its food is usually ok Shandy.

Pittcity I like the fabric it's just they are huge and look like they should be in a hotel lounge, not in my cosy snug!