Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Shandy that's good news. Hopefully you will be in your bungalow before long. It's amazing how a nannie and grandson can get flour everywhere. I have got 10 Christmas cutters . I rolled out the dough but he cut out all the biscuits. Once cool with a little help from me piped melted chocolate over them. Loved cooking with my children when young it's nice to be able to do it with him.

Thanks Whiff, but realistically I don't think so, the area she hopes to move to is going into Tier 4 on Friday

I've just found out that due to lockdown landlords' rules have changed and they have to give 6 month's notice - very hard on those who aren't receiving any rent at all. If I am still here at the end of my tenancy it automatically goes into a monthly periodic tenancy - have I already said that? Sorry if I have, I am in a bit of a tizzy at the moment. I hope not to have to fork out for more rent, but we are living through such strange times. My daughter moves into her rented house with her boyfriend very soon, I think they will be sitting on their thumb, hope his parents lend them some deckchairs!

Glad you had a lovely time with your grandson, I don't know how you resist, I've eaten lots of biscuits today. I was an irritable Mum because of the mess when cooking with the kids and really regret it, I hope to make it up to them by not being like that with their children.

Off to watch the Crown again, enjoy your evening

Yes, maybe hard for those not getting their rent, Shandy, but better than having even more homeless as so many people have lost their livelihoods, these past months.

I am sitting here, feeling my bp going up, as I am trying very hard NOT to think about my head MRI due at 1 pm today. So silly, most medical tests I can do without any worries, but I am so dreadfully claustrophobic that MRI's are a real problem for me. Need to phone the taxi firm to arrange taxi to get me to the hospital. I will need to take a strong tranquliser to get through that MRI, so am not able to take my own car.

Today is my daughter's (the one in Weston), birthday, she is having a takeaway and will be collecting me this afternoon to take to her home (they are my bubble family, so is permitted for me to go there). Not sure how awake I will be, which is why she has insisted that I should not go there and back on my scooter, but I will be collected in her car and brought back later in the evening.

Be so pleased when today is finished. I will lie in the machine trying very hard to go through, in my mind, the events of 46 years ago today, when I was in hospital trying very hard NOT to give birth to my 35 week baby. I can remember the following day seeing her in the incubator and thinking she looked rather like a 'plucked chicken'. Not very congratulatory - amazing how she has grown into this very healthy and strong woman. Took me a long time to get her feeding properly from me, then having got the idea, would not be weaned, she was still being virtually fully breast-fed at nine months - to the total horror of the Health Visitor. Due to hubbie having a car crash (with a hired car - no-one hurt), I had to discharge her and myself from hospital when she was only three days old. Can still remember the nasty comments made by some of the staff when I did that).

Not sure whether I am impressed or disturbed. Arranged with taxi to take me to hospital. I used this company just once before, when I had my car serviced. So, they had my name and address on their records, did not have to give this over the 'phone, they had it just from my phone no. which obviously came up on their screens with my call.

That's pretty standard for the taxi Franbern. The place at Woodford had my address on dial, it saves them asking for it everytime. It works both with mobile and landline.
Good luck with the scan.

Good luck Franbern, and a very happy birthday to your daughter.

Just popped in to say the EA has written to say she will contact the vendor's solicitor and the vendor today about the draft contracts. I've bought myself a book from amazon about house buying - there is a 'For Dummies' one but it's 2008, I'm sure a lot has changed since then.

Forgot to say I've just received news on the petitions about married women's pensions - the DWP are now investigating, it seems many women are not receiving the correct amount if their husbands reached pensionable age by 2008. Here's the info -

"The Government is checking State Pension records. Where it is identified that someone is being underpaid, any backdated State Pension due in accordance with what the law allows will be paid.

In 2008, the law was changed so married women who were getting a State Pension in their own right didn’t have to make a further claim to have their State Pension increased using their husband’s National Insurance contributions if he reached State Pension age from 17 March 2008.

A number of married women have contacted DWP to check if their State Pension amount is correct because they are not sure their State Pension amount has been increased as it should have been when their husband reached his State Pension age. Where it has been identified that someone is being underpaid State Pension, DWP have paid any backdated State Pension due in accordance with the law.

DWP has started a wider State Pension records check to identify married women who may be being underpaid State Pension. The activity to identify those that are being underpaid their State Pension entitlement in accordance with the law is a significant task.

As a result of contact we have received from a small number of widows who have not seen their State Pension amount increased following their husband’s death, DWP is also exploring how it can most effectively check State Pension records to identify other widows and those aged over 80 who may not be getting their correct State Pension entitlement. For any identified instances where someone is being underpaid, payments will be backdated as the law allows.

Any individual who believes they are being underpaid State Pension should contact the Department on 0800 731 0469. Further details on how to do this through the Pension Service are available on the gov.uk website here
www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service"

Franbern hope all went well having the MRI. Have a lovely time with your daughter.

Thanks for the info Shandy unfortunately it won't apply to me my husband was 47 when he died . He paid at lot into the system for 30 years. When I get my state pension in 4 years I will get 43p a week from what he paid. I will only have state pension as I have no private pension.

Looked after my grandson this morning at their house. We did his online toddler class . My daughter had left writen instructions how to contact and do it via zoom. Impress myself I managed it. Had a good time. I will sleep well tonight.

Hope all went well Franbern, I've been thinking about you.
Whiff toddler classes by zoom sounds fun, glad you worked out the machinery, I'd still be puzzling it!
Fingers crossed for all the movers at their various stages.
Our son and his wife viewed a house yesterday they want. There were people coming out as they went in and people coming in as they left. Apparently there's already a full asking price offer already on the table today, so it's going to sealed bids to be received by Monday at noon.

Got through MRI with no problems. Diazapan is a wonderful aid. Only second time in my life I have taken this (First time was MRI in April last year). Great relief to me that is over. Now to wait (up to three weeks!!!) for result.

Was pleasant to go to daughters house late afternoon (first time I have been there for a couple of months). Was a bit spaced out, and by 8 00pm had to ask to be taken back home. Somehow, I did how old she was incorrect, she was 48 yrs old yesterday. It was my twins who celebrated their 46th birthdays earlier this year.

Unfortunately, I had another of my bad nights again due to problems with my hands. Never mind, I will take it slow and easy today, although I do want to try to continue to with the spare room painting.

I must admit that I am finding the current lockdown so much easier to deal with than I did the one earlier this year. Partly, this is because it is winter, and I am one of those people who detest the short days, long nights, etc. so usually stay at home a lot more. Partly, thought it is because there is so much now in place to stop me feeling so alone - with zoom meet-ups, coffee morning, and lectures, etc. I normally just about manage to get through November and December and then go into my own version of a stay-at-home lockdown for January and February.
I am very optimistic that by the time Easter next year arrives I will have received the vaccine. And, by the summer school holidays this would have been given to most adults in the country (except those anti-vax idiots). My gratitude to those scientists is enormous.
Whiff I do admire your energy with looking after your g.son. It is a lovely age, and you are building up some wonderful memories.

Great you had some fun time after the ordeal Franbern. Good to hear people, on this thread at least, coming up with their solutions to living life as fully as is sensible.
I'll try to get some floor photos on later. It's very light so won't look very warm and Christmassy, unless you all mistake it for snow!

Franbern glad you got through the MRI ok. I hope you get the results soon. I was surprised to get my mammogram results in a week they said it would be be at least 2 . Glad you had a good time with your daughter. Nice end to a trying day for you.

I love looking after my grandson. He is such a joy. When he is at my place after playing he likes to sit in my bed so I can read him a story. I kept some of my children's books ones like the original Thomas the tank engine ones. The old size 32 me couldn't do the things I can now. I always sleep well after our play dates.

He's on line class was lovely but tiring. It was fire fighting yesterday. Next week sports day. At least I get to see him grow up.

Going to make some soup then get on with making my cross stitch Christmas tree decorations.

Glad your floor is all finished Ellianne.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning all, I'm not sleeping again until the early hours, and up late again.

Glad you are back and it was OK Franbern, the three weeks will fly. Sorry your hands were playing up again, the cold here has bought out the arthritis in just one of my fingers and I find that bad enough.

Good luck to your son Ellianne, I really do think it is time the UK system changed. I hope his bid is successful.

Lovely to think of you playing with your grandson Whiff, I'll write back later.

I've got bark to spread today on the beds in the back garden, hopefully it will suppress the weeds, I don't want to lose any deposit. Someone on moneysavingexpert is having deductions from their deposit because of a dent on the wall where the door handle has hit it. I didn't receive the inventory for the cottage until after I'd moved in, I'll go round and check to see if there are any new 'marks' before I leave.

When I went out to walk the dog my neighbour was just going off on his bike ride, he said the Community Police had been round this morning to see the 'second homers'. They are here on and off, and do live in both homes.
Everyone is speculating who reported them.

Off to the beach in a minute, hope it's not too busy, lots of visitors still who don't supervise their dogs properly.

Enjoy your Saturday

Shandy my daughter suggested I took magnesium tablets to help with sleep. They do seem to work. Worth a whirl!

Thanks Midgey, I'll definitely give them a whirl. I've felt a bit better since taking Sainsbury's women's multivitamins, my ulcerated tongue cleared up quite quickly once I started them. I never feel great after the clocks go back, it seems to take me months to get used to it.

I've done some digging and weeding today and hope to be 'tired' tonight. I do walk about five miles a day with the dog, so it's not a lack of fresh air. I do try and go up about midnight and read in bed. I had a 'Booker prize' winner last night, I found the second chapter really upsetting as it involved animal cruelty, awful.

The second homers have gone home, I am sorry they were made to feel so awkward.

Right off for the last walk of the day, looking forward to my veg lasagne when I get back

I would love to know the name of the book you are reading?

Afternoon all, dark already here today.

Car exhaust has blocked again, what a bore. I'm going to miss the technical features of the car but will have to downsize to something I can just pop around in, I don't do enough miles or drive fast enough.

Feeling proud of myself for having both gardens now just 'seasonally untidy' rather than 'completely overgrown'! I can't risk losing my deposit.

ALT57 your user name reminds me of my computing studies, we had to learn the MOD language, ADA. The book wasn't a Booker prize winner after all, I thought it was - the title is On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Ocean Vuong. I know I am oversensitive to animal issues, but I cannot bear their voiceless suffering.

I've just bought an academic 2020/2021 diary cheap from the local shop, I'm going to put some fun things in for next year and hope they can happen!

Have a good evening.

Thanks for the book title I will look forward to reading it.
I have tried to change my user name as I was lazy at the time of signing up and could not think what to use. I still cannot work out how to change it.

Alt57 - you have to message Gransnet and ask if you can change it.

ALT57 the easiest way to change your name is to leave Gransnet and rejoin with a new name. I asked for mine to be changed but the powers that be would not do so, hence I left and rejoined.

Morning all, it's Monday again!

Let me know what you think of the book ALT57, it is graphic.

I do feel odd not doing my normal Christmas shopping/wrapping. I'm just sending both of the kids money and hope they will get themselves a small gift and save the rest. I've sent gifts to my two best friends in London, and have a parcel for my husband's aunt and uncle, they really liked the china cats I had in the bathroom.

Just dog walking and binge watching Mad Men today,

I hope you all have a good day

Yuk.......When I was transferring my shopping bags from the boot of my car to my trolley, I realised that the milk top had come loose -hence milk all over the boot of the car. Now, I know that this always smells horrific, so I have had to take out the whole of that thingie in the boot and bring it upstairs to my flat. Have washed it with disinfectant, and left it out on my balcony to dry. I have also had to leave that shopping bag out on the balcony.

Apart from that, I have managed to do a little more painting in my spare bedroom over the weekend.

I must admit to very nearly driving up to London yesterday afternoon, after a telephone call to my daughter there. She is never one to make a fuss about anything wrong with her, but she has done something which is giving her so much pain she cannot either stand or sit. I was so worried when I spoke to her. She did call me back an hour later after she had taken some very strong, prescription pain killers as she realised how worried I must have been, I have said if she wants me there, just to message me and I can be there within three to four hours. She has promised me that she will be contacting her GP this morning saying she needs and urgent consultation. Sounds like she has damaged a disc. Suddenly feel very far away from her . I also persuaded her to just work from home this week, although it is only a short drive to her place of work, think it is dangerous for her to drive at all if she is in such pain.

Hey Franbern what a nuisance about the milk, hope your liner dries quickly.

Fingers crossed for you daughter, does sound like a disc doesn't it, I hope she can get an appointment. I've still got a painful tail and feel for her.

Just popped in to say my solicitor has just emailed to say he is still waiting for the draft contracts. I drive down to the village to walk my dog as there are street lights and have walked past the bungalow many times - vendor's car is always there. Hope she got a taxi to the station and is away in Scotland looking ;)

Franbern hope your daughter's gets the help she needs. I always felt helpless when I lived so far away I know how you feel. Stale milk smell is the worst. Glad you managed to clean the boot liner.

Shandy has your solicitor been on to the vendors solicitor or is he just waiting for them to contact him? If he is just waiting for themI would ask him to contact them .

Yuk Franbern, milk starts to smell like sick if you leave it so well done for cleaning it all quickly. Hope your daughter can get some relief or treatment.
Shandy do keep hassling as Whiff says. Time is of the essence.
I haven't put the furniture back in my new floor room yet. Waiting for SiL to come round when lockdown ends next week to help with the sofa.