Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Wow, Shandy, that was some visit! Glad you enjoyed Devon and that it wasn't too cold. I will keep looking for you to find anything suitable.
It's moving out weekend here to have our new bathroom fitted for the next two weeks. We had the ceiling filled and painted today, the walls will be tiled from top to bottom. Tomorrow we will remove the mirrored wall cupboard which can be relocated to the utility room. The rest can all go in the skip.
Have a good weekend all.

I'm sorry I was a bit overwhelmed with everything Ellianne, I remember you mentioning it during the conversation but I didn't take the chance to wish you well with your bathroom refurb, I hope it all goes well. I wish I was still down there, I love skips!

Ellianne, hope the bathroom refurbishment goes well. Must say that I am so relieved that mine is finished. Do love the new bathroom, and now have a bath I can actually use in comfort, and all the workmen (and woman) involved were really wonderful, helpful, clean and as unobtrusive as possible - but they WERE THERE for ten working days.

I know you are arranging to move out whilst yours is done. I could not do that. It is lovely when such work is finished and I still just walk into my new bathroom just to admire it - but did find it pretty stressful actually having it done.

My next large job in the flat is to have the carpet taken up in both the hallway and living room and replaced with laminate hard flooring. Obviously, to have this done will need to pack up everything (again) in my cupboards and units - and am planning that for early Spring next year,.

I must say that I am one of those people who really got much enjoyment out of the planning of these large jobs - just as much as actually having had them done. So, at the moment am spending a lot of time looking at the different patters and makes of laminate. In my previous house I had the most wonderful Amtico floor laid in the through lounge,. It was herring-bone small tiles in oak colour with a darker coloured border (in excellent imitation of the original parquet flooring I had in the hallway), - brought comments and admiration from everyone when they first came into the house. It always looked bright and new and needed so little effort to keep it clean and lovely.

Do not think I will be able to afford Amtico again, this time, but, then, this area will not be up for the same hard footfall that the one in the house had.

Shandy and Ellianne, it was so lovely to meet up with both of you. For me, a drive of an hour and a quarter is not far to go. And, I was able to tie this in with a visit to some very long-term friends who live in Exmouth. Did me a power of good, I was buzzing when I arrived home. Reminded me how much we are social creatures and need other people to see and talk to. It was all so safe, we stayed in the open air (and even when Shandy was in my car, we had the windows wide open). Glad Shandy saw how lovely it can be to live in the South (West). Hope she does eventually find a lovely place for her and her cat and dog. She is definitely putting a lot of effort into her searching.

For those of you still in that horrible process of selling/buying/moving - it must be even more of problem now with restrictions on movement, etc changing almost daily. I do hope that all of you do manage to get things sorted out before the current Stamp duty holiday finishes.

Lovely and bright still here, it is colder, have now packed away all my sandals and summer skirts. Actually closed all windows (except in my bedroom now). Definitely no need of any heating to be put on though. We have Eat Weston market on today (open air), so will be going to that and probably end up buying things I had not planned to do.

Thank you Franbern. Hopefully the two weeks will fly by, I'm especially looking forward to visiting Cornwall.
Amtico flooring is lovely, but can be expensive. We are comparing it with Karndean flooring at the moment and have sent for samples of both. From what I've read Karndean can look a bit shinier. I like the light oak with an almost pink hew. We are replacing the current wood flooring in the dining room, but I think I will extend it into the inner hall to lighten the area.
So I'd better go and pack the cases and do the last lot of washing. Nice day here.

lots of food for thought for you shandy, I hope you reach peace of mind very soon

Its a lovely start to what looks like a lovely day so I am most definitely cycling, maybe around 11. I bought my first ever meal kit from my organic producer and want to get stuck into doing that, there are a lot of supplied ingredients. I think I will make it later today and keep for 2 days, its veggie and beanie so will keep nicely. I kind of wish I hadn`t bought it because it means that I have to make it and would rather do other things

I have a tip to get a null re-chargeable battery working. I had 3 null enloop and one with a teeny bit of charge. Put them all into a charger and put a straight paperclip across all the positive ends. That tiny bit of charge left in one will spread across and give just enough charge so that all the batteries will charge, otherwise the null batteries would never charge.

So 2 more houses here are sold and another is sstc, good. The cheapest sold for 10k more than mine and is not nearly as big a plot and does not have the same features ie stove etc. Was a good investment here

Ellianne I have Karndean flooring in the kitchen and hall. It's Cera WP314 Opus and was £25.99 square metre. It wooden effect and matches perfectly with my kitchen units and work tops.
Hope everything goes well with your bathroom it will be wonderful when finished.

Already decided on Dulux Frosted steel for my living room with white ceiling and skirting boards. The hall will be Almond white like the kitchen. Skirting boards and cupboard white. Going for Almond white ceiling to match the kitchen ceiling. Living in a bungalow it will flow better. It matching. Never thought I would want things to flow.

Shandy I hope you have read my 2 PM's. I am only trying to help. You need your own home. And make it as you want. I am sure there are things you have always wanted in a home but never been able to have before. It's such a wonderful feeling having what you have dreamed of. I want that for you. And you need it.

Looking after my grandson for a while this afternoon. I know he will love the new toys I've brought for nannies house. Had £550 VAT back on the fittings because of my health problems. Brought large box of Duplo and wooden train set with a bit of it. Already got 2 boxes of toys which all my grandson's loved to play with sadly only one of my grandson's will play with them. My other 3 are lost to me. Don't even know the babies name. My son and daughter in law have denighed me that or his date of birth. Never thought my son would be so cruel.

At least I have my daughter and family. And she is sticking to me like glue. How can one child turn out so wonderful and one turn on you. And not even explain why.

Ignore me think the antibiotics are making me feel a bit down today. But will soon perk back up. Got this afternoon to look forward to.

Have a good day everyone.

Sorry you're feeling a bit off colour this morning Whiff. Thanks for the Karndean recommendation. We have big dogs here who scratch the wood floors so any hard wearing alternative will be good.
Duplo is timeless. I have a huge box here in the loft. So colourful and easy. Enjoy your afternoon.
Formula 1 today for me!

My home improvements guys told me Kardean is bomb proof. No matter what I get on it it just wipes off. And have had a dog running round in there no marks.

Morning all, I've only just woken up, and have had a small nosebleed in the night, that's a first!

Great to read all your news, and thank you Whiff, I have just read your posts. Playing with your lovely grandson will definitely lift your spirits. I am looking locally as well, but it does make my heart sink, I would prefer a fresh start somewhere.

I couldn't sleep last night thinking about the first floor flat, but this morning my dog had post kennels diarrhorrea yet again and I was able to let him out into the garden quickly. Beautiful as the Exmouth flat is, while my dog is still with me, I want to be able to open a door into a garden. In the flat I would have had to get dressed and race down the stairs to the street.

Enjoy your Formula 1 Ellianne!

Enjoy your day everyone

Shandy57 I know you would prefer a fresh start in a new county. But how much more money are you willing to spend traipsing to different areas. Please look at the properties I sent you they are on Rightmove. I think you will surprise at what you can get. Think with your head not your heart. Moving costs alone can be very high the further away you move plus everything else.

Hope you don't get another nose bleed and your dog is better soon.

yes, be practical shandy. Opening the back door onto your own garden is a must, especially for poorly days and snow.

"Bomb proof" is good Whiff. I'm nearly there with my decision making.

Samples

Ellianne to me they are either to dark or light. Do you want something that looks more like wood?

Have you looked at their Oak collection?

The one I like is called Worn Ash. We live in a coastal property, so light is my preference. I will take a look at the oaks.

A bit of good news from me tonight (morning for you).

There was some easing of COVID restrictions for Victoria announced today. Among these is that properties for sale or rent can have private viewings again. As one would expect there are strict controls and viewings are for only 15 minutes but at least it is a start and maybe it will encourage more activity in the market.

I tried out my walking poles yesterday. I found them really hard to get along with and struggled to walk very far at all. Today I decided to walk with my crutches and see if they were any better. I managed to walk about 4 times further so that was a no brainer. The walking poles are supposed to give a more upright posture and stop you putting pressure on hands and shoulders. They did make me stand taller but put strain on my hands. I didn't put any more pressure on the crutch, just used them to give a bit more stability. I'll just have to keep plodding on and hopefully it will all come together before too long.

Afternoon everyone, it's very cold here today.

I bought myself a cheap video and popcorn for my 'Saturday night treat' and it was about a con man trying to make a widow, Helen Mirren, invest in his dodgy deal. Quite a bit of the worst of bad language as Ian McKellen was a very bad man - called the Good Liar. I enjoyed it, on the whole, I think Mirren is great.

Counted my lucky stars my IFA was recommended by a friend - hope my investments fare better than my savings, my 'bonus' has just expired.

Enjoy your afternoon

Sunny and warm here again today. Yesterday I repalced my faux roses on the trellis on the wall of the balcony, with faux autumn leaves. looks really good. Put away some of my faux plants from there, and will finish that today and give floor a good clean. By the time I get back from visiting my daughter next week expecting the weather to have got my autumnal.

Have also changed over my dining room table faux flower arrangement to my usual autumn leaves one with hedgehog - who always delights any visiting g.children.

It is sunny and pretty warm here again today. Patio door wide open, but I expect by the time I return from my visit to daughter early in October it will be quite autumnal. Have already packed away all my summer sandals, and will also put away my summer skirts.

I have also, this morning cleaned and tidied some of my kitchen cupboards. When I moved in I just put foods away higgledy pigglidy. Then a few months later worked out what I wanted where. But today, finally got round to actually tidying those all up, getting rid of opened packages, and now can see exactly what is where. My next job will be to make a proper list cupboard by cupboard (and my freezer) is exactly what I have got.

Am at present happily watching Drama Channel 20, where they are showing recent film of Wuthering Heights. It is the only Bronte book that I really enjoy. One of my g.daughters is doing this for A level English and did tip her off this morning about this,

I just now need to finish off tidying up my patio balcony and clean the floor.

Spice101 good luck with the house hunting. Glad you are able walk with the crutches. If I didn't use my stick I would fall over. But then again I have fallen over whilst using it lol.

Did a stupid thing this morning. Didn't look properly when I was putting the shower gel back on the caddy and dropped it on my left foot. Note to self pay attention and buy smaller bottles. As it was a large bottle of Dove. That was me saving money . Now won't be able to do any gardening for a few days. Anybody else born with the kultz gene?

It was cold here first thing but it's now 22° in my living room. Very sunny so it will be a cold night. Retired my thin tights now into my thicker ones and into warmer pjs.

Hello everyone,

I am a long time follower of this thread(s) and wonder if I might join you.

My husband died a couple of years ago and I received much help and support in the early days when I was very concerned about my finances. Some good advice and hand holding.

Now I feel ready to move into something smaller. Mainly because I have a large garden and find it is a chore keeping ontop of it, whereas it used to be a pleasure. Also because there is no one to share it with. I have always been the gardener, through choice.

I had my property valued by 3 Estate agents just as we went into the first lockdown. Now having them revalued as it seems prices are on the up. Although it's all relative as anything I want to buy will be more expensive.

I do have a couple of questions regarding leashold and how you find it.

Cathy welcome and ask away about leasehold. I was chair/secretary after my husband died and prior in the previous house he was one of a few who arranged for leaseholders to buy the freehold and to self-manage

I won`t be on here too much, the communication between me and my siblings is pretty hot right now, young healthy niece is now being medicated at home for pneumonia/pleurisy on day 8 after getting covid, it really is a most dreadful illness and definitely not to be taken for-granted

Welcome Cathy04 - many of us on here have held each others hands and provided a comforting shoulder to cry on as we went through the process of house selling and purchase.
Do wish you lots of luck and best wishes on your future journey. All I can say is that it is worth it when it is finally finished.
So, ask away with any questions.
Sorry to learn about your niece, craftyone - do hope she has a speedy recovery,

My nephew died from cancer back in April, all his treatments had been stopped by NHS due to them becoming corona virus health service. One of my reasons for going to visit my daughter later this week is to have a day long visit from my sister-in-law, whose eldest child he was. She was already mourning for her only sibling - a sister who had died from cancer less than two years previously, with less than four weeks between diagnosis and death.

Any serious illness and death in families are always so difficult to cope with for so many people. So many very nasty illnesses out there - always sad and tragic. Have had to cope with far too many different ones over the years.

Despite our brilliant medical knowledge and advances, death is still with us, not just been invented for this particular virus.

Frankly I think Leasehold is a nightmare. It's a problem my daughter has and it will take about £50000 for her to renew her lease which she doesn't have. Would never buy a Leasehold property myself.