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Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

(999 Posts)
Spice101 Tue 02-Feb-21 09:43:42

Link to first 7 threads

In Craftyone's absence I hope this works.

www.gransnet.com/forums/house_and_home/1284958-Help-calm-me-House-buying-and-selling-stress?msgid=28463982

Thread #8

Shandy57 Sat 05-Jun-21 13:42:03

Here's the list I use if anyone is interested smile

www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/factsheetpoisonoussubstances09.pdf

Shandy57 Sat 05-Jun-21 13:40:42

How pretty Pittcity. The plants here seem to be a purple/pink theme and I have a lupin about to flower - I bet it's pink! I had a good look around to check none of the plants were dangerous to dogs/cats, I'm off to look up lupins now.

Pittcity Fri 04-Jun-21 13:24:31

We've got some lovely plants in our new garden, but I think these are my favourite. The chives came with us but are doing well in this sunny spot.
Only a couple more weeks to wait before work starts on our new patio.

Shandy57 Thu 03-Jun-21 12:11:06

Glad you are having a lovely time Franbern, the weather is much nicer up here today too. My dog is too hot to go out, I've tried him twice, we'll just do the beach later tonight.

I'd love to be on holiday but as I'm not, I've just bought myself a huge and beautiful Millais print - The Bridesmaid - from the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. As well as other beautiful prints etc, they are selling cards of masterpieces with Covid masks superimposed to raise funds. My daughter had an interview and did some day courses at Cambridge, I spent many a happy hour in there waiting! She didn't get in, but her two friends did - now a scientist and engineer smile

I've just bought that exact unit! Ragrund? I'm going to live with the ugly beige tiles for a bit longer whilst I do other essential maintenance, and thought bamboo would look nice. I've bought some tiger/elephants patterned towels from Asda, and feel I'm making small progress. I've invited my friend and partner to come and stay at the end of July - with her step grandaughter - I think I've already mentioned her father was killed in a car accident Christmas 2018. Poor kid.

I've come on because I was upset, I thought I'd lost my lovely elderly cat, but she's just appeared! I've searched and searched the bungalow and couldn't find her, I thought she'd got out of the front door when the chiropodist visited this morning. Walked right round the block calling her and thought I'd never see her again - I wonder where her new hiding place is?

Not much to do today, I've just got to go to Homebase for more peat free compost, my potatoes are coming up fast!

Franbern Thu 03-Jun-21 08:57:09

Good morning. We have been v.Fortunate with the weather. The lodge we are in is surprisingly roomy, and the holiday village v.peaceful. Had a lovely drive down right across Dartmoor, quiet roads and impressive scenery. Have been on outings with family each day, but today Inam eavingbthem off and going to have a quiet day by myself. As I expected nice having people around all the time, but I am missing the calm of my normal solitary life. Eden Project was excellent. I have however reached the time of really looking forward to going back home! Lots of birds in the holiday village. Each Lodge has a bird table and feeding things are purchased from Recrprion, so I have also been enjoying the wild life, including the many squirrels.
Shandy IKEA do some nice, slim, tall units. All such units have to say that they need fixing to wall however, if there are no small children around they are usually safe. I bought a lovely bathroom unit in Ikea made from Bamboo for the bathroom in my house, transferred into my en-suite here and looks like it was bought for that. My large IKEA hallax init in my hallway was originally attached to the wall, but when the carpet was removed and flooring put down, the fixings did were not able to go back in, so I have left it freestanding with no problems.

Spice101 Wed 02-Jun-21 23:26:03

Fingers crossed all goes smoothly for you this time kissngate

Shandy57 Wed 02-Jun-21 21:03:56

That's great news kissngate, fingers crossed for you.

kissngate Wed 02-Jun-21 19:00:27

Keep fingers crossed everyone as we've found another house. Early stages still but no chain involved. Will keep you posted as things move along.

Shandy57 Wed 02-Jun-21 16:45:12

Thanks Gagagran I will have a look - but might have the 'affix to the wall problem'. I have used the drill, but am a bit nervous of hitting a water pipe or something, I'll have to buy one of those gadgets that 'find' things in the wall. My local handyman wasn't able to work indoors during Covid, and has now gone fully 'outside' into gardening. I've got my mirrors on the floor, I can't put them up on my own.

I've popped in to say I had the 'cavity ties' man round this afternoon - he showed me lots of 'cracks' and 'holes' in the brickwork at the front of the bungalow, whoopee sad Remedial work replacing the bitumen/steel? cavity ties with stainless steel will be £500 - not as much as I'd feared. I'll be getting the timber guarantee at the same time - and watched him pull down the loft ladder. Apparently lots of old doors/bits of wood up there 'boarding' some areas. When my son comes I'll be brave and go up the ladder for a proper look.

Off to the beach shortly - can't move on the roads around here, I've been in all day. Good practise for the long school summer holidays, it's going to be mad!

Gagagran Wed 02-Jun-21 15:12:37

Shandy have you looked at Argos? We got a tall and narrow white cupboard for our bathroom there and also a slightly wider one for the kitchen. Both just fitted the available spaces to a T. They do have a wide variety of sizes and types Might be worth a look?

Shandy57 Tue 01-Jun-21 17:21:35

Afternoon all, just wondering how you all are.

We've had a few sunny days but the fog on the coast is persisting. I made a mistake and went to the beach about 7.30 pm the other night, when I was driving home an hour later it was really rolling in from the fields. Blinking a lot didn't help, or leaning forward, ha ha! Not going that late again if there is still fog.

I've spent forever on the web looking for tall bathroom furniture for the eighteen inch/48 cm wall I have available between the door and the shower. Frustratingly the towel rail/radiator are on the most useful wall, that will have to be shelves. Bathroom is so small, but as I'm constantly reminding myself, it's big enough for one! I posted about towels and was cross eyed at the lovely choices posters suggested. I will be changing the bathroom colour scheme later in the year once I've chosen a tile paint so I bought some elephant patterned ones in a neutral colour from Asda, still searching for some Orla Kiely owl print in orange. I found them on a website I think I saw on Watchdog - some sort of monthly subscription hidden deep in the terms, I'm not going to join.

Stay well everyone, 23 days until my next vaccination.

Ellianne Thu 27-May-21 16:17:29

merlotgran enters the Meghan & Harry threads. She certainly did this month.

aggie Thu 27-May-21 14:40:02

Very sorry to read that .
Condolences to Merlotgran

Whiff Thu 27-May-21 14:27:58

Merlotgran's husband died in March.

Shandy57 Thu 27-May-21 13:46:50

Just back from the vets, he is pleased with my dog's healing and I've finally been able to take off the surgical baby gro.
We can return to the beach - but I doubt I'll be able to park. The village here is absolutely heaving and I couldn't park there, might walk him down later. Anyone living in a touristy town is going to be inundated with travel being discouraged.

I met the owner of the two collies I suspected were being walked in heat - the man was very odd but I persevered, he said the older dog had finished her season 'about two weeks ago' - he's walked past my house every day since I moved here, hence my dog's discomfort. Apparently the other girl is pregnant, due in July. I asked him if he has a licence and he said yes - he lives in a much smaller bungalow than mine and has a small shed in his garden. Seemed to know very little about dogs in general, poor puppies. I hope to avoid him and his dogs in the future.

Shandy57 Thu 27-May-21 10:50:50

Morning everyone, nice to see you Spice, so sorry your DGS2 can't have his party. I must say I feel miserable about the virus, I feel so lethargic and am still surrounded by my unpacking with nowhere to put it.

Talking of doors mine here are horrible and I'll be saving for new ones too, they are just blocks of mdf with the cheapest of handles - and the toilet door doesn't close properly.

I've just been sorting clothes in the front bedroom - I know! - for the charity shop, and saw the Hermes man. He came in my drive, then shot across the road and put a parcel in the neighbour's garage. By the time I'd got the front door key he'd gone - he's left a note in my letterbox saying he's left it in the neighbour's garage. Why? The doorbell is very loud, he didn't knock.

Ellianne Thu 27-May-21 09:31:34

Joining the internal door changing gang here too! Ours will be white, two with glass panels.
Sorry Spice to hear about your situation there.
Enjoy Cornwall Franbern. The weather was great there last week and continues.
Cream then jam for me Shandy out of preference.

Franbern Thu 27-May-21 09:22:15

Been looking back over past two or three months of comments on this thread. Wondering how merlotgran is getting on,. Have not heard from her for a about eight weeks.

Franbern Thu 27-May-21 08:55:50

Sorry to learn that Spice. Does appear that the only real end will be brought about by the Vaccine. This very large and extremely wonderful organisation of the roll-out by the NHS over in UK has meant that we really can see the end in sight - and as our weather, (very slowly improves), we are able to get out and about. Thank goodness our incompetent government did not try to interfere with this programme - nor find any of their 'mates' to make a huge profit from it. NHS handled in completely - and brilliantly.

However, until this vaccine programme is put out right across the world, the virus will still play havoc with many peoples lives and futures. Oz did well, as they were able to close down their borders, but are far behind on vaccines.

I still hold in my mind that around fifty million died in the world during the three year cycle of the so-called Spanish flu (that actually started in USA), No vaccines back then, just had to rely on 'herd immunity' etc. And, of course, this panedemic raged at a time when so many people were still suffering from the severe austerity of the war years. Thank goodness, nothing as bad now.

Sorry, should not be going on about this virus. Your 20 degrees for Autumn would only be achieved here in high summer. After a brilliant summer last year, it has been very slow in coming - we are just coming out of the coldest and wettest May since records began. However, there is now a golden UFO appearing in our skies ready for this forthcoming May weekend. Most restrictions have been lifted - the remainder may be by the end of June. Three quarters of the adult population in UK have had at least their first does of vaccine and a third both doses. Hopefully all over 18 year olds by end of July.

With regard to your furnitur purchasing - use the time to try to get as many catalogues as you can, and look at pictures on line. Not as good as seeing in real life, but will give you some idea and help to pass the time. With regard to your G.son's birthday party - just make it as a good day as possible and tell him how lucky he is as he will now have TWO parties, a small one on the day and the original one later when it is permitted.

Spice101 Thu 27-May-21 07:33:24

After several days of glorious Autumn weather and temperatures around 20C, albeit with a white frost or two, we are back to the dark, wet days. I suppose it's not surprising as winter is just around the corner.

Had planned to eventually start our furniture shopping but between the weather and medical appointments that has not happened and now, as of midnight tonight we in Victoria are back in lockdown. There had been no cases in Victoria for 86 days and suddenly we have 26 in a couple. Seemingly another quarantine/tracing muck up.

For the next week we can only leave home for 5 reasons (work, to give or get care, exercise - up to 2 hours per day, essential shopping or to get a covid vaccination and only travel up to 5 kms.
Masks in doors and out, no visitors to homes, no weddings, 10 at funerals, no community sport or activities, no public gatherings etc.

DGS2 was due to have his birthday party on Sunday. It would have been his first real party but that has had to be cancelled. DS & DIL are not looking forward to telling him.

It really is becoming difficult to see an end to this virus ruling our lives.

Franbern Tue 25-May-21 10:58:15

Pittcity, one of the jobs I would like done, is to change out the two of my solid wood internal doors. The one to the Living Room, I just want to change for a really nice glazed one with light oak surround (to match the floor). the one to the kitchen I want to change for a glazed one that slides. This will give me more room in the kitchen and those two glazed doors will give natural light in the hall with closed door. No idea as to cost of this. Saving hard, and hope to have it done later this year.,

Pittcity Tue 25-May-21 09:22:22

Another day with the singing carpenter here. He's fitting new internal doors. We weren't expecting him so soon but the materials for his latest job hadn't turned up and our doors had.

We have an appointment with a bathroom planner today. A new bath and sink is needed but we may have the whole room done....??

It's like buses, nothing for ages and then they all turn up at once!

We took our survey with a pinch of salt as he nitpicked and a lot was "maybe". The only thing of concern found by the workmen we've had in (a loose flue in the loft) wasn't picked up on the survey.

Have a lovely holiday Franbern, hope the weather is better than now.

Franbern Tue 25-May-21 09:01:06

This will be my third visit to Eden Project. First one, was about 15 years ago, day trip from Newquay, where I was staying on a Grand UK holiday. At that time I was working weekdays in my local Hospital, and also doing a great deal of work for gymnastics as a tutor/examiner at weekends, One of the joys of this holiday was that I was by myself. However, one of the other single ladies decided she wanted to chum up with me. I look back now and hope that I was not too rude. At Eden, I so enjoyed wandering around with just myself as company, but had to keep dodging her. I was enchanted by how wonderful it was there.
On the final day of that holiday I actually lied to her that I was going on the coach outing (not sure where that was to), then once that departed, I spent a glorious day by myself visiting a local pearl place just outside of Newquay!!
Returned six years ago, with a friend, and stayed in local B&B. It had grown considerably and was even more wonderful. Rreally looking forward to seeing it again.

Shandy57 Mon 24-May-21 17:56:23

Hi Franbern the surveyor had said he had seen woodworm in the loft but couldn't confirm if it was alive or dead. When I moved in the seller had left me a 25 year guarantee. When I rang last week to change it into my name, they'd gone bust. The surveyor was surprised work had been done in 2012 and 2016 too, but as I want to get the loft boarded, I am very relieved! He thought the original might have been lost when the seller bought in 2012.

Have a great holiday next week, I wish you nice weather. I remember going to the Eden Project from our self catering in Newquay, on my own, my husband took the kids deep sea fishing (they spent the trip lying on the floor of the boat!) I was on that bus for hours! Forgot all that when I was there, what a fantastic place, I've still got my postcard of the 'giant' in the garden somewhere. And then, when I left, they'd cut out a bus so we all had to squeeze on - so dangerous! So ..... cream or jam first, ha ha! Enjoy!

Franbern Mon 24-May-21 16:47:09

Seems strange to have a woodwork treatment in 2012 and then a further one just four years later. And, then needing anything again now. Most of these treatements have something like a 20 year guarantee. Are there any areas that you are particularly worried about with regards to woodwork? Would appear to me that it is has all been well covered.
I am looking forward to going away next week with my bubble family, Off to a self-catering Lodge near to The Eden Project (tickets for that booked for Tuesday). Be good to see some other scenery on the trip there and also to have company for a whole week (probably be fed up with that by the time I get home).
Am trying to be on a little economy drive. There are things I do need (or - rather - want), to purchase for the flat over the next few months, so am trying to save towards these.