Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Thanks Midgey, I've not watched the news today! I'll make sure I'm home by 1500 hours when it hits here.

I forgot to say my insurance expires at the end of Feb - and they want to speak to me, I wasn't given a figure. I paid £98 last year.

I went onto all the comparison sites and the lowest quote I could get from a Which approved insurance provider was £352.

No joke it seems Storm Corrie is real ! Mainly Scotland I think . Someone tweeted on the weather page ‘stop giving them names you’re encouraging them!’ Intend to agree
Off soon for hopefully a quiet nights sleep before the next storm arrives . I’m so sad about all the damage for everyone and tragic for the lives lost. We used to be so complacent I think in the UK - natural disasters appeared to happen elsewhere - not any more .

nature power is very scary, cannot do anything about it which makes it worse. Hope you are ok, those in the storms today and tomorrow

My insurance: house and contents £277 saga, I did my research and have high value stuff in my garage

Car was £310 saga

I know I am with it but I do like the way saga treats its customers ie as older

Shandy57 Have a look at Policy Expert. I have house and contents with them renewed for £140. This is for a 4 bedroom detached house and some high value contents.

Evening all, storm is starting now, first rain for weeks and I haven't got any gutters at the back, this is going to be interesting.

My neighbour knocked earlier to ask if I had anything to secure the fence. The man still hasn't been with his postcrete to fix the loose post and it was swaying backwards and forwards yesterday. Ended up using the builder's ramps as supports, at an angle pushed up against it, bins are safe, and I can't see anything that can fly up and break the windows.

Builder has just popped in, his men are coming in the morning to paint the lounge/kitchen ceiling and cut the holes for the spotlights to be reinstalled. Week three and I'm nearly there!

Thank you very much travelnan. I've now realised I will probably have to stay with this insurance company as I have unfinished business with them. I'll be interested to see what they say tomorrow.

It is only when you claim that you know how good/bad a company is unfortunately. I've had to ask them to post the settlement for the electricity three times now, still haven't done it, I've had to chase everything several times. Horrible messages too, 'urgent action required, blah blah, do it now or it will be withdrawn'. I will do it when you post the amount!

I think a lot of insurance companies will be increasing their resources as these storms seem to be increasing in intensity - my builder said he has visited many people today with roof damage. Some magnificent trees were down when I drove to the beach, so sad.

The market research team for home insurance at Which only approach customers who have claimed so their approved providers do what they say on the tin, hopefully I'll be able to switch next year.

I'm looking forward to my supper and tv viewing tonight, veg kiev from M&S and Call the Midwife - once I've got ready for the builders.

son in scotland says that the wind is quickly picking up, I hope he has tied down any potential `weapons`

Call the midwife for me too tonight, then I will go upstairs and read. I shall be asleep around 10. I have been tired all day after cycling this morning. It was so very cold, I was deceived by the warmth in the house and in my back garden. I actually went through mist and hoare frost, far too cold for me, not enough oxygen in air that cold, never again. If in doubt, I will stay home

I hope your son is OK karmalady. The storm hasn't actually started, it was just gusty and rainy for about half an hour. I'm sorry you had a horrible bike ride - mist and hoare frost do chill you so quickly. The weather has been so odd - a friend has just found a hedgehog in her garden, she's popped him into her hedgehog house and going to weigh him in the morning. If he's less than 600g he won't wake up from his hibernation again - I think this happened to a hedgehog in our garden many moons ago.

I've just cleared the kitchen as best I can and tried to put the dust sheets up, but they kept slipping off, I'll leave it to them. I do hate having to set the alarm for the morning, they will be coming about 8.15 am.

Good job you are feisty shandy, too many people see a lady past her youth and think they have no brain. Keep pushing, there are horror stories about insurance companies trying to wriggle out of paying. You are no pushover, could be doing without that, its yet another stressful hurdle

Still no painter message. He always came when he said he would, after he gave me a specific date. He gave me no date this time but said `early in february`he was waiting on a call from a plasterer, before he could arrange his diary. I think maybe working with plasterers is the bread and butter for these tradesmen.

I am getting a bit churned up, am comfortable enough but this is almost the whole of winter. I am trying to talk myself into keeping going, being patient. Not hassling him, he is trustworthy and works very hard The upside is that I will very very much appreciate being straight again

Morning all, the wind came in the night and I could hear the tv aerial bobbing around through the chimney Dry and I think it's going to be sunny today, it's the sunniest January I remember.

I'm sorry you are waiting to hear from your painter karmalady, it is so unsettling, I hope he phones you soon. I waited six months for my stone mason and eventually phoned him - we'd had a mix up, he thought I'd cancelled!

Hopefully I'll have a lounge with a painted ceiling and lights by the end of the day! No leaks!

what is your timetable for the floor shandy?

it is also dry this winter, so much so that I have re-connected my two large water butts, I always empty them in case of a hard freeze, not much chance of that happening now.

I bought horse compost yesterday, a specially blended mix. Top dressed 12 of my roses and the brassica and potato beds. I love that the days are getting longer and will soon be able to potter outside and can do a bit of strength training by lifting and carrying the bags

Waiting for my hair to dry naturally and will then walk to the greengrocers, I do like to support them and their small business. They always go the extra mile and have 5 star google reviews, thoroughly deserved. My little town is unusual, in that there is still a clean and good public loo, always reassuring

Shandy hope it was not too bad a night with the latest storm.

Winterwatch were reporting sightings of Hedgehogs out in gardens and their advice is to feed them.

Yesterday I went through a mild panic and a wobble about spending so much money on a kitchen. I think I know I will do it - but am going through all the problems it will throw up, getting it all done - Now that I have a good nights sleep, (I did not do that on Saturday night), I can now think of how lovely it will all be. I will have these ups and downs right up until it is all completed. It is so similar to what I experienced when thinking of selling my house in London and buying this flat in WsM.

Do hope all went well for Yogi.

Just back from a dog walk, my face is just starting to defrost! Much colder than it looks out there.

karmalady I've asked the damp company to book me in for May/June, when it's warmer and the lighter evenings are here. I'm going to put everything from the three bedrooms/hallway/bathroom into the lounge/kitchen, and camp out in the garden while it's being done. It's so popular here hotels/air bnbs are already booked up, and I have the problem of my elderly cat. I want to get it all done in one go. Hopefully the company will leave me some planks so I can use the bathroom, the hall and half the bathroom floors will be removed.

I understand your wobbles Franbern, I'm not enjoying having the men here although today isn't as noisy as they are only painting. When the kitchen is done you can completely focus on just having fun!

You will not be moving again Franbern, spend it with a glad heart, it will give you so much pleasure

Silly me made a mistake in getting a top range kitchen in my last home, I was widow brained from bereavement, which happened the day that the designer came. All I could think was that my husband wanted me to have this, so I went ahead. I little knew that 3 years later I would have my practical hat on and be prepping to move. In the end the kitchen must have helped sell my house.

That kitchen had lovely shallow tall cupboards, so that I still had worktop in front, the best part was all the drawers and the corner cupboards with turntables. I had granite there, here I have laminate but that has come a long way since my last laminate in 2005.

I went to the greengrocers this morning, got one of this, one of that, I love that I can buy whatever amount I, as a single would need.

shandy, I have planned over and over for full house painting, tweaked here and there in my head. My son says that planning is always key, you are well in control shandy

I've just phoned my insurance company and have been told I will receive a call from their specialist team regarding my renewal, they want to ask me 'some questions'.

I had a look at the insurance company reviews on Trust Pilot last night - three people have complained that their Storm Arwen damage claims were refused for various reasons, I have been so lucky.

Thank goodness you survived yet more wind Shandy, looks as if it’s going to be breezy most of the week.
Here has been a national shortage of plaster so no wonder your painter was/is held up karmalady .

Thanks 'karmalady'. I designed my new kitchen myself, having spent a good three months looking at loads of catalogues, etc. The very best person for knowing what I need in a kitchen is me. So, the kitchen companies receive a copy of my design and all I want them to do is tell me of feasability and costs. I have been looking into different types of what to have in base corner cupboards, carousels, magic corners,etc. Have found exactly what I want. The second corner is slightly more difficult as it has pipes, etc in that corner, so, straight forward shelves cut out to go round these. I have always wanted a full height pull out larder - could not get one into my galley kitchen in the house, determined to have one here. In my mind I have worked out exactly where all my food stuffs, etc will go into this new kitchen. I did have a local firm visit early last week, and have been waiting their quotation with bated breath. Thought they might turn out to be far too expensive, but chatted on the phone today with the man there, (quotation in post), and I think they sound very competitive and they do really lovely items. AND.....do everything from start to finish (which is sop important to me). DO hope their full quote arrives tomorrow. Think they are going to be the ones!!!
tting
Shandy Getting all your new floor done in one go, will probably be quite daunting at the time, but well worth it. I had my hallway and living room done and did camp out in my bedroom for that week.

Thank you so much midgey, he said he was waiting for the plasterer. You have set my mind at ease means a lot

Franbern, I have a pull out larder here and I truly like it. I cannot reach the top shelf unless I stand on a chair (safely) so I keep special cake tins up there. I keep lots of ingredients in there, I saved tall plastic jars with lids and I labelled the top of each lid. There is a lot of space between the shelving so tall and narrow is best. Start to finish for me was 3 weeks and included a granite worktop with an undermount sink

The use it, decluttering, mission is well and truly on. Little thing but I made a point of finding a parkin recipe that used a lot of oats as I have a lot. Went to the local wholefood shop and bought one jar of molasses on an as needed basis, normally I would have bought two, one to use and one spare. I am trying hard to de-programme myself

Evening all as Dixon of Dock Green used to say!

I was just sitting in my car eating a chip buttie (dog in the back having a steak pie) when the insurance company rang.

Lovely young lady with lots of questions, checking if anything had changed since last year, and confirmation that my claim was not settled yet and the amount of £13000 has been earmarked. So glad they have allocated the money for the VAT, I do hope I get it back quickly when I submit the bill.

At the end of this she said your renewal figure for buildings and contents for the forthcoming year will be - drum roll - £127.00. Just £29 more than last year! Amazing, I was quite anxious to find out as I've had to increase my energy direct debit. I paid on the spot and can now relax, submit my final bills when they come in, and relax.

And the best news is no builders tomorrow, so no alarm tonight, I can read until I'm tired. Lounge ceiling is now painted a trade white, and looks so much better. I had played with the idea of painting the lounge in F&B Setting Plaster, glad I had a trial run of it with the ceiling plaster, it's so similar and I don't like it!

Ah!! karmalady, yes a learning process regarding those 'undermount', 'inset' sinks, etc. Does depend on what sort of worktop is being used (I have discovered). Worktops are another area, with something two and half grand difference for the different types.
I have also made the decision not to spoil the final look for (as the saying goes)'aporth of tar'. I had thought of having a tall oven housing unit, having a single oven installed and using the higher space to put in my present free-standing combi-microwave. But, have now decided that it would be best to have both new oven and new, matching combi-mcicrowave installed. I will be purchasing my own new freestanding fridge/freezer and I do know the one I want, Will keep my existing free-standing washing machine and slim dishwasher, and am changing out the ceramic electric hob for an induction one. Will need a small cooker hood for that also. Am also having one of those boiling wate taps put on new sink, which will enable me to get rid if existing hot water boiler which takes up space on worktop.

Pinch and a punch everyone! So glad it's February - although we did have snow last year.

I'm jealous you are having a hot water tap thing Franbern, makes my boiling the kettle and filling the flask seem medieval!

a nice upday today.

Cyce ride done. Painter has given me a date in 8 days. I lost my tiny 18ct gold stud and back this morning, in my bedroom and I found both bits. I won £75 on my premium bonds. My food is planned for today. Tenko later. Sun is shining. Wow