Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

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

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

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!!!
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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 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 .

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

what is your timetable for the floor shandy?

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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 .

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.

Evening all, just having a break from watching 'Flowers'on Netflix.

So pleased for you Franbern. Are you going to have lights under the cupboards? I really miss mine, I might investigate having some put in.

So glad you haven't suffered marymary62, I was scared when I took the dog out. My builder very kindly popped by this afternoon to check the roof membrane as rain is forecast. He'd just received a call from a customer he built a brand new roof for last autumn - a tree has fallen on her bungalow, and the branches have gone through the bedroom ceiling as well. I really feel for her and all the other people asking for urgent help on the community pages today, many more trees/tiles and roofs have been damaged.

Midgey are you having a joke? Is there another storm coming?

Thank goodness you are safe, just hope that Shandy is safe too. Stay safe tomorrow for the next storm Corrie.

Hi - Sandy we survived the night just ! Didn’t sleep despite earplugs - my favourite pot broke and I’m annoyed with myself for not watering it last night - helps to keep them grounded !
Hope your roof survived . I don’t want any more repair bills before we move - already spent 1,000 on the boiler to fix it and now the car is on the blink !
We’re moving to a smaller house but the council tax and insurance are both more so won’t have any savings ! It will be lovely to be so near to both my daughters though, I really miss them .
Hope everyone has survived the winds if you have had them and that your moves have not been disrupted .
I do think sellers should clear out their rubbish ! Perverse that they thought you would want ‘nothing of value ‘ kissngate - if they’d left you a valuable painting you would have minded ! I’m hoping ours clear out properly and get rid of all the garden rubbish there was too ..... I am also trying to work out how to arrange the new sitting room before we renovate ( have to Kiev with everything for a year I expect at the least ) the fireplace is opposite the window but I want to sit and look at the view so I guess as we have two (ancient - kept meaning to get new after our cat died as he’d scratched them over the years but never got round to it !) two seater sofas they will be parallel .
I’d just like to get in and sorted now it’s been months !
Happy home making or packing everyone x

Had a wonderful day in Bristol with two kitchen design appointments. Wonderful how they show it all in 3D on a screen. The kitchen that I designed and had in my head, is now seeming a reality. My ball park costing seems to be pretty much on the nail. Make final decision over next couple of days and then will probably put deposit down on Wren Kitchen in a couple of days - to be done in May or June. Can be excited now - will get more and more worried about all the work as it gets closer.

Then treated my daughter and myself to a yummy carvery lunch and very calorie heavy gateaux after. We have brough back home half of those cakes in a container!!!!

Still lots of tweaks on kitchen, and have not had costings for electrical and plumbing work. But find I can afford the top level worktop.

I am pleased that I have the garage on the ground floor as they said what they prefer to do is to deliver the new kitchen units in advance ready to be fitted as soon as the old kitchen is removed. Delivery into the garage would make life a loit easier than directly into the flat.

Weather down here has been miserable this morning, drying up now, a little windy, but nothing really bad. My sympathy with all of you up North.

kissngate, running an extension for aerial is quite easy. You need a lot of it to go round the skirting, or wherever. But these leads are not expensive to purchase. One will probably need a female plug and the other end a male one. When I took mine around the fireplace, I did it close to the floor (Amtico oak parquet) and purchased from amazon, lengths of oak coloured trunking to cover this wire.
In the flat I have a very long extension lead running from the aerial in the Living room around two walls, out into the hallway, and through into my bedroom for the tv in there. As I, again, have oak colour flooring, I have used the same sort of trunking here.
Did you give written permission for them to leave things behind in the loft? I thought these days the people leaving the property had to clear it all out, or else they could be charged for having it all taken away by the purchasers. Do not any sort of verbal agreement would be enough, so it might be worthwhile, getting an estimate from a rubbish clearance firm and going to your own Solicitors to see if you could claim this back from the sellers.

Sorry not got back sooner.
Fran - I think you are right. It's been too much for him to cope with and once we get to spring I'm sure he will start being interested in the garden. Definitely agree about the TV location it's not going opposite the window. However I think it would give us more room on the opposite wall. The trouble is the tv aerials both enter the side where the TV is now (one for sky). I know I can buy an extension for both but its a job for the future when oh is more settled.
Shandy - who would have thought my bedroom wall is the colour of the season 'Very Peri'. Can't change at moment so covering it with some wall prints for time being. Hope your jobs getting sorted.
Karma - it's very satisfying going to tip and offloading same with charity shops.

I managed to stick my head in loft other day and couldn't believe the rubbish left behind. The trouble is my oh was the one who said it was OK so too late to complain now to solicitors. Its got wardrobe doors, old blinds, plasterboard etc all piled up along one wall. When I asked oh why he indicated it was empty he said as there is nothing of value he didn't think it mattered! ?