Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Shandy you are really going through it!

I was going to the dump whilst my little dog was at the groomers, but got an email they are closed due to storms. It does all sound frightening. I'm in the South East so not hit as hard but winds predicted to be 70`

I sold my house on the 1st Dec 2020, bought my new place the next day, finally moved on the 28th Jan 2022. Long story you can read back page. Very expensive to move, very stressful and until you've moved in you can't tell if you really like it or not.

I really miss my tree and birds I would wake up to every morning. My son has the room looking out onto the garden, this will be my dinning room when he moves on. If he wasn't there I'd have my morning tea in that room, to watch the birds and the sun coming up, one day.

Hope everyone stays safe in these storms. Take care everyone

The night here was beautiful and still. Watch our local fox mooching about during the early hours of the morning. When I got up,the sky was clear. It still is a beautiful blue.
See on the news they are showing some shots of the front at Weston - and have received a couple of concerned messages from people. However, sitting in my Living room, I look directly out to top of trees on the Main Road, always use them to see how windy or not it is. Over the last hour the wind has definitely built up and there are some gusts. The schools have all been closed today (staff and pupils working from home), rubbish collections postponed until Saturday.

I imagine it is quite bad on the front, but TBH, not really bad here. As my Daughter will now be working from home, she will take me to hospital later this morning. Only ten minutes drive away. I imagine that many side roads may be strewn with blown over rubbish bins (those that have not been put away safely), and would not like to be in high sided vehicle, and most definitely am glad that I did not buy a flat facing the sea - but for me, nothing really too bad.

Thought after a couple of weeks of moving I'd get to relax and not worry about things, but now worrying about what to do re shed base, so expensive. The garden studio/shed is leaking, so need to put a new roof on as stuffed everything we could in there and it's all getting damp! My poor dinning table still out in the garden shock Cannot locate the aerial lead, so no TV.

Good luck at the hospital today Fran Fingers crossed the storm won't be as bad as predicted {shamrock]

Back home from hospital appointment. Got there 25 minutes early - and, the person in front of me had cancelled, so went straight in. Tests all done and good results, no further growth. Just got to be careful over next few days - told I need to double the amount of fluid I take in (I always drink a large amount, so that is is quite difficult), Sitting down now with my large breakfast mug extra cup of tea.

Was pretty windy, some rain for about 15 minutes. I thanked all the staff in the clinic for being there. They were so lovely and reassuring.

Will take it easy for the rest of the day, all I have to do is to pack for the weekend.

Yogi why not treat yourself to an indoor aerial? They are only about twenty quid and, at least you can then use your tv, and when you do sort it all out, will give you a spare to keep for any emergency.

Glad all was well at hospital Franbern I think I've already said my aunt 'forgets' to drink, I keep encouraging her to have a bottle of ready made squash in the fridge. I saw them shutting the storm gates on the seafront on tv. Glad the weather isn't too bad for you, I hate this 'waiting'. It unnerved me to see Chessington were taking down one of their rides to secure it.

Hope everyone stays safe and well.

I completely understand Yogi. Get a notebook and have a page for each room and list everything you want to do/buy for it/change etc, with a date and cost column for when you can arrange/afford it. I did this a few months after I moved in, and am glad to have ticked off a few things.

As for the shed base, what options do you have? My cheap gifted shed from the vendor seems to be flat on the gravel/few paving slabs. Personally I'd bite the bullet and rehome the dining table - I'm assuming it's out there as your son is in the dining room.

As for the tv aerial, when you look at your roof, can you see which direction the aerial lead goes? Or is it an interior loft one? I've not had tv since Storm Arwen and have been watching on my laptop, you can view everything on-line now.

I've had the quote for the timber floor replacement - £9K plus VAT - and this doesn't include removing the shower cubicle in the bathroom, I hadn't even thought of that. I'm waiting for my surveyor to get back to me with a price for concrete replacement. Once the floors are up might find the source of the water - perhaps it's a leaking lead pipe. Such a bore, wish I was spending that money on travelling somewhere exciting instead!

Off to repack all the photo albums, I've got to get to it, don't want to but I must

Seems like we all got through the storms - hope no one had any damage . We went into solicitors today to sign contracts - hope to exchange in a few weeks time but nothings certain until then. I had to take a deep breath to do it - and try not to think too much of everything I love here - be too easy to concentrate on that and I need to look forwards ! Daughter no 1 has at last got into her new home - after separation - and although relieved is finding it hard to settle her little boy so understandably is wondering if it was the right decision.... Daughter no 2 has after 9 months and 5 failed attempts to exchange contracts finally done so ! It all looked as if was going to fall through but they’ve made it .... now to start worrying about a larger mortgage and energy costs ! Energy costs are a worry to us all no doubt - ours will be a lot less I hope but still going to go up over the next year . Had an indulgent look at kitchens today - if anyone has an eye level cooker how do they find it ? The ones I looked at all seemed to high for me to reach into!! Think I need a shoulder level one .....

marymary seems as if all you family are involved in this house moving process. Hope your proceeds well.

Regarding eye level ovens, I have had one since 1972 - would not dream of having anything else. So much safer all round.

Do ensure that you have some worktop right next to the oven so that hot dishes can be put there. There is no standard height for these. The housing units can have a space where you want it. So - in my new kitchen being installed in May, I am having just one deepish drawer at bottom, and then above that two spaces - one for oven and one for combi microwave. As I use that last more than I will now use the oven, that will be put in the lower space and the oven in the higher one - although even that higher one will be more or less at eye level. If you do not have much space for an oven, then do look at something like the Neff, which has a door which has a slide-away door.

If you are having a new kitchen YOU say the exact height you want any oven.

Well contrary to my saying South East wouldn't be hit as hard, we had 90mph winds and 80 trees felled!! I went to the park early morning and it was frightening, nearly blown off my feet!

The roof felt was blown off our garden studio, so need to replace that today, my little dogs grooming was cancelled and a friend that was flying in from Spain and said she would pop in on her way to her dads in Hullbridge, didn't make the visit as her plane was delayed by hours, but at least she landed here safely.

How did everyone else fair?

Good to hear all went well at the hospital for you Fran an indoor aerial I have heard, doesn't always work. I had already traced the aerial lead outside indoors and it seemed to be the place were the 'cable' lead comes into the living room, couldn't understand that. We now think this maybe the roof aerial lead but with an incompatible connection, so ordered the connection end part from Amazon, along with lots of other bits for the home, so fingers crossed this will do the job.

My s.i.l suggested buying concrete slabs and putting a waterproof sheeting down, then the shed. Looked on FB market place and someone is selling used patio slabs for £2 each! So I'll go for them if they are still available.

Best of luck with your flooring Shandy

good re the concrete slabs yogi, I put my garden store on slabs, needed to use a long spirit level. Fingers crossed re the ariel piece

We are not allowed external ariels here but I was so very glad to have a loft ariel yesterday. I am relieved that the awful storm yesterday is over, was a truly testing time for my house. Yellow is comparatively nothing here but will still be bad if various structures are weakened also if tree roots have been loosened

I have been busy and the downstairs here is now re-furbished but there is masses of dust to remove, it seems to sneak into the house with strong winds. I will be dressing in working clothes and will work on the garage later, putting my furniture back into the garden etc. I may dismantle my re-bounder and re-position it against a wall. I cannot see me needing it again until next winter. Spring is around the corner

No damage here, had a near miss as the covered wooden benches were lifting, I sorted that. 8 hour powercut overnight and thankful for the boxes of frozen water in the freezer

Ooh, looking at GBnews, wind is picking up at porthcawl, I think I will leave bins and bits in the garage. The sea looks awesome

Yoginimeisje

My s.i.l suggested buying concrete slabs and putting a waterproof sheeting down, then the shed. Looked on FB market place and someone is selling used patio slabs for £2 each! So I'll go for them if they are still available.

Best of luck with your flooring Shandy

When I had my shed, now my garden room ? installed 18 years ago they did not use any sort of base they just put odds and sods of bricks on all four corners, I was a bit apprehensive about that but it seems to have worked and they said you need airflow under the shed and I’ve certainly got that!

Morning all, a normal day here in Northumberland, glad everyone is safe and well.

Sorry you lost your roof felt Yogi, be careful up there. I am glad you were OK in the park. A poster was working in the 999 call handlers office, many older people had gone out and been blown over and were having to wait a long time on the ground for the ambulances.

I felt so much better waiting for the storm to hit with my new roof, and am sorry to read on another thread a tenant lost theirs. Luckily it seems she already has a roofer to do a makesafe, but it won't be completely watertight and she'll still be dealing with leaks, poor woman. I can hardly believe I had ten weeks of it, seems like a bad dream now.

Good luck marymary62, I hope all goes well for you and your family.

It is very gusty again and wet at times with sun in and out but is cold. I lit my stove, had the incentive after my neighbour said he turned all his thermostats to off, to save on gas he is using a few logs to warm all through, doors open. I am trying the same, I have masses of fuel, overbought from when I moved in, had no idea how little I would need

A bit more de-cluttering earlier, cookery books and have emptied my top wardrobe shelf, its now a mess on the beds and floor in my bedroom. I am going to re-pack and label in neat white lidded boxes that I already have. The shelf is a painted one and after a time, with weight on it, things will stick to the paint. I ordered more shelf liner from amazon, it is wonderful, thick and wipeable and it lays flat, it is non-stick. I have a lot of the 12" liner left, will be lining a sideboard unit with 12" shelves. The new one is 18" and shelf is 23". I used the 12" one to cover horizontal painted wood in my cloakroom, to save damage, honestly it is beautiful, called house day drawer liners

I feel like an ice cream that is a cue for me to drink more

I think you should have an ice cream karmalady - it's March in nine days! Wishing my life away here, stupidly.

Thanks for that Shinamae I thought the same about airflow!

My son will be getting up there Shandy. But I'm really worried as the roof is soaking wet, so can't put the roof felt up till it's dry, predicted to rain again today!

Morning all. Sunny, really windy, and now snowy rain!

I can't wait for Call The Midwife, last one tonight!

Have a good day

Horrible windy wet day today, I do think that february is actually the worst month.

The stove worked brilliantly and was still warm this morning, so I never had to pre-heat the flue for today. Kept the whole house warm

I used to buy some special bricks from this company, I had them delivered.

www.facebook.com/LektoWoodfuels

I added one before bed and they burnt all night in the woodburner. In the morning I just had to stir the ash through, leaving the hot burning pieces, and add logs. Marvellous not to have to restart the fire every day from scratch, and the cat appreciated it!

I like the look of those shandy, I put their site into my bookmarks. It is like my foodstash, I need to get through what I have first but I passed the site info to ds and dd.

Hope you are all well. I have been living at DP’s after selling my house in September. (Documented here somewhere!)
We had both lived alone for years so we have had to compromise on the sort of place we want together and that has narrowed down properties considerably! So it’s been a real waiting game to find properties that fit the bill.
Recently we thought we found two contenders. However, one had the tiniest garden. I think previous owners must have sold land at the back as there are newer houses behind. DP wants a decent garden and although I’m not that bothered, this garden really was small compared to the house (house not huge, but decent size)
Next house would have been a strong contender, but it had absolutely no parking. It’s a village location so both cars are needed especially as I still work.
We are viewing a house Saturday with a garden and parking, and it’s in the village where we are now. It’s perfect. So, fingers crossed! It’s a bit out of our price range but DP thinks it’s doable (he’d put in more than me)
We arrived for the open house viewing this Saturday morning, only to find we were a week early
DP had heard ‘Saturday’ but hadn’t looked at what Saturday in the confirmation email
I am already on Pinterest looking at interior ideas. But at the same time, trying to not get my hopes up.

Nice to see you Flaxseed, at least the vendor's will remember you! Keeping fingers crossed the viewing is successful.

Right, back to packing, I'm finding it hard because I've got very lazy with Covid. I've just bought a bright blue formica table and three chairs for the kitchen, the type you see in village halls. I paid £35 for it from our local recycling furniture store and have just googled on line - they are going for ridiculous prices with the 'retro' tag. The company are taking my daughter's desk and vanity unit away with them. I thought the vanity unit would be perfect for the space next to the shower - but too deep, wouldn't be able to open the shower door. And the desk isn't quite wide enough to use as a sewing table, so off they go!

That was a nice hopeful calm post flaxseed, fingers crossed

I use a desk as a sewing table, it is one of those heavy desks, oak with a space for a pc tower, a pull out keyboard shelf and a cupboard. I cut the feet off and that small bit of shortening means that I can use my folding chair instead of my rolling office chair. Office chair has gone to dd. I took the keyboard shelf out and bought a shelf that I shortened to the length of the desk. I screwed it onto the back of the desk with 5 angle brackets, it now takes the weight of a heavy overlocker, I store it there

I went flying in a gust this morning, saved from injury by my long padded coat with thick hood and hat. The wind sent me running and I fell onto the rubber mat in my open porch. Nose and knees got bumped. I took arnica and feel fine. Saved by my coat and the mat

My stove door is open, I want it to be completely cold before I set it for next time. I can hear bits coming down the flue, hoping it is nothing much

We sold our house in November to cash buyers who happily were prepared to wait as we couldn’t find a suitable bungalow, we wanted to future proof. At last we found a converted bungalow only ten minutes away that is almost perfect. Three upstairs bedrooms and two downstairs bedrooms. Sounds big but the third upstairs bedroom is very small and is likely to be used for storage as the attic is practically non existent. Of the two downstairs bedrooms one will become the dining room and the other a second reception room.

It’s a bit bigger than at present but can be well utilised. No garage so a large 12’x8’ shed is on order for the chest freezer/tumble dryer and man cave/work shop.

Contracts are ready to sign once our vendor has completed a couple of issues highlighted by our surveyor.
One of the issues the vendor isn’t convinced he should be doing and will advise his decision tomorrow (really today). It’s not a deal breaker but this hiccup has really thrown me.

It’s the middle of the night and I got wakened by a surge of my reflux. My restless legs syndrome has kicked in so I am walking the floors waiting on my extra dose of medication taking effect.
During the last couple of days I’ve become overwhelmed. In our early 70s and I’m thinking have we taken on too much. The new house is in good order, just the usual run of the mill minor stuff to see to. Refurbished with new kitchen and bathroom, new laminate flooring throughout, painted throughout. But still a lot to be done.
More to heat which we can manage but has eaten into our savings considerably. But we will cope okay.

So why overwhelmed now. We are nearly there.
I do understand that moving house is one of the high stress events of life but it has just hit me like a ton of bricks. DH agrees it is stressful but is more laid back about it.
I’m more… what if it falls through etc ….. no reason why it should. There’s no chain involved.
All being well we should be moved in about 3 weeks. But….. oh we should have done this when younger.
I’m assuming this is just an emotional blip and a happy ending is around the corner.
Did else feel like this?