Help calm me. House buying and selling stress *Part 9*

I certainly got the measure of my new 'attached' neighbour the night when the roof blew off, I'd just gone to warn him it was heading for his conservatory. He just told me to go home as there was nothing we could do, he didn't offer to come in and help me - and when I came back in the water had started coming through the spotlights. His wife, who has mobility problems, came round the next morning. If the situation had been reversed, I'd have taken them a casserole so they didn't have to think about cooking in the chaos.

many people are takers and not givers. I got fed up of energy suckers, hence I keep myself to myself these days. The type of person who leaves you feeling drained. We have to be self-sufficient for self-preservation. Disasters like yours shandy, you soon find out who the genuine givers are and that unfortunately does not include your surveyor, nor your neighbour, who seem not to care a jot

Oh dear Shandy sounds as bad as my neighbour. Maybe because we are women on our own they think we will let them get away with it, which you do at the beginning. What a liberty to show you they were to put the oil tank on your land! take it you told them 'no!'

I had that fag end problem in my last house. When my neighbour's son came to visit he would flick his fag end onto my flat roof! In the end I told her & she stopped him. It was a real eye saw, as I would look out my bedroom window at my tree with all the beautiful birds on, but couldn't not see all the fag butts.

My neighbour over the rd to the left is still being obnoxious. Couple of weeks back she completed blocked me in, I knocked on her door & asked nicely for her to let me out, I wasn't over her driveway at all. She was so angry, calling me a bitch in front of her children, slammed the door in my face. I said I'll not park there again just let me out so I can get to my work. she said if I park there again she will not let me out. I didn't park there again, but last night there was a huge gap, her car wasn't there, so I parked making sure I was right away from her driveway. This morning I watched her arrive and back into my car, she got out several times to look back to make sure she was touching my car, I was watching her from my window with the curtains pulled back but she didn't see me. So I opened my door and when she had finally finished parking onto my car, I called over and said well done, you took a long time parking onto my car, no reason to do that, and you called me a bitch!

You do very well Karmalady I wouldn't ask anything of my neighbours either. I got a guy in from 'my builder' to put my gate in & I'm using him again to put my garden archway up too. You make me feel hungry will all your nice recipes, even though I've just had my porage breakfast!

Oh dear Shandy not a helpful neighbour, even with you warning him about his conservatory.

I always said neighbours are sooo important too Karmalady, but I've certainly drawn the short straw here. My neighbours either side I get on well with, they are very friendly and I know they would help me out if I needed it, but on the other hand they are the ones that swap their 2 cars over so I have no chance of parking outside my own house.

Morning all, what a day for news, we are living through such turbulent times.

I agree that some men treat lone women differently Yogi. I saw a marked attitude change in both my neighbour and his builder when my husband died. I'm on the WAY UP forum and several widows have experienced the same.

As for the woman opposite you, I hope she moves in the future, such unnecessary unpleasantness.

yogi, how are you feeling now about staying or going? I realise that you are putting work into your garden so you may have already made that decision and have the big girl drawers on wrt the nasty neighbours surrounding you.

All this stuff is adding to my psyche ie in making me more content to be here for the long term. I do still have that yearning, wishful thinking, for cowbridge in s wales, wishing that we had bought one of those `boring` houses so close to the centre but no we didn`t and this is the third house since then. Seeing the future would be invaluable at times but no turning the clock back, my cycling is now only at subsistance level and then it was always horse riding, a grand way to be in the countryside. I definitely don`t want to be re-visiting the rosy glow past. Life has moved on since then

Shandy I am very much hoping that the turbulence will calm down soon and am also hoping that the deceitful back stabber turncoat does not get to be pm.

Sorry for all those having problems with neighbours. Where I used to live I could have died and they won't have noticed. But here in the north west people are so different . I am very lucky with my neighbours in fact the whole road there isn't a nasty one living here. I haven't found being on my own has been a problem in fact I have had offers of help if I need it from my neighbours. During lockdown my neighbour next door and the bungalow next to him they both offered to shop for me when they went out.

My brother and sister in law say the same thing about moving to the north east people there are so much friendly than in the Midlands.

That was my only fear moving that I wouldn't like my neighbours . But I dropped lucky and found the right road to move to. Plus the health care is so much better here and my brother says the same thing about where they live. Funny how much health authorities differ.

We are supposed to be having a heat wave but no sign of it yet.

Doesn't matter who becomes PM they will still be rubbish and line the pockets of the rich and make the rest of us suffer and tighten our belts again. ?

Do not think people living in North or North West are really any different to those living elsewhere in UK,.

I lived in London, = in my family house, where I brought up the children there was always a very good community spirit and we tended to watch out for each other, A long road, with families covering many different ages. When I needed to go hospital after a home accident was driven to there by a neighbour ( ambulances on strike that day), neighbours came in to babysit and even put children to bed to let my hubbie be with me in hospital. He was inundated with casseroles etc to feed them all.

At, my last house in a small cul-de-sac, we very much a community, helping each other out as needed without needing to be over friendly. Privacy as necessary

Here in the South West, in my block of 25 flats there is a very excellent community feeling, and support .

Do think it is really more a matter of luck, not where you live. Also think that people may be a little put-out by neighbours who are over-friendly. But no more.

NW NE people, the salt of the earth

Franbern I wrote from my own experience. And my experience is people in the north west are far better than the people in the West Midlands where I lived . I am 64 now and have been her 3 years next month. I have know more kindness in my time here than all the time I lived alone in the Midlands after my husband died. My quality of life and healthcare is far better here. I finally found out April what my neurological condition is all because of my new neurologist. He had my blood genetically tested and now I know I have a hereditary condition. I was under a neurologist in the Midlands for years and he never thought to have the test done.

Karmalady is right people of the north west and my brother and sister in law have found the people in the north east salt of the earth.

We all have our own opinion this is mine.

my family visit is cancelled, covid has reared its ugly head with them in scotland. Also dd and her sugery have all been instructed officially to wear full ppf3 since last monday. This mutation is a nasty one, reaches deep into the lungs. Immunity and vacs are not helping this time

Morning all

I'm sitting in the garden, the sun is shinning, it's going to be a beautiful day!

As for neighbours; I have always had really good, friendly, helpful neighbours, till now. I think it's because I bought down. Always lived in a small cul-de-sac type setting, with own driveway, detached or semi with well secluded gardens.
Here, even though it's a semi, but with some of the houses converted into 2 dwellings, there are more family household in this area then was meant to be.

My upstairs neighbour, has actually done well with clearing his garden, his daughter came round and strimmed it all and took all the garden rubbish bags away. Now he comes down most days and spends half an hour pulling up the rouge grass that comes up through his pathways, he's cleared a good deal of it. Problem is, with all this rain, it's growing back fast again.

I read a quote the other day that went something like this;
Do a couple of jobs asked by your neighbour and he becomes your friend, asked every day and he becomes your enemy!

Sorry about your family visit Karmalady. Hope you will be able to re-arrange it for sometime soon.
Whiff, I firmly believe that most people are the salt of the earth. Wonderful, kind generous people everywhere as well as a small minority of nasty, small-minded people everywhere.
So pleased that you move worked out so well for you, but so it has for many other people going to many different areas/countries. My own health has improved dramatically since I came to WsM - partially due to my happiness and lack of stress, partially due to nurse diagnosing my long-term cough as asthma and giving me much medication, and also due to the wonderful healthy fresh air in WsM. We are both very fortunate in our moves.

Last day today of my friends visit with me. Has been a lovely relaxing few days lots and lots of gossiping, too much cake, etc (but that is good 'on holiday'). Getting very hot over this coming weekend. Daughter & I planning a car boot on Sunday.

Morning all, 70F here! It's boiling for up here.

So sorry your visit has been cancelled karmalady. Several of my neighbours have Covid, and I dug out my FFP2 masks for my vet visit yesterday, I bought them for the Easyjet flight.

I've just paid for a six month Tesco delivery pass - mainly to stop me spending so much on food. I don't want to go into the supermarket either, I can't be poorly with this job looming.

I'm glad the garden is being done Yogi, a daughter has suddenly appeared? That's good.

Enjoy your last day with your friend Franbern, you'll miss her when she goes.

Have a good day everyone.

yogi I do like that last qote of yours, very true

oh yes shandy, absolutely you need to keep covid away

I was hopping about on youtube yesterday, gimbal walk popped up with a walk along wsm sea front

I think kudos is due and well earned by people who make the best of it, whatever life has thrown at them and wherever they end up living

If you are relaxing knitting and watching karmalady, I do recommend Lucy Worsley's Iplayer documentaries, I've just finished watching her last 'investigative' series. Poor King George! Trigger warning, there are live leeches.

Just finished putting my make up on, and I've dug my nicest clothes and jewellery out of the packing.

A few years ago I made friends with a couple who used to walk their dogs at the beach. They were both ex cabin crew, and really clean cut and smart, even for a beach walk. One of them was at the vets yesterday with their two doggies, and it's given me a kick where I needed it, I've been going around like a tramp. We left the vets at the same time and he put his two little dogs into the back of his open top mini, he looked like a film star. Such a nice down to earth man as well. I've decided to make far more effort with my appearance, first thing to do is get this horrible grey mop cut off!

Oh that up lifting will indeed do something for your well-being shandy.

I had my hair cut on monday, I actually now go to a lady barber and take a picture with me, she is doing a most lovely job, has special skills in barbering, not hairdressing. My hair is short and silver and fairly fine. I can describe my hair style as a bit like judi Dench but the centre has crossovers to each side. She put mud on this week and it made a huge difference to hair separation and uplift. I ordered some yesterday

I suit short and cherub as I have a small face and am only 4` 11 if I stand on my toes

I too find it all too easy to just wear old stuff but having now changed my wardrobe via home sewing and having lost weight, I am finding that styles that go in at the waist, to give me definition are suiting me much better. These are the type that I have made and they have given me that important psychological uplift.

The colours are also very important, some colours just make me look and feel drab and they have left my wardrobe.

I shall watch those documentaries, they sound interesting. I watched old irish crafters yesterday, a series called hands. A man and his apprentice son hand making a spinning wheel and also pottery crafting, making beleek china, such immense skill

Dress to please yourself Shandy not anyone else. It can make you feel pretty good, occasionally to dress up and use
make up, etc. but not really needed every day - stops being 'special' then. Hair cuts are a wonderful way of giving yourself a boost. I go to one that has no appointments system, we just go in and wait. Never very long during the week, and the upside is that they only cost £16. each time. I like to keep my hair short, so that each morning all I have to do is to brush it into place and there it stays for the day!!!

My son in law kindly dropped my friend at the railway station, I knew she would stress if I suggested we went there on the bus. I stayed with her until her train was coming in then I caught the bus home. Has been really lovely having her here, thoroughly enjoyed it - but am more than happy to have the place back to myself. Washing machine on now.

It is about 80 degrees today, but I opened lots of my windows first thing and there a little breeze blowing through the flat making it feel very pleasant. Might need the fan on later on though.

Busy weekend ahead. My summer children's library reading scheme volunteer role, commences this Saturday and on Sunday off to a car boot sale hopefully to get rid of the kitchen items I still have and do not need.

ha ha just back from parading myself around the charity shops and no-one said anything about my make up! Got a White Stuff pull on style dress for £3, and a matching necklace for free as a 'regular' customer! I bought my lovely Liberty fabric curtains in there.

Glad your friend got off OK Franbern, I was nervous taking my friend to the train as parking is difficult, and I told you I had to lunge forward towards the train to put her heavy suitcase on! Still wondering if it was my friend making me 'face the fear'! Enjoy your car boot, my friend made a big profit last time she did one, I think people have missed them.

Boiling hot here, typical as I have all the airbricks blocked up. I've opened the big windows and have propped the front door open. Taking my dog to the beach about 8 pm, should have cooled down a bit. I've got sore feet, we're not used to it being so warm here!

Its getting too hot for me, thankfully cooler out now so all doors and windows are open. It seems to be blowing through but tonight will not be comfortable. I shall have to put a fan into my bedroom. I never did like the heat. Even glasgow is going to be 24 monday

All the make up I ever use nowadays might be a bit of lipstick but I usually don`t bother. I am glad we no longer need to paint straight seams up our legs. I have never really been a make up person. I hope your dress and necklace look nice. We have a second had dress shop here, sold on behalf of customers, all good stuff but I have never been in, just looked in the window. It`s a good idea

another walk through popped up, this time liverpool city centre. It was heaving and there were only pedestrians and bikes. It looked very difficult for the elderly or those with mobility issues. Shattering for shopping. That would definitely put me off living in a big city, it isn`t as it used to be. Buses were on the ouside of the centre so lots of walking needed

These walks are interesting

Funny enough karmalady I was in Liverpool last month fetching my friend and taking her back to the train station. I hadn't been there since November 2019 as apart from the station I can get everything I need near to home. It was a short walk from the bus stop but in front of the station all the pavement was up a very wide area fenced off . Luckily a young man past me and I as asked if he knew a way through . He was shocked at the work as he had been away the week before and needed to get to the station for work . So together we made it.

We had a taxi from the station and back again. After putting her on the train I knew where to get the bus as the bus stops are several in 3 areas depending where you wanted to travel to . Which makes sense. I needed Queens square but had forgotten where it was but asked and found I was heading in the right direction but needed to go further only waited 10 mins and my bus came.

On the Monday morning the city wasn't very busy but Friday afternoon it was as a lot of hen and stag parties arrive by train. It was funny seeing a large bearded man in a blonde wig evening dress and tiara with a sash saying bride .

I am very fortunate where I now live that a bus (runs every 20 minutes) stops right outside my flats (both sides of the road), and goes to WsM train station and stops right outside of the entrance. Better than a taxi and no charge. At all bus stops in WsM the kerb is raised so that when buses stop at them, there is no step whatsoever to get on/off the bus, - wonderful for wheelchairs, pushchairs, wheeled baskets and everyone.

Am expecting the town to be very busy this weekend with the heatwave, loads of people will come down for the beach. I will stay well away. By keeping many windows open, I have not had to turn on any fans at home yet. I do have a big tower one in my living room, controlled by a remote control, and a small bedside one in the bedroom.

Strange yesterday, - just before we were due to set off for the station, my friend had a text saying that her train from Bristol to London had been cancelled. I looked up how much a delay that would cause her and found they ran every 30 minutes -- so she sent her hubbie a message saying she would home half an hour later than planned. Then she sent me a message from Bristol saying she was on that time train (the one we had been told was cancelled). So, she got home as originally planned!!!

Today, I will spend some time this morning in my garage, sorting out some stuff I hope to take to the Car boot tomorrow, - to be collected by my daughter this evening. I will be at the library a couple of hour this afternoon in my holiday volunteer role. Earlier in the summer we did this car boot, and both of us had a pretty successful day. Hopefully, we can repeat that tomorrow.

Oh yes Shandy I love Lucy Worsley's documentaries.

I wasn't able to take my little dog for walkies till midday. I went to the park and stayed under the shad of the trees as much as I could . I took my Chinese parasol to hold over him when we hit the sunny bits. So many people found it amusing, with comments of hope I come back as a dog It was quite difficult keeping the shade over him, made a lot of people smile.

My D&GD are coming today, may have a first BBQ here, have a new one that needs assembling and I'll have to pop to the shops for charcoal & the BBQ eats. Have a big parasol so we can keep cool under that or move under the shade of the trees. My son & my daughter both said at separate times it's like living in the woods here so many lovely trees all around, which is just as well as we are south facing.

Nearly finished my garden, just the wooden arch to be put together and put in place at the entrance to my rock garden. I did message the guy who put my fence up, but he hasn't replied yet, he lives in Kent, but was doing some jobs nearby me when he did my gate. When I first moved in I bought a good apple tree and put it in a great big terracotta pot, put it outside my bedroom widow at the front, hoping to see the blossom and the birds, got some blossom, but no birds, so I moved it yesterday to the very top high corner of my new rockery garden and "it's looking good"

All my new plants I put in, one was getting eating by slugs, I put egg shells down, still getting eaten, I went to the beach for some seaweed, still getting eaten. So the last couple of nights, after watering, I went out with my mobile phone torch and picked up at least 30 big ones on the first night! Last night 3, but went up to my new rockery and picked up loads! Seems that's the best way to get them.