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

Morning all

That's right about the keys Razz take them back for filing and then they should fit.

Met up with all our London family for a meal yesterday by the sea, had a lovely time, but like you Fran felt so fatigued on coming home, but had an 8pm class, so had to muster the energy to go back out again.

Yes I must say that there is an autumnal feel to the air this morning and there has been a bit of fine rain overnight. I have a continuation of a job to do this morning, the second coat on the benches. So utterly boring but I see the raindrops sitting in little balls on them so it is worth it. I used an oil again. Tint of larch as the benches are greying nicely in the sun. They are made from acacia and very comfortable, nice curved backs. One is five years old and the other is three. I think I will use colourless oil next year. You can see the colour runs on the back of one, when I got slap happy

I do need to get the windows and doors moving parts lubricated, silicone spray for that. I want to get it over with. Then the boiler is being serviced next month. I think that is it.

I am not looking forward to winter this year, am already getting that pit in my stomach, the bills, the boredom, the enforced being indoors.

Razz if you had the keys copied take them back, they usually do a bit of filing then they work. When it doesn’t some companies will redo them to see if that cures the problem. Congratulations on all your hard work.

It says 72 hours before furniture can be replaced, so I've got my possessions coming back on Monday. It's really odd, the only floor that has a slight shine is the hallway, I followed the instructions to the letter everywhere.

I've just booked the collection and removal of the unit piece the handyman couldn't take - it's gone up a lot, it used to be £10 per item, it's £18 now. Peculiar choices given for collection - pouffes, table lamps? Things that would easily go into the bin. I feel as though I've been paying out forever, will have to pull my horns in now.

I laid on the yorkshire pudding to read earlier and fell asleep, feel horrible now. It feels like autumn here tonight, I'm going to wear my long coat on my last dog walk.

Have a nice evening.

so it has to harden properly now razz, wise to keep off it as much as possible. There is dry and there is curing, does it say on the tin? At least the weather is in your favour

You know that tired, exhausted feeling. I had it from around 4 and just now was wondering why but them we need to look back over the day. Personally I did 3 big hefty jobs as well as the usual small jobs. No wonder I feel done in. All of us, when we get that horrible feeling when it becomes hard to put one foot in front of another, just look back over the day. Physical work has a price

Razz you have driven youself by sheer determination,you need a couple of rest days as soon as you can. That body is not a machine

Afternoon all, just back from taking the majority of the underlay and carpets to the dump, what a pong in the car, I'd forgotten how awful it smelled. smelt? Still have the bookcase part of the unit in the front garden, but I'll get the council to collect that.

The bill has arrived and I've paid it on line, my savings look very sad . The company director phoned to see if I was happy with the work, and said she was praying that her men didn't find any additional, costly problems - apparently they rang in every day. I 'm very thankful they didn't!

I wasn't going to open up the house to my pets until the furniture arrives on Monday, but don't like to go out leaving them locked in the kitchen/lounge as it's at the back of the house. Such a nuisance I only have two front door keys and the ones I had cut didn't work, looks like I might have to replace the whole door. That can wait!

Have a nice afternoon everyone

Engineer has been and gone. Patio door all sorted, and he carried out a small repair on another little window here. Why do I catastrophise so quickly these days??

My neighbour has said he will fit my awning sometime next week. I am not unpacking it - will wait for him to do that.

Fortunately, I came back slightly early from my meeting, as the window man phoned to say he was on his way. As I opened the main front door a DPD van drew up and had a large box for me which they had tried to deliver yesterday. This contained the Accessories Pack for my new Powerchair. Very impressed with the bag that came with that. Will take loads of stuff which will mean I will only need a small bag on my lap when I am going away for two or three days.

Going to relax for rest of day and enoy European Championships.

Yes, tv is fine now, I just needed to give the other stations time to reboot up. All it came down to was an aerial connector coming loose. In the past I would have sorted this for myself, but so many wires at rear of tv these days (sound bar ones, humax ones, etc. etc.), AND I was very tired.
My SiL had popped in on his way out to his weekly pub gig (Shanty singing group), and my daughter was out with their 12-year old. They did pop in on their way home to make sure that I (and the TV) were okay..
Feel so silly making such a fuss, but television is my main source of relaxing and entertainment - it is VERY important to me.
Good nights sleep and I am fine again this morning. I really have to accept that das out (even with having a sleep in the car on return journey), is getting too much for me. On a normal day, I always have power nap both after my lunch and after my evening meal. My wonderful recliner chair is great for that.
Onwards and upwards...............My awning arrived yesterday whilst I was out. Fortunately, lift was working when I got home so I have got it up to my flat......Neighbour will fit it sometime next week. Just to find a company who can come to repair my patio door now.

Hope you're feeling more upbeat today Fran xx

Thank you everyone re Joey. Yes it was frightening. I wasn't near the dog's owner, she was sitting on a bench and I was feet away, so no reason for the attack. Sorry to hear you had the same Karmalady, can't see any marks on Joey and seemed ok in the park yesterday morning, although he did jump up onto my lap when we sat to watch the swans, when normally he sits by my feet.

You're doing so well Razz, not surprised you're feeling tired, you've worked so hard since moving into your bungalow. Hope those varnishing poles arrive today for you. Could your handyman finish off the job for you? Good luck with the varnishing if not.

Oh Karmalady I hate getting lost, I have no sense of direction either. We got lost going to my GD b/d party a few weeks back. Ended on a narrow country lane, getting smaller & smaller, then onto a railway bridge with big closed gates in front! I couldn't turn round as too narrow, so had to back all the way back, couldn't do it as lane end too far off, managed to turn, avoiding the ditches , phew!!

so my positivity is back. When I was a young mum, I always aimed to have something positive done during my day and that did not mean cleaning but something that added something nice to life. I still try for that, which gives me a feeling of satisfaction

Today I am going to give my benches a coating of osmo oil and another tomorrow. I had been putting it off but today I feel like getting it done

The weather has also had an affect on people, people are just so tired at coping and the news is always depressing. Most are so worried about the rapidly advancing autumn. It is very hard to keep that va va voom going and it does not take much to tip us slightly into reverse.

Being tired does not help at all and I admit to having had an accidental power nap this afternoon

Far from lethargic, Razz - you have been amazing, and must be both physically and mentally totally exhausted. Just think, one last big effort and then sit back and relax and relax.

Window company did NOT ring me today as promised on Monday. Left a message on their answerphone when I got home and will try to reach them or others tomorrow morning.

I was so tired when I was dropped back home late afternoon. Then knocked over something in my kitchen making a mess , but when I turned on TV and it was just blank screen I gave in to tears - so silly. Son in Law has popped in and more or less sorted it. At least I can now get BBC1 & BBC2 - but nothing else. So something is still not right.

Razz I cannot believe that you don’t know why you are so lethargic. From reading your posts I would think it’s exhaustion not letheragy. It sounds like you have so nearly cracked the huge job you were presented with, well done you, a magnificent effort. you deserve this and definitely one or other of these of these ?☕️?☕️

The end will soon be in sight razz, well done on keeping going

Well I got well and truly lost, found the dealership but could not find my way back and ended on some narrow country lanes, rat runs, with strings of cars behind me, wanting to get past. It was horrible and so many direction signs are covered in foliage so I had no idea about direction. There was no-where to turn around but I managed to park and get to my map. The village I was in was right on the edge of the page so that was useless.

My husband always had a good sense of direction, not me. Eventually I recognised a farm shop and could breathe again but was still tense as my petrol gauge was mid red, gosh it went down quickly and petrol stations are few and far between. I filled up, a hair raising £97

It was all the new housing that made the confusions, that with all the mini roundabouts and having to be in the correct lane

I knew that didn't I karmalady! Fog brain with the varnish fumes. Enjoy your explore, watch those car park wardens! Someone here parked at the railway station and paid on her phone - it didn't register, she got a ticket.

I've realised I will have to do the 6 hour hall way job today as I want my pets to have full range of the bungalow after Monday, we've had a hard few weeks stuck in here. I'll have to start by the back bedroom, and work backwards out of the front door and get back in through the patio doors. It's very marked with the print of my skechers, so needs a good wash first. No idea why I find it all such hard work, I am so lethargic nowadays.

yogi, yet another owner who took no resonsibility for the dog. It is scary, you will always be watching now, rather than just enjoying a `supposed to be` stress-free walk. Take a walking stick, you may well need to defend your dog.

Our little sheepdog cross, a very timid type, on a lead and we were walking in ogmore. A loose great dane bounded up from no-where, owner was with him and he went for our dog. Owner vanished as quickly as he appeared, no words from him. We only noticed the severely slashed underbelly when we were putting suzie into the car. Tbh this is probably the main reason that I no longer have dogs. I don`t trust any dog off a lead. It was very traumatic

Franbern, good for you, quietly methodical. What will happen is that some will not attend the agm, those that will not help but will ride on the backs of others.

I have finished filling my trugs this morning, drought proofing plans for the next several years. Car cleaned, tip run done. The crafting hobby was pyrography ie wood burning. I cannot be doing with the fumes so all gone

I am doing a small explore shortly, just to the outskirts of a near by town, always busy and am going in my car without sat nav. Need to locate the dealership for my appointment next week, I am getting a new radiohead sat nav

ooh, doorbell rang, my plants arrived, oh my goodness I am so glad I did the trugs early

Morning all, cool here, but sunny.

Your post made me think of Breaking Bad karmalady! Soap making?

I hope the Committee realise how lucky they are Franbern, sounds like the last person was reluctant to do it. Enjoy your day out, hope an ice cream is on the cards.

So very sorry about your dog Yogi, my dog was attacked years ago and no obvious signs, then he got a big abscess near his bottom from a puncture wound. Good you were going to the groomers. Keep an eye on him and avoid that neighbour in future, sounds like the dog has owner protection problems.

I finally finished the varnishing of the biggest rooms yesterday. I did the first bedroom in two halves, it was so hard on my knees and even though I was wearing socks, my toe 'knuckles' were really sore, as is my hand. When it came to the second bedroom I couldn't face doing it by brush, so used the roller on a stick. Pretty useless but I managed to slop and roll a second coat on. I've still got the hall to do but for the moment will protect it with a carpet when the furniture comes back next Monday. I'll be sleeping in a proper bed again very soon!

Yogi how frightening that must have been, for both you and your dog. Glad that he is okay.

karma re getting more people to assist with voluntary management companies - this is an on-going problem and we will be making a very big point of it at out next AGM, as two of our present members will be standing down then and we ill definitely require more.

When I took over as Secretary I had to go through a very steep learning curve as the previous person who did all this work had made no notes, etc on what do when a flat was in the process of being sold. Over the past eighteen months and through four sales, I have now put together a Crib Sheet - telling any future person exactly what is required and made up a file of copies of most of the documents that solicitors request.
I was, long ago, instructed that the mark of a really good administrator is NOT how they perform the tasks when they are doing them, but how seamlessly a change to someone else taking on the role/job can be made.

Having my summer holidays 'weekly' outing today to Buckfast Abbey. Glad it is going to be much cooler and even rather overcast.

Well done on your book reading for children Fran Same sort of thing happened to me, re your cardi, I put my doggie's cold bandana on before leaving for the park, but when we got there bandana not round his neck!, found it when I got back, on the kerbside.

Had a bad situation at the park yesterday, saw my next door neighbour sitting on a park bench with her sheepdog, went over to say hello and her dog went for mine! my dog was squealing & crying, I thought he was badly hurt, she didn't get off the bench to help pull her dog off and then just said a flat sorry when I left very upset. I sat at the top of the park and felt my dog all over, seemed ok, but then my neighbour came along with her dog and her dog rushed at the swans that were sitting preening themselves just in front of me, barking furiously at them, again my neighbour did a very lacklustre call back!

I told the groomers later, so they could check Joey over and they said the same thing happened with another dog that morning at the park.

They never put their dog on a lead and are often outside by their motors with him, off lead. The groomers said on walking down the road with their little dogs, the sheepdog would dash up to theirs, but the man recalled quickly so no problems [it is 'his' dog] I believe I'm right in saying they never take him out for a walk, aside from this time, haven't seen sign of it.

I was really shaken by it, so hope my little dog will be ok at the park today as he must have been really frightened by it!

Well done Razz enjoy your fish & chips.

I am glad you found your cardigan Franbern. Last management co was very small, only a few shareholders, hence me doing two jobs. They could have been shared more evenly but people never volunteered so it was me and my friend next door. I should have charged for all the work needed but it was my own buyers solicitor, so I never bothered. You do indeed have to be meticulous with paperwork. I thought you would be up to speed wrt fire safety

I was a bit restless this evening, something popped up in my mind and it was something that previously popped into my mind while sleeping the other night. Concerns a hobby that has fumes. I went on courses but now the stuff was sitting in two big really useful boxes in the garage. The thought of other untrained people taking on the craft without me there to supervise. I no longer want to do that craft anyway so everything is ready for the tip tomorrow and books for the charity shop. To be fair, it is a weight off me, a relief

We have regular fire risk assessment and I have written a full information booklet which each flat has. We have to keep a full list of how many people are on each floor and which of those may require assistance in the event of a fire. This to be given to fire fighters Not having the lift working makes no difference to that as - in the event of a fire - one of the firmest rules is DO NOT USE LIFT,

I do not find it too much of an effort sending off all that sort of information when any of the flats are sold. At present I have a file of all of it in hard copy in our office, so just photocopy most of it. I am intending to put it all on the computer, so we can just send it all by email eventually. Obviously, we (management company) makes a charge for all of this information, so it does earn us some money.

It has been overcast here all day, low grey cloud cover. Not cold. When I went out to library earlier this afternoon it was trying to rain, but never really got going. I took a small cardigan with me when I left the flat. Sitting at the library I did wonder where it was - found it on the ground outside my garage when I arrived home!!! Time in library past very quickly as it was busy - lots of children coming in and all more than happy to talk about the books they had read, etc.

quartet on prime, adorable film. Many wonderful iconic people like Maggie Smith, Billy connolly and beautiful snatches of classical music. It is pouring down now and is a perfect easy watch

I expect the block of flats has had a fire risk assessment, should think that buyers solicitors asked for a copy as it is a legal requirement. I see that it must be done on a 12 month basis

fire-risk-assessment-network.com/blog/fire-risk-assessment-needed/

I am glad it is not me having to get all that paperwork sorted for buyers and insurance company

Anyway it is something to add to the list for anyone expecting to go and live in a block of flats