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

Afternoon all, I hope you are cool and comfortable.

I'm boiling - with anger. I ordered my aunt a brooch from the Butler and Wilson sale, and it's just arrived. Unsigned, and has a fault, there is a stone out of place.

I've just had a look at ebay, and it's being sold on there by a normal ebay trader, not mentioning it's B&W, for half the price I paid.

B&W have lost my custom.

My two balcony parasols are earning their keep. I think I bought them in 2020 and have used one a couple of times. They are like sails and acted like sails so I took it down and it stayed in the garage since

I have finally worked out how to keep them safe and stable, I also at the same time, bought 2 good bases with heavy slabs to keep them weighted, all in all it was expensive

I could see the potential for me, easy to manoevre and I can tilt and turn as much as I want. Best right each is vertical and yes I am using a tall planter as double security as they are close to my patio doors and the render, which is k and fragile

Now I am thinking money well spent, as the inside downstairs is at least 2 dgrees C cooler than it would have been plus I am able to keep the patio doors open, lounge and kitchen. It just feels lovely with better air flow and I have finally been reading outside in shade, almost the whole morning

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR1r9Jg5ss0

I do wish I had brought one from the other house a very big rectangular parasol, that would have worked here but it needed a very heavy base. We also had a cantilever parasol but that was affected by wind too much, anyway both were very heavy to lift out of their bases. I had to be practical

Franbern, you never stop being a parent and we become wise with age but the younger generation often think they are wiser when they see us shrink into old age. This seems like a time to stay in the background and to get on with your own life. They know your views but will always think they know better. I have had to zip my mouth several times re my own children but looking back, I remember how we were at their age

Two of my daughters have, within the last week, put their houses on the market. One because she and hubbie want to go into a flat (although they had originally talked about doing this next year - now it is all in a rush. The other one, because she is finding it increasingly time-consuming getting children to and from their Secondary school. Daft reason to me - I did point out to her that the amount of money tat is going to cost would have paid for lot of taxis!!!

I know that neither are anything really to do with me, but know I will still feel tense as to the problems and disappointments they are both likely to experience over the next few months. For the first, the last time she moved into their present house was 21 years ago, so many changes since then. The second seems almost addicted to moving. Only been in this beautiful house since December 2018 and before that was in rented property for six months whilst they sold their previous house in North Ireland. Indeed,since the birth of their first child in 2010, think they have moved house at least five times!!!!

Have you seen the red heat warnings? midlands, greater manchester, tuesday and wednesday. I think that is likely where 40 degrees will happen, the buildings absorbing heat will act like heat sinks. It isn`t just about the heat in the air.

two more quiches made here too. I used up LO onions leeks, sauteed them, also tomato slices on top and have frozen the excess onions and leeks. I am appreciating being a short walk to the shops, got some lovely longley dairy goods, eggs and hurdlebrook yoghurt. Last village I would not have bought those fresh things, too far and needed a car

the scaffolding has been taken down around a house and there is a double fronted shop been put in. Everyone is excited and wondering what it will be. It is incredibly central and handy. I would not think they would want to duplicate the likes of deli, butchers, wholefood or greengrocers etc as they have a very loyal clientelle

I also eat my last meal about 5 ish, Today, salmon fish cake, and my large salad and yoghurt for dessert. Two glasses of water (with lemon) = one glass during meal, second one sees me through evening. So little washing up , my eating bowl, air fryer grid, fork, knive and teaspoon.
I have made up pastry for use tomorrow to make Quiche. Always make up pastry evening before using, so it can 'rest' overnight in 'fridge. Helps to make it lighter and also prevents 'shrinkage' when cooking. Whereas, I can understand people buying ready made pastry for some types, cannot understand it for short crust pastry - was made up in mixer whilst I was washing up - would have taken me longer to actually unpack a ready made one. Just watering of plants needed to be done now and I can relax for evening - get knitting out.

I am also loving very cold water melon, in fact I have ordered one a week at the moment, delivered in my organic box

I am very much of the same opinion as you Franbern, re the dishwasher. I do two bowlfuls in a day, it actually uses far less water and is much more economical, just a squirt of bio D washing up liquid. I hated the stinky smell of the dw after a few days, even putting an 8 minute quick wash on daily was not enough, so I gave up, gave it all a hot wash and thorough clean and it now stands empty. I live and learn

Salmon is cooking and in the air fryer, wrapped in foil, to minimise washing up. I have definitely lost my appetite in this weather, at least it is better than having to ignore that mouth hunger that makes me want to pick all day. I need to eat at 5ish, I need that last meal to help me sleep all night

I have been doing a bit of sorting in the garage, I have 3 rolser trolleys, two large and one small, would never get rid of them, they have been so very useful when moving, shopping and for de cluttering. When I was not sure, I filled a trolley and left it in the hall for a week. Then it went to the hospice shop. I used to get the gift aid for them and had an invoice every so often, they earned a good amount from me

Rolser, first heard of them via mse, when I got my first one, a cow print. People were raving about them.Must have been 12 or so years ago. I, only today, realised that I could completely dismantle the big one standing in the garage. It folded to nothing

Mmmm........ dishwashers. I have a slim line one, purchased when I first moved here at end of 2019. Used when I have company for a meal, and/or lots of pots/pans, occasionally used to run for glass wear and cutlery. Normally, each day, I do two wash ups in a bowl in the kitchen sink, one after lunch (to include brekkie things), and one after my evening meal.

Yes, Shandy, I keep getting told that it is more eco friendly to use dishwasher, but that does suppose having it very fully laden. Do not fancy having dirty crockery/cutlery hanging around in there for two or three or more days to get filled up. And, also means using that very long winded eco button. My washing up bowl of hot water and a small dash of washing up liquid once or twice a day (and also not having to have so much in the way of crockery, etc) is definitely better and cheaper for me.

Every weekday I have some group or the other to attend, gives me purpose to get nicely dressed etc. and go out, does mean that I am never bored. Now back at home, sitting in my lovely sunny, but cool Living Room - patio door wide open, sun canopies up on balcony preventing sun reaching the windows. Loving it. On my way home from meeting this morning, purchased a large Water Melon. Love this in hot weather. Will take it with me to Tolpuddle Festival this weekend.

Karmalady sorry that people you know have been so bad with Covid even after vaccinations. All the people I know who have had it ( and that includes most of the u3a groups I attend), have all had a good recovery and report that when they have there is a bad couple of days and then about a week feeling poorly. Like all virus's, different people have different responses.

Within my extended family just myself (old and with COPD and Asthma, etc. and never isolated myself in any way), my Extremely Vulnerable daughter who has always been out and about and at work, and her daughter are the only ones who have not gone down with it. No explanation as to why we seem more exempt - may still catch up with us in due course!! Luck of the draw!!!!!! All the others have had it and recovered well.

Find it a little funny the way that health warnings are being put out about this sunny weather - particularly targeting us oldies. Surely, any of us, having reached our age, have gone through several pother similar hot spells, and do know how to look after ourselves, and stay hydrated.

it is 22 here but the house is reluctant to give up its heat and it is remaining at 25 inside. Doesn`t bode well for the hot period ahead

I am going to make some quick yoghurt ice lollies, just yoghurt and conserve jam. I shall need them to cool me down. I am back to hopping between meals, I`ll get a small piece of salmon out of the freezer soon, it will be fine with frozen rice and a few veg mixed in

My two sets of neighbours have gone on holiday, plant nurturing and bin moving lady here, also parcel monitor and keeper

Son has been telling me about his covid after all the vacs, it is horrible and quite debilitating. He says that you feel better and then it comes back with a vengence. My sister in-law is going back home today, after multiple clots went to both lungs. Cardiac specialist ahead, I think things will have changed permanently for her and my brother

I am bored, got to be inspired to do something

its last legs - somehow I always automatically type it's.

Much cooler here today, 16 degrees.

I read somewhere that using the dishwasher is more ecofriendly - I can't see how, it seems to do lots of water gushing noises. I only use one bowl of water to wash up per day. Dishwasher is on it's last legs and I'm hesitant to use it anyway.

Glad you are enjoying the air fryer Franbern. I agree it should be called air cooker, no frying involved. I had a disgusting experience cooking a veggie 'mozarella' burger in mine - the fat that came out of it was horrible. Sorry Linda!

Just off shopping to stock up on ice lollies and cat food, didn't plan my 'delivery' very well.

I second what you say about the practise nurse, my dh had the greatest respect for his, very much better than the gp

I realised yesterday that I am only washing up twice a day, by hand and am only using the dishwasher when I do a batch cook. Bit of a waste of space if I am honest. I should have left the plumbing in place and had a cupboard added. I do give all my dishes a quick rinse after use. Something to bear in mind for the future

Karmalady re your comment about nurses. The one I go to at my GP practice is the respitory nurse. It was she, who soon after I came to WsM, correctly diagnosed my very long-term debiitating cough as Ashthma. Had seen GP's over the years regarding to no avail. During those early days of Covid, it became a total embarrassment for me, felt I ought to have a sign on my forehead saying 'This cough is Not infectuous.

The Nurse Helen checking my medications, thought it might be ashthma, started me on medication, and with some adjustments sorted it out and helped to sort out my life. She, - to me - is a total miracle worker.

All checks carried out yesterday, some queries of mine answered, note put onto my records as to when my Alendronic Acid medication needs to be stopped. Weight good, blood pressure good, stats good ( this last is a constant problem for me. Twice I have purchased those little finger things on line, and twice they have been totally incorrect, giving me very low readings. So, side by side with hers - mine showed 90 and hers showed a good 96!!!! She said I was not the only one with this problem.

Await results of the blood tests, but neither of us are expecting any of them to show any problems. My MOT over for another year!!!!

My main meal each day comprises of Salad - mixed lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, spring onions, walnuts, dried fruit, sugar snaps, celery, beetroot, carrot, pom seeds - Very Substantial. To this I just add a small amount of a protein thing - Piece of Fish, Chicken, quiche. Usually natural yoghurt with something like banana or baked apple for dessert. Takes me about 15 minutes to prepare, no prep needed. Lunch is nearly always a couple of eggs, (boiled, poached, scrambled, etc).

By the way, thanks for advice re Air Fryer. I was reluctant to get one of these as I rarely fry anything and never have chips. These are mis-named, they should be called Air Mini Ovens. I bought a compact one and really am loving it. Saving me putting two chicken drumsticks or one fish cake into my large oven, and it is so quick and also easy to clean.

oh fantastic re that shower shandy, I am very pleased.

I used to have some butler and wilson stuff via qvc. I ended up giving it all away. My adornments are now very simple. I don`t even change my earrings any more, I just wear 18ct gold studs 24/7 as they stop my earring holes from closing up. No rings, nothing. It would be different if I were a socialite

I have adapted my meal preps to the heat, having scrabbled yesterday searching for something quick for 5pm. I prepped this morning, took a small goulash out of the freezer and much later on a small bag of frozen rice, it becomes resistant starch when frozen. Green beans and chard also prepped. So my meal was lovely and now I doubt I will doze at 6

A cold veg drink is part of my preps right now too, for today plus tomorrow, carrot celery and cucumber, it is cooling. Next time I will make beetroot juice, small drinks of that. Perhaps even frozen in big ice cube trays. Must look for them later

I have started using my own veg, I think I will likely be able to use it until christmas and early spring as I will have sprouts and purple sprouting too, just one large plant of each. It will definitely be money saving. Ha, so I can buy more fabric, I bought another length of beautiful patterned pure linen today. I want to make another linen trapeze dress, the same as I am wearing. Woo hoo, I made a uk size 12 and it is very comfy, looks much better than the bigger hide-all sizes on me. I never dreamt I would be wearing a 12 after being 22

Loft hatch has been left open all day as an experiment and it has been responsibe for a nice movement of air. I shall be keeping it open until the weather cools. It is on the first drop only about 12 inches, then the loft hatch/stairs need to be pulled down after that. I can walk underneath

The birds are so thirsty, I put on a whole watering can full of water for them. They must be dying everywhere if they cannot get to a drink

Nurses have to be so well qualified these days, husband used to see the practise nurse for his asthma, it was her who found out it was copd.

Franbern, you will be getting some nice land breezes in the evening, something that those of us inland don`t get

For anyone doing an early gift shop for C, Butler and Wilson have a sale on!

Lovely you've finally got a salad bowl Franbern! I kept my Mum's green/tomato Carlton ware china one with the servers, it's in her memory box. I do prefer wood to the more modern metal servers. I'm definitely saving money buying salad stuff separately, don't know why I kept buying the plastic mixed salad bowls.

Just popped in to say I've had a nice surprise this afternoon - the plumber has been and taken the shower and enclosure out, and I've paid them to take it all away. No idea what it is going to cost, but I couldn't do it myself.

One down, two more to go!

On the way home from U3a drama group, I (stupidly) looked into window of Charity shop. So, ended up coming home with a lovely wooden bowl and a wooden lap table (the type with legs that unfold). Thought I was supposed to be getting rid of things, not getting more things.

I have load of glass bowls, but some years back I was given a pair of wooden salad servers - then spent ages looking for a nice wooden bowl for salad. The only ones I found, that I liked were round the forty - fifty pound mark, so never bought one.

Those salad servers have accompanied me to the last two Car Boot sales, and nobody has expressed any interest in them. So pleased about that. They were now put in the Charity shop box in my garage. Got this beautiful wooden bowl for under a fiver, rescued my salad servers and will now use as a set. Whilst in the shop saw that this wooden lap tray in perfect condition (absolutely like new) had just come in, so that came home with me also.

Unless I have company I eat all my meals on my riser.recliner chair in front of the TV. I have a lovely beechwood trolley on which I bring these meals in from the kitchen. This lap tray in same colour wood will then transfer my meals from trolley to my lap easily.

This afternoon have to go out again for appointment with Nurse at GP practice, just normal regular checks, etc. Sun out and lovely and warm again, sun canopies up on my balcony and just a small breeze coming in making my living room very comfortable.

I have a very good tower fan in there, which does work very well in keeping the air circulating when it gets too hot. However, feel that I should be expecting this sort of weather to come over next few years increasingly - and the cooler I have ordered does have a low noise decibal, and it will be able to wheel from my Living Room to my bedroom when necessary. Will let you know how it works out when I get it.

I read backwards too

welcome sally. I hope it all goes smoothly for you

Fans suck air into them and spit air out so it makes sense to use a fan to suck in the coolest air ie in front of an open window when the outside air has cooled down a bit. I used to have an air cooler, it was big and on wheels and was basically a panel of fibre, like hay that got wet and the fan blew air through it. You can get much the same affect by hanging a wet t towel in front of a fan

I used my pedestal fan for an hour in my bedroom last night, it is quiet. I have another dyson fan in my wardrobe and will be getting that out, ready for the weekend onwards. Tbh it is going to be hellish hot. My dd had a patient who had a stroke while with her yesterday, heat driven. People forget to drink, to walk slowly, to remain in the coolest areas available. Then clots happen and to top it all, the nhs is on black alert

I am popping into the garden now to refill the water feature. It gets full of birds, they are gasping for a drink

If you have the floor plan of your new house Sally97, print it out for the removal men and label the bedrooms 1, 2, 3 etc. Then label your 'bedroom boxes' accordingly.

When you get there stick A4 sheets with the numbers on the doors.

Thank you very much for the advice about packing boxes.
This thread has been so useful to me, it has helped me get this far. Im so pleased that you are all settled in your new homes.
I enjoy reading all the updates.

Just had a quick read backwards - I got my boxes on karmalady's recommendation from

www.kitepackaging.co.uk.

I also bought tape and the tape dispenser, made packing so much easier.

My removal company didn't supply boxes but on reflection, perhaps it was because I didn't ask!

Evening all, it's been horribly humid and overcast today.

Glad everyone is coping OK with the heat. The sheep are crying as they are too hot, some don't have any shade at all
It's always the same here in the summer, we get extreme heat for a week or two that knocks you out so you can't do the jobs you think you will 'when it's warmer' - then it's cool with really cold sleety rain, and in the winter, absolutely freezing!

I've only been out in the car once today to deliver some boots and bits to a collection point for Ukraine, and two short dog walks in the stroller.

My neighbour has cut his side of his hedge at the back today .... last year he leant over and did the foot or so on my side. Looks like the honeymoon is over!

Yogi, it's worth buying a soft muzzle for emergency situations like that, I've got one for Jazz. He doesn't like it but things can be done really quickly, without the fear of being bitten. If you go to the pet shop they fit them. Glad you managed to cut it out, keep brushing it as the short fur could also matt.

Good you've ordered an air cooler Franbern, this fan noise is driving me batty, I hope it's quiet. I listened to R4 on the way home and people have lots of inventive ideas for keeping cool. Hot water bottle in the freezer appeals!

I've been thinking more of keeping warm today - I've just ordered the new gigantic flannel hoodies for my son and his girlfriend. The house they rent from her Dad isn't fully insulated and they won't be having the heating on much. There are cheaper versions around with varying reviews. I have offered to help them with their bills, depends how much I have left over from the flooring. Roll on State Pension day!

Off to the beach now it's cooled down a bit - let's hope the RNLI have a rest tonight, they've been out today to a couple of young girls swept out to sea on their paddle boards.

Sally if you are using a removal company they will supply you with all the packing boxes you will need.
Next weekend off to Tolpuddle Festival. Will not be camping there, daughter and two of her children will , but her hubbie will drive over both Saturday a Sunday and take me. Fortunately, he has electric car -and it means I will be able to sleep in my own bed instead of staying in a B&B as we used to do. Also means I can take a large made-up salad with me both days for lunch.
I have just ordered an air cooler for use, as I feel that I am likely to be getting quite a lot of use of this over the new few years

I went out twice today, first for a new baby card and last to quickly take some good de-cluttered stuff to the cs. I did have buyers remorse but heyho, someone else will use them and the cs will benefit. I blame penguin and pear, who popped up on youtube. I don`t watch much tv but it is often youtube rather than news. It was/is hot and humid but not burning as there is cloud cover today

The heat has taken away my appetite, thank goodness for eggs and water melon. I may make a couple of veg juices tomorrow, it means I still intake some veg but in the form of cold liquid. Morning is best to do that and it will keep two days in small bottles

I am plant minding for a neighbour this week and for another neighbour soon, for 3 weeks. They asked me to pick whatever, nice as they have lots of cucs and tomatoes in their greenhouse

crikey I am getting hotter, next weekend onwards will be dire for people