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

Afternoon all, hot here today.

Lovely to hear about your garden 'produce' karmalady and Whiff - nothing nicer than walking round the garden eating a home grown blueberry or strawberry!

Just back from the vets, my dog's foot isn't getting better and it hurts him. I have got more anti-biotics and need to go out to get the cat food he always tries to pinch so he'll take them! He's also just developed a soft tissue lump on his side, but at thirteen and three quarters these things will happen.

My friend has just phoned and she is still very ill, her chest infection isn't clearing. She had Covid a month ago and went back to work as soon as she tested negative, she loves her job in a small busy hotel. Just off to get her a care package, I meant to before but ended up just sending flowers and chocolate.

Have a good weekend everyone!

I finished my bottling whiff, 21 x 500gkilner jars done and every single one popped. My mini strawberries are fantastic, I have dozens now, started with toscana. Many of the actual fruits are big. I am bringing the fruits indoors while still not fully ripe as something overnight is eating them. It is slug and snail paradise right now, rain almost every day. Very lush crops though.

Potatoes are ready, I cut the haulm off just below the surface and the potatoes can stay in that soil for months. I will just have a furtle when I want some. I also just harvested my shallots, I would say two weeks early for everything. One of my baby blueberries died too but I can see a smidgen of green when I scrape the bark, I doubt if mine will re-shoot but you never know. I think the roots got too wet over winter

The cycle of nature: massive numbers of slugs and snails = more predators. The hedgehog population will be increasing drastically. I wish I had a hedgehog here but I do see birds all over my garden now. It is like a green jungle now with a big and varied green canopy. Next year, the soil will be fully covered with the ground cover. Very different to the bare plot just a year ago

I have used a lot of electric these two days and my washing machine has been on from early. I need to pre-wash all my fabrics before sewing and I know I have to do several more stashes upstairs. I want to make sure that they are done sooner rather than later, certainly well before winter

I did one french terry earlier, 2m and put it on min iron at 30. They all need the max washing that they would get later. It filled the wm with foam, up and through the detergent dispenser and down to the floor. It is because of treatments that are added to fabrics, to make them appear more attractive and substantial to a purchaser

I to have a Gertrude Jekyll rose it's glorious. Have a Thomas a Becket which is a vibrant red not scented. My runner and French beans are loving the rain as are my courgettes. Got tumbling Tom tomatoes , butternut squash and peppers growing in my greenhouse. Unfortunately one of my blueberry plants started to die so cut it down and hopefully it will do better next year. The other one is thriving and has lot of plump berries. Had some berries off my Toscana strawberries. The flowers are pink.

Had a new artificial lawn laid. The old was put down on the soil and weeds where growing threw it. Could kill them but not get them out. My new lawn has plenty of hard core and granular under a foam layer with drainage holes as it safer for me if I fall. The lawn is 30 cm . Doesn't flood anymore. Before any one here jumps on me for having an artificial lawn it's safer for me and had enough of anti artificial lawn lot on the gardening thread when I defended someone for having one. I really don't care it's made with plastic. So keep your opinion to yourself. I have been in this thread since March 2019 so fully aware of some of your views.

Really pleased with both the front and back gardens. Lot if hard work to get them done. But seems I have green fingers. Not a black thumb as my husband said. Mind you I don't have house plants as I have killed all I had in the past. Even killed a stone plant.

Love hearing you are still bottling Karmalady. Soon be time for me to make strawberry jam. As more British strawberries are hitting the shops.

Hopefully we will have some sunshine soon.

well I got up at 4.15, wide awake and ridiculously energetic after a good sleep. I shall be able to hang a full load out soon, a new set of bedding that I am pre-washing. I am also quietly prepping to get the rest of my gooseberry bottling done. It was so satisfying last night, to hear my 7 jars pop, one at a time. A nice safe hygienic seal

My garden is hugely full and green now, jungle-like. The asparagus is around 7` tall and full of tiny little flowers which is feeding many bumble bees. I am having to go around with my head ducked. What a glorious scent from gertrude jekyll roses as I was picking fruit. No wonder it is a very popular rose

No sewing today as I am driving into wales tomorrow and want to be rested. I shall just potter and keep on top of house dusting. I think it may well be a nice day. Rain again last night but that does mean no watering, unusual for june

we just have to stay on the ball, absolutely have to. Scammers have no moral compass. I had a call on my mobile earlier, unknown number, again. Always the same one 0800 161 to start. I was busy, very busy, in the kitchen and my phone is never attached to me. I only ever answer nowadays, when I know who it is. If it is eg an online shop I am dealing with, then I would get an e mail anyway, which I would never click on because they can all be hacked. Sigh!!1

I think we are only going to be safe in the future if we live in a flipping vacuum

I have worked non-stop today, made vegan goodies to freeze as I have vegan visitors soon. Then noticed that I needed to start picking my gooseberries. Picked less than half so far, 12lb, washed and topped and tailed and light syrup is made and is cooling so I can get bottling. I may well do that tomorrow as it takes a good 2 hours per batch and I need cold syrup. I have an excellent water bath pan, which will take 7 kilner jars at once. My kitchen was like a bomb site earlier and my hands are wrinkled with washing up

So lucky you are on the ball Franbern, I really do despise these criminals. I don't think my Mum would have managed in this day and age, she was so trusting.

I hope your new blind is always down because it's sunny!

I am a little suspicious of a buyer on Marketplace. I have started to put my kitchen items there. Have someone coming on saturday for my worktop oven.
However, a person says they want my 3-year old fridge. I am a naturally suspicious person - and they say they arranging for DPD to collect this today. DPD also to bring with my cash payment.. I pointed out that DPD would not take a large unpacked item - he says they will!!! And they will bring my payment in cash with them. Yep right....I felt all along this was some sort of scam, but could not work out how - now I know.

So, I have now received a message saying that as they will be bringing cash - there is a large amount of insurance needing paying. The 'purchase' will cover this by adding that onto the cash amount I receive. Sounds okay????
Next message to say that the insurance amount requires paying BEFORE they come here.....
Do they really think I came down in the last shower.
Okay, it is a clever scam - but scam it surely is.
Just told them where to go.

I have used market place and Gumtree many many times, and this is a new one on me. It is suspicious straight away as to why anyone looking for a pre-loved item is willing to pay out so much money for this sort of collection. I wanted to play along so that I could see exactly what they were up to. I can now send a message to market place warning them of this sort of scam taking place.

BEWARE......everyone.

I was very happy to receive a telephone message from Dunelm telling me that my new blind for my kitchen window has arrived early and the fitter will be able to put this up for me on Saturday morning. Last little piece for the kitchem

Morning all, windy and overcast here and quite humid at 61 degrees! Warmest it's been for ages.

Thank you for the cup of tea karmalady, how nice of you. I think I'll feel a lot better when the floors are done, I know I am stressed. The boiler engineer turned up on the off chance yesterday and 14 months later, I've now got a quiet bathroom sink hot tap! It was the washer making it scream in such a horrible way.

Good to hear how you coped with your leavers Franbern, it was so nice one of them got in touch with you again.

So, no beach for me for a few weeks. DEFRA are saying it is probably avian flu because of the many dead seabirds on the beach, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. When I went yesterday there were two dead gannets - one that was dying a few days before had been euthanised by the RSPCA inspector. I'm amazed he came, he has a huge area to cover. The instruction is not to touch them, and as I'm frightened to see one in distress, I'm staying away.

Off to the vets for my dog's arthritis injection at 2 pm, it does start to wear off as the month end approaches, he was groaning in his sleep again last night. So glad there is something to help him.

I hope anyone selling/buying is OK, a young widow on Mumsnet is having a horrid time with her buyer's demands.

Being by myself has never worried me.
However, when I was short=term fostering babies I did have a routine that I used each time one of those babes left me.
As I closed the front door on the parent or social worker taking the baby, I would - immediately - have to go and strip off all the bedding in the cot, cradle, pram, etc that baby had been using - and get that stuff into the washing machine, along with any of the clothing they had used.
Once everything was washed, dried, folded and put away, then I could relax
People always used to ask how I could bear to part with them, and this was my method.
I must admit that, these days, whereas I really love having friends, family come to stay for a few days, I always have a sense of relief getting the flat back to myself when they leave

yes shandy, it does feel empty when people leave. That is why I get stuck into doing something straight away, once I have cleared up. It certainly is not easy being a widow, very difficult to enter a room full of sets of couples at tables. My widowed friend told me about that, said she always felt out of it after her husband died. Couples should accept that one day, they will likely be left as one person and tbh many could make an effort to stand up and go and welcome the widow, walking into the room

Anything we want to do is down to us individuals, from going to the shop to going for a holiday, to buying and sorting a new kitchen. It helps a bit if we have been the ones taking financial resposibility when we were a couple but it must be absolute hell starting as the one who knows nothing, it certainly does not pay to be timid, no matter how shy we really are

A virtual cup of tea with you shandy, I know exactly how you feel and have made sure that I hop from one thing to another, to ensure that my day is as enjoyable as possible

Morning all, overcast but not as windy today.

Interesting you doing the virtual walk karmalady, my friend is in a wheelchair and does these on line, some of the walks are too bumpy for her chair.

Have a great time with your friend Whiff, I hope you have pleasant weather. I felt very lonely when my friend left.

I'm very sad to say the coastline is starting to be littered by dead and dying seabirds. It appears Avian flu is moving down here from Scotland, and a huge gannet was dying on my beach yesterday. Someone, and I can't find out who, did come to euthanise it. I have phoned my vet and they aren't taking them in because of the risk, although DEFRA haven't yet confirmed it is definitely Avian flu. if I find one, I hope they'll come out to it. Too many dogs on the beach here for it to die in peace.

Enjoy your time with your friend Whiff

Lovely to hear how your street party went off so well Shandy and your friend enjoyed it all with you.

As for storms Karmalady when we lived in Africa for 6yrs, the storms over there were truly spectacular! We would sit out on the veranda with a gin & tonic and watch the show.

Yep Karmalady that's Southport. Taking my friend who is coming to stay in a couple of weeks to the Vincent hotel for afternoon tea. Up here any woman and man who is 60 gets a free bus/ local train pass. I can go as far as Chester on the train for free. As my friend is 4 years older than me she has her bus pass . So we will go on the bus so we both travel for free. It's a hour on the bus but will give her a chance to see parts of the area. Another day taking her to my exercise class then for lunch before going to see the Gormley statues at Crosby beach. Because she booked her tickets early managed to get a return for £22.50. 50p was booking fee. Has to be for set train times she has picked and the ticket is non refundable.But the proper price is over £50 . Haven't seen her for a year. Will be waiting at Lime Street for her and taxi back to mine. Only 2 hours on the train for her. Can't wait to spend time with her. That's the only thing about the Midlands I miss our time together . Don't miss anything else. My live is full now and live it to the full. I no longer just exist.

I was watching a youtube vid by gimbal walk, southport. It just popped up so I thought I would watch. A very nice place is southport, also very clean. Those walking vids are very useful for researching potential areas in which to live. I liked the ones of york, kendal, glasgow but have seen other areas that are not very nice too. The vids are very good as a filter, for those who are not sure about where they want to live

I am glad the jubilee is over, I loved that it was so uplifting and spectacular but glad now to be back to normal. I am hoping for some dry weather as I want to be out on my bike. The amount of rain has been mind blowing so plenty of hand and knees weeding ahead The upside of having limited varieties of ground cover and flowering plants, I can tell the plants from the weeds

Morning all, overcast today and we still have quite a breeze.

We were very lucky yesterday at our Jubilee party, the sun shone for us! I worked as a general helper, and people were very generous with food, especially desserts, we had to source another table. A neighbour, reknowned for her baking, made a giant centrepiece cake decorated as a Union Jack. It was a lovely atmosphere. My invitee really enjoyed herself, I walked her home at 6 pm and went back to clear up with the others. I haven't done anything physical for eight hours for a very long time, and had a lot of pain in my hips later in the evening, so many unused muscles! A great success!

Good luck to your BIL Franbern. I was envious of my friend when she sold immediately in 2018 when I first when on the market, but she had many chain difficulties, and has been on and off the market ever since. She is 65 and has been working 30 hours a week at a local hotel for the past year, it's just changed hands and it has been stressful for all staff. I was very upset to phone her yesterday and find she'd been in hospital with breathing difficulties, not Covid. Started as a cold about a month ago. She's very very fit, a healthy weight and has never smoked, but has a deep chest infection. She rang 111 and was unable to use the inhaler as instructed as she couldn't breathe in twice, she was very frightened and the call handler rang an ambulance. X rays have shown spots on her lung, and the hospital doctor was shocked she hadn't been prescribed anti biotics. Going out later to buy her some things for a care package.

Sorry you had such a scary storm karmalady, sounds like the one we had when my computer was fried. Sitting in the car on the four rubber tyres is the safest place, apparently. Glad your electricity stayed on.

Enjoy your day

an incredible long thunderstorm here in the night, I have never heard anything like it, not even when living in the lake district nor in s wales. Extremely loud and sounded as though it was overhead, the house actually rattled and it went on and on, thunderclap after thunderclap. It was really quite a frightening experience. The rain was absolutely torrential and serves as a good reminder to always keep the storm drain free draining.

I'trundled' to my local Iceland store this morning., For the last two days, I have worn summer skirt and short sleeved tops. Had to use sunscreen on Thursday,

Today, I wore trousers, long-sleeved top and then put on my fleece with a warm scarf for the trip to that store (about three miles round trip). Actually wished I taken gloves with me!!!!

Still it did remind me of the weather that was in place during the actual coronation of the current monarch. So, not that strange for June.

Have a nice lazy time planned for the rest of the weekend - which TBH I need after my lovely - but for me, very tiring last couple of days.

Note that my Brother in law has, yet again, taken his house off the market. He does want to sell - needs to sell it in order to move back to London. After trying four different agents, perhaps he will start to take notice of them and reduce the price he is asking.

I am glad that so many had a good day yesterday. I enjoyed my day very much, cycling then jubilee on tv, sewing knitting and a very nice film. It is stormy today, noisy weather and potentially heavy rain, I do feel sorry for all those who were counting on outdoor parties today

I will be watching the derby today and the party this evening, was going to cycle to a good position to see the red arrows this afternoon but it is far too windy

I staked 2 plants this morning, had to crawl and reach under butterfly net, one brussels sprout plant and one purple sprouting plant, such a change from family days, when I had a row of each. It really is not good weather for june. I blame the volcanic eruptions.

Enjoy your street party Shandy you may need a brolly.

Yes nice to hear what a good day you had with your family Fran

Enjoy your sewing Karmalady

Morning all

What a lovely sunny dry day it was yesterday for the Queens celebrations. I took my little dog to the park and then home to watch it all on TV with my D&GDs & S. My daughter bought some lovely scones with cream & jam. I said I feel a bit boring not going out, but I really don't like the crowds and you actually see so much more on TV, so we were all happy staying home. Looks like a stormy day today!

Morning all, quite dull and overcast this morning, fingers crossed for later on.

Glad to hear you had such a nice time Franbern, memories like this are special.

I'm hoping to have a nice time today, it's finally the day of the street party. I am helping set up at 10 am for the 2 pm start, so need to get dressed and out with my dog early,

Have a good weekend everyone

I have had a most lovely couple of days - all my family are firm republicans - so nothing to do with that. But one of my twin daughters came with hubbie and their 12-year old daughter and stayed in Glastonbury. On Thursday they came to Weston - My youngest g.son here is also 12 yrs old and it was so nice that the cousins (who only meet a couple of times each year), still get on so well.

I treat such visits as my holiday also - took my two g.children onto the WsM big wheel, lovely lunch in restaurant on beach, we adults wandered along Promenade, whilst youngsters took walk along the beach - time at Mari ne Lake for them to play in sand and sea - even in for swimming!! Then to my daughters garden for a BBQ.
Then second day, we went to them in Glastonbury - that g.daughter has two main hobbies, (reading and Glastonbury), Wherever she goes she always has at least two books in her bag. In Glastonbury she added to her collections of dragons, and we just happened to be in the perfect position to see a large dragon in the local Parade. Sat in the morning sun at the Airb&b in which they were staying, spent considerable time in the Wells Peace Garden, and ended the day with a lovely meal.

Of such happy times are wonderful family memories made!!!

Getting myself back to normal today - I was also delighted that they happened to mention that their elderly microwave had just died and they needed to purchase a new one - so my combi-microwave is now in their car on its way to its new home!!!

Happy Jubilee to everyone!

I've just really annoyed my friend by asking if my street party invitee could sit at the VIP table - she's at the end of her tether. I missed the last meeting as my friend was here, apparently all confirmed then. Reached a pleasant compromise, thankfully!

I'm in the house too karmalady, it's mad out there. Staycations have become very popular haven't they, I've never seen it as busy here. So glad I went for food/petrol yesterday, I definitely won't be going to the beach for the rest of this holiday. I went to meet my friends, car park was full, tiny babies running in front of the cars, people hooting their horns, excited dogs - bedlam. Managed to park after queueing for 15 minutes, walked down to my friends in the disabled area and managed a long chatty walk far from the madding crowd on the strandline, I'd put my dog in his buggy.

Have a good one everybody, can't wait for it all to be over!

I love trooping the colour, it is a perfect day for it. I am glued to the tv, lunch ready in the fridge.

Lots of washing out, I have stripped the bed and replaced the bedding with my lovely blush pink and pale cream linen bedding. It is really uplifting to have different bedding for the different seasons. This linen is my best bedding and I will certainly use it, not save it for best

So I have succumbed yet again, to buying for my sewing hobby. Sales on for the celebrations. I am seeing the big benefits of flannel, wore my new shacket yesterday and did not get any wind coming through. Anyway two, skirt? lengths ordered today, one light canvas and one red embroidered denim. I also bought a shed load of antique buttons, I love a good button

I am staying in tomorrow when the parties are on, not my cup of tea any more, I am done with all that chit chat and social polite conversation. Had a lifetime of it and am old enough to please myself, would rather spend the time happily in my sewing room with the radio.

Very nice kitchen Whiff

My kitchen here is very nice, room for a nice kitchen table, cupboards up to ceiling too.

The place I really wanted to buy before I bought this one, had a very small kitchen & bathroom, but the rest was big, big secluded garden, driveway, conservatory & office, lovely big living room and bedroom. I loved it enough to accept the small kitchen. But now I have a big kitchen, it is lovely to have.