Help calm me, house buying and selling stress part 2

Aldi sourdough crumpets are delicious also Warburton s.
I only have one credit card and have refused any credit increases . That way I never spend more than I can afford. Also pay it off in full every month. Usually paid within hour of getting the bill. That way I don't forget to pay it.
Glad you are making plans Mosaciwarts. Chin up you will move this year and have lots to look forward to.

You are all so upbeat today. I love it! This new rental place may be fine for you for a while mosaics

I am looking to offer my downstairs rooms to DD who will/may be homeless in a few weeks. It will be a big job to make it liveable in. Think storage rooms, dark, depressing, and cold, but full to the ceiling with stuff. There's a shower room but no kitchen so I'm looking at mini kitchens to squeeze one in. Has anyone any experience of that?

I may just want to play at houses.
johnstrand-mk.co.uk/

oh yes sourdough crumpets are lovely, comfort food. I do mine on a panini press, no need for a toaster really, panini press can do it all

My bath lift came and I have assembled it ready in the bath. It is very sturdy and was an excellent price. Luckily my side shower screen folds back like a concertina so I have unhindered access and there is plenty of room to have a shower. I am thinking that it is good to have a long length bath, plenty of room. This evening I will be taking my first bath in 8 years, last time I had to flip myself over onto my hands and knees to get out and that was a shallow eco bath. I am very excited. The whole unit comes apart in 2 pieces and will store easily in a wardrobe. This bath is deep and I will have enough water for me to have a soak

Mosaics when you do get a rental, take upteen photos of condition before you move your goods in. I wish I lived closer I have a spare barrow needing a home

I went on a bit of a bike ride, not far because cold air isn`t so good but I was going stir crazy. My decs are all away too

Ooooh grammeretto love the look of those mini kitchens! And not too expensive! You’d need to spend a bit on plumbing, but as there is a bathroom nearby the pipework and drainage can be tapped into. What an exciting project for you both to get involved in, and you’ll have DD at home whilst you both have your privacy. Win win. Do let us know how you get on. You say ‘rooms’, so more than 1? If only one she could put in a sofa bed and have a little fold away table to eat from.

Do you need all the stuff that’s stored there. Could you do a Marie Kondo?

Great news about the bath Crafty. Couldn’t be without mine. Showers just don’t do it for me. Even wash my hair in the bath with a jug! Well, we didn’t have showers going up and we managed lol

MW good luck with the rental nearby. Wish we all lived closer. We could do a Gransnet chain gang and do a relay with the boxes. Roll on next year and let’s get things moving eh?

Yes, DottyGran I wish to install Marie Kondo before doing anything else

Already DH is suffering- he's a hoarder- because I've put a few bags of old clothes, shoes and curtains in the back of the car to take to the textile bank because we are not ever going to use them.

It won't just be DD . It would be SiL and 2 DGC too. so they'll need space.

Ah, right, so the whole family then. Would they be able to manage with such a small kitchen? The kids will love it. What an adventure. Like a caravan holiday.

What is it with men and not chucking stuff out? Dotty granddad’s the same. ‘It might come in useful’. Sigh

Sourdough crumpets? Mmmm. Interesting.
I'd love a soak in a bath but that ship has sailed I'm afraid. (Interesting metaphor. Don't know why I came up with it. I have visions of our old bath drifting out to sea!) Sorry. Mind wandering a bit!

gramaretto, you cannot beat a good project. It sounds as though someone had a brainwave, really good idea and you will get some de-cluttering done

Conclusion: I had my bath and was lifted up in safety. The bath took an age to fill from the combi boiler, I could have had several showers. It was deep enough and I finally had a soak in magnesium flakes and now my legs are tingly, must be short of magnesium

The lift has to be dried and that is fiddly, so this lift will only be used when I am desperate for a bath or if I am starting a cold. I have taken it out and it is standing on a towel to dry. I need to explore dismantling it, so that it can be lifted half at a time, that would actually work much better, be less awkward. I have not yet explored its potential. A big upside is that my feet just touch the tap end so I can semi-lay down. I have a suction grab handle that I will put on the wall, just for belt and braces

This will do fine as long as I can cope with it but I can see me getting that full size walk in shower, one day

I'm glad you enjoyed survived the bath Crafty
It sounds an experience!
Thanks for the moral support. It may never happen because they may find another place but it's a safety net.
I thought the mini kitchen, especially the concealed one, would be good if we decide to let out the room on airbnb.
It is too small for a family but it would be a bed sit with a couple of other rooms to be available for sleeping in.
It makes sense to me.

It makes perfect sense to me as well grammaretto. In fact my second thought was Airbnb. My first thought was ‘that would do for me if Dottygranddad goes first and I’m too decrepit to live on my own. My kids could draw straws to see who has to take me in, put a mini kitchen in the spare room, lock me in and empty the bin once a week. Sorted.

Seriously though, I think it’s a fab idea. Would compel he who will not chuck owt out to chuck stuff out. Move Marie Kondo in for a bit, fit the kitchen and quickly recoup your costs by letting it.

This time next year, Rodney, you could be millionaires

AirBnB now that sounds good for singles holidays, I might explore that in future

Today I am going to tackle `that book` the one full of bank details, all sorts of banks, about a hundred passwords and various details that I might look up once in a blue moon. The book is 11 years old and falling apart and I have closed accounts and it is time I put all relevant information into a new book, one I bought before I moved.

I am thinking of getting a fitbit or similar, when my new cc arrives. Have done so little exercise since I finished digging and the entrance to my development is very muddy, so I cycle out rather than ruin shoes, or I stay put. I have bought a stepper for the kitchen and have an exercise bike in the living room and a rebounder in the garage. Fitbit will remind me to use them. I already used the stepper once today, waiting for my tea leaves to brew.

I see fires are heading ever closer to 2 sisters in western australia, ok temperatures right now but one went through the mill 2 years ago and both moved since then. I am so glad that we did not move as a family to aus when mum and dad asked me at 15, I said no. Give me rain any day

I lit my fire for cheeriness the other day and was far too hot the whole evening, it made me far too sleepy so I have decided I have had my fun and will only use it when we have very cold weather. In the meantime I am trying to acclimatise to a degree cooler all over the house. Not cold, just a bit cooler

I do hope you start a new thread at the end of this one. I feel emotionally invested in how you are all doing.

Loving you are all planning projects. Just need all the movers to be settled in their new homes in 2020.

Craftyone glad you enjoyed your bath. On the subject of exercise is there a group you could join don't know if you would enjoy exercising with others. Never thought I would but love it. We have a laugh during it our instructor works us hard but it is fun. We have a drink and natter afterwards. I love other people's stories. Ok I'm nosey but I don't pry .

Mosaicwarts hope you are feeling more positive today.

My late husband was a hoarder. A year after he died we cleared out the garage and loft. After 3 skips and 30 lots of stuff for charity the kids decided their dad's legacy was rubbish. Tiny bits of pipe and wood etc he saved including the horrible toilet seat that was on the loo when we brought the house.

Well my daughter will be here at 9 to take me for tests at the hospital. Not worried as whatever they find I'll cope with. Apart from anything happening to my family the worst that's happened to me already has my husband died.

Have a good day everyone.

Tests are always a bit of a worry Whiff so fingers crossed for you.
I chuckled at the description of your DH's garage!
I am genuinely afraid of the whole business.

I would hate to be an airbnb host. I would receive bad reviews and would feel humiliated. As it is we host volunteers and expectations are different. I always say it's like having your own teenagers around but they don't answer back! I often mentally thank their parents for bringing them up so well.

I also hope that mosaics sells her lovely house soon.

Morning everyone, very windy here today. Got up early (for me) to phone the agent about the rental, they've got their answering machine on. First day back must be very busy. I hope I can get it, it is two bedrooms with a garage, hopefully a watertight one.

Whiff, hope all goes well today, thinking of you.

Craftyone, have you got an Iphone? My daughter showed me a health app on there, it's a heart on a white background, shows me how many steps I walk with our dog. Average is about 4 miles a day, I know I should do more.

For anyone thinking of staying in Airbnb, I've stayed in them several times, both here and abroad. My first experience was in Canada. Months after my husband died my daughter was doing a Uni gap year out there, and she couldn't find a rental so had to stay in an Airbnb for the first few weeks. She found a house share, and I went out to see her in the November, and stayed in the same Airbnb with a nice young woman who had been very kind to my daughter. It was a two bedroom basement flat, and unhappily, on the Saturday night I was unable to concentrate on my book because of the 'noises' coming from the bedroom next door! I always try to book a 'whole house' now! I have a recommendation for Venice if anyone is interested, it was minutes from St Mark's square.

I'm afraid that Airbnb is a very dirty word here in Edinburgh. These short term holiday lets have decimated the market for longterm renters and made life a misery for nieghbours. People on holiday don't care how much noise or mess they make and can cause long term nightmares too. My sons friend's life is in ruins just now due to the flat above him being let via Airbnb. The last occupant left the bath running and departed depositing the key through the letterbox. My sons friends roof then caved in and all his possessions are damaged. Worse, the actual owner of the Airbnb is abroad and uncontactable and there's no insurance. Its hellish. The poor boy is sofa surfing while still trying to work.
I know this is an extreme case but with more than 9000 Airbnb let's in central Edinburgh alone the city is hopefully going to follow Barcelona and Venice by clamping down on these holiday lets that are hollowing out historic city centres.
I'm sure no Grans would be inconsiderate but each of these lets could be homes for people who need to live and work in towns.
Rant over!!

Hollowed out historic town centres, that is a very good graphic description, could also apply to holiday homes only used now and then in picturesque fishing villages etc, kills the centre and local shops

I used to go to a heart exercise group, joined it locally to my last home straight after my husband died, I needed to get out and be with other people but had no desire to join a gym. It was lovely being with these nice older people, my friend there was 92 and fit as could be at her age. Every part of the body got to move and it was more about stretching and keeping moving to music. Then I left when I realised I would rather be out on my bike, do maybe 6 miles with some reasonable hills

I may well join table tennis at U3A later but right now am content to get myself into some sort of `shape` haha, relatively speaking. I need to lose weight and want to make sure that I get back to very sensible food, always used to sprout alfalfa seeds and so on. They are now sprouting . Its really about making sure I avoid diabetes, it can strike any of us. Blood pressure is very good without meds so there is hope for me. No second chances at my age says I

crafty please remember to be kind to yourself. My motto is to do things I enjoy and if I don't enjoy them then I should not do them!. I have joined a walking group. First walk to be later this week.

The airbnb situation in Edinburgh is surely very bad. I have a friend who is almost the only owner occupier in her block. During the Festival she was woken by a Canadian choir rehearsing in the next flat.

My village is 'hollowed' out by holiday homes too, there is a lot of local unrest about it as young adults cannot live near their families. A pub owner in another nearby village told me he will be closing down in the winter, he cannot survive on the small amount of business the remaining locals contribute.

My daughter volunteers as an assistant director/director at the Edinburgh Fringe, and I was shocked at the amount of Airbnb properties available, and the high rental costs. She ended up with four of the cast and crew in a 3 bed house, a thirty minute walk from the town, they each paid £700 for the month. I went up with a friend, think I paid £180 for a one bedroom flat - I slept on a fantastic electric blowy up bed in the lounge. The owner hadn't put the scary spiral staircase in his description!

So frustrated I haven't heard from the agency, perhaps they will be open after new year.

yes, likely open on 2nd of january. Many people are off until then. Hope so

My fair lady is on at 12.50 channel 5, I am going to watch it. I spent a lovely morning hoeing front and back. I will be back to digging in spring, still too many compacted areas. I am aiming for a pottager garden, will be making 3-4 circular low raised beds for plants like squash and courgettes, so I can keep track of rotations. I already have four 1 x 1 m raised beds down the side, one with shallots and garlic, the other 3 grew phacelia green manure and are covered. I also have a very large round planter in that area, cut the bottom out and turned that into a raised bed. All out of plain sight. Roll on spring

ha ha craftyone, you are psychic. Just found the agent on fb and they have said they are open on 2nd Jan - then found the rental advertised on 'on the market' and it's not actually available until May Might work out still, I have to be patient, not one of my traits.

Sorry I've missed the beginning of My fair lady, but I can't settle today, the wind is so bad and I'm so worried about the roof. As the house is hollow underneath the wind is coming up under the floorboards, it's freezing here.

I watched 'Saving Mr Banks' last night, I love love love Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, such great actors.

Gearing myself up to iron my daughter's work shirts, it has the theatre name embroidered on it and I have trouble ironing it nicely, going to try it through a t towel.

Good for you hoeing - every time I 'over' lift something I seem to pull my hamstring on the right. I'm not so good at digging nowadays either. I had a Gertrude Jekyll plan for a herb garden as well as the 'crocus' cutting garden plan, can't remember her name, lovely woman. Never managed to finish either of them as my husband didn't have enough puff to help me, I didn't like to do it without him. Do you put tea bags over the holes in your pots? Used to love Geoff Hamilton's tips. He also recommended putting a stick at each corner of raised beds to stop the hose going across the crop.

we are almost 1000 posts so I have started chapter 3. Amazed it has gone on so long and I hope we get more sellers/buyers/movers/lookers coming on here. Warm welcome and lots of help will come your way

Hamstrings first mosaics, they can affect hips, knees and ankles. The simplest way to release them is to stand on the edge of the bottom stair, facing up and let your heels sink down. You will feel the stretch and need to do that several times a day. Ask me how I know!!

I received a JL order with 16 crockery items to replace my old ones. 12 were utterly smashed. Loosely badly packed in a large box. I have to take them to the tip and they will refund my paypal, sigh my cc is still cancelled on paypal. Got my fingers crossed that the money eventually gets back to me. I will stick with my robust jamie oliver white. At least my wool will not get smashed on its journey here

Thank you for starting chapter 3 craftyone, I'd have been lost without you all. Not sure how long I've been here, seems a long time!

I'll try the stair trick for my ham strings, thank you. On honeymoon a man was in the harness ready to be dragged off the beach by the speed boat into the air - he became scared as the boat started up and dug his heels in. He couldn't sit down for the rest of the honeymoon!

I am very sorry your crockery was broken, seems very careless, how disappointing. As you say, at least your wool won't be broken! My Mum could knit for England, I didn't fully appreciate how talented she was when she was here.

The long dark nights are really getting to me at the moment, but at least the wind has dropped.

Mosaics, next stop is looking forward to spring. Sedums are already up and lots of weedlets. Whatever we do and whatever happens, nature just keeps rolling around. No point thinking too much, or worrying, just got to do the best we can

a quote from dottygran

`Happy endings and new beginnings`

and so say all of us. Hoping and wishing that 2020 is the start of a happy decade for each and everyone of us