🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

Relax is my default so I am good at that.
I have just been invited to a recital and talk at Dalkeith Palace next weekend so plenty to look forward to.

Oh Grammaretto.
I do hope you are finding a little time to relax too!

In my case NotSpaghetti I think it's called mania due to impending house move. Hopefully I will recover 🤪

I am amazed by everyone's activity levels.
I'm afraid some days I just can't be bothered - yesterday I received an enormous parcel of archival tissue paper (to protect my work) - very exciting - and by the time I'd manhandled it inside and unwrapped it I ran out of enthusiasm for using it!
Admittedly the boiler person arrived and then I did some washing but still!...

How lovely to have a family in the vicarage Doodle.
The Rector of the church I go to most often is retiring this year and moving out of his small manse. I don't think his replacement has been found.

Your boat trip sounds very nice 🙂.

Yes my new house is less than 10 minutes walk from this one. It's further from the bus stop but not a steep hill.

My friends who've been sorting books for me were here yesterday and we got through
a few hundred! I kept finding books I'd forgotten I had. My friend came for dinner but didn't stay late. I kept yawning.

Someone from Shelter will collect lots on Monday I hope.

I'm going to be a local guide this afternoon as several buildings are open for Doors Open Day. I hope it stops raining.

New vicar seems ok at the moment Grammaretto
We are all pleased a family have moved onto the vicarage. He seems a pleasant chap. Mid thirties with two young sons.
How nice you got to meet with another Gransnetter.
Can you walk from your house to the new one quite easily then?
Been on a lovely boat trip today with afternoon tea. Really mild and peaceful. Such a nice afternoon

How was your new vicar Doodle?

I had a nice visit from gransnetter. Stilllearning. She's dog sitting fairly close by. We walked along to see my new house - from the outside.

A removals company booked to give me a quote didn't appear so I shall have to try other companies.

My DDiL in NZ gave me lots of advice over the phone yesterday including telling me her DM had a bonfire going night and day for weeks before she downsized 20 years ago. 😉

It's become much colder here and wet.

I hope all the Lobstars are doing ok.

Evening all. Just got in from church inaugural service for new vicar. Been a full in day. Sorry off to bed. Catch up tomorrow

It's good to hear that Kaimoana is in contact with you Doodle. I hope she moves to somewhere better than she feared and preferably really good!

The day was full on but in a good way. My friends who are helping me with books, records, CDs and taking heavy loads to the tip, came today and were heroic.

They had printed the floor plan of my new house, enlarged it and we tried to work out where to place furniture in each room. Fun really but sad to realise there's not much I can take which will fit.

A charming auctioneer came and told me he could take some things but I wouldn't get much for them.

Every little helps.

My computer man came as well and has closed away DH's various laptops so that they can be thrown away but what was on them, saved.

This morning my garden helper has mown the grass and it's all looking tidy.

I haven't heard from my lodgers but they left before I woke and haven't returned so hopefully they got away without holdups.

Ha ha.
Scary!

Bill hook seller?😉

bilookseller❓️

Wow Grammarettto you have been busy and successful by the sound of it. I hope the auctioneers are keen, really big furniture can be difficult to move. We burnt our enormous wardrobe and just kept the large, heavy, full length mirror which had been on the centre panel. It's still leaning against the wall looking artistic. DH was going to build a frame and support for it, but never got around to it. Wardrobes never wear out so are too easy to come by. I also found a lady who buys old furniture to strip down and wax and paint in Farrow and Ball colours. A table went to her. It did look rather good. Someone like that may be an option.

I've spent today on the boat at the museum and it rained. Very wet rain too. Being a museum its high on the list of places to go on a wet day when on holiday, so plenty of passengers sitting looking out at a very atmospheric, drippy river and broad. They seem to have enjoyed their trips though, and that's the main thing.

I'm so pleased Doodle that you're managing to chat to Kaimoana. And that she's still chuckling. Miss her. xx

Yes. Good news about the books.
We had a very close friend who was an antiquarian bilookseller. Sadly no longer with us.

Grammaretto how busy you are at the moment. Glad the books are sorted. Hopefully the auction house will com up with some offers, I didn’t realise your tenants were from Nepal., Hope they don’t have any family where the floods were.

Yes I’ve been in touch with Kaimoana on Messanger, we leave each other messages thanks to ixions help.
Our dear friend has a lovely voice and hearty chuckle. Waiting to hear where she might be moved to.
Got rampaging tinnitus again tonight so will have an early night.

Shelter have agreed to come next week to take away books. Hooray!

A local auction house has got back to me and is sending someone tomorrow to look around. So things don't look so bleak.

I'm not allowed back to the new house to measure up until the missives are signed but that could be fairly soon.

My friends are coming back tomorrow to help pack books into manageable boxes.

And tonight I will cook a meal for my lovely tenants who leave at dawn to fly home to Nepal.

The trouble with easy ways to sell books is they need you to scan a barcode.
Many of ours don't have one .

No bar code means typing everything in.

Thanks ixion I looked into that a year ago. Those were the days when I thought my books were worth more than they were being priced at 😂

Now I think I'll have to pay to have them taken away.

I may try again.

I've asked music man if he can organise uplift of 2 pianos and a harmonium. No reply yet.

My friend couldn't make it last night but another friend who had come to take down the stained glass her DD makes, came instead. She was so appreciative of my cooking I think I will repeat it tonight.

If there's time I want to pick brambles. It's such a bright windy autumn day.

Has anyone heard from Kaimoana?

Have you considered this method of selling some of your books, Grammaretto?
(I haven't, but have bought too many from them.
Looks like you scan bar code (are your books all vintage?🤔), a price is given there and then) and you get a free pre-paid label- and home collection to boot.

sell.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/how-it-works?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21891283356&utm_content=174482978081&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21891283356&gbraid=0AAAAADsPV2UlC6SWXIxTGi6Dc-l_Z7JyW&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5P7UBhDaARIsAOSlS1NUgGqAVrGL558eIreAsWDnzdhI4eoLN6T9i219UcW08-EVKiV8iCEaAqLIEALw_wcB

Grammaretto i expect the prospect of getting rid of so many of your possessions is quite daunting. Good idea about the red dot system. .
Are there any local charities who might want some of the items.
Do you have a date for your move yet? Can you put some things in storage if you don’t have time to sort it all before you move?
Hope you had a nice evening with your friend.
NFK have a nice walk with Kira. Are you close to the beach?
Car passed its MoT hurrah.

I have such a lot of BIG furniture none of which will fit into a normal sized house.

I have tried and failed to get a charity to collect books. I've just posted a few chairs on Gumtree.
Who needs 3 log baskets?

DD was giving me advice yesterday telling me what to do

It's so all consuming. I must be the most boring person on the planet.

Your day out with Mr & Mrs Jan sounds such fun Nfk. How rude of Kira to reject prawns!

I have invited a friend to supper but don't feel like cooking. I could make an omelette but that sounds a bit mean. Maybe I will get us a carry-oot. Not the chippie though. I was always told to avoid fish on a Monday as the boats don't go out on Sundays.
Traditions must be kept! 😅

I hope life becomes easier for you NN . It sounds as though it has been really hard for you

Doodle I am glad you had a good visit from your in laws

Oh my goodness NN you really have been "challenged". I think you were more than entitled to say the magic words (b***er it - a friend told me them), and go walkabout to find yourself. I've been known to walk around the house chanting "big girls knickers" on many occasions. (I do find I talk to myself rather too much of the time.) But what you went through sounds awful and a bit of a relapse periodically when something unexpected rears its head is only to be expected. It will pass but don't hide it. Let those you care for care for you for a while. You may well find they actually like doing it.

It was a really lovely day meeting Jan and Mr Jan and thank you so much for treating me - and Kira. I can't believe how picky this spaniel is though - fancy not liking prawns! Next time it'll be on me. I'd forgotten how much I liked sitting at Ranworth. It's a shame though that they now have people ashore helping the boats moor up. It was much more fun before!!

And, Grammaretto, you've done it! Well done! When we downsized we went around the house sticking big red dots on all the things we wanted to keep. Not the other way around as it would have meant too much temptation to hang on to Stuff. Then, with a plan of the new place, I arranged the furniture and where to store the stuff we wanted. It meant pruning a lot of red dots! Then everything else got sorted and sent to the local auction house. Not a profitable way to get rid of stuff as they take a good cut but certainly the easiest. Probably things went which we should have kept but I can't say we actually missed any of it. How exciting it all is!

I'm now off to walk Kira, she's padding round on the wood (effect) floor very noisily, letting me know that it's a nice day and she wants to go OUT! It's one of the reasons I wanted her so I can't complain. but I'm dressed in old tatty clothes resume battle with the oxalis. It's got in the grass now. I wonder where I can go where I won't meet anyone!

Oh NN what a brave lady you are to write down exactly how you feel, You’ve been coping with so much so long.
Can you identify what you’re so worried about. Is it having your Dh round the house all day? The thought of giving up work yourself? Doing new things or spending too much time together. Missing your work colleagues?
Are you able to carry on work part time. Spend some time together but keep working for a while? Hope you can sort it out ok,
You’ve had a busy day Grammaretto lots of visitors. Hope you made some good sales.
I’ve been for lunch with my BIL and his wife, nice of them to come and visit me.

Oh goodness Naughtyneine : it's definitely time to stop feeling guilty. You have had plenty enough to put up with.

❤️

I've been just keeping head above water.
I was really tired today but got through.
The various sales went well and I was telling every caller in turn, about my house move.

My cousin came quite late yesterday so we talked family history for an hour or two after dinner. Today was Quaker Meeting followed by DD and family arriving to clear some furniture from her old room.

They left about an hour ago. Cousin left me a bottle of wine and chocolate. I've begun both.

Also,you have been doing a LOT of "getting a grip"
No wonder you are so wrung out!