🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

I wonder how Lobstars are today?

I began by picking the last of the plums, then looking for and finding my trug which I left full of plums at the community café a week ago. Someone had luckily kept it safely in the office.

This afternoon one of the artists who's to be showing her work next weekend in my open studios, came to set up her exhibition.
I didn't get a chance to do anything myself but it was lovely to see her and her DD who lives in Glasgow. The artist lives in France.
I made pots of tea!

I'll have to glaze my pots tomorrow. I am too tired now.😄

I was able to deliver my knitting to these friends. Her sister has just had a baby which is so big now they may need to use a shoehorn to squeeze her in!

Well done Notspaghetti a bit of a chore but worth it in the end to have your own figs,
Good news *Grammaretto having friends onside always helps. Is this the one that was 10 minutes from the shops and bus stops?
I’ve been to the hospice again today with friends. Church tomorrow . Sleep well all

Wonderful figs NotSpag but those pesky squirrels!
The deer are my nemesis. They eat all the pretty flowers just as they are at their best, including roses!

I'm thinking more about that house. Because it's empty I walked up today with my pottery friend and checked out the garden. She thinks it has potential and my other pal who will view it on Monday with me and who loves everything '60s, is already planning the decor!

Her DF was an architect and her own house is scandi chic 😊.
It's good to feel their approval
Sparky has a flat which is vacant if I need somewhere to live meantime so I am feeling quite positive.

How are all you wonderful Lobstars today?

Here's another!

I seem to only be able to post these one by one!

For the last five or so days it's been man ( and woman) versus squirrel!

We've wrapped all the larger ripening figs in aluminium foil, checked them each day and made sure they aren't getting too damp in their shiny coats and then yesterday and today we have outsmarted the squirrel thieves - well mainly.

I have had two bitten off and unravelled but largely I think they are not a fan of foil.
Hooray!
Figs and yogurt for breakfast today.
Yum yum!

Here's some photos of said figs.

Well no rain here again today. Yesterday’s downpour only lasted a few minutes but it has been a lot cooler today.
Grammaretto of course we all care about your move. We want the perfect place for you. Just hoping the right one comes along soon.
Interesting place you went to today.
I went for a walk with walking group then a long talk with the same group. Food shopping this afternoon then coffee with a friend tomorrow.
Sleep well all

Actually, fat finger syndrome, the house is 10 mins walk not 20.

I also wanted to say how lovely it is that Nfk and Jan meet up!

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202608/medium-eiwkia-1000028164.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202608/medium-e94h-1000028161.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202608/medium-frwx8h-1000028157.jpg%3C/span%3E

I was at Jupiter Artland today with U3A. A fun day out looking at strange sculptures and chatting in the café.
One woman tells us endlessly about her cruises 🥱🥱
Another moi talks endlessly about her house move 🥱🥱🥱

I've been asked out to dinner tonight which is lovely as I am quite tired. We walked 5,000 steps apparently. I was the only one with sticks.

I was saying that this house is on a housing estate not 20 mins walk from my house so I am not planning to move far. There are close neighbours so not secluded at all.
I went up again to check out the garden. It is north facing, as is the conservatory so the garden is rather unsatisfactory.

Thanks Jan and thanks Lobstars for being so concerned about my move. 😊

I wrote a post but lost it due to a nasty pop-up.

It’s absolutely chucking it down in Norfolk and the forecast isnt looking good. Its also quite cold we have even put the gas fire on! How can the weather change so quickly?! This is when I start to regret booking a holiday cottage we havent been to before. Will it be warm if it turns really cold? Will the bed be comfy etc etc!
Grammaretto dont mean to interfere in the stressful time of choosing a house but however well meaning and helpful your son is being the house must be your choice and not the one he thinks would be perfect. Agree with Doodle that as we get older we do need people around us - but maybe not those with a trolley in the garden - plus of course the usual services like Drs shops etc. Wonder if there is a Community Facebook group in the village/ town where you are considering moving too? We have one in our village and you can glean a lot of info reading peoples opinion on various things such as whats going on, various groups, facilities and so on.
Honestly its like winter here. Still raining, wind is blowing- whatever is happening to our weather?
Nfk can you please change the weather before Aug 30th?!

Grammaretto

Shopping trolley house?

The ones with way beyond a "reasonable" quantity of "stuff" in the garden... They seem to often have lots of broken things in a heap including an old shopping trolley.

I wouldn't feel happy next door to these - though I realise they could be driven by illness.

Grammaretto what is it about this house that makes your sons feel it’s right for you.
One thing troubles me, detached, not overlooked, quiet.
To me, when you get older, you need to be able to see people passing. To have contact with the outside world. You need to feel safe in your home. It’s good being close to bus and town centre though that’s a plus.
Do you have anyone who could drive you there in the evening so you can see what it’s like in the dark at night.
DH and I once thought a place we visited on holiday would be nice to live. We got stuck there one evening when out car broke down. Lots of teenagers gathered there drinking and being rowdy. We changed our minds quite quickly.
I Hope your friend helps you make a decision. Wishing you all the best.
I’m off to bed. For some reason tonight I have dreadful heartburn and I can’t shake it off.

Shopping trolley house?

I will always be a bit wary of "too tidy" as well as the shopping trolley house!

Could you visit the neighbours asking "I'm wondering what it's like living in this area as I don't know it well?"

That way you get to have a chat and also "feel them out"

I always did that - even when looking for a rental years ago.

Gosh you lot, you've been having such a busy time, I've read through quickly but missed so much.

Happy Belated Birthdays, Doodle and Grammaretto, I hope you had lovely times.

And I can't quite keep up with the moving situations. NotSpag has accepted an offer? Or got two and starting an auction?

And Grammaretto what an adventure you're having, it's hard to keep up. I'm pleased that you decided the Doer-upper is off the cards, they always cost far more than anticipated. I agree with ixion that it would be a good idea to have a browse around the area where this Possible one is and check out the neighbours. I'm just so pleased now that I found a way of moving downstairs and changing rooms around. Everything is so much easier and I haven't had to cope with all the angst and decisions you're going through. (Have you found a home for those saws? There are people with stalls at car boot sales who love all that stuff.)

We've had rather a lot of rain in the last two days. 10mm on my rain gauge. At least I think those numbers are mm's. It's all down to my having had a new window cleaner last week. A more expensive window cleaner. Obviously he's responsible. He's coming again in a month, so hopefully the weather will be good when Jan comes over! Looking forward to meeting up again, Jan.

Ah but it has a chimney and I could have a wood burning stove. My house is bleak in winter - and cold. I'm sure this smaller one could be cosy.
All my DC are in favour at least the boys are. Not sure about DD. She would dearly love her own house.

🚩🚩s, if you ask me. Which you didn't😉

Could be bleak in winter, outlook-wise?🤔

I don't know honestly ixion . I can tell myself I'm ready to leave, it will be much cheaper than this to run, fuel and council tax etc.
I could make changes to make it mine . I don't particularly like that area as it's too quiet and feels like a dormitory. It's less than 10 minutes walk to the town centre and less to a bus stop. I have been spoiled by my position, views etc but I feel I'm adaptable and know I need to move.

There's a garage and lots of parking. The whole front garden is gravel. I don't know the neighbours but it's detached and not overlooked.
A lot of trade vans and camper vans are parked up, I noticed some huge shiny cars and at least one fake grass frontage 😟

It's not an area or style of house I usually like. It's a plain 1960's standard estate house.

The housing stock is limited around here.

Hundreds of new houses are being built on the outskirts but although they are probably low energy/ eco friendly they are bleak and a long trek from a bus stop.
I am lucky to be able to choose. 😀

Could you see yourself living there?

I mean not just the four walls and gardens, but the neighbourhood, potential neighbours, walking to the shops, your community cafe, people 'popping in' to see you when they are out and about?
Parking? Adequate, generous, tight?

It's easy for me to get carried away, but think of after all the excitement has died down and you are completely 'done up'.
How comfortable and 'at home' would you feel looking out of the window every day?

Some estate agents make a digital mock-up of the house layout from the measurements they take and then place it at the correct angle to the sun.
You can sort-of press "go" and watch which rooms get light at which times of day as the sun tracks over.

From that I think you might get a good idea re the garden.

Never heard of a suntracker NotSpaghetti
I was just looking in relation to the church tower (just visible from an upstairs window) and the hills etc.

Do you have one of the "sun tracker" video things on their estate agent's website?

I know they are pretty basic...