Friendship,advice and support if estrangement has affected your life.

How's everyone doing? I keep thinking about hugsand DSL, up to their necks in packing boxes but with big smiles on their faces as they begin settling in to their new homes.

That song sounds lovely Whiff, not one I'm at all familiar with and I'm sure your adorable GS could sing it better than me anyway. My lesson went really well on Saturday, only my second but we both noticed an improvement already.

We're going to our flat on Wednesday until Sunday, to keep it aired and for a change of scene so I'll have to wait until the following Saturday for my next lesson. Have to be back Sunday morning for our first carol concert in the afternoon.

It is hard focusing only on what we have and not what we've lost Pixie, especially at this time of year when our losses feel even greater. It's great that you were able to see your GC, it sounds like you had a lovely time.

Having your son to stay for Christmas is something to look forward too. Hope you had a win on the bingo.

No it's not fair is it Yogin and Allsorts but we can't change it can we.

It's been cold and wet here all day which makes the Christmas decs inside and out all the more comforting. Had to laugh when Mr. S. came in from playing bowls and asked if I still wanted the heating on, as if he didn't know what the answer would be.

It's wonderful hearing news of your friend whiff. Yum at all those biscuits. Those decorations are gorgeous.
I think you decided well about the cards PPixie.
Thinking of you too allsortds.

Moving was a bit stressful. First there was an issue transferring the money which scared us senseless, then the vendor failed to hand the keys in and the EA had to phone him.
Loads of teething probleis because the vendors basically neglected the place after they decided they were splitting up. So barely any heating and lukewarm water, dodgy gas ring, loads of repairs needed and totally filthy. But we're treating it as an adventure and everything we fix is victory on the way to our dream home.

A gas man/plumber sorted out heating and water today and the the cooker ring, plus a sink issue, and a fault with the bath. He was really reasonable and lives just round the corner - so he's a happy find.
No fridge till thurs but we have a freezer and a coolbox.
The temporary internet device BT sent was faulty but we got a replacement today so we have access now, albeit slow and a bit patchy.
Plodding on cleaning fixing and unpacking.

Despite all the work, we are already so much happier. It's so quiet here and we get lots more birds visit and the layout of the bungalow works so much better for us. We love it already.

Haha at the heating Smiles.
Catch you all again soon. x

Hi. Just a quickie......

Currently staying at my sons house for a few days so that I can give them a hand with childcare and help with decorating their kitchen. Whilst here I am using their internet, so it's a win win for all of us.

Hugs. Had to chuckle at some of your hiccups with your move. Similar story for me, but thankfully without the money panic.

Everything working ok but frustrating internet issues. And you can't fix them without internet access. Crazy, 😂🤣. Was on. the the phone to Virgin for 1.5 hours and they've still made a hash of the transfer. Need to try again today......

..As for transferring utilities. 😱😂.......talk about trying the patience of a saint. Hey ho. I'll get there.

Like yours the house is (was) rather grubby but I'm gradually licking it into shape. And the outside decking is lethal with a build up of algey.

It never ceases to amaze me how people can live in dirt and grime but they you go. Still as rentals go, it's in good nick, nicely decorated, good carpets but they need shampooing asap. Probably after Christmas. Thankfully the heating and hot water were ok. The house is actually very cosy, so hopefully energy bills will be lower. I know and like the area and it's in a nice quiet cul de sac. I shall be happy here.

Hope you are all well. Not sure when I'll post again. I await Virgin Medias pleasure.

Oh yes -utilities DS. I have a strong aversion to canned music atm. Gl sorting the internet. We have been singing our own version of 'there's a hole in my bucket'.

Well despite the usual frustrations you both sound happy which is great news DSL and hugs.

It can feel as if there's a mountain to climb but every job successfully completed, no matter how small, is a victory.

We took an hour off for a walk. There's a scrap of countryside just around the corner which is beautiful. I found myself a little teary at how lovely it all is.
Back to the grind now. All the conservatory windows and frames are icky.That's my next job.

Its lovely to be able to take a bit of time out and go for a lovely walk. I intended doing something like that this morning but my filling dropped out of a tooth which was just fixed last September. Grrrrrrr! Dentist cannot sort it until 16th December even though I said it was making my tongue sore already. Oh well, back to knitting furiously this afternoon to get a couple of hats done as presents. Trying to think positively but it doesn’t always help. I won £15 at bingo yesterday and promptly spent it on new wool.

Hope you are all managing to keep going at this emotionally imbalanced time of year. My head is all over the place and just trying to keep the wobbles at bay. At least I will see my youngest son on sunday. Just hope the pesky weather doesn’t turn really bad. Got to think positive! Hugs to all

Oh tooth troubles are such a pain. You can get a temporary filling kit on amazon PPixie

I wouldn’t dare try a temporary filling kit to be honest as I might make things worse. So far things are ok with it. Thanks.

Just cannot sleep tonight so I am sat knitting some lengths for my dog blanket.

Lovely to hear from you Hugs and that you're happy in your new home after the few teething problems were sorted. Usually the way. Must have been heart stopping re the money transfer and then no keys!!

Sorry to hear about your tooth Pixie it must be sensitive to cold & hot right now. Very chilly outside now, so your dog will be pleased with his new blanket.

Hi Yoginimeisje - I knit dog/cat blankets for Battersea dogs/cats home - so far I have made over 100 for them. Just trying to get another one maybe two together before christmas. I knit like mad to keep the demons out of my head - its working so far plus I have some nice items made, both for myself and others for christmas.

Great to hear Hugs that you are happy in your new home. I hate the point when the money is transferred as it is certainly heart stopping. I just couldnt fancy moving lately as I don’t think my head could cope with it all.

Well done Pixie the dogs will be very happy and warm. I took some decent duvets & blankets for my local dogs trust, but amazingly they didn't want them, they wanted new!

I'm posting a picture below, of my little dog Joey after his pamper afternoon yesterday, with blueberry facial, paw balm and Xmas cologne!

Yogin think I would like to be Joey and be pampered like that.

Had a busy day my daughter and her eldest both ill. She had been throwing up since 11.30 last night. Her husband had to go too London. So he picked me up. Second team took over 30mins ago his lovely parents. His dad brought me home. My son in law was at a stand still on the train for 5 hours because someone threw themself in front of a train. He still had to go too London for his meeting no idea what time he will get home. Luckily both his parents and me live 10 mins from them.

I love the fact I can help them . As they have helped me no end. Especially when my daughter had to keep taking to A&E or waiting for the ambulance to come and fetch me. Thankfully since the Clonazepam and my heart medication haven't had to go too hospital apart from appointments.

Funny how one child trusts you completely and the other throws you away like a piece of rubbish.

But that's life.

A nicey boy is him, Yogin!

Hugs and DSL, glad you both like your new homes and the cleaning and problems are getting sorted you should be settled before Christmas. I dread all the problems that you inevitably get moving, getting a reliable buyer is challenging enough.
Your Joey looks very pleased with himself after all that pampering Yoga but I bet he'd soon be in the mud playing when he gets a chance.
Hope you D soon well Whiff.
Pixie, your faster than a knitting machine, don't know how you get. the chance to go out. Jumpers, blankets and hats just leap of your needles. I just do mine 2/3 hours a day and I'm not slow, but it still takes me weeks to do a blanket.
Smiles, now it's so cold I have the heating on all the time I'm in the house, got it set at 18 as my windows were getting condensation on them which would create more probkems than the heating bill. There's much negative news at the moment, food prices, the war in Ukraine, that to ge cold on top of that is too depressing, know I'm looking at big heating bills though, but I'm not silly with it just keeping temperature liveable.
Tomorrow gave decided on a baking day, going out today, once the ice is off the roads, getting all I need for bread,,pies and casserole.
Have a good day everyone.

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Joey is adorable. I would love a pet but DH isn’t keen - at the moment…………

Great news that you are both quickly settled in your new homes.

I’ve knitted these two hats for friends for christmas.

Hairdressers this afternoon and then back to knit some more - it keeps me sane.

Thanks re Joey

Hope your D&GD get better soon, mine had that too, all better now though.

*Allsorts my smart-meter read £10.44 yesterday, it was never that high in my previous 4bed house! I have it on 20` and turn off when comfortable. I have terrible condensation on my front door glass windows & in the loo which is the first room along. I'm really concerned about it, not from washing drying, but maybe from shower, I've told my son to pull the door to when he comes out, but that doesn't happen till I notice and close it. Any ideas please?

Aww, what a cutie yogin.
Hope your daughter and eldest are well soon whiff.
Wow!That's an icredible amount of knitting PPixie Lovely hats. Hope you're happy with the hair.
The heating here is very temperamental. Good job we've got thermals. Got the hot water sorted now and the boiler serviced. Thought we'd got the heating sorted but it didn't last Might be a fault on the thernostat
We have a fridge at last. Joy!

Hugs you have these teething problems when you first move in. I thought my fridge/freezer wasn't working, put all my cold stuff outside [January] and paid £100 for an engineer to come out and fix. didn't have the time to study for a new purchase. The engineer couldn't come for a week! Turned out it was working, but being empty didn't, we tried putting a few bottles & bowls of water in and hi-presto! I also thought the oven wasn't working, but again just a case of getting used to it.

I spent an age on-line yesterday buying Xmas gifts from 'Sportsdirect' £125. Got the PP email of purchase through with my old address on!! Tried for hours to contact SD, they are uncontactable! Everything virtual, no customer service and phone numbers not answered. The only thing I can do is contact my old house and pick up there

Oh dae Yogin - what a palavar.

We got the heating on in the end and then it wouldn't turn off. Which was much more comfy but expensive. We've worked out now that we can sort of control it at the boiler end as the thermostat doesn't seem to woek. We know the systen is ancient and needs replacing - trying to get through the winter with it then organise one in the spring.

First of the curtain poles and curtains going up today. Rest still on order. It will be cosier when those are done.

Morning everyone. We're at our flat at the moment, arrived Wednesday and go home tomorrow as my choir has out first Christmas concert in the afternoon.

Sounds as if it's all going well in the new house hugs. As Yogin says, there are always things to get used too, it can be a bit of a learning curve to begin with, but it looks as if you're getting there.

Joey is adorable Yogin and what a pampered pooch, now he's something I wouldn't mind finding underneath the tree on Christmas day, but don't think our two would be very pleased at having to share the love, cuddles, toys and chews.

Mr. S. does any of our online shopping Yogin and I know often gets very frustrated so I just give him a list and leave him to it.

Sounds as if you had a busy baking day yesterday Allsorts. I love the smell that baking makes, makes the house homely and cozey doesn't it.

Hope your DD and eldest GC are feeling better now Whiff. Being sick is the pits isn't it, especially for little ones. It's great that you all have one another to help out.

Need to organise my music for tomorrow's concert this afternoon and I wont have time when we get home.

Had a lovely day out yesterday, took the train to a beautiful old market town where we go when staying at our lodge or now, at the flat. It made a nice change and meant Mr. S. could have a beer when we had lunch out.

The Minster had a Christmas tree event, 120 trees donated and decorated from local businesses and charities, and at the end you could vote for your favourite.

My vote went to the 'Breast Support' charity. Loads of hand made little bras as decorations, absolutely fabulous. Unfortunately, Mr. S. couldn't get the camera on his 'phone to work so he couldn't get any pics, which was such a shame as the Minster looked amazing.

Christmas trees are my favourite festive decs, so I really enjoyed walking around.

You really are a knitting star Pixie. You could have your own little cottage industry going and maybe team up with Whiff with her baking and veg.

Hi Smiles.
Ypur day out sounds lovely. Shame about the photos. Maybe next time.
Needed to slow down today. Had a stroll to hunt the postbox, then a nap. Feel better for it.

Weather foggy and ground covered with snow. Feeling low, all this news about M and H and their bitterness and entitlement got to me yesterday, not a glimmer of remorse for the pain caused, just entitlement. When such people cut off, your finished it seems, can't help thinking that's how I'm thought of.
Better get myself dressed and go and clear the snow, not easy as I gave my Wellingtons to the charity shop as I never used them. I'm good at that, holding on to things that are useless and getting rid of things that are.