Help calm me, house buying and selling stress. Part 3

March 1st and almost spring , amazing how the sun shining in gives us a lift. I am not going to waste my day, the paper has arrived and I will save it to later. I am still plotting and planning and am about to take apart my home made patio divider, it is too susceptible to wind and gives too much winter shade on the other side. Old clothes on soon and I`ll set to

I have 4 large planters to empty, two are very big corten steel, I could not bear to get rid when I moved but wish I had. I am going to put the soil into large buckets and 2 barrows in my garage and will scatter the rest. It will be perfect for levelling my stepping stones when the weather is better. These planters are so flaky and rusty now, I will have to protect my car, I will manage one at a time, the boot is cavernous

I must say that I like having an aim on most days, it is far too easy to drift. I recognise that sometimes my body tells me to slow down, on those days I do nothing

I hope the sun is shing for you today

I love the way you are all talking about keeping out the sun! We are still freezing here. The idea of an awning is delightful. The thought of sitting sipping sangria on a hot Summer's evening. Can't wait!

DD is looking after 2 poorly DC at present and her DH is job hunting so she isn't house hunting at present. I think they can stay where they are a bit longer.

The agent leaving the place unlocked is not on Shandy. Do EAs still show people around empty houses? I thought after the Suzy Lamplugh murder they had to go around in pairs.

shandy please ring EA about not locking up. Perhaps she had a part time viewing agent who forgort to lock up, that happened on one of my viewings. It needs to be stressed about security

Back from carving and a new friend went too, non-stop chatting was very pleasant. I am doing a relief carving of a dove of peace on oak, just bits of tweaking today, new person spoke lots and I had to listen

I had a cantilever umbrella once, they are fairly hard to manage, sway a lot in wind and very high to reach the handle. I wouldn`t have one again. I had a large rectangular umbrella which was good but still needed storage in winter. I think the awning is the best idea. Easier to move a seat if needed, if the sun shines at one side. I would definitely get a good big one, you would use it lots and it would last. Electronic would be good. It will cost but be very beneficial for you

Thank you all for advice on awnings. Got some research to do. I did look at retirement apartments but only for a second. I like owning my own property without having to pay maintenance charges for things like cleaning communal areas etc. So glad I brought the bungalow.

Shandy57 I should ask why the the viewing agent didn't lock up. It's part of their responsibility plus common sense . To lock up. Glad you can push the paperwork through the letter box at least you know then they have got it. Another thing off your list.

Grammaretto has your daughter found somewhere to buy ?

I'm back again, phew, I'm worn out.

Starting snowing at the beach so I left at 11 am, I have such a fear of driving in a blizzard, as well as fog.

Sun was out again when I got to the station but the winds of hor hay or however you pronounce it has started. Fire wouldn't take so I had to leave the door open and sit and wait, did manage to get it going in the end. I fed my dog while I was there and left it out by mistake, never mind. I left at 12.45 and took my dog for another walk and got some shopping - I keep stocking up for 'snow' and using it all! I have five tins of soup, I won't starve.

Came back at 2.30 to 'undress' the house, put the heating onto automatic, switch off the electric candle/all lights/close shutters and pull all the curtains again. My daughter doesn't think I should bother but I think the house looks and smells nicer. I'm a bit surprised the viewing agent didn't lock any of the doors, perhaps she thought I was lurking somewhere. My neighbours are back from Spain and I saw his partner in the garden - I asked if it was OK to put my legal pack through the door and he confirmed it was, so that worry is over! I checked it would fit through his letterbox this morning.

Now to tackle my printer problems - I can't connect to the wifi hotspot, but I found the printer box and the direct attachment cables are in there, so hopefully I can print what I have downloaded.

I had never appreciated what it was like for my daughter living in halls/student houses for so many years - everything is so different and I am coping the best I can. I will buy the vacuum and tv soon, have to transfer my tv license first.

I think I might have a Crown session then finish my legal pack, unfortunately I opened my Title Deeds when I received them from the mortgage company, I'm not sure I put everything back in. Actually I do it the other way round so it's my reward! I have decided to sell my bronze lions by the way, I've been dithering over it as I bought them when my Mum died with the money she left me, they are sentimental objects but would look daft in my new tiny house garden, wherever that might be!

Have a good evening.

I am sure there are Jane10 and you're quite right, I should not have singled those out. It's anything which is specifically for older people that puts me off at present.

Too soon for you maybe Grammaretto but I wouldn't turn up my nose at them. I've done talks in several of their developments and came away very impressed. The buildings were lovely but, as usual, it's the people who make a community and there seemed to me to be a lot of pleasant happy people in the ones I visited.

That's interesting about all the deeds being on-line Moira
I wonder if that applies in Scotland too? Probably not. I don't know where our deeds are. I laid hands on them at the time our neighbours (those dreadful developers) were bulldozing our stone wall. I had to run and stop the bulldozer. Then I had to find the site hut, speak to the foreman and go home to find the deeds of our house which show where our property ends. You wouldn't believe it, would you. They had removed about 2 metres of a high stone wall. They eventually reinstated it - badly. The wall dates from before our house was built so pre 1812.

Our tenants are moving out today. They have confessed to leaving a broken window but I can't really complain as the sash cords needed to be replaced.

It doesn't look like DD will move here after all. I will let the flat but not just yet. I need to get it into shape first.

I passed some Mccarthy and Stone retirement flats, on the bus and knew I would hate living in one. Not ready for that yet!

Whiff you can can awnings that are cantilevered so the base is well to the side, might be worth checking out?

Ellianne thank you that's a great help. Like the sheets tip my grandsons would love that.

Shandy57 perhaps your dog is happy at the cottage and doesn't need the security of his basket. When my brother and sister in law visit and bring their dog even though they bring in here bed she always lies on my footstool. Which I always take as a sign she is happy here. But I've never had a cat or dog so only guessing. A patio umbrella would be cheaper but I worry about tripping over the base. Did that years ago at my old house.
Hope it stays dry for your viewing.

We had an awning over our patio at the house we recently sold in London. It was an electric one and we operated it with a simple remote control .... open/close/pause. For me the best thing about it was that it helped create an extra space for entertaining and dining or for just reading a book. Of course protection from the sun was its main function. Ours was cream which was lovely to begin with but after a few years it started to look a bit grubby. It's very difficult to get up there to scrub it but maybe you could find one which detaches for the winter. Ours retracted into a box thing but it wasn't kept totally dry in the rain. We had a manual one at out French house to cut the cost but it was a bit more of a nuisance.
When the sun is coming from different directions it can sometimes escape in at the sides. I used to hang a sheet from it when the grandchildren were playing all day underneath it. They thought it was a tent!
Hope this helps.

Morning all, storm hasn't hit yet so off to the beach early while it's dry.

Enjoy your trip Franbern

Took my dog out the back just now and the neighbours are cooking bacon, his nose was going two to the dozen! I don't eat meat, but do buy him beef pieces to put on his dinner with his arthritis medicine.

I'm always so hesistant because I lack confidence, I'm just going to put the pack through my neighbour's letterbox so he can take it into work himself, rather than post it. When he did my probate he put everything in my letterbox for me, I didn't have to go to his office at all. If I wasn't scared of trains I could go, it's only 35 minutes into Newcastle. The bus takes an hour and a half. I need to photocopy everything before I send it and can't do that till Monday, hopefully he will still have time to prepare everything.

Just one viewing today at 1 pm and having to light the fire is a bit of a pain as I have to go the hour before to make sure it's taken. I need to wipe everything down, put the heating on, and the smelly candle. Dog is sad his kitchen basket has gone, I'm going to take it back today so he can sit in it when we visit the house, he hasn't gone in it here at the cottage yet.

Whiff would you consider a patio umbrella shade instead, much cheaper?

Franbern have a wonderful time in London with your family.

Shandy57 did you say you have a viewing today? Sorry can't remember if you said you did. If so hope all goes well and no grumpy people this time. With all this rain good job you moved your ornaments.

Craftyone did you have a nice time crafting? What are you making at the moment?

Does anyone have an awning on there house one of those manual ones? If so can you recommend an awning company. My garden gets full sun on the patio and into the living room. I would love to sit out there in the summer but don't like sitting it full sun. My husband died from secondary tumour's from a malignant melanoma on his face. My family and I are very careful and all use lots of suntan cream. In fact my son had to use some the other day as the sun was very strong where he was working.

Have a good day everyone .

a previous solicitor asked permission to destroy deeds held by them. Deeds are no longer necessary because all required information is held by the land registry

Shandy57 I always took all the forms deeds and everything else to the solicitors by hand. That way I knew they had got it . Make sure you get a written receipt for the deeds.

I was told that original deeds are not important now as everything is online with the Land Registry. I didn't know where mine were and worried about it but the solicitor told me it was unimportant. It turned out that the mortgage provider had retained them and not registered with the Land Registry that the mortgage had been paid off ten years previously.

Is it far Shandy57? Could you deliver the deeds yourself rather than post them? Just to be on the safe side.

Evening all, just waiting for the oven to heat up (seems to take forever) and thought I'd pop in to say I spent five hours collating all the paperwork. Feeling a lot better about it all.

Can I please ask, did anyone send their original deeds by special delivery by post? I'm worried to send them without copying them but they are bound with a strange plastic, I'm not sure if I can get it apart.

Back now from a very enjoyable lunch time meet up. Really lovely place we met in. The Salt House in Clevedon. Even though weather was so miserable it was nice to sit and look out over the sea.
Craftyone, I did ask, still have not heard from anyone -re those indemnity insurances that the Conveyancing Solicitors have become so fond of. Has anyone ever known anyone actually have a claim on one of these?
For me - the problems with my ex now has no effect. One of the big reasons for moving was to be able to totally separate from anything more to do with him. However, my daughter in London falls so easily in her private life, into her OT role and - out of duty - feels she must assist him. He will neither appreciate it, nor bother to remember it!!! When she commented as to how many shirts he had in his wardrobe, he used that to have a further moan about me telling her 'It is your Mothers fault, when we were together, she insisted that I changed my shirt every day!!!!" What a dreadful wife I was!!!!
I asked in B&Q today when they would be getting this years range of garden furniture (ready for my balcony) and have been told they are putting it out week commencing 14th March, ready to see on 21 March onwards.
Got the revised (much increased) quote for my bathroom re-fit today - will be so pleased when this is done (end of April), as that will be last of the large costs I have in this flat.
Grammaretto I sent a message to my two g.children telling them to keep a note of any expenses they had today (bus/train fares, some food ), and I have offered to cover that for them. Least I can do.

Shandy
I have sent you a PM RE your post @9.42

Well done those GC Franbern! . This decision by the court of appeal to disallow a third runway at Heathrow must have had an effect. Once everyone realises that we all have to change our habits of a lifetime to make a difference.
I personally think that the coronavirus is frightening people into changing their travel habits quicker than any ruling.

The story of your Ex reminded me how one friend had to organise her Ex's funeral because there was no-one else to do it. They had 2 grown up children one of whom is disabled. and they both helped her. It was a lovely occasion actually. Afterwards she had the job of clearing his house and selling it for the boys.

Enjoy your GN meetup. I thoroughly enjoyed St Andrews on Tuesday. I can't believe we had such a lovely sunny day.

Craftyone your garden is fairly taking shape. Ours is still snow covered. You must be in a warmer part of the country.

We are having the new curtain poles put up today. I have looked at readymade curtains in Dunelm but nothing jumped out at me.. Any recommendations?
4 big sash windows.

Franbern sorry about the problems with your ex. What's the old saying you can choose yours friends but not family. Hope you have a good time with your daughter.

With people living longer the government needs to be putting money into long term care. It's not just the old who need it be some young people need the help. I just hope that I don't need to have to go into a home in later life. The thought of how much it's costs if frightening.

But to be honest my main worry is I go like my mom. She didn't know who I was and thought I was her mom which I coped with fine and looking after all her needs 24 7. It's being physically attacked everyday. She'd be fine but when she woke up sometimes is was ok others she'd bite, scratch or hit me. For such a little woman she could inflect some damage. It wasn't her and she would have been horrified if she realised what she was doing. I got so I hoped when I went into her of a morning that she had died during the night. Sounds awful I know but I grieved for my mom as she had died long before her body did. Think this weather must be getting me down I'm getting maulding.

Shandy57 the paperwork for selling always seems never ending. Sure they didn't need so much detail years ago. Just think once it's done that's it. 1st March on Sunday the time will fly until the 25th.

Craftyone your garden is sounding lovely. I love being able to peg out. Sun on clothes always make them smell lovely.

Had a good time with my U3A friend. And glad I did my shopping yesterday it was cold but dry. Today high winds and heavy rain. Had a taxi back from Sainsbury's as to many bags to cope with on the bus. Had a puzzling conversation with the driver. After talking to my daughter about what was said she concluded he was chatting me up. He was a widower of 10 years. I thought he might have been but I had been with my husband since I was 16 so didn't have any real experience of dating. I don't want anyone else but never considered I might attract the attention of any men. Haven't worded this right but it has thrown me. Has this happened to anyone else?

Morning everyone, I've woken up feeling really nervous about the forms, but do have the whole weekend. We had a 'dispute' with our neighbour and I need to word it carefully.
I need to find somewhere that does photocopying, when my printer broke I bought a Which recommendation - where you have to feed single sheets through to copy. My old expensive printer had a flat bed scanner, I miss it.

Interesting you talking about your whirlygig Craftyone, I remembered you talking about it as I ticked 'included' for mine last night! Glad you are positioning your trugs carefully, our greenhouse was in the wrong place facing west and nothing ripened successfully.

I am sorry to read about your ex husband Franbern. I know that when it is my time my daughter will have to help me, as my son's current partner takes no interest in me at all and I'm sure would not be supportive of him. I hope your ex does agree and is comfortable somewhere. I know my husband would eventuallly have had to go into a hospice for assisted breathing if he had lived, bad as it is to admit I am relieved I did not have to face that battle.

I am glad your GC are supporting climate change, it is so serious now - we are experiencing so many whale strandings up here because there just isn't anything left for them to eat in the sea, they are starving to death. I also heard on Radio 4 that salmon are also in danger of becoming extinct due to farmed salmon escapes, they are genetically modified and weakening the gene pool. Poor salmon just don't have enough strength to get back to breed. What have we done to the world.

So another coffee and off to the beach, then the house, keep your fingers crossed all the paperwork is where I think it is!

Craftyone, the ONLY thing that I miss from my house (or, will do in the better weather), is being able to dry washing on the whirlygig. I used to pack that away in the garage during the winter, so would not normally be having it out at present. I am very much 'in love' with my Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, which stops itself as soon as the clothes, etc in it are dry. But know I will miss that wonderful outdoor dry smell.
The basket on the front of my mobility scooter had come totally loose, and was unusable, as it rocked a lot from side to side, and anything in it fell out. When I left my U3A Discussion Group yesterday morning I was next door to the small mobility shop, so I popped in on the off-chance they could do something. It was a difficult job, as previously someone had tried bolting this direct into the upright of the scooter. And these had broken. They were so incredibly helpful. I have a large basket, and really wanted to keep that. One of the lovely men there really took on the challenge....... managed to get it all off and found a way of bolting on a new bracket and then drilling holes into the basket to join to this bracket. Took him nearly an hour of work. And, at the end only charged me £30. I am so grateful.....makes such a difference. As I have said before, most people are so helpful and nice!!!
Cannot believe it is raining again. Where is it all coming from? Bet we are going to have an incredibly dry summer with talk of hose pipe bans!!!
I am looking forward to seeing my daughter tomorrow - she has a very stressful (although extremely worthwhile) job as the Head of several large teams of community Mental Health. She loves her job, but I do worry about her -at present her Dad (my ex), is causing her problems, he has been in hospital for several weeks and all the team involved in his care say he must go into residential care (they will not let him out of hospital except to a Nursing Home), and he is trying to oppose it.
As she is the only one of our children near him, she is the one having to try to deal with him and fit in visits to him, and attend all the meetings with his medical team.
From a phone call from her a couple of weeks ago I know she is really resenting this. She has little love for him, but an enormous sense of duty,. I have, since that phone call, persuaded two of my other children to arrange a visit to her during March, just to take pressure of her for a few days,.
Two of my g.children are off today to Bristol to join the Greta Thornberg demo. I am so very proud of them and that they care so much about the planet.
Me.....I am attending a Gransnet Meet-up