Checking In, Moving Out & Moving In

Does the title give away why I have been so quiet lately? :-)

Yup, we finally moved on Friday 11th March.  It seemed to take forever to finalise our move.  The Sunday before we moved, I read an email from the solicitor who took over when mine went on holiday who asked if we wanted to move on 11th.  We jumped at it.  Of course, we then had to confirm a removal firm, exchange and pack up most of the house in 4 days - such fun.

I AM NEVER MOVING AGAIN - unless I am rich and someone else is packing the house up for me!!!!!

The removal men came at 8am and left the new house at 5.45pm.  It went on forever.

The new house remains as Grotville.  It was dirty and uckky when we moved in - the ex owner even left all her dog poo in the back garden - still to be cleaned up as she also filled up ALL the wheelie bins (there are 3) so I have no where to put it.  We FINALLY get a bin emptied tomorrow so then I shall be in the garden as soon as possible trying to put it right.

Both Mums and my Dad helped massively with packing up the old house.  Indeed I couldn't have done it with out them.  Then more importantly my parents have REALLY helped with settling us into the new house -I think we wore H's Mum out!!!

On the Sat morning friends came up from down South and spent 2/3 days cleaning and decorating.  We managed to clean the kitchen - the house fridge stopped working on the Sun morning, and I found out tonight that both ovens don't work.  My fridge is locked in the garage (Dad has the key!) and I am feeling very frustrated.

Anyway onto nicer things, what will be our new bedroom has had the built in wardrobes removed, the carpet ripped up and the wallpaper stripped.  Then My Dad and D have started putting up lining paper and the paint should be painted tomorrow.  So exciting.

More importantly (to me) is that D redecorated what will be my craft room.  I love it.

I still can't understand why H didn't want it in the new bedroom....................

Now once I have painted the ceiling with the glitter paint I can start unpacking all my bits.

Sucks, sucks and sucks

I have been desperately wanting to blog but first my head wasn't in the right place and then I had to make sure that friends who read this blog were told before I published here.

So the news about Mum isn't good.  She has stage 4 cancer (the worst) in her liver and the little bugger has gotten into both lungs.  We've been told that the Dr's can only manage it and can't get rid of it.  She started Chemo today, to give her as much time as possible.  She is not ready to give in and I am not ready for her to give in.  We had a date to go wig shopping - I am trying to convince her that this is her chance of going for a Mohican but I am not so sure that she is buying my reasoning..... just think of the smiles she'd spread with her when she goes for more chemo.

We all went out for a lovely meal last week and then Sunday lunch at Mum's this past Sunday.  H struggles to visit most houses- steps to get in, laminate floors to slip on, no downstairs loo etc and he did look tired, but with a 2 hour sleep he managed to stay til after tea.  Anni had a sleep over with Grandma and Grandad but H and I kept looking for her when we got home.  It's odd but when you have a dog you do get into your habits and just cause she's elsewhere doesn't mean you remember to change your habits.  H got up in the morning to let her out.... D'oh.  Mind I asked an invisible Anni if she wanted to go out before I went to bed.........

The House move is still on and no idea when we'll actually move.  Our sellers were asked a list of questions on 5th Feb and my Solicitor received answers late yesterday.  I am still waiting for news.  How long do these things take?  There must be a better way forward.  I think we have been held up as the seller can't find paperwork for the sunroom (AKA converted garage).  We suspect there isn't any but rather than admit it, she's been avoiding the issue completely.  I am hopeful we are nearly there now and we may be able to agree a date next week.

We do have news on the ill health retirement application - kind of.  The Occupational Health department rang today and have all the paperwork they need to complete the paperwork.  We may hear something soon.

So lots of nothing and sadness.

We've also had some happiness.  Friends we met on holiday years ago, have sent flowers, chocolate and hand knitted cowls.  They are also going to come up when we move to get stuck in the unpacking and helping us settle.  I am so pleased about this, as I was planning on leaving things in boxes as much as possible whilst we can clean the place from top to bottom.  I have chosen the wallpaper for the bedroom (the grottiest room) and the craft room (small room upstairs) so we'll at least 2 nice spaces to live in.

and at least someone is settled!!!!!!

Pulling my Big Girls Pants Up

So I still think life sucks, but I can either wallow (and I did on Sunday, I stayed in my PJ's ALL day.  Bliss), or pull up my big girl pants and get on with.

I decided 1 day of wallowing was ok and actually healthy for me but no more.  Well actually I loved being in my PJ's, a long soak in a bubble bath (whilst I still have one) and fresh PJ's.  Yes please, bring on this Sunday :-)

On Monday, I finally remembered to do what I have been meaning to do since the start of the year.  Our little, local Asda has a collecting basket for the local foodbank.  H and I have agreed to donate 1 thing  a week to the collection.  So on Monday, I finally got round to adding 5 things to the basket.  It did feel good thinking of someone else.

Mum's biopsy on Monday went ok.  They were running late, so she didn't get home til after 10.30pm but she's feeling okay now.  Indeed, we went out for a lovely lunch today.

In house news, we've agreed a lower price on our house and the sale is still on.  No news on a completion date -how long do these things take?????  Should I be packing yet for this unknown date? I feel my lack of packing may bite me :-)

Whoops

Hello,

Sooooo it's been a while since I last posted.  Even my Mum has been wondering where I have disappeared to!!!

What have I been up to?  Wellllllllll, we put the house on the market, and I had to keep tidying it up and hiding things in cupboards, and then do it again, and again, and again.  Then we sold the house (hooray) but then we didn't have anywhere we wanted to buy.  Arghhhhhhh.

Then we found Grotville and put an offer in and now we have something to buy.  We affectionally call it Grotville as it is pretty unloved.  We do feel that if we show it love, we will love it.  I hope!!

So we leave the house of my dreams, but at 4 storeys high it no longer works for H's MS and I do want a garden, for a dorma bungalow, where H never needs to go upstairs again.  

Oh I do so hope we fall in love with it :-)

 

Is no news good news?

Still no word from the builder of the house we like.  OR maybe it's no news from the Estate Agents - who knows?  All I know is that H and I (& my Dad) are going up to look at the house today and we hope that H loves it too.

The EA came down a week ago, agreed that our valuation was close to the mark and left to go and talk to the builder.  We got a phone call on Wednesday letting us know that he hadn't managed to get hold of the builder yet, but nothing since.  Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

If H loves the house we can then start chasing the EA to see what on earth is going on?  We got a skip yesterday, and the cellar is looking really good.  I think by the end of tomorrow the attic will also be looking really good.  The master bedroom should be finished this week too.

We can then get another EA down to value the house and think about getting onto the market whatever happens to this new house.  Who knows how long this will take and where we will end up - but oh, I do love that house :-)