Red lorry, yellow lorry

Another tick off the list today!  The removal company is booked AND paid for as they give a discount for payment in advance.  It came in at just under £1000 for me and just over £600 for my son and DIL.  I thought that was really reasonable as it cost more than that 11 years ago to move me into this house!  Same company is going to move us both so we're getting 2 lorries 🚚🚛

Photo is just a generic removal lorry but it did remind me of the tongue twister "red lorry, yellow lorry."  How many times can you say it quickly before you ending up saying nonsense?? 😛😂

Boxes

 

Mum, what's going on???  There are boxes everywhere and I don't like it!!

Me neither Luna!

Missives still not concluded yet although to be fair there are 3 sets and 3 lots of lawyers involved.  Only 5 weeks to go, I'd better go pack some more boxes then! 🙄

Different kind of leeks!

 

I went to the allotment today for the first time this year.  It was a mud fest!!  I was going to plant some potatoes but my plot neighbour John said it was too wet and he wasn't planting his spuds yet!  John is an old school allotmenteer (he calls me dear mainly because I think he can never remember my name!!) and if he says don't plant them yet then I'm not planting them!!  Maybe give it another week if this rain ever stops!! 🌧

Despite the mud, the plot isn't in too bad shape.  My leeks had survived the burst river bank episodes so I harvested them all.  They're now cleaned, chopped up and in 3 big freezer bags!!  We all love leeks and often use them instead of onions 🧅

Despite filling the freezer up with leeks, I am trying to eat down the contents in general by using up what's lurking in the bottom.  I found a ton of unwaxed lemons and limes (slices, quarters and ice cubes of juice/zest) so I simmered them in a big pan of water with some dried rose hips I found in the back of the cupboard.  Then I strained them and added icing sugar (it was all I had!) to taste and simmered it until it was a bit syrupy.  It filled a one litre bottle.  Lemon, lime and rose hip cordial.  It's really lovely hot or cold 😋  I'll definitely be making it again.  I could have added citric acid powder to extend the shelf life but I'm just keeping it in the fridge.

Leaking money

 

I've been nursing my laptop along for a wee while (it's not been able to close for about a year) but this week it finally became too far gone to use safely.  The screen was hanging on by a single screw and some wires were exposed!  So I bought a new one with help from my son who is my in house tech support 😂  I don't need anything fancy and it's more or less a similar model to the old one.  The bizarre thing is that the new one was cheaper than the old one cost me 4 years ago!!  

My son set it up for me although I'm perfectly capable but as he's an 'expert' I just left him too it.  I've had to switch to using Edge instead of Chrome (there's a genuine technical reason apparently) but my son in exasperation at my moaning about the change called me a boomer!!!  I reminded him that for the last 10 years I've successfully used many aspects of technology in my classroom and that I'm far from being a boomer.  Actually I'm Gen X being born in the late 60s!!! 😂😂😂

I was talking to my 3 besties about leaking money and they're in a similar position.  One had to replace all 4 tyres on her car to pass the MOT.  Another broke down on her way home from a holiday in Wales and had to pay to get her car fixed.  And my other friend is currently getting her bathroom re modelled and they've found leaky pipes that need replacing adding to the overall cost.

Is there a retrograde planet somewhere bumping into stuff in the cosmos causing all this money leakage?? 🪐😂

I've started!

 

I got my act together and have finally started sowing seeds in my wee heated propagator.  2 types of tomato, Roma from my own saved seeds and some cherry ones.  I've also started some cucumbers.  They'll all go in the polytunnel at the plot at some point.  I checked on my seed potatoes and they're all sprouting madly so I need to get them in the ground asap!

I've arranged for the British Heart Foundation to come next week and take away some surplus furniture.  These 2 bookcases are going.  The books have been sorted and those I'm taking with me are already packed. I'll be on the lookout for a smaller bookcase.

I'm also donating the above wee sideboard as well.  The contents (my colourful glasses collection) have also been wrapped and packed!

I did 2 trips to the recycling centre today and donated a ton of stuff to the reuse hub and sorted the rest into the different recycling areas.  Some of the above plastic tubs are empty and ready to be refilled.

I'm trying to be ruthless.  I'll have about a third of the space I currently have and no garage!!  The 2 trips today have barely made a dent in my 'stuff' but at least I've started! 😊

Where's my asparagus?

 

Breakfast 8th April 2021

Twice in the last week I've had a memory pop up on FB about my asparagus being ready to pick and eat.  I've been checking it regularly and today went out to the garden to tidy up the raised bed it's in.  There's absolutely no sign of it at all!  I have 5 crowns that I planted in 2020 so they're well established by now.  I wonder if it's been too wet these last few months and it's rotted? 😟  I do hope not!

I did a Tesco shop this morning and didn't get very much.  But I spent £36.99 for a whole chicken, vegetables (fresh and frozen,) laundry liquid, toilet roll, eggs, cheese, bread flour, stock powder and black bin bags.  I'm really struggling to keep within my supermarket target of £25 a week. And I'm even more worried as I haven't planted a single seed yet for the allotment.  Normally by now I've at least got tomatoes well established and a few other things started.  I've not even planted my seed potatoes yet!

I need to give seed planting some thought as it will be disastrous to my annual food budget if I don't grow anything to eat!!

I bought a house!

 

So here's my new house!  It's a 2 bedroomed semi detached built by Barratt (well known British house builder of the time) in 1986.  This was the second house I viewed when I started viewing properties.  I also viewed a similar smaller (and cheaper) one just round the corner but I couldn't put in an offer at the time as I hadn't put my house on the market.  This one was scruffy and a bit smelly tbh!!  And the décor is so bad it's mentioned in the home report!  So I said I wasn't interested.

Once my own house was sold and I'd bought a flat for my son (to rent from me) I started to view more houses.  To be honest there wasn't much choice in my price range and in my preferred areas within Stirling.  So I viewed it again with my middle son who was home for the wedding.  We thought the work needed on the roof (sagging sarkboards!) would be too costly so again I said I wasn't interested.

I'd just arrived in Inverness for the wedding when I received a call from the estate agent on behalf of the owners asking if I would consider a reduced offer to reflect the costs of the roof work.  Long story short, I did and they accepted!!  Clearly this house was meant to be mine! 😊

The kitchen is very dated (and has cupboard doors missing!) although it has a new oven that's only 4 months old.  The fridge freezer (just to the left of the pic) is integrated so I won't need to buy any white goods in the first wee while.  I'll take my washing machine with me.

The red wall at the dining area looks like it's been painted by the kids!!!  The red paint is all over the white wall sockets!!! 😂  The laminate flooring is ancient, scuffed and obviously been washed with bleach regularly as it looks dull.

The colour of the tiles in the bathroom is indescribable!!  This photo doesn't even begin to show the hideous colour 😱  If they're not hanging off I'll be painting them asap! 

Another weird colour in the living room!! A kind of mocha/peach 😕

But it has a decent sized safely enclosed garden for Luna!  It has a huge decking area that hasn't been maintained so it may have to go.

While the house is in move in condition, it does need a lot of updating décor wise and there are a few issues in the kitchen and bathroom.  The roof has some big issues too that will need attention maybe before next Winter but it's all doable.

I have enough funds from selling my house and my savings to buy the 2 properties, pay for all the legal and estate agent fees and the costs of moving.  But that's about it.  It's a wee bit scary!! Everything I do will be done on a very frugal budget!! 

Moving day for everyone is the 30th of May.  That's less than 8 weeks!  Better get decluttering in earnest!

The wedding!

 

I'm finally home after the wedding.  It was a fab day and the bride was stunning.  My son was so handsome in his kilt and there was just so much love and joy from family and friends.  I was even friendly and polite to my ex husband which always freaks him out!!! 😂😂😂

I actually didn't take photos as I wanted to be unplugged and in the moment.  My BIL took this one of me, my Lovely Mum, my aunt and my wee sister.  I love this photo 😍

Even though I was away from home for 3 days, I still managed to buy myself a house 🏡

Details to follow... 😁

World Autism Acceptance week

 

Today marks the start of World Autism Acceptance Week.  Last year after a very long wait and a long process, my eldest son (37) was diagnosed as being autistic with ADD (attention deficit disorder.)  As an educational professional I've always known he was and supported him as such.  He's one of the lucky 29% that has some employment.  He works (part time) with young people and children who have autism and by all accounts is rather good at it. Although he does find it very difficult to cope with the practicalities of getting to and from work etc.  This is why I want to continue to live in Stirling so I can support him (and his wife!)

But the statistics are scary 😟  My local NHS trust announced last year that they are no longer funding referrals for diagnosis.  If anyone wants a diagnosis to get any sort of help, they'll have to pay for it.

I get that the NHS is so over burdened but early intervention in many things would save money in the longer term.  It's just so sad.

March Spending

 

Oh dear!  I know some of my March spending is related to selling the house but I've spent a lot more than I budgeted for.  But I'm trying not to stress about it.  Once everything has settled I'll be living in a much smaller house with just 1 dog and can get my spending back down again.

So, the March numbers are:

Supermarket spending: £158.95 (includes an extra shop as my middle son is home from Australia)

Dogs: £520.77 (sadly includes Emma's final vet bill and cremation)

Energy: £198.94 (my half of the monthly bill)

Car: £50.49 (petrol)

Other: £1108.63 BUT £816.39 were selling the house costs inc £660 for the Home Report survey

Total monthly spend £2037.78 😱  As I always say this doesn't include my direct debits and is way more than my monthly pension income.  I am covering these costs from the savings I made when I was still working.

Things are happening on the house front but as it's the Easter weekend the lawyer's office is closed until tomorrow (Tuesday) so I hope to have a final update then. Oh and I have a wedding to go to in Inverness on Wednesday!!  Youngest son is getting married.

Please keep everything crossed for me as it looks like everything might just line up if I'm very very lucky!!! 🤞🤞🤞

SOLD again!!

 

In a bizarre twist this morning, my buyers pulled out of the house sale.  No reason given.  My estate agent says they've never had anyone pull out of a sale within 24 hours of a legal written offer.  It can happen a few weeks down the line if someone's mortgage isn't approved or their own sale fell through.  But we have no idea why they went to the effort of securing a mortgage and putting in an offer then pulled out so quickly.  Very weird!

BUT, in the rollercoaster that is my life there was a second offer yesterday.  They were told that another higher offer was being considered.  So my estate agent advised me to accept their lower offer this morning (it was £1,000 lower so not much of a difference!) so I did.  And my house was sold again!!  Honestly, you couldn't make this all up!!!!!  My nerves were in shreds!

So I've cast on another sock to calm me down even though I said I wouldn't as I'd get too distracted by it! 🧦 Colours haven't shown up true to life but they're orange and green.  Very bright so a good addition for the leftovers to add colour to my blanket! 

SOLD!

Subject to the legal niceties, I've sold my house. In less than a week!  And bought a property for my son and DIL!!!! 😱 It's highly unlikely that anything can go wrong but not impossible so it's still a wee bit nerve wracking until the missives are signed.  Scottish law is different to English law and obviously different to elsewhere in the world.  But every thing so far is the 'normal' way here.  No entry date has been agreed yet but I'd guess maybe end of May or into June.

I still need to find a property for myself, I do have one in mind but it needs a bit of TLC.  But the moving process has officially begun! 😊

Questions!

So far the unexpected questions asked by viewers include:

What brand is the cavity wall insulation? (since I haven't fitted any, no idea)

Does the oven have an outside vent? (electric ovens don't usually need an outside vent)

How will I get the asbestos out? (what asbestos??)

Are you leaving the integrated appliances? (yes that's usual practice)

How much will it cost to put solar panels on the roof? (no idea!!) 

Can you fit 2 cars in the driveway?  (no as you can clearly see how my car is parked)

Several people commented on how they loved the bathroom wallpaper.  And the artwork on the walls.

And they loved my son and DIL's furniture in their lounge.

But it's very tiring keeping the house clean and tidy while showing loads of people round.  On the whole they've all been lovely and very complimentary about my home.  I can check the stats on the website.  There have been over 2400 online views of my house since Thursday lunchtime.

I just need an offer now!!

Happy birthday to me!

 

2 years ago my wee sister sent me this birthday card.  It caused great hilarity as I wasn't actually 58 then.  She'd ordered it without wearing her specs!! 👓

I am now 58 today!! 🎂

For sale, at last!

 

My house is finally for sale!  There have been a few 'issues' with the non appearance of photographers but it all finally fell in place this morning.

I love how a professional photographer can make the rooms look bigger!  It was so dark and dreich outside when they were taken so they've definitely been 'lightened.'

The asking price is below the home report value and way below what the estate agent tells me I'll achieve but I always feel annoyed when they do that.  It's to 'get people through your door!'  No point in getting anyone through the door if they're not going to offer what it's worth!!  But I'm trusting they know what they're doing and will earn their fee!

I've got 3 viewings lined up already after being 'live' for a few hours!  Better get my my spiel ready and have answers prepared.  

What questions would you ask if you were viewing a house?

Fed up already

 

The safe and boring house I was interested in buying has had 2 offers on it.  I'm not in a position to offer yet so I fear it's gone.  Leaving me with nothing else available to even view *sighs*  I'm seriously concerned I'll sell my house but there will be nothing to buy for me or my son.

My house is market ready and due to go 'live' online on Thursday.  Home report is done and approved although I had to query a few things.  The surveyor was extremely charming and nice while he was here but then wrote comments such as 'unable to check the floored eaves as it was full of belongings.'  I offered to move the belongings so he could check but he said it was fine, he didn't 'need to see.'  He couldn't inspect the loft area as it was "full of insulation."  Isn't being properly insulated a good thing?  And he wrote that there was "suspected vehicle damage to the wall on the left hand side."  As my driveway is the right hand side and it's just a path on the left, I don't know what that was about🙎

The report is mostly 1s and a few 2s for some outside work that needs done.  But the way it's worded makes it sound like it's in a state of dilapidation!  It's very disheartening.  I'm so fed up of this process already.  And very soon I'll have viewers looking at everything with a critical eye.

I really hope I never have to do this ever again!

1000th post!

 

I can't believe this is my 1000th post!  When I started this blog in 2012 I had no idea how much my life would change.  I had a crazy plan to save £40k in 4 years so I could stay in the family home.  Since then there have been so many plans, some working out and some falling apart.  Sometimes due to my own mistakes or sometimes spoiled by other people changing their plans.

The biggest thing I've learned about myself in the last 12 years is that I am perfectly capable of being financially independent and I definitely do not need anyone in my life telling me what I can or cannot do!  If I'd had the confidence I have now back then I would have done a few things differently.  But everything always works out in the end.  Just not in the way you think!

So if you've been with me all this time, thank you!  If you've just recently found me, thank you!  The next part of the adventure starts soon and every single decision (or mistake!) will be mine 😊

A bit of meal prepping

 

I popped into Tesco yesterday on my travels and got some meat bargains in my top up shop.  The chicken breasts (5 of them) were seasoned with garlic and herbs and baked in the oven.  The beef olives were fried off in a pan and baked with a little chicken stock.  I also chucked in some potatoes to bake to fill up the oven!  I cooked off the lamb mince with some carrots and onions.  Everything was portioned up and chucked in the freezer.  Another few weeks of meal prepped ingredients sorted!

I also did a batch of scones using some buttermilk and butter from the freezer.  I'm getting better at them although they still wouldn't win any prizes on Bake Off!  They do taste fab 😋

I also made some Turnberry soup, which is really a cream of vegetable soup.  Recipe and story behind it HERE on one of my old blogs.  I added some extra cream 😋

Today has been a day of painting and cleaning.  The for sale sign is now in my front garden with a 'coming soon' sticker on it.  I feel a wee bit sad.

Things are moving!

 

I viewed another house this morning in a small town about 9 miles from Stirling.  It was the absolute limit beyond Stirling that I would consider.  It's a 2 bed semi bungalow, bit quirky in a quiet area.  It didn't have any central heating but it did have a woodburner and lovely wooden floors.

And I loved the recently fitted kitchen.  It was huge but very cold.  The owner apparently thought the house was warm enough so never bothered to fit any heat sources.

I rather liked the house but it made me realise I want to stay within Stirling, not least so I can keep my allotment.  So it was worth going to have a look. Which means the small house is still the front runner!  But I am going to view the one with the weird bedroom off the lounge on Thursday after all.

The estate agent selling my house has been to measure up and I've signed the paperwork!  My house will be on the market in the coming weeks.  Things are moving!

Safe and boring

 

It's funny how everything can change in a few short days.  I was really excited about the house for sale with the weird layout.  And I loved all of the suggestions!  I took a drive past it and I'm glad I did!!  It was rather more dilapidated than the photos suggested!!!!  Despite it being in budget, it didn't even look liveable while you worked on it.  The estate agent's photographs were highly 'edited' and that's a polite adjective!  There was a water pumping station next door and that was 'edited' out of the photos!  I know they say you should buy the worst house in the good areas but it was bad.  I won't be going to view it now!

So I viewed 4 other houses for sale and the current frontrunner is a safe and boring small 2 bed semi in a totally different area.  It's in move in condition, décor is a bit dated but it's been well cared for by an older person.  I would not need to do anything straight away.  It has a safe enclosed garden for Luna and maybe some chickens again 🐔 I've been for a second viewing and my solicitor has put in a note of interest.  This means they can't accept an offer without notifying me, giving me a chance to make an offer myself.

Of the other 3 houses I viewed, one was frankly disgusting and in very poor repair (again photos didn't show it.)  One had a septic tank and a separate garden away from the house, neither mentioned on the estate agent particulars.  And one was in immaculate condition but had no parking and was way too close to other houses.  Plus it was just out of my realistic budget.

I'm only just starting to do this seriously and I'm already losing faith in estate agents.  I'm still waiting for the valuer to come to my house and to get a home report done.  Hopefully that will be done by next week 🤞

NHS dentist

 

Last October I broke a tooth and saw my NHS dentist in November.  He gave me a temporary filling and hoped that he'd be able to save the tooth by doing root canal treatment.  In January it became obvious that the tooth couldn't be saved 😞  After nursing it along for several weeks (while I got a plate made) the tooth was removed yesterday.  Not nice but not as bad as I thought 🦷

After he removed it,  he told me it had a huge abscess at the root that hadn't shown up on my x-ray.  No wonder I'd had toothache!!  I'm a bit sore today but absolutely fine.

Total cost of all the treatments and a new plate (which actually looks good!) was £160.28.  I dread to think what I'd have paid if I had a private dentist.  I know I'm lucky to have that option here in Stirling but a lot of people don't.  This is why we have to fight to keep our NHS dental services 💪

Things are moving quickly on the house front 😱  I've viewed a few properties already and have instructed my lawyer that I'll be needing their services very soon.  Viewing properties has been 'interesting' and definitely merits a whole post 😲😂  Watch this space...

Weird layout!

 

I rather like quirky and weird houses.  And the bungalow I'm really really interested in has a very weird layout.  One bedroom is off the lounge and the other is off the dining room.  It has the original 1970s pink bathroom (!) and someone has built on a porch/new entry with a full shower room.  Neither bathroom is anywhere near a bedroom.

I've got a viewing appointment next week (there are no viewings until then) so the timing is good for me to get this house ready.  I've read the home report very carefully and it needs a lot of work.  New windows, new kitchen, new bathroom, loft insulation, new boundary fence etc etc  It's been owned by the same person since 1972.  That's why it's in my price range.  It would be a huge project.  But I won't know if it's worth it until I see it.

Just for fun, how would you reconfigure the layout on a budget? My first thoughts are knock through the kitchen into the dining room creating a larger dining kitchen and build a new wall to create a new entry into the second bedroom.  Then knock through into the pink bathroom to create a master bedroom with en suite.

Or knock through the kitchen into bedroom 1 to make it the dining kitchen.  And turn the dining room into a bedroom.  Ooo, the possibilities!! 

Huge thanks for all the positive vibes!  I really appreciate it. Keep them coming 😊

Final push!

 

I finally got the craft room finished today.  Mainly by putting all my crafting materials into 3 large packing boxes and dumping them in the garage!!

Before and after reminder!

It's looking very tidy and a bit sparse!  I put away all my colourful boxes and kept out the black and grey ones to match the fridge freezer.  I did buy a white roller blind to put at this window but I've decided to not put it up.  I'll be able to use in either my next house or my son's flat.

I kept the colourful floor rug for a wee splash of colour.  But it all looks lovely.  Shame I'll never get to actually craft in there.

I also split my peace lily (retirement gift from school) and re potted it.  I got 3 free plants to put around the house.

I'm trying to do the final push this week as I want to get the house on the market ASAP!  A 2 bedroom bungalow went on the market today in exactly the area I want.  It's under budget and needs a bit of modernising but not too much.  So I'm asking everyone to send me positive vibes to get this house sold quickly and let me buy this bungalow! 🤞