How much???

 

It's been a while since I've had to hire a skip (7 years to be exact) but I was rather shocked to find there's been a huge increase in cost.  I've just hired one for 7 days to clear my uncle's house and it will cost us £378!!!!

If I lived in the same council area I would just keep filling my car (or hire a van) and go to the recycling centre.  At least then I could sort it into the different materials.  But the recycling centre where he lived isn't fully open yet and only residents' cars (which are pre registered) can book a recycling slot.

So most of the stuff has to be skipped 😖 I'll sort and donate as much as I can but as charity shops aren't taking donations either, we're a bit stuck.  And we're now under a wee bit of time pressure from HM Revenue and Customs!  The government always get their money first!!! Good job I'm nearly on holiday and can get cracking.

On the plus side, I've spoken to yet another long lost cousin 😊

Even my tired is tired

 

I know it's been over a month since I blogged.  And it's not for the lack of 'stuff' to blog about.  I'm just so tired all the time that I don't want to whinge or moan.

Work pretty much sucks all my time and energy.  My wee people deserve the best from me and my profession is one of the few that has job security so I'm not going complain about that.  We are living in very unusual times and I'm giving myself (and you) permission to deal with it however it needs to be done.

Lots of 'stuff' has been going on last month.  My youngest son (the newly qualified radiographer) has returned home to live after splitting with his girlfriend.  He's living in the extended part of the house that I'd intended to become the Air BnB.  We're treating it like a test run so I can see how/if it would work.  We're sharing the kitchen but other than that it can be pretty self contained.  No idea yet how long he'll stay but he's saving up for a deposit on a flat/house in Glasgow.

I mentioned during the summer that my uncle died suddenly and that I was the one sorting out his affairs.  I didn't say at the time that it was a huge legal mess plus he was a hoarder.  And I mean like one of those hoarder's houses you see on tv!!  It's taken all this time to track down some long lost family (we had to use a tracing agent!) and I am now legally allowed to start clearing out his house.  I also know a lot more about our Scottish laws of succession and how NOT to write a will!  On the plus side, I'm now back in contact with one of my cousins who I've not seen since I was 4!!

My allotment is plodding along nicely.  It's still my favourite place to go and just chill.  I've put in some Winter and Spring veg and it's gradually getting tidied up.  I'm on half term holiday very soon for 2 weeks so hope to get my polytunnel cleared and secured for the bad weather.  

I have 4 more teaching days  (and 1 non contact day) then I'm on holiday.  I cannot wait!