An Optimistic Pair's MFW Journey

Optimisticpair

EssexHebridean wrote: »

So glad it all went through OK - anxious times completion days aren't they!

Nice also to see a buyer who clearly has some thought and consideration for their seller also.....so many folk these days don't seem to give a *wotsit*, and will happily rip a seller off for every last penny. I always said I could never gazump OR gazunder someone like people are now - it would simply play too much on my conscience!

Thanks EH, yes there appear to be some horrors out there buying and selling. I am happier with us sticking to our principles too.

We carried that idea over to the furnishings for our buyer and our seller has done the same with us.

Optimisticpair

I answered a post on DFW board about which targets do you set yourself and are these motivational?

Answer - I set myself realistic targets that require effort in the medium term and in the short term a few easy targets to break it into smaller chunks which can be ticked off as visible progress.

Luck as well as planning plays a part in getting anywhere you want to be. Success is nice but if I don't reach the target it isn't a failure it means I just made an assessment that was a bit off. Possibly I was unable to factor in somewhere for bad luck. I see that not as a failure but simply a result.

I have buckled down and put up with the attendant stress of not taking a course of action that would cause me loss of a small amount of money and would cause me a lot of hassle. Today I see that I should have cut my losses and gone that route. It has proven far more stressful to stick with the original plan than I anticipated. Bad result.

I would mind less if the wider situation was all of my own making. I planned well enough but two lots of bad luck have fouled things up. I set a target that was too tight to acheive because it depended on others. If anyone tells me renting is better than owning I will try not to use bad language on a public forum.

StuartGMC

OP sorry to hear you seem down but you have moved forward so please look to the positive aspects which I hope will take you both forward from here.

Regarding planning, I agree that there is need to set a range of goals which you review regularly spanning a number of timeframes; but of course there will be aspects in life we can't predict. However, with a clear set of objectives, short, medium and long term goals, it will be easier to consider how you will overcome the issues. I have tried always to have a 3 year short-term plan (plus interim items on shorter basis) plus 5 and 10 yr plans ahead and review objectively as appropriate.

Best wishes for the next steps.

Optimisticpair

StuartGMC wrote: »

OP sorry to hear you seem down but you have moved forward so please look to the positive aspects which I hope will take you both forward from here.

Regarding planning, I agree that there is need to set a range of goals which you review regularly spanning a number of timeframes; but of course there will be aspects in life we can't predict. However, with a clear set of objectives, short, medium and long term goals, it will be easier to consider how you will overcome the issues. I have tried always to have a 3 year short-term plan (plus interim items on shorter basis) plus 5 and 10 yr plans ahead and review objectively as appropriate.

Best wishes for the next steps.

Thanks Stuart. I have raging backache so current steps are small ones

I do think we have made good progress.

Speaking of planning. There just seems to be the plans for the cottage extension to be obtained.

Unfortunately my present tenancy has expired so I am room hunting tomorrow. Finding a short term rental contract is near impossible. If looking at just four weeks to completion I hope not to have to pay out for more than a 12 weeks in advance. Plus it involves van hire to moving my furniture and chattels twice. Never mind tis a step forward.

gallygirl

We all feel demotivated from time to time - about this challenge and life in general! Not surprising you're feeling a bit low as things are in a state of flux at the moment.

I have one thing which never fails to motivate me. Many (:o gulp) years ago I was about to start an OU degree with some trepidation. I told someone about it, particularly the length of time it would take.What he said then was very simple but it struck a real chord with me and every time I lost motivation I remembered it. Years later when I had my degree I reminded him of what he said & he couldn't remember. I thought it was a profound insight and it turned out to be a throwaway remark! Still worked though. Here's what he said:

'6 years IS a long time. You may as well have something to show for it'.

Here's hoping it might help you or someone else x

Optimisticpair

gallygirl wrote: »

We all feel demotivated from time to time - about this challenge and life in general! Not surprising you're feeling a bit low as things are in a state of flux at the moment.

I have one thing which never fails to motivate me. Many (:o gulp) years ago I was about to start an OU degree with some trepidation. I told someone about it, particularly the length of time it would take.What he said then was very simple but it struck a real chord with me and every time I lost motivation I remembered it. Years later when I had my degree I reminded him of what he said & he couldn't remember. I thought it was a profound insight and it turned out to be a throwaway remark! Still worked though. Here's what he said:

'6 years IS a long time. You may as well have something to show for it'.

Here's hoping it might help you or someone else x

Cheers Gallygirl.

That was a real bit of wisdom.

I applaud anyone who does Distance and OU degrees because you are own your own much more when the going gets a bit tough I think. At least doing full time at a Uni there is always one of you on hand to lend a bit of moral support if not also help you see the wood for the trees. There is that sort of spirit on most of the boards here. I hope that any lurkers reading this diary feel encouraged to decloak and join in.

Optimisticpair

Luck is unpredictable but good friends are a constant treasure. Isn't that why good fortune always comes as such a nice surprise?

Thanks to a friend, I have very fortunately found an inexpensive short term let and, with a little help from another friend, we will be shifting furniture and boxes next weekend.

Hopefully my back will be better by then and I can do more than direct ops.

Optimisticpair

I am engaged on three projects at the moment.

Project 1
The first is gathering ideas and 'looks' from brochures, advertising and magazines. A magazine a month is a new treat for me as normally I rarely buy any! These will be turned into firelighters later.

Project 2 Essential repairs / renovations.

"The survey says":
Ground floor rising dampness to party walls.

Am I being too literal? There is only one party wall which forms the hall.

I'm told by one damp chap (paid for survey) that the external path outside the kitchen and WC / bathroom extension is a 'high level' ie above the internal floor level. I am not sure how he worked that out. Perhaps it is above the kitchen floor but I don't think it can be above the original building floor as there is a step up into the dining room which is the part of the original building. He says the dampness is in the hall which is opposite side of the building. He sugggests that we remove 1.2m of plaster from that one wall. His quote is injection of DPC £165 + render additive £14 + cementitious tanking £180 (total £359 ex vat ) plus VAT. @ 17.5% = £421.83
He suggests that we allow an extra £750 plus vat for the building works.

The other damp chap (free survey) has not mentioned any path levels in his report. He recommends that we take off all the plaster on the original walls which are not already back to the stone prior to vertical injection of (DPC ) £600 + £15 for supply 5 litres of 'Brunopel I.W.P.' That is Integral Waterproofing Additive. Then he suggests we take up all the original slate flag floors and reconstruct them incorproating a polythene membrane and replaster all the walls. It is not clear to me exactly how many walls are to be injected for this £790 inc VAT with guarantee.

This all needs checking before the chequebook stumbles blinking into the light.:money:

Project 3
The third project is working through a variety of value and smart price brand foods and comparing them for value and taste.

I am very disappointed with 'Moggisons' Value chocolate mini rolls. Having opened the packet I find that I could have bought two value chocolate swiss rolls, cut them into slices and apart from the shape had the same thing at less cost. They tasted ok but will have to test this again tomorrow .

Yoghurt test later

SmlSave

Morning!

I know you'll have fun with Project 1 and hope Project 2 goes smoothly.

I'm currently trying smart price at Mr A - beans ok, cereal ok, tuna looks horrible etc. I'm looking forward to learning about your trials at Moggisons.

EssexHebridean

I wish you'd not said that about the tuna from Asda - that's one of my upcoming comparisons! I compared Tesco Value and Asda Smartprice chopped tomatoes last night - on taste alone I think the Asda ones slightly edged it, but they were a lot more liquid than the tesco ones so I personally would still be more inclined to go with Tesco. I think Sainsburys basics Tuna is slightly better than the Tesco equivalent though. I still have beans to do.....! I've found that almost any fresh veg from the value / basics type ranges is excellent - I use it for things that I couldn't buy British on anyway - Peppers, bananas and things like that.