Move mortgage mountain project

Primrose

julliff - it might pay you to get a few more quotes for decorating if you can spare the time as with the recession, business is getting tight for everybody and you may find that the competition is warming up and you can get it done more cheaply. I think part of the expense is that nobody who does home decorating likes to decorate stairs because there's usually a tall bit you can't reach without complicated boards and ladders so that puts a premium on the cost.

julliff

Hello

Primrose.you a re absolutely right. I have arranged for another decorator to come round next week to give another quote. He was recommended to me by the chap who did the renovation work. Ideally, I want to get a third (quote), but I don't really just want to pick someone out of the phone book. I will ask around.

Things, as usual, are pretty chaotic.

the most pressing thing is our cat. He has again taken a turn for the worse. He has been up to the vets regularly since Feb of this year, and is on a variety of meds. Each time the dosage is upped, he seems to rally for a while, but then goes downhill. This time, though, it seems to be a really bad situation.

I had an appointment for him next Thurs, but I was so worried about him, I changed it to Monday. Then this morming, he seemed so bad that I rang up again, and I am taking him in this afternoon at 5.00pm. I don't think it is going to be good news. He has barely eaten or drunk anything for days. I can't get him to keephis tablets down. It is strange how he has deteriorated so quickly this time. So sad.

I know that it isn't the most important thing,but I am also worried about the pet insurance. I am probablynearly up to the limit with all the stuff he has had dome this year. If they want to keep him in, then I don't think it will be covered (well, maybe a proportion of it).

On the MFW front, I have opended an account with ING, and I am hoping to put money in there, to use to op after my fixed rate expires (I am already making the max ops under that agreement).

This afternoon I cam going to plant a couple of trees in the back garden that my sister gave me. I am also thinking about taking some cuttings from my hanging baskets to make some pot plants. I don't know toomuch about gardening, but I was hoping that if I create some potplants, they willstay alive until next year,and so I won't spend as much at the gardening centre - or am I a complete numpty thinking that this is possible?

Primrose

Sorry you're having so many anxieties about your cat julliff. I don't know how old he is, but if he's elderly, they can often be suffering from growths which gradually just make them more and more unwell, and if that's the case, however painful it is, you may have to psyche yourself up to let him go, rather than continue suffering. I guess many of us have had to go down that route with our pets and it is a real and genuine bereavement to let them go, but harder sometimes to watch them suffer and be unable to relieve their pain. You are probably on your way there now as I type. I hope whatever happens, it is the right solution for you all.

January20

I am sorry about your worries regarding your cat, Juliff. As the owner of a very elderly cat, who gave me a bit of a fright yesterday, I understand exactly how you are feeling. And I don't have insurance because my cat is too old!

Regarding the plants, it's very easy to take cuttings of certain plants. When I had a flat with a small yard, I used to have a lot of potted plants: honeysuckle, hostas, fushias, geraniums, etc. With some plants like the fushias and ivy, I used to just break of a piece and put it in a jar of water for a while until roots grew. I think you just need to look at what you have, and try it. If it doesn't work you have lost nothing, if it works you have made a new plant and saved money.

I have two plants at home that grew from leaves I found in a shop. They are succulent so it's relatively easy to do. I thought I was the only one doing this: collecting a leaf from a shop floor to stick it in soil, until I read somewhere around here another poster saying he/she had done the same

julliff

Hi Primrose & January20

It is with heavy heart that I type this.

Took our lovely ginger cat to vets, who then admitted him so that he could be rehydrated. As we took him to the vets on a Saturday, he did not see our usual vet. So, he wanted to read his (very long) notes before he made any decisions on treatment. The most urgent thing being his dehydration.

This morning he rang to say that M had died in the night. They still don't really know all the things that were wrong with him.

I feel rubbish, as we did not get a proper chance to say goodbye.

He was a such a lovely boy, and put up with so much. We will miss him so.

Many thanks to you for your kind messages.

mummyofonechild

Sorry to hear your sad news.

Remember the good times with him xxx

vandanfc

Hi J

Sorry to hear about you puddy tat.

Vanda

Primrose

julliff - such sad news about your cat and worst of all, not having the chance to have once last cuddle to say goodbye. You do feel cheated when that happens. I'm not sure whether it's worse being there at the end or not. There's going to feel a very empty space in your home for a while.

scubaangel

julliff I'm sorry to hear about your cat, hope you and the girls aren't too upset. It sounds like he had a long and happy life in your home.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

Very good wishes on your MFW journey. I too found it an unexpected side benefit that once my ex moved out, I knew exactly where I was with my finances and I could not believe how much better off I was. He earned more than me and had the attitude that he could afford to buy anything he wanted. Which left me with the bills and I was always scraping around to pay them. Never again - I now have a good job and organise my own spending and saving. I can help my children when I want to and don't dread the credit card bill. And, when I have saved up for something, it doesn't get sucked into something he really 'needed'.

Sorry - I stopped to say hello and went into a rant!

Squirrel x