Nice people thread part 4 - sugar and spice and all things

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

re carpets, I was really, really impressed with what the thing hired to clean the carpets did.

These have NEVER been cleaned... and have 10-15 year old stains of dubious source (could be coffee .... but some .... )

lostinrates wrote: »

...buying cheap, clean, pale coloured/white cotton dhurries for where needs brighting up/wear covered. I like durries, the wear well, wash well and dry reasonably quickly. and though not uber stylish are practical.

Never heard of them - got a google link please?

PasturesNew

Davesnave wrote: »

Visiting homes is a scary, soul-destroying experience, but it can be worth it if you stick it out. They aren't all the same, even within a price band. I did around a dozen, and of those, only two were 'possibles.'

The starting list was 3; two were for full loons. Left with one which could provide the 24/7 nursing required etc. Next nearest is 10 miles, next nearest is 20-30 miles.... so picked the one under 2 miles away for maximum visiting potential (they'll be zonked on morphine no doubt 22/7 though).

Davesnave wrote: »

Eventually, I got Dad into the perfect place for him, but with the inevitable waiting for someone else to 'go,' that took almost 6 months. He was there 3 weeks.

Well old we expect to deteriorate rapidly really.

Doozergirl

lostinrates wrote: »

doozer, I always admire people brave enough to holiday in uk for christmas!

What are you looking for in a place?

Something with space for eight people: two couples, two nearly adult children, two primary aged children and two good but big dogs!

A proper fireplace, nice pretty walks for doggies, somewhere to buy nice food for Xmas dinner and enough pans to cope! A nice pub in walking distance with nice food and TV/games thingy perhaps to keep the kids entertained!

My only concern is snow, but both families have 'proper' 4x4s and there's always travel insurance should the worst happen.

Something nice!

PasturesNew

Right... gotta go.... well old is doing some personal medical/care stuff, then it's a quick lunch before popping them in the car and crossing the county to visit the ill old. Peak season, Saturday changeover, I expect it to be an hour's journey if we're lucky. Some days I've spent over 5 hours just on the journey/visit... personally seeing the ill old for just 10 minutes of that as I speak with the team surrounding them.

Nikkster

Doozergirl wrote: »

Anyone know the cheapest combi from Birmingham to London?

I'd look at the Chiltern Trains website - they usually have quite good deals (esp for off-peak returns)

lostinrates

PN, I can't find the sort of thing I'm suggesting right now....I tried ''dhurrie'' but I'm being offered things that look like kilims. I've got to go and do some stuff, but will find for you later. Think...cheap cotton floor rug, thin (doors can close over them so suitable for very worn doorways).

Doozergirl

Nikkster wrote: »

I'd look at the Chiltern Trains website - they usually have quite good deals (esp for off-peak returns)

Thanks for pointing me in that direction - major engineering works!

Cheapest I can find anyway is £88. Combined with engineering works, looks like the big car is going to London. We'll probably find a large enough parking space somewhere near Oxford!

GDB2222

Doozergirl wrote: »

Looking at train fares for London tomorrow now as H's car costs about £90 in diesel there and back! Anyone know the cheapest combi from Birmingham to London?

Out of idle curiosity, would H be as careful about the cost of diesel? Anyway, there is a newsgroup uk.railway, where there are experts on train tickets. (If you don't have a newsgroup reader, you can use Google Groups.) It can easily work out cheaper to buy a return to a station part way along the route, and then another return from there to London. Or singles..... Anyway, they'll know for sure. Tell them when you want to travel and whether you know how long your stay in London will last.

GDB2222

Can you agricultural experts explain what is going on with this mortgage lot? Being sold by mortgagees NOT in possession? http://www.pugh-auctions.com/Lot/Manchester/20110908/009

It's got 48 acres, and it's estimated at £70-100k, which works out at £2k an acre, forgetting about any value attached to the buildings. Is that cheap for that area? OTOH there's a dispute ....

Okay to ask this of the nice people, or should I start a new thread?

tomterm8

Normally it means it is an assisted sale, that is a sale where the bank agrees to sell the house because it is in arrears, but it hasn't legally been repossessed. (worth checking the legal pack). I don't know the area, but ag land normally goes for more than £2.5k and acre, more if it has buildings on which could be developed into a house.