Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

newgirly

Oh that’s terrible Vix 😡 There’s a reason estate agents have the reputation they do! I’m glad you managed to keep hold of it even if it was at extra cost. 

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks NG - it's frustrating, but we really want the property, so... (it's now all just feeling like water under the bridge).

Completed the first part of the new project for the old client yesterday. What I didn't say at the time was that she owes me money, so we're doing this on payment on receipt and more to the point, her work on the project means she'll be able to pay off the debt she owes. Which is brilliant. It was never her fault that she didn't pay and she had been paying the debt back in small amounts over the last 18 months, but it'll be lovely to have it settled, have the potential for more work from her and the payment will come at a really helpful time!

Plan for today (as work is currently quiet - new stuff should arrive tomorrow) is to go to in-laws' town - need to visit Lush to return some pots and I'd better pick up some of the furniture that's been living at the in-laws' for the last year (while we sold the house).

MS things:
* Have already earned £7 from Populous, and both surveys were really quick - loving it!
* The lady due to purchase the second item on FB yesterday didn't turn up, so the next enquirer is due to come for it in 10 mins - fingers crossed, although she seems pretty keen.
* Clicks etc. 
* Have arranged an exchange of veg between me and Olio friend - spinach and chard in exchange for tomatoes and potatoes! Hoping to pick some other bits up from her later too as she has a collection tonight.
* First RM survey item has just popped through the letterbox (along with yet another flyer for a removal company!)

Gratitudes:
* Food exchange!
* Sunshine
* Quick reply from next purchaser on FB. I find FB very frustrating for selling, but it has its place.

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

It all sounds good so far re the house. I always prepare myself for the buyers not turning up on FB, then it is a pleasant surprise when they do. We buy more than we sell and I find the lack of response to a messenger enquiry is absolutely the worst!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks SL. Amazingly not only did the paper shredder purchaser turn up (albeit she was too lazy to get out of the car and messaged me to take the item out to her!), but a man came later for some shoes too. So all three things sold quickly and in a relatively pain-free fashion. And £25 in my pocket (although actually we spent £10 on fish and chips...).

We had the Memoranda of Sale yesterday for purchase and sale. And a few answers to queries too. I'm hoping we'll have some post from the solicitor this morning as it's gone back to being quiet on that front, which is stressing me out (we've still not given them any money or had anything through confirming they are acting for us). That 30 September deadline isn't looking too good at the moment. If the post comes and there isn't anything, I'll be ringing again... or finding another solicitor.

Another visit to the cats this morning - they were rather keen to get inside given the drizzle (I kick them out after tea, which is a new one on me, but it seems to work). They are super friendly - after breakfast I sit down and have a cat on my lap in seconds!

Work-wise, annoyingly the ongoing project has been pushed back another week (I did do last week's batch), but I've had a few bits to keep me busy this morning, including more from the debtor client - and as she's paying on receipt, this boosts my income this month!

MS things:
* took pots back to Lush and discovered you get 50p credit per item when returned. As I needed something anyway, this saved me £1.
* Got free samples in Neal's Yard (I've realised I've reached that age where a little bit more care (than none) of my face is required - will see how I get on with their stuff. It's not cheap, but it sounds like a little goes a long way and I really don't want to compromise on stuff I put on my skin. I can't afford it at the moment, but can always ask for some for Christmas, along with a million things for the house and garden!).
* Was quick enough in the town to only pay for 30 mins parking - 70p instead of £1.30
* Did well with Olio last night - a whole bag full of food, including veg for tonight, a bag of carrots, the tomatoes and cucumber I swapped for chard with my friend, some rolls for a BBQ next weekend and some naughty cajun onion rings which we'll have with dinner tonight
* Lunch will be pesto pasta, made with carrot top pesto from the freezer
* Olio friend whose cats I sat for a couple of weeks ago (and got paid for!) gave me a lovely thank you gift - a small bottle of wine, some limoncello, cat coasters and almond cantucci (?) - far too generous of her!
* Have realised I've not been deducting expenses (commission) from earned work (cat sitting and platform jobs), so need to amend my accounts so that I am showing this and reduce my tax bill (as both pay automatically I was just 'invoicing' (i.e. for the purpose of recordkeeping) for the net amount, not gross).

Gratitudes:
* Saw friend yesterday for a quick catch-up and had a cuppa at in-laws
* Lovely lady served me in Neal's Yard
* Olio freebies and (totally unnecessary) gift from Olio friend

Have a good afternoon all!

Karmacat

Great progress on here, in spite of buyer's husband's shenanigans.  Grrr.  But whoop whoop to everything else, especially cats who make a dive for your lap  

Chiglepig

Our cat doesn't 'do' laps

We have so much stuff we could be selling, but I'm always put off by the horror stories about pain in the rear buyers. Maybe I'll give it a try with you as inspiration, vix.

Suffolk_lass

Re face creams - I'm a No 7 fan. I have tried many (many years, many products) over the years and the way their face creams are light but moisturising works for me. They remain a cruelty free brand, with none of their own brand products tested on animals. I hate greasy residues and have a problem with the slimy feel of some.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Taking a quick break from the reams of solicitor's paperwork (it arrived, hooray!). Chiglepig, go for it - I was pleasantly surprised. And I didn't get any immensely irritating 'Interested' comments... I mean, what does that convey?!

Thanks SL and Fortune (who sent me a PM), but I prefer Neal's Yard because of the glass packaging. So far, the samples seem to be working, although it's early days. And it smells lovely!

Apart from feeding the cats this morning, work is quiet today, which is good as a) DH has the day off and is still confined to quarters, and b) I aim to get the paperwork done and will hand deliver it later so they can verify my identity (hopefully, and of course DH can't do that because he's not allowed out yet).

Still waiting on mortgage application (I think we've completely bypassed the AIP stage) and a query about damp which the EA is following up for me (it's due to be sorted under insurance, but obviously this needs doing before completion, so they need to be getting on with it). Our buyers are coming for a visit on Monday (Monday is going to be hell - Olio collection, removals quote call, viewing and all the usual Monday jobs too!)

MS things:
* Clicks done, won ~£1 on the Happy Wheel
* QMee at ~£7 (was awake at 5.30 so did some surveys then... will need a nap after all this paperwork though
* Final cat sitting visit. Not sure whether I'll have any more before we move and the options are limited where we're going (village of ~200, imagine people might be offended by the idea of paying for a service; too far to do other villages) - however, I view the holiday let as 'human-sitting' (is that the equivalent?! ) Will have to let my regular client know though.

Gratitudes:
* Paperwork arrived before the weekend
* Free food with dinner last night 
* Free raspberries for my porridge this morning
* Cuddly cats   Mine and the others

Have a good afternoon all!

South_coast

themadvix said:

I view the holiday let as 'human-sitting' (is that the equivalent?! )

Depends if you're going to let them sit on your lap 😳😳😳!

Cheery_Daff

Don't assume people will be offended by the idea of paying for a service in a small village. A local friend of ours left work and set up a dog walking business a couple of years ago and has been doing a roaring trade - mostly very locally. They also do cat sitting and chicken sitting too I reckon some people would be happy to pay for it, even locally - lots of tradespeople aren't necessarily willing to travel out to rural places, so having someone local who could just pop in and see to the cat would be well worth paying for!