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

themadvix

Just re-read that and I do sound rather positive, don't I? Well, I suppose I am!

Have just done PC, Qmee, 1P and MM surveys and have finished the first part of the platform job.

Suffolk_lass

I hope your M-i-L realises that the curtain material needs to match or co-ordinate with bathroom blind, cushion-covers and throws... 

themadvix

Morning all,

SL 🤣 I think she's more likely to consider that than me! I think adding a lining may be all that's needed - they don't look very good at keeping the light out. We'll see...

In good news we have a mortgage offer! In bad news, the surveyor is now booking for w/c 15 September, which is looking a long way off... Any recommendations for RICs surveyors specialising in listed buildings in Norfolk/Suffolk welcome (we're going to book the other one, but can cancel if need be - if only we'd known that originally!).

In other good news, we have had it confirmed that we'll qualify for MDR; in bad news, the woman who is qualified to tell us this wants £600+VAT to write a report to that effect!!! 😮 We have got another quote from someone for £375+VAT, but he didn't sound as confident (possibly isn't a specialist). Do we need a specialist? We'd come to the same conclusion ourselves, and were expecting a letter costing ~£100-£150 rather than these prices... as DH said, we're in the wrong jobs!

In even more exciting news (because moving news is just full of stress 🙄, we have rebooked our flights to America for next year!!

Off out for the day with Mum and Niece this afternoon (Niece has dentist first). Going to an NT place, so free entry, we're taking a picnic consisting of sandwiches made by Sis and snacks courtesy of Olio and we'll have an ice cream if it warms up while we're there.

MS things:
* Have enquired as to whether we could purchase a couple of the beds at the house - less than ideal (DH is being funny about it) but they'd be for guests anyway and have been guest beds in the B&B - we could replace the mattresses fairly quickly, but beds are expensive!
* Free food (had a bizarre Olio collection yesterday including crisps and tins and pouches of rice)
* Won 48p on the HW, clicks all done
* 1P surveys done
* Small platform job done (earnings for next month looking good there)

Gratitudes
* Mortgage has been approved!
* Our mortgage advisor is lovely
* Free food (really appreciating this at the moment as it's less likely to be common when we move)
* Veg box arrived for the first time in a few weeks - hoping it'll inspire me to be more creative in the kitchen

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Madvix, congratulations on the firm mortgage offer!  Though those letters sound insanely expensive - any room for bargaining?  It really doesn't seem fair.

Though America next year and a day out today sound brilliant!  Hope you have a lovely time.

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, congratulations on your mortgage offer!! Woo hoo! Hope you can find another surveyor, although I suppose that's 'only' three weeks away now (I know 3 weeks can feel endless though!)

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks ladies. We definitely want to get the cost of the MDR letter down Karma, just not sure if we want to bargain with the specialist or risk the less-specialist accountant. It has also been suggested that we ask HMRC directly, but I suspect their answer (if you can find contact details for the right department) will be that they can't comment on individual cases. Cheery, I *still* haven't paid for the surveyor (and presumably therefore got booked in) as I had yet another query for them. Have sent a message and expect to hear back soon. When you put it like that though (3 weeks) it doesn't sound so bad - just rather close to the stamp duty deadline. The other suitable surveyor we found was booked until 20th September, so it looks like this is still our best bet. And they do get cancellations and can put us on the list for one.

Had a lovely afternoon out yesterday with Mum and Niece but got back from Mum's rather late and then had to deal with work emails. So dinner was late for us - but I did cook rather than give in to a bought pizza, so I'm counting that as a win! 

In other financial news, my SIM contract is up soon, and it looks like I'll be able to easily reduce monthly costs by £2 without losing any of the benefits.

Should have been busy with American project today but they've pushed this week's batch back again... which means I do have time to do some other work projects and have Monday off - hooray! We have a very sociable weekend planned - drinks with Olio friend and her husband tonight, curry with the in-laws tomorrow and a BBQ at my aunt's on Monday. Looking forward to all of it!

MS things:
* Free grapes from Olio yesterday were trays of them - I asked for 2 so had loads of grapes! Still have a whole tray, took some as snacks yesterday and gave most of them to my neighbour!
* More fruit, some veg and some bagels to collect this morning
* Qmee at £14 for the month now! (Making up for PA being shocking)
* NV survey done
* Clicks done (I won a whole penny today!)
* RM survey item posted
* Free electricity for the car at NT place

Gratitudes:
* Lovely day out yesterday (although Niece was in a bit of a funny mood)
* Nice chat with neighbour - and a hug from one of her boys (most random as he's never even really spoken to me before!)
* Free food

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Just confirmed queries with survey company and have actually got it booked in - for 10 September! Hooray!

Cheery_Daff

Excellent, well done! It'll come round in no time. Fingers crossed!

newgirly

Glad you got the survey booked in vix, and great news switching the USA trip 😄

the_cross_rabbit

You can freeze grapes