I just need to vent really.

RazWaz

dancing_star wrote: »

Good luck with the flat clearing, you've had good advice.

Just wanted to say PLEASE get the kittens neutered when they get to 5-6 months of age!

Already booked in for September 1st They also have had all their vaccinations and I pre-paid to get them a booster and a health check for the rest of their lives

dancing_star

aw well done you! hope you have many happy years with your darlings

RazWaz

First off, thank you so much for helping me sit down and finally think this all through without it turning into another panic attack. Even though you guys don't really know me, I lurk here so much I feel like I know all of you, and I feel honoured that you have given your time to help me feel better.

After reading all your replies, I think I've settled on a plan. I'm going to spend this week staying at my mothers (she's on holiday) and catching up on all the hobbies I'd lost interest in due to my depression and just enjoy spending 24/7 with my baby kittens for the first time.

I think I need this to be done now, rather than sooner or later, I've changed my lifestyle a lot the last few weeks (getting up in the morning, having a normal sleeping pattern, eating regular meals, actually opening the curtains - it all sounds simple but it's a huge deal to me), and I think having my home ready by the end of this month will help me maintain these changes.

I contacted the city council and found out I'm eligible for their "meals on wheels" type service, and I'm going to give that a try for a while, as it's an outside influence giving me mealtimes to stick too which will also help keep things steady and regular.

I do have a small amount of savings (around £4,000), I really want to move my kittens into my house on August 1st, and there is no way I can physically do all the work needed in time. I want to hire a person(s) to come in and help me sort through the clutter, tidy away what I'm keeping and just get it over and done with.

Once my house is ready, I will hire a cleaner to come in 1-2 times a week to help keep on top of things, and I'll try and do a little more for myself each week until I don't need their help anymore.

I'm deaf, I can't use a phone, so grabbing a phonebook and ringing around to find a service who can help me isn't really an option. Does anyone know any services that can help me, both for the "Main Decluttering" and a long term cleaning service for afterwards.

The main problem I've been having with finding a cleaner, is I want someone who is willing to clean the dirty dishes. I have a phobia of unclean water that sends me into a huge crying wreak every time I try and clean them. At the moment my mother and boyfriend take it in turns to do them for me, but they are both so busy I feel guilty wasting their small amounts of free time on tidying up after me, at least with a cleaner they are getting paid to do it.

Basically, the short version, I want to start using my DLA to hire people to do the things I'm not capable of, so that I can stop relying on family, how do I go about this and does anyone recommend a particular service that I can contact without using a phone. I live in the Kensington area of Liverpool if you need a location to help.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Can you buy a dishwasher? Would save you loads in the long term.

RazWaz

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Can you buy a dishwasher? Would save you loads in the long term.

I want too, but there is just no possible way to fit one in the kitchen, and I'd still have the same problem loading/unloading.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

You can get slimline ones; and loading you could do when you finish each item pop it straight in there and unloading, they will all be dry by then.

RazWaz

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

You can get slimline ones; and loading you could do when you finish each item pop it straight in there and unloading, they will all be dry by then.

There is no space at all. All the work-tops have cupboards right above them, I can only just fit a kettle in. It's something I have wanted for a long time, and I had a builder take a look around and he said getting one in would mean ripping half the kitchen out - not an option in a rented flat in a listed building.

lostinrates

RazWaz wrote: »

There is no space at all. All the work-tops have cupboards right above them, I can only just fit a kettle in. It's something I have wanted for a long time, and I had a builder take a look around and he said getting one in would mean ripping half the kitchen out - not an option in a rented flat in a listed building.

Fwiw thwart plumbing in your rental is your only restriction. If you plan staying a long time maybe negotiate with your landlord over removing one cupboard at a suitable point....it would save your mother and partner a small but significant task and boost your independence ( and hopefully self esteem and mood) a lot.

We live in a listed house and have ha a dishwasher freestanding and temporarily plumbed in for a summer.....sacrificing cupboard space in your particular circumstance seems worth it for the gain if you can convince land lord. ( no cupboard or stack of drawers under the counter level you could propose to him / her to sacrifice for a dishwasher?) near a washing machine is best.....

The listing really has no bearing..my point in mention ours is to say we've done it and moved ours three times now. ( ours is actually sort of free standing because of our lay out).

I think it sounds like you are doing really well. Continuing to look for solutions to what feel like barriers can only help you.

JimmyTheWig

RazWaz wrote: »

I'm deaf, I can't use a phone, so grabbing a phonebook and ringing around to find a service who can help me isn't really an option. Does anyone know any services that can help me, both for the "Main Decluttering" and a long term cleaning service for afterwards.

Are you on Facebook?
If not, you might not want to join, as for some people it creates more problems than it solves!
But if you are, look for a group local to you on Facebook. The buying/selling groups are often quite busy. Post on there if anyone has any recomendations of people who could help you.
I'm sure others in your area would have used similar services in the past and have (good or bad) stories to tell about it.

RazWaz

I hate facebook myself, I've seen so many family fights on it over nothing that I just don't want anything to do with it. I'm currently being referred to a social worker so I will ask them if they can help me.

I think I want to keep posting here, because it's really helping me to stay positive - It will probably be just mundane things I've done that day but you don't need to read if you find it boring Feel free to post if you want too, or join in and tell me about your day if it would help you too. I want this to be a positive place that we can use to help each other and recover.

---

Well I made a big breakthrough today. Got up and made myself a hot breakfast. Sounds small but I've not managed it in around 3 years. There was a sausage as part of the meal (all day breakfast ready meal) and Dylan (my boy kitten) goes mad for sausages. I had to make a thread about how to deal with his thieving before, but he's much better now, apart from sausages, he just goes mad for them.

The room I'm in, is open plan, the whole bottom floor is, with the stairs in the middle of the room. The only place I can lock them out is in a bedroom (they hate this so I don't do it) or the porch (with front door open so they can play in the garden - it's all enclosed so they can't run away). So Morti (my girl kitten) was out in the garden, I sent Dylan out to play with her and shut the porch door.

I'm sat at the table looking though the porch door (glass from about half way up) into the garden while eating, and I see a bundle of fur fly through the air into the glass. Seems Dylan thought if he got over the wooden part of the door he could get back in to my sausage. No idea how he managed it, he's 5 inches tall and the glass is 3 foot from the floor. He's not the brightest kitten really, but he is adorable. He was supposed to be called Dylan Dante but he's just not elegant enough, now he is Dil Dil the tiger cub (and he loves his Tiger Tummy Tickles!)

After I let them back in, the shot over to their own food, had a nibble, then plotted their revenge. One would run over to my chair (damaged spine - it's the only place I can sit with no pain) and jump up on the seat, by the time I picked one up and moved them, the other had taken their place.

After a long while, and lots of kitten moving, I gave up, I'm stood up writing this on my phone while glaring at two smug kittens curled up asleep on my chair.

And I love them so much I don't care