This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

Ramouth

I totally get what you mean about ‘your’ hedge.  There is a tree in our village that I just adore.  I would buy the house it is in the front garden of if I could.

Watty1

I feel the same about the cottage Ramouth. i was so upset when "my hedge" was badly trimmed.  i don't want the cottage just the hedge.  If anyone knows a good plant identification app please say as i might start researching what is in the hedge and try and recreate it

Another lovely morning ride today.  It feels just like being in the med with this heat, and the scorched earth and dry fields.  The downside was another crop fire not to far away.   

Lovely evening last night, my streaming service to FEI TV did not get cancelled in time so lovely evening watching the World Cup Dressage finals.  Would usually watch with bestie who has gone "up north" so we tried to zoom watch together but that did not work. Instead I've sent her my log in details so she can watch it later and we nattered by WhatsApp instead.  

This evening off to celebrate a local birthday with pals. My contribution to the buffet is two garlic breads as she is making a chilli and has apparently purchased Pimms for the evening.  

Living back at the cottage is not as bad as i thought it would be!

LadyWithAPlan

Glad it is not too stressful and I am in admiration of you focusing on what you can control. Plus getting surveys done all in line ready to go... and as you say you can work and business is always easy when you can focus.

I know you will find a way to make it all work and how lovely to be back in your hopefully forever home again.

Your compassion is admirable as well.  Just don't let your compassion get in the way of looking after yourself first. He has only thought about himself even in his more mentally stable moments and I cant even start with your OP's he has just taken. Uggh - so little class and kindness. I have left partners without taking what I deserved in terms of what I put into the house etc and now I look back and think I was crazy to be that compassionate and kind. 

Liking the sound of the boyfriend

greent

I use Leaf Snap as an app to identify plants and trees  

Watty1

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan for a timely warning. I think too well of him.  I know I do.  I regret how things turned out. I know I would forgive and forget.   I need to be firm with myself on that front I suspect.   And thanks @greent for the recommendation.  

The bat survey (should have done more research before that) found the potential for a place a solitary bat might live and therefore an enhanced survey is required which needs two visits one of which must be done before the end of August and the second if possible though can be done in September.    If I had done the research I would have know to remove the interior panels but I had not and did not so this will now cost me £790 + VAT.  Hey ho.  For one blooming bat that might or might not live there.   I did ask if we could just strip the panel of there and then and see if there was one but, apparently, should one be having a nap i would have committed a legal offence.  I am not exactly happy about this but heyho.

Have booked the enhanced survey in as i am going to need one and one can't be done before next June at the earliest if I do not get it done now and by next June I would love to have permissions in place!

Watty1

Fantastic day shopping!   Village had a safari where householders sell stuff outside. In full MSE style I thought about what i would buy and went for a look around.   The lovely boyfriend has offered to fix the stable roof if I buy all that is needed.  First on his shopping list was a suitable step ladder and he sent me a link for one at £130.   I suggested we wait until the village safari and we found a perfect one for £5.  Wanted a clothing rail as I'm out of wardrobe space and found one for £5.   A number of mugs have been broken recently so 3 really cute mugs purchased at 20p each and another 3 given to me at the end by a stall holder (these 3 will be great for people working here, quick wash with a splash of bleach and the staining came off).   Final thing of my shopping list was  a hose and one found for £2.   Bought a paperback to read (50p which was expensive compared to charity shop but is a book i actually wanted to read and so I will read and donate and I'm trying to cut screen time so that was a nice find.  I now feel a most accomplished shopper.

I actually resisted buying lots of "stuff" that I think I might have in usual times but now I'm focused on goal it was easy just to pick up what I really needed and leave the rest. 

Ramouth

Fantastic result!  I often find with such things I feel I need to buy something but without a plan end up with all sorts of random stuff.  Particularly impressed by the step ladder - bargain indeed.

Watty1

@Ramouth that is what i find, a pile of random stuff I don't really want.  Having the plan made it such a lovely day.  Till the evening where I found a massive leak under kitchen sink.  I have absolutely no idea what to do but did isolate where a problem was and rang the boyfriend who fixed it.  Only then I discovered the water filter was leaking.  Today I have had to ask the ex as I've rung at least three companies to try and figure out what to do about it and got no where!   The ex informs me it needs a new pipe from some local store, spent about 20 mins on phone and identified somewhere.  I felt a bit of a failure at this point and of course the ex was in full charm offensive.  Then the post arrived and he gave me a magnetic closure as he had bought a set of them for some reason and had a spare.  I can only assume he is fitting a kitchen in his own house.

Watty1

Switching bank account for £160 .  Am moving bills account to another bank.  On line switch filled in.  For some reason I found this really sad as Ex and I opened our first bank account with FD and now I have moved away from them after many many years.  It feels like the end of an era and a very sad one.

Also reviewed the bills direct debits.  The cost of living crisis is real, the electricity has gone from £44.27 a month to £172.  I'll check my online electricity later but I know last time I did that I was only paying back the deficit from the winter.  I know I was on a super cheap tariff at £44.27 but the huge leap has made me walk around the house to see what consumes electricity and how much i can save.   First thing to switch off was an office printer that is rarely used and I will fit a timer to the franking machine so that can only be used a few hours a day.   Am considering buying a couple of LED lamps for the living space rather than using the main lights.   All suggestions welcome obviously.   I had not really connected with the impact of this until today.

ajmoney

@Watty1 I am going to use a lot more candles when the winter sets in, it is more atmospheric, makes my place feel a little more warm and homely and is cheaper.  It might not be a huge saving but it is all going to help.