Adventures of a Fat Cat, Old Nag and their Trusty Servant

Piquant_2

The old diary is close to the magical figure of 5,000 posts meaning it's time for a new one according to the mse rules and according to the new adventures life has in store for me.

I have a buyer for my house, hopefully it won't fall through, a small cottage to go to courtesy of my guardian angel. Still with me are my beloved horse the Captain and dear sweet fat Colin, the fat cat and old nag of the diary title. Many thanks to robin for coming up with it for me. I wanted a more upbeat diary title this time, with the help of so many of you that join in the diary with fun, wit and downright dirty humour, I have reached a turning point in my debt journey.

Perhaps I am cheating a little by selling the house to finish off the debt, perhaps not. The house is too big for me on my own, I don't need all the rooms, after all you only live in one room at a time. However, I've reduced the debt from nearly £60k to £10 just by plugging away at it.

Moving will mean I can pay off the rest of the debt and have a small emergency fund. Best of all I will be able to afford the bills each month as my outgoings will halve. And the icing on the cake? I'll be able to save up for a field and shelter to bring the Captain and his friend Noah back home to live with me.

The next few months will be stressful as I slog through the contents of a large house to clear the accumulated junk of twenty years to fit into a tiny two bed-roomed cottage, deal with the paperwork and do three jobs. It can be done....

Piquant_2

Last night was quiet at work meaning I managed to email a couple more solicitors for conveyancing quotes, ought to check to see if there are any replies yet

This morning I have already pegged out the washing and cleared and shredded ten files of paperwork. It's bin and recycling collection day so it seemed an ideal time to clear the old files. Mind you my knees are now numb from kneeling on the floor for so long :rotfl:Also cleared another three sacks of stuff to fill the wheelie bin to overflowing, bet the binmen love me

I now have the most enormous sold sign in the front garden, I feel the Estate Agents might be over-compensating..... Fairly sure you can see it from a light aircraft or moon shuttle :rotfl: Colin has been sitting on it and no, we're not taking it with us just because he likes it!

I'm off in a minute to list some more stuff on eb@y, what I need is a free listings weekend, some of the stuff just can't go on at 99p :eek:

Disappearing for a while, back later....

maddiemay

Hey, shiny new diary, just love the title, yay to Robin:T

You have so much going on atm, but it is ace that it is leading you to an easier (in terms of stress and financial worry) life. I am cheering you on to your goal of having The Captain and his der friend Noah living close to you.

No way is it cheating to downsize and make your life easier, more money, less cleaning, must be good:rotfl:

Have a great and productive day.:A

missrlr

This house selling is not cheating, this is life morphing and evolving. (and a wee bit stressful)
Do love the title, and here's hoping the conveyancing solicitor works out for you.
Good luck and onwards and downwards
Here's to guardian angels, cats, horses and gardening

trix-a-belle

You are just considering the mantras,
Do I need it? Can I afford it? Will I use it? Is it worth it?
You don't need a big house anymore & don't expect to need a big house in the future

Onwards & upwards (pom pom's at the ready)

*Robin*

Hi Piq, :hello:

Happy shiny new diary - love the tweak you put on my suggestion for the title!

All great news, but given that postage charges have gone up - and become yet more complicated - it might be worth:
A) looking into selling via a FB page in your area, small ads in shops or local rag, etc.
finding a decent courier.
C) putting a line in your Bay listings saying something like "No postage, but will prepare item for collection by buyer's courier." (Include the first part of your postcode, approx size and weight of packaged item in the description so potential buyers can consult a courier before bidding ).

If your current home is stuffed with antiques and curios, it could also be well worth asking an auctioneer to cast his eye over the things you've decided to sell - might get a nice surprise (I did! ).

Best of luck with your move, and cuddles for Colin - if you can tempt him down from his new [temporary] perch!

Mara_uk7

Hey Piq, Great new title and A fresh new start for you and the gang !
Congratulations, You deserve it.

alioops78

G'day Piq

:beer: Here's to the new beginnings in this chapter of your life.

It all sounds serendipitous for you and I'm really pleased that even though it's a stressful time you do 'sound' like a weight's been lifted.

Looking forward to the day you get the Captain and Noah home again.

Alioops xx

Piquant_2

*Robin* wrote: »

Hi Piq, :hello:

Happy shiny new diary - love the tweak you put on my suggestion for the title!

All great news, but given that postage charges have gone up - and become yet more complicated - it might be worth:
A) looking into selling via a FB page in your area, small ads in shops or local rag, etc.
finding a decent courier.
C) putting a line in your Bay listings saying something like "No postage, but will prepare item for collection by buyer's courier." (Include the first part of your postcode, approx size and weight of packaged item in the description so potential buyers can consult a courier before bidding ).

If your current home is stuffed with antiques and curios, it could also be well worth asking an auctioneer to cast his eye over the things you've decided to sell - might get a nice surprise (I did! ).

Best of luck with your move, and cuddles for Colin - if you can tempt him down from his new [temporary] perch!

:hello:to you too!

I tweaked it because I'm not faithful to either Colin or the Captain I often pet other cats and chat to other horses :rotfl: but I do feel like old Trusty with them sometimes sorting out their needs before my own usually :rotfl:

I have got a decent courier, bit slower than RM but I say that in the item description and mention how much money on postage it saves. Nobody has objected yet!

You'll think me thick or strange but I neither understand or like Facebook. I don't know how to use it to sell. Actually, I've just had a quick look on there and definitely don't understand!

Good idea about the auctioneer, I do have a few bits and pieces that could go down that route. I'll do some research whilst at work tonight, provided it's not busy.

Piquant_2

...and so the spending starts

I did say I wouldn't be updating my final credit card total until after the move and here's why:

£10 on large snap on lid plastic boxes for all the loose family photos in the cupboard. I've been going to sort them out for years and will be going to sort them out for years to come. At least they'll be easy to transport:D

£10 on labels for boxes for the move itself. I don't want an enormous pile of boxes at the new place with the one I want at the bottom in the wrong room:D

Next I'm going to look for some reasonably priced bubble wrap for china and glasses. Thinking about it perhaps I should put a message out there that I need boxes....I can pick up some from work but there won't be enough.

DS3 is coming over tomorrow to clear the garage so that I can start storing the non-existent boxes in there ready to move.

alioops78

Piquant wrote: »

...and so the spending starts

I did say I wouldn't be updating my final credit card total until after the move and here's why:

£10 on large snap on lid plastic boxes for all the loose family photos in the cupboard. I've been going to sort them out for years and will be going to sort them out for years to come. At least they'll be easy to transport:D

£10 on labels for boxes for the move itself. I don't want an enormous pile of boxes at the new place with the one I want at the bottom in the wrong room:D

Next I'm going to look for some reasonably priced bubble wrap for china and glasses. Thinking about it perhaps I should put a message out there that I need boxes....I can pick up some from work but there won't be enough.

DS3 is coming over tomorrow to clear the garage so that I can start storing the non-existent boxes in there ready to move.

There's always costs involved with moving and it will be paid back so don't stress about it.

I've always just used newspaper, napkins, kitchen roll etc to wrap glasses in however we have a mish mash so weren't that bothered if they broke however I did find this http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/bubble-wrap-roll that may be of some use to you, seems like some good prices and any left over will help with packaging up your amazing pots.

It's brilliant that your sons are there for you and your daughter coming back at the right time. The universe has definitely aligned itself for you .

Alioops xx