The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

I can understand the jitters! Its a long time to leave the house in winter, but you're preparing well, and you've got your friend coming in - I bet it will be fine, honestly!

As for the pest control man - when I heard scrabbling in my loft, I didn't bother with traps, got "the man" straight in it's money well spent.

We had the 'man' in this morning. He's been all over the house and can't see where the mice are getting in. So, he's placed poison in trays in the loft, and has put this yellow powder around the trays, so the mice prints can be tracked by UV light. Mr Goldie oversaw this, so I went up in the loft after lunch, and it looks like there has already been a disturbance! So I took a photo, and will do the same every day, to chart progress! The 'man' will be back on Sunday morning. He seems thorough and experienced, so he seems to know what he's doing

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

Oh dear, Goldie, please don't worry. Why not just brief your friend who is coming in weekly to keep an eye on the weather? We so rarely get frozen pipe weather in the south east and your friend could just turn the heating on if necessary.

I hope you enjoy the preparations!

Squirrel x

I know I'm a worrier.... it's probably my worst fault! As you say, we're not in the Scottish Highlands, and it's not even been a really cold winter.


We've decided to leave the heating on low all the time, but turn the water off. I'll brief my friend to make sure the heating doesn't go off for any reason


As Bookworm says, it's so lucky to be away for an extended period, so I'm not going to let my worries put a downer on things


Janey, at the end of the holiday, I'm going to try the packing in loads approach - anything to make life a bit easier when we get home (but won't think too much about that just yet!)

Karmacat

That sounds really interesting, what "the man" is doing

And I'm sure that's the right decision about the heat - past a certain point, it doesn't really matter, not really - you're going to turn the water off at the stopcock, aren't you?

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

you're going to turn the water off at the stopcock, aren't you?

Yes we are - at first we were wondering about that, as we thought that the water had to be on for the central heating to function - but now we've found out that the heating will function ok with the mains water off.


I feel easier in my mind now, as we'll be doing everything we can to protect the house. I'm sure I'll be having another bout of anxiety in about two weeks, but that is par for the course with me, and I get over it, as soon as we've left the house!


On the mouse front, we've had a look in the loft, and there have been no further disturbances to the powder. So that's encouraging


The man also recommended that we stop feeding the birds, as all the seed that falls on to the ground encourages mice to the area. So we've taken the feeders away. As I bulk bought the bird food we still have a stack of it in the garage. I'm not sure we'll start feeding the birds again, so I'm going to see if I can find someone to who wants all the seeds and nuts. Many years ago we had a rat in the back garden eating the spilt bird food, so it does attract vermin. I feel sorry to take away food from the birds, but I think we need to stop the feeding now.


My pension has been paid in today, so a new financial month has started. We had a surplus of £370 last month, which is good for us these days, so I've transferred it over to savings

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Well done on the surplus. I hope to have one of those at some point in the next few months! It would be a first for us.

Karmacat

That's interesting about the birdseed, Goldie, but sad but the effort you've had to make with the mice means its impossible.

Glad you're feeling better about leaving the place

Goldiegirl

The mouse man has been again today. There had been activity in the loft - we've been looking each day, however, no activity last night.


The tracking dust shows the route the mouse/mice take, but it's not clear where they have come in.


It's light traffic, so he thinks there may have only been one left, which is probably deceased, although he couldn't find the body :eek:


Around August /September last year, Mr Goldie remembers seeing the cap of the 'soakaway' for the condenser boiler, being open. He sealed it back up, so it's possible that some mice had gone in that way, and couldn't get out again. But that doesn't really explain why there were no mice for most of December, and they returned in January.


He's had a look all over the house and can't find any other way that the got in, so who knows?


He removed the boards at the bottom of the kitchen cabinets so see what was happening under there, but he's also managed to break a mounting of the panel on the door of the built in fridge, so now it's all flappy:(


He's now got to order new mounting so he can put this right, he's put different bait in the loft so we can monitor, and will return before we go on holiday to see what's happening


I knew it was going to take a few visits to sort this, but at £45 a time, it's something we can't do indefinitely. And I know the fridge thing was an accident, but now it's something else that needs sorting out :mad:


Mr Goldie returned to the dentists on Friday for his crown, and goes back next Friday for the final fitting. He's paid the £395.00 already


Tomorrow I have my annual eye test - at least that's free, as my mum had glaucoma. I'll also take the opportunity to buy any toiletries etc for the holiday


Thursday, my friend is coming round for a 'briefing session' so she can call in while we're on holiday to keep an eye on things. After that, we'll go out for coffee and cake/sandwiches which I'll pay for, as a thank you. I don't begrudge this at all, and will do the same when I return, as she is being so helpful. I'll also see if I can buy her a little something while we are away.


So, it all seems a bit expensive what with one thing and another

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Sometimes everything comes at the same time, hopefully it will even out. Very exciting that the holiday is so near,
Squirrel x

Karmacat

That must feel very spendy, even though its essential - makes it worse, in a way, as you can't see the benefit of "maintenance" spending!

You've still got to enjoy the coffee and the cakes though, thats the law

edinburgher

Happy New Year Goldie (totally up-to-date me )

It must be lovely to have the holiday to look forward to in the dreary part of the year. Try not to worry about the pipes, people have made some very sensible suggestions and you are in the SE. Apparently our boiler will turn the hot water and heating on itself when the temperature gets low enough, one less thing to think about!

Goldiegirl

Hello all


It certainly is a pleasing thought that the holiday is so near. Yesterday was nice and sunny, but apart from that it's been very dull and dreary. We've managed a couple of walks, but it's been quite rainy most of the time


On the mouse front, we are cautiously optimistic. This week we were using block bait, and there were a few nibbles earlier in the week, but, as far as we can tell, there hasn't been any activity for the last few nights.


I've spoken to the mouse man today. We'll continue to monitor over the weekend, and he'll phone on Monday, to check the loft and leave more bait to cover the holiday period. He's also received the part for the flappy fridge door, so that should get sorted too.


Had my eye test on Monday, and that was fine. My reading prescription has changed a bit. As I haven't been working and looking at small figures I hadn't noticed any difference, so I won't get new glasses


Mr Goldie had his crown fitted this morning, so that's sorted out


My friend has now got the front door key for checking the property while we are away. She's a bird feeder, and I'm delighted that she has taken all our remaining bird seed that we'll no longer be using


Coffee and cake afterwards also went down well


We've bought all our toiletries for our holiday, plus puzzle books and other miscellaneous items.


Today's daily deal on Kindle is a selection of books by Erica James - she is ideal for holiday reading, so I bought three of them.




All in all, it's been very positive this week.