Only freedom will do

AlexLK

Good luck for the interview result / second round. Was this for the job at the current place you're working at or for something new?

The craft beer racket doesn't sound good but these places do seem to be able to get away with far too much, unfortunately.

Re. your daughter. The first steps certainly are very magical but she'll be running around in no time and you'll start to wonder if it were so after all... well for a week or two. :rotfl:

gallygirl

Here's hoping for a second interview.

Oh dear and congrats in equal measure to the 1st steps :rotfl:. She must be about 13 months, same as DD. Being a little older she was much steadier on her feet quickly and went from walking to running in about, oh, 24 hours :rotfl:

Karmacat

Lovely to hear of DD's first steps, Ed

edinburgher

The shame!

Got a letter from the council complaining about our overgrown leylandii. Had planned to remove them, but thinking somewhere in the region for £3k for removal + replacement fence had put it down our list of priorities.

Called up expecting to get moans, but they were quite approachable. There will basically be no issue as long as it's done before winter.

£0.51 OPed.

Feeling a little down about the amount of money we will still need to spend on this place. Fence + trees + carpets + radiator fitting + plaster + window coverings + paint + gutters + soffits + repair wall + repair steps. £8-9k?

On top of the £15k+ we've already spent - the suburbs come with a price tag, I think we overpaid for this place.

A_Frayed_Knot

You have done plenty plenty in such a short time since buying, and as they say on here, its not a walk, its a marathon. :A

Not sure if this is what you are looking for, just suggestions, you know you don't need to do everything this year, but do know the feeling - just want it all done.

Not knowing how high/wide etc, just a suggestion, but could you maybe just cut the Leylandii down/back - just for this winter, and put it on the list for next summer.:)

Window coverings - is this curtains ? Is Mrs E any good or know anyone good with a sewing machine, if so, C0tt0n Print Fact0ry Sh0p have lovely fabrics, do a make-up service as well.;)

Paint ? is this outside paint for the whole house ? or for inside ? know B0nnypack have this, bought loads of it for painting the outside of a house and very happy with it.:)

Rome wasn't built in a day !!!

Take your time . . . . . :money:

edinburgher

Thank you for trying to offer suggestions. It is kind of you, although I'm not sure if they're 'actionable' (to use a slightly work jargon sort of phrase).

The leylandii is unfortunately 12-16' high and consists of 10+ individual trees that haven't been maintained properly in the past and now constitute a 5' deep 'dead zone' of dead branches, live branches and stabbing bits. I fear that it wouldn't be worth trimming/that it might be beyond us to trim it and dispose of the cuttings. We've been told 2 full lorries worth to chip them.

Thankfully we're not painting the outside of the house and our generation is the first one where skills with fabric are very rare.

I'd like to take it easier but a) a stitch in time has been ignored here for 30 years, we've had a few expensive repairs where they've clearly got much harder to fix for being ignored and b) Mrs E can be very naggy (in an unintentional 'oh wouldn't it be lovely if x was done?' sort of way).

smallholdingsister

Time to get a chainsaw licence?

Well done Miss E anx well done Mr E.

Moneyfordreams

DIY sounds better... I took 3 down in our old house..... didn't manage the roots though and I was 6 months pregnant :eek: ... How close are they to properties??

Is Leylandii wood suitable for burning? My OH loves a good fire..

Karmacat

Ed, if they're only that height, wouldn't it be worth at least DIYing down to the stumps? Or even killing the stumps and making sure some ground cover grows over them? Seems an awful lot of money, when you've been doing such a lot of diy yourself, it'd be a real shame to pay that sort of £.

Brodiebobs

My DH chopped some down in our garden that were about the same size of yours. Prob not the best way but he chopped all the branches as far as he could reach up the trunk then (after watching a few you tube tutorials!) cut it down, then stripped the top.
We were leveling out a part of the garden so all the branches went to our own landfill, then the stump for our woodburner.
Maybe if you could get it down and list on G&mtree or similar someone might come and chop it for fire wood?