Daydream fund challenge part 4

ferretkeeper

Davesnave wrote: »

A friend asked if we'd like to go to this:

http://www.tobygardenfest.co.uk/pages/show-highlights

DW is going, but I refused , as we did loads of that and I'd much rather visit individual gardens or nurseries. It will give me a quiet day here, though, when I can garden properly, instead of rushing around, trying to hold it all together amid building work.

I hadn't heard about this before, I found a leaflet in the bumf I brought back from the flower show the other day, which was fab and I will def be applying for next year. Toby is doing a new show this year near where I used to live, very near my sis, and I'm contemplating a recce this year again with a view to having a stand next year. Visitor numbers aren't high yet but it's in the right area for people who spend money on their garden...we shall see!

Plans moving along here for the kitchen, everyone's teed up to start in a couple of weeks. I've nearly emptied the cupboards, but won't remove the units til the last minute, so we have the sink, cooker, f/freezer and dishwasher til then. I think I've got homes for everything coming out via freecycle again, and I've got an idea where rubble can go so we've saved on having a skip.

Got a really good local electrician who will save us a fortune, as will using my mate the plumber. How do people get away with charging so much, this isn't bloomin London!

I thought it would be tricky for timing with the plumber as he's not self employed any more so he's just available weekends or evenings at a push, but I think we can work around him, nothing he does will affect the rest of the kitchen fitting, just might mean we aren't reconnected as soon as we'd like.

It's still not going to be cheap, and the builder has done estimates rather than fixed prices so I hope to try and pin down a few costs rather than leave it open ended. And I'm getting a carpenter round to quote for fitting the kitchen, I know he'll be reasonable, plus he works on a day rate, something these builders avoid like the plague!

Oooh just had a load of tiny perennial plug plants delivered, I forgot what was coming and I have since bought a few of them elsewhere, whoops! Not to worry, I'll get them potted up later, can't put anything small straight out, the chickens are still patrolling the garden and have uprooted a few self seeded plants already, they stand out much more since I weeded all the beds!

alfie_1

phoebe... you are now near / in staffodshire is it ? do you find a difference in the delay/ forwardness of your plants ie wisteria than Wiltshire ? ours here seems late BUT I know we get that sharp wind off the coast that delays a lot.. I noticed LIR's flowers/plants are often earlier than mine. be interesting to map the progress of same plant at what stage around the country !
well done CTC or should we say "flowerpot man"...& "likkle weed"...

alfie_1

im off on a heathrow drop off now.. having got local garage to replace my wiper blades which I had spent near on an hour trying to figure out how to do it and taking him 2 minutes.... :rotfl:

Davesnave

FK, if your reccy is to the other one in Wilts, just a heads-up that it's twice the price of the Devon event! :eek: It is a good selling area though; we used to do several events near there. Easy for you on the M4 too.

Had the electrician here this morning, who's been struggling with his private life, but coming through it all now, hopefully. He's a genuinely nice guy and very capable, but his apprentices leave a bit to be desired. He was horrified by the way they'd left wires exposed etc and made things safe before he left.

Just a matter of getting plumber back to disconnect Aga and firing-up the builder for the next push now....

Don't worry alfie. I broke the windscreen, trying to replace DD's wiper blades. On the one hand, it cost me £150, but on the other, it was worth it never to be asked to do anything mechanical again! :rotfl:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hahaha Alfie you plonker, ittle weed lol... you can just imagine the look on hubby's face when he asked me where are we going to put all of them...


the way I looked at it, I looked on the site that Davesnave put up re- plant pots etc.. and they wanted £44 odd plus vat, plus delivery etc for 204 3ltre size pots.. there was no contest really in putting a bid in on those lot lol...


weather wise it was sleeting on the way to work this morning, flipping madness, my little bunch of quail have decided to shut up shop and stop laying ( well some of them have lol) BD.. agree with Davesnave... depending on their age, it could be a natural slow down on the eggs, I am not to sure of the age where they stop completely...


have had a good week on ebay sales, so I need to get some more things listed... on auction style rather than BIN.. as I am surprised at some of the prices things have been making, ( and disappointed with some things too)


right catch you all laters.. need to earn some pennies

alfie_1

dry trip to heathrow.. sparodic sheeting rain coming back ! weird !
dry as a bone here !


well took mum to speak to EA this morning and shes accepted the offer from the nice young couple. meanwhile 2 more bids had come in ,one taking it 15g over asking price but she said NO, she was happy with their bid as that was above what she was expecting.. bless her. this couple are happy to wait for a reasonable time and if it drags on waiting for a flat mum will come here to live meanwhile so sorted...

Davesnave

alfie_1 wrote: »

well took mum to speak to EA this morning and shes accepted the offer from the nice young couple. meanwhile 2 more bids had come in ,one taking it 15g over asking price but she said NO, she was happy with their bid as that was above what she was expecting.. bless her.

The young couple are very lucky! It doesn't often go like that these days.

I forget exactly how long DD1 was in negotiation over their place, but it was more than 6 months. :eek: After all that time, the owner (a landlord) managed to get another £5k from them.

It was still a bargain though!

alfie_1

ive been asked to take over running / letting a holiday cottage. I did this for years in the annex when I lived in beaulieu but the regulations are so hot now and the council tax etc eats into the yearly profit so will have to think hard. did you let your 2nd home FK ? for holidays or long let ? may be different regs in wales tho.
when I finished they had.. all safety furnishings, fridge/cooker etc cert's every year, fire and safety checks, health and hygene.... the list went on AND they [council bods] checked it all every year !! I was ok cos we let 48 out of 52 weeks of the year. had a contract for theatre bods in the winter months.. [got lots of free tickets ...]

I_have_spoken

Kit has arrived for my Heath-Robinson scheme to blow cold air into conservatory when it gets too hot. Could also be used for a cannabis factory, of course...

Davesnave

I_have_spoken wrote: »

:eek: :eek::eek:Cannabis? :eek::eek::eek: