Daydream fund challenge part 4

lucielle

Everyone sounds very busy. Flooding looks a bit scary, pleased it didn't get into your house.


Going up to the house at the end of October so hopefully get some more planting done.
L

Davesnave

Quiet in here again.

I was too grumpy to post yesterday. Conservatory surveyor came and moaned that a wall was in the way of his triangulation, then acted all non-committal over a few minor changes we might want to make, as if those things would be a Big Deal.

I had to remind him that working on the roof, drains, foundations and walls over the past 5 months, most of it as prep for his conservatory, is what we call a big deal!

Anyway, he's gone off to draw what we'll be getting, and hopefully we can work through any small issues, but after months of toil, it wasn't a great experience.

Fay

That sounds really annoying Dave. Hopefully he comes back with the right solution and if not remind him who is the paying client.
Our roof quote is in, small extension but it's still £3850, so no patio. I'm resigned to it now but it's still upsetting as I really really wanted my potion done, it will make a big difference to the garden. It just means I have to try and save the 5k for that. Which is quite a lot to save when all my money is spent every month, argh. Oh well, this really is a third world problem!
I'm hoping the weekend weather will be ok and I can get out and do some garden tidying as I didn't do anything last weekend. I'm also planning on trying a chocolate bread ala bake off!

Davesnave

Conservatory and window companies are notorious, Fay, which is why I try to use local ones. Unfortunately, although this one is local, the main decisions are taken by people 60 miles away in their other outlet. Can't just pop in and see them, but the decision-makers tend to be on the road much of the time anyway.

We do have a very local company who are supposed to be good, but their quote for previous work was almost £8k, as against the £3.25k we paid to an Exeter company. The Exeter company were fine, but almost as soon as we found them, the management passed from father to son. The second time we used them,their service was sloppier, so we didn't risk the conservatory with them.

Another local company also quoted, but their guy was very opinionated and didn't listen, so their 'design' was so wide of the mark we gave them a miss. It's a minefield.

However, bottom line is that their contract spec is wrong, and in our favour, so I judge that we shall come to a happy meeting of minds eventually. They don't really like people such as us, who do all the prep, as they'd rather farm that out to their builders!

I'm not surprised by your roofing quote if it includes new materials and scaffolding. I know we completely re-roofed, using serviceable existing tiles, and all of those were free, but I bet we didn't get away with less than £5k for the main roof, much of it labour....and there were 3 of us up there, 2 of whom weren't being paid! :rotfl:

I_have_spoken

I've been lurking, but attention has been elsewhere. Need I say that it's like December here with rain battering against the windows, but thankfully no risk of floods. :mad:

Anyhow, order from Crocus has turned up, with some discounted offers.

Picked up Dianella revoluta (Flax-lily) "Little Rev", a native of southern Australia. It may cope with the cold in Scotland over winter, but certainly not the wet, so it'll be in the conservatory.



Went for Euphorbia ceratocarpa, which will replace one of the non-flowering Siberian iris. I'm a bit reluctant to chuck the iris out, as I think it's been a bad year for them around here. May try and find a space...

Also first of the spring bulbs, tulipa 'Ballerina', 'Sweetheart', 'Sapporo' and 'Golden Apeldoorn'

At work, we're going to plant a memorial tree for our boss. Japanese maple was suggested, but they did nothing in my garden to I suggested a willow 'Dragon's claw' or rowan (Sorbus aucuparia 'Autumn Spire'), which are doing OK in my garden without any fussing.

I've been watching close(ish) neighbours getting a garden makover. Whenever it rained, there was a stream running down their drive so today it was the perforated pipes going in. Together with the block walls and other hard-landscaping, I don't expect they'll have much change out of £10k.

Fay

Davesnave wrote: »

I'm not surprised by your roofing quote if it includes new materials and scaffolding. I know we completely re-roofed, using serviceable existing tiles, and all of those were free, but I bet we didn't get away with less than £5k for the main roof, much of it labour....and there were 3 of us up there, 2 of whom weren't being paid! :rotfl:

No scaffolding, new felt and tiles plus 3 kits around roof lights. I know it's not a bad quote and I trust the roofer, he's done work for us before...including nearly 2k of work on the roof that's now being replaced! It's just frustrating that the money I had back which i had never had and therefore was spending on something I wanted now has to go on a roof. Ah well, such is life.

Davesnave

We went to look at some fires today, as the place where the wood burner should sit is just a blank wall with a board over the builder's opening. Not very inspiring as the autumnal evenings set in!

Unlike conservatories, we're spoiled for choice, with several good local people selling and installing, all of whom appear to know their stuff. It's just the plethora of options at the 5kw level which is daunting, with roughly 30 models to choose from, if the more astronomically-priced/esoteric models are ignored.

I was despairing of buying a locally-made brand, but at last Woodwarm have produced something modern-looking instead of their usual creations....which are wonderful, but engineer-designed.;)

http://www.woodwarmstoves.co.uk/products/Phoenix%20Range/woodwarm-phoenix-5kw-fire-gem.ashx

Mind you, I keep calling them "Woodworm" :rotfl:Maybe I should settle for something easier to say.

greenbee

I like chilli penguin stoves. Mind you, I like the name

I have a cousin in the South Hams who sells and installs stoves if you need another option.

choille

Sounds like a lot of rain by you CTC - hope everything is okay.

An amazing holiday Alfie = hope you've recovered.

Lucille hope the show went well & you get good weather in October. At least the midgeies will be away by then - worst we've ever known them this year.

Garden still a mess & chap hasn't been to finish around the house & the sheep are still not sheared, so it's fraught. I do hate having to rely on others.

Had a good bonfire earlier today with all the branches that I've been taking down, most burnt, but a lot still too green.

alfie_1

hi all......


fabulous weather back here again...reports reckon its going to hit the 30's next week ...


I have a dilemma ! I spotted a dog advertised for sale but having done a bit of digging around, sellers are telling porkies ! this worries me that it may be a stolen dog OR someones genuinely rehomed it only for it to be sold on [not cheap] .
I found one in the lost/stolen lists that is very similar... im waiting for a response...
if I front out this seller and im right It will disappear.. so im trying to work out a strategy.. the sellers are notorious !!
its such a sweet dog id hate for it to be missed by someone and this lot just making money from their sadness...
of course I could be wrong... but I don't think so.!!