Help... It's time for change!!!

Mint1955

Using up all the odds food wise now as we have to turn the fridge and freezer of when not here as we are prone to many power cuts. Eating is interesting lol so today I will do a little top up shop to get some bits to make proper meals for our last three days.

Really pleased with the progress in OS cooking and yesterday basic clean through was also done with OS hints and tips especially the vinegar for limescale.

Maybe this is not the place for my rambling but don't know how to do an actual blog lol.

Holidayghirl

Mint1955 wrote: »

Using up all the odds food wise now as we have to turn the fridge and freezer of when not here as we are prone to many power cuts. Eating is interesting lol so today I will do a little top up shop to get some bits to make proper meals for our last three days.

Really pleased with the progress in OS cooking and yesterday basic clean through was also done with OS hints and tips especially the vinegar for limescale.

Maybe this is not the place for my rambling but don't know how to do an actual blog lol.

Keep posting here. I enjoy reading your posts.

Goldiegirl

Just catching up with your posts - things are going very well, by the sound of it.

I like that you are able to do lots of walking

I expect you are back 'over here' now.

I hope you keep posting, I'd like to know how you progress

Mint1955

Well it's been all go here...... Getting straight before we leave using up the odds of food (and drink)!!

Massive thunder and lightening storm last night while we were having a farewell drink with lots of our new friends which was lovely that so many turned out to wish us well or maybe to ensure we leave lol

A few nights ago a boat nearly came into the next but one bay to us carrying 300 Syrian migrants. Apparently the crew had jumped ship leaving the migrants to cope alone and the shop was drifting far to close to the coast. Coast guards police ambulances etc etc and all night to get them all of and to a safe centre. All is well no one hurt but lots of activity all night.

11weeks has flown by and the shock of Christmas consumerism and the cold weather is not something we are looking forward to.

We sat outside today at 18c for a few hours and then went for a beautiful walk.

This is a simple life and we can't wait to start the next part of the journey.

Mint1955

Wow followers that's fab Goldie Girl and Holidayghirl thank you.

We fly back tomorrow and on Wednesday it will be operation clear out etc.

House heating was put back on today and I am already starting a list of jobs to tackle. Bluewater shopping also calls as SS birthday Friday so i need to sort that out quickly. Various hints as to our plans for Christmas are gently being ignored until I can sort a plan that does not involve me doing it all for everyone as per usual.

Mint1955

Arrrggghhhhh been here three months and awake everyday about 5.30 either the cockerel in the house up the road or the Muazzin calling the faithful to prayer. Today I slept in and I have a load to do lol

Update on the the wood store which never got it's roof and we had given up waiting and thought we would just go and get a load of plastic covering and that would have to do. when we ventured downstairs the guy was waiting to start work but he didn't want to make a noise lol

Empty cases going back to uk makes packing (or not) easy ;-)

So pleased there is very little left over in the fridge etc but it's always a case of pass it on to others here so it's not so bad really.

Shutting up the house is a little sad and even the weather is preparing us for uk as it overcast.

But we know how lucky we are and the next steps are nearer than ever.
Xx

Mint1955

Day one after a very tiring journey back we got to bed about 2.30 and awake at 7.30.

Car was dead but a jump start and a good run to Bluewater shopping centre and it was fine again.

Very cold and damp so not very MSE but the heating has been on full blast all day airing the place and warming it up.

As SS moved out soon after we left for Cyprus there was a home made shepherds pie in the freezer he didn't eat so dinner was easy and 'free' lol. And a bonus the house was lovely and clean and tidy but after being away so long it didn't feel like home which was weird, maybe I have already moved on.

Went out to sort SS birthday bits and organised to take him to dinner tomorrow and catch up with all his news.

Friday we will have SD sleep here as she is working locally and feed her and catch up before returning her to London on Saturday and then we head to wembly to see John Bishop (present to each other) long awaited and I am so excited.

I have contacted four estate agents re valuing the house etc and also contacted a company to do the EPC report on energy ratings etc.

So far I have avoided the Christmas conversations as I am going between avoid it all wherever possible or do one last big one before leaving uk?

Aldi shop tomorrow and book dentist as I have a very sensitive tooth.

OH is tasked with sorting out his business accounts, vat and a few queries.

Very tired so early night xx

Mint1955

Grrrrr 5.30 awake and everything sizzling round my head.

Gave up at 7 and got up to change the heating timer as OH not needing to get up for work we can move it forward an hour and a half.

Shopping list done to keep us in budget and as there is a lot of household stuff (toilet rolls washing powder etc) that we got in for SS but not used as he has moved out it feels like we are ahead of the game. Usually we come back to house, cupboards and freezers decimated and then it's a big uphill struggle to settle in and get budgets under control.

Three months post and bumph has been dealt with shredded or recycled and I have added a note of any that need cancelling when sale goes through.

I have started a list of things to do,sort,arrange,cancel etc for the sale of house.

Jobs list for me ongoing
Need to ring HSBC to cancel a very old account
Ring blood doning and cancel as I gave blood in Cyprus
Book dentist routine but I do have a niggle so it's time to sort
Ring solicitors and get a price for house sale legal work
Check solicitors re land registry possible issue that's come to light
Buy December birthday cards etc
Get routine appointment at doctor for regular prescriptions and try and get him to do tests for osteoporosis and cholesterol as not been done for two years I think.

Not sure all that will get done today but it's a starter

I also need to get a list of tasks together for OH as he is not working and without a list to tick of he will drift.

Research selling motorbike
Deal with vat and business accounts paperwork
Move some furniture to make the spare bedrooms look more lived in
Sweep back garden and collect leaves and pull out weeds in paving
Scrub or jet wash patch of front drive in the shade that gets very mossy by the front door

Oh and the lovely guy who was building and completing the wood store sent a lovely picture and he had even stacked all the wood in it when finished so that made me smile yesterday x

rosie383

Sounds like you are going to be busy!
Having lived abroad briefly with very little convenience food available you do get quite adept at adapting recipes. What a blessing it is to be able to access a forum like this.
The one thing I would do if possible, is invest in a freezer. You will probably find that seasonal produce will be so cheap and things which aren't in season will be either impossible to find or be awfully expensive. Freeze things when they are in season. There is a good freezing thread here.
My in-laws got a freezer and it has transformed cooking for them. As an example, when tomatoes are in season you could get a crate of them for pennies but almost prohibitively expensive in winter. Now they buy loads and boil them down to make a really amazing tomato puree which they freeze in portions. Totally different to shop bought puree. They do this with lots of seasonal foods. Open freeze fruits to use in crumbles, pies etc. Lots of veg too sliced blanched and frozen.

Mint1955

Time is flying by but jobs on list for me done except phone solicitors for costs and buy December/jan cards etc.
Land registry is fine I found the docs and all are correct.
Shopping came in under budget
We went out with SS for his birthday meal and he was happy and seems to be enjoying work etc and he now has a full time contract so that's a little less to worry about. He did state he would be over ours for Christmas Day and he would get a lift with grandad and his uncle! it would have been more polite to ask what we were doing I guess as he doesn't live with us and he just assumed. Grandad has major issues and hasn't been to ours for a while due to his really poor behaviour a few years ago which then has a knock on effect. So felt guilty about being put in a position that we hadn't even thought about fully yet.

Went for lunch at Mil and partners yesterday spent all afternoon sorting their computers and new tablets etc. Christmas was mentioned loads of times without actually saying anything so we felt pressured a little that we should be sorting it all.

SD stayed last night and she was exactly the same asking if a new boyfriend could come and stay at Xmas as she really wants to be with us on our last Christmas etc etc to which I said well we don't know him and we thought we may just have a quiet Xmas as they both live away now and assumed they would have other plans but if she wants to come with her brother that would be great. Her reply was well if he can't come then I will go to his parents then. I did say so it's bribery then !! I now feel I have got to do the whole Xmas thing including divorced grandparents OH brothers etc. This is why I want out it's the same every year

OH hasn't had the presents talk with any of his family so again nothing changes on that front. I don't do any for my family and we do early visits for meals out or smaller get togethers in December leaving families without this big hassle over Xmas just nice sociable events all round.

Everyone is asking me what everyone should buy each other, when's the tree going up, who is going where (but actually awaiting an invitation etc) and I am at melting point with it all!

Feeling really guilty now about looking forward to living in Cyprus and leaving everyone behind.

SD did try to apologise before she went to bed but basically just made things sound even worse.

Looks like a master plan is on the cards for Xmas just for everyone else to be happy and have the Christmas they expect.

Three hours sleep and a long day as SD is here and after last nights chat there will be tension as she will pretend all is fine so I will just feel more guilty.

I was really looking forward to seeing john bishop tonight but I know I am going to be so tired by the time we have dropped her of.