Doing the house up, downsizing, old age prep

[Deleted User]

I live in a tiny village, the nearest proper supermarket with petrol station is 6 miles away. I like internet shopping so buying anything is not a problem. We have one bus every 2 hours between 9 and 5. No pub or village shop

I am not moving from here, it is tranquil and by golly the neighbours pull together and we all talk to each other and help each other out, there is friendly companionship here but everyone is mindful of privacy in such a close community and it really is a community here.

I have a small allotment under the skylarks and a lovely sunny cosy home. My garden is now easy care and my house is easy care although the downsizing is not yet complete. It is horses for courses I suppose, if I was looking for another home then public transport would be top of my list. As it is I have factored taxis into my future `what if` living costs and one day, when I am really old, a car that drives itself

My roots are definitely already on the way down and this is my forever home

omg LL yes the inverter is the one thing that I would never ever be without. Find the youtube videos. Mine remains permanently up and ready to use. My back loosens up in moments as the very strong muscles around the back become more and more tense with backache, so making the problem a lot worse. I also stopped getting sciatica once I started using the inverter

lessonlearned

davidsdesire (Love the name) I would think 20 mins to shops and hospitals is fine, as is 6 miles for you Kitty.

Those kind of distances aren't going to break the bank if you do need a taxi. It's not what I would call remote - just nice and peaceful. The houses I fell in love with but decided against really were in the wilds and above the snow line so it was with regret.......

Only the other day I Had a good chat with a friend (just 50) who has been forced to give up her car because she suffers from epilepsy. We were discussing the pros and cons of car ownership. She is managing just fine without hers.

Today I have just insured my car £425, ive booked a service and need two new tyres. Let's assume £300 ish for those. I use around £60 a month in petrol. So I'm looking at around £1500 a year plus £110 for road tax and £40 for the MOT - that's a lot of taxi trips. :rotfl:

I have a senior rail card for long journeys and, as we've mentioned, you can get most things delivered to your door these days.

I have only done 3300 miles this year. It does rather beg the question do I actually need a car. The answer is of course no I don't but it is nice to have the freedom and flexibility that a car brings. I think I could manage perfectly well without but I will probably carry on driving until the last possible moment.

Thanks Kittie for the advice re the inverters - It looks like I shall be making an investment.

[Deleted User]

oh my kitchen is utterly fantastic and not long to finishing. I have just tidied up and sat down. I have been the most amazingly lucky person with the fitter and prior with the stove company.

It is a relatively small space, U shaped with the window at one end and dining area at the other end. The fridge and freezer used to be visible from the living area. Not any more, they are on the other side now and screened with a tall panel. I have loads of best quality drawers, wall units that almost reach to the ceiling (yes I`ll have to use the lightweight safe ladder from the utility for the top anyway) and a curved short low end unit next to the built in ovens. I have gone the whole hog as this is my first, last and best home designed kitchen I have ever had or wanted

Two reasons for getting the ultimate appliances: this make lasts and lasts, the big oven has shots of steam and my sourdough bread is definitely going to love that. The combination microwave was an afterthought when dh died and suddenly I was cooking for one. The new fridge is tall and matches the tall freezer, everything is in brushed non marking stainless steel. The dishwasher is top of the range and even opens to air dry when finished. Second reason is to get value into the house as houses can be inherited, IHT free, up to quite a high value, that combined with me having a superb kitchen to make the most of. Wow, I am so happy with it, even though not yet finished

I am expecting imminent delivery of a smaller tv cabinet and then I`ll really be able to tidy up and will also stop spending. It is going to take weeks to get the house into a nice clean and tidy condition but I am going to enjoy every moment

Anyway it would cost me £000s just to sell and move, so much better for me to improve what I have here

Savvy_Sue

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Hi Kittie, I know that you solved your shoe storage problem but I keep a 'nice' shopping bag, which matches with the hall decor, hanging on the coat rack beside the door which hold a couple of pairs nicely.

That reminds me, once when we were going away and I needed several pairs of shoes handy in the boot of the car, I used a wine bottle bag from the Coop, made of jute, and it was perfect! In a hallway it would also have the advantage of allowing the shoes to 'breathe'.

[Deleted User]

I just realised in my sleep that I will need to up the house and contents insurance, again

[Deleted User]

I am absolutely shattered and know I haven`t drunk enough all day. I have sorted out the freezer and fridge, 4 drawers and two cupboard shelves, There is no hope on earth of me working out the final positions for anything yet. I can see me surrounded by utter mess for at least another two weeks. The men will be back here two days next week so I`ll only really be able to get properly stuck in next weekend. My eating went to pot today again

So chin up and I have to get back to my planning, if I can find my pad and first things first will be the food for tomorrow. No way at all could I do all this in another three years, so yes really it is now or never, for me at least

lessonlearned

Hang in there Kittie - it will all be worth it.

I know what you mean though about having to,do,it now rather than later.

I have had a really busy week and today I just hit a wall, so I have had a good rest, sitting out in the gqrden and soaking up the sun.

Well it will be raining again before we know it - that's my excuse.

It's all about pacing ourselves now isn't it.

[Deleted User]

Oh that darn wall LL. I just hit it too, been on the go all morning but can`t do another thing. Most kitchen stuff is now out of the shed but piled up in the living area, I bought a couple of organisers from lakeland and they are helping. I just got the bakeware away with their help.

I am sitting here and I am thinking, garden stuff in the shed next. So much is having to go, brand new unused. To the cs when possible though. Back to the kitchen when I have my second wind, maybe spices next. My spice drawer was so organised before, all labelled tins, all stacking neatly. I don`t want to throw any out so will have to try harder.

I am still waiting to come across kitchen stuff that I want rid of, there is nothing so far, hey ho must have done a good de-clutter in the past months

Pacing ourselves LL, too flipping true. Mind you, we`ll be reaping the rewards well enough. Honestly and speaking from hard experience, folks should not leave it after 65 to start de cluttering/downsizing. There must come a time when you just give up and live in a cluttered mess. The mind might be willing but the flesh etc

After all this is finished and when I am straight again, then I will organise a painter/decorator. Lots of marks in the hall now and several other areas need a coat of paint. However I am only picking places that are easy to empty

I am doing the one hour heat in one of my new ovens, one hour at intensive 250. I was expecting a strong smell but there is nothing much. It`s going to take some time to learn about these new fangled devices but so far so good, at least picking all the same make there is some similarity

Made a cracking lovely meal today, had to prep by cutting with a knife rather than chopping as surface area is still tiny. Basically what I had in the freezer, lamb mince with chopped chorizo, fresh tomato, shallots, garlic, oxo and parsley. One I am definitely going to do again, I don`t think I have ever eaten such tasty lamb mince. Yes I did have it with a bit of rice and green veggies cooked together in my diddy rice cooker. I feel as though I have been camping for ages. No water in the kitchen yet either

I think I want to get up and keep moving, it`ll never do itself

lessonlearned

Just had lunch and having 5 minutes.

Been busy all morning searching for sons lost rail tickets. He has no idea where he put them and needs them for tomorrow. I have ransacked the house. Nothing, nada.....he is 29 - you would have thought he would be more organised by now.......:rotfl:

Tonight I am scheduled to go out so now I am having a break so I don't wear myself out and ruin the evening.

This is the woman who used to burn the candle at both ends and sometimes in the middle too.....:D - alas no more, pacing is the order of the day now.

your tasty mince sounds great, I love flinging stuff in a pot and experimenting.

I know you Are up to your eyes in it but it will be worth it.

I live with my DS2 at the moment.

DS1 has just got engaged. On Tuesday night I hosted a dinner for my new rellies (future DILs - who is marrying DS1 - parents who are visiting the UK).

My DS2 bought a victorian wreck and we have just finished the downstairs. Our visitors gasped when they saw the house and said that they thought it was beautiful. DS2 just beamed. It was a nice reward for all our hard work.

I am 64 now so the next renovation project will be a house for me. The good news is I can stay living with my son whilst the work is being done.

It will be so nice not to have to live on a building site next time.....

I do love doing up houses but I'm afraid my days of roughing it are well and truly over. Plaster dust now gives me asthma, i get painters colic and my body needs frequent rests......

I am learning how to delegate and take a more supervisory/advisory role these days.

This last project has really been enjoyable but because I lost both mum and My husband it has really dragged on for far too long, which is why I have decided to have a nice holiday before embarking on the next one.

I do agree with you, it's better to downsize or adapt your home whilst you are still young enough and fit enough because even with help and support its no easy task.

I begged my parents to move to easier accommodation but they refused point blank. In fact they were extremely nasty about it, so,I gave up in the end.

I still maintain that if they had moved when they were in their seventies they would have had a much better lifestyle and we might have been able to avoid mum having to go Into care, or at least we could have delayed it until she needed a hospice at the end.

I worked in property for most of my life and I also did a stint as a house manger in a sheltered housing association.

I maintain that the key to a comfortable retirement is getting our accommodation right to meet our changing needs. I feel sure that if we get the basic fundamentals right then we can avoid or at least delay having to go into care.

Better to do it too soon than leave it until we get too sick or frail.

[Deleted User]

up at silly o`clock again with a busy mind, how to downsize this and that. Woke up raring to go at 4 am, ridiculous, no wonder I am falling asleep at 9 pm. Very large shed today, gardening stuff. Am putting the kitchen on hold until the workmen have finished and am going to ignore the mess in here

Going to do some drastic downsizing in there, no need to keep all the stuff as far fewer vegetables needed and the back garden is now taking care of itself. Pretty hard to bite the bullet sometimes, when I think of the wasted money but I`ll try and recycle where I can. Starting with my large propagator and the dozens of pots. Things changed so it is good to go with the flow, healthy

I am just so looking forward to getting a full nights sleep again. Maybe when I have finished downsizing

LL building up a house for your future needs, from a wreck, sounds like an amazing and fulfilling project. Good on you