Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

Watty1 said:

Wall paper stripping is very therapeutic!  

I started getting fed up quite quickly so tried to go more slowly, doing it all properly rather than miss bits and have to go back over it again. I think I have found a slightly quicker way but I am trying to enjoy the whole process of turning my house into my home. 

Letting the machine cool a bit before I start again.

MatyMoo

ajmoney said:

For the first time since I ditched $ky just over 2 months ago I am nearing the data limit on my phone. I am hoping it is a one off and I can just top up for this month but I will need to keep an eye on it and change my plan if this becomes a regular thing. I can't work out what I have done differently over the last 3 weeks.

I am going to start stripping the wallpaper in the back bedroom this afternoon. I have given myself the target of one wall and will aim to get everything off. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by the task but I know it isn't difficult and I am more than capable of doing it.

I wonder if you going over your data limit has something to do with you being away, maybe using data rather than Wi-Fi? 

ajmoney

MatyMoo said:

ajmoney said:

For the first time since I ditched $ky just over 2 months ago I am nearing the data limit on my phone. I am hoping it is a one off and I can just top up for this month but I will need to keep an eye on it and change my plan if this becomes a regular thing. I can't work out what I have done differently over the last 3 weeks.

I am going to start stripping the wallpaper in the back bedroom this afternoon. I have given myself the target of one wall and will aim to get everything off. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by the task but I know it isn't difficult and I am more than capable of doing it.

I wonder if you going over your data limit has something to do with you being away, maybe using data rather than Wi-Fi? 

I don't have wifi anymore so only use my data most of the time.

ajmoney

I didn't quite finish the wall that was my aim for today but I am ok with this. I think I made things difficult for myself during the first session putting the steam over everything. I realised quickly that the outer layer of paper came off without any steam so while the machine heated up for the second session I got rid of some of that. So, while I haven't finished the wall, I have stripped the outer layer off that wall and a third of the next so I can concentrate on getting the backing paper off straight away. I am going away on Wednesday and don't know if I will have time to do any tomorrow but I will get going again next week when I get back. I am not sure what to do when I get to the window area, I have new(ish) wooden surrounds and I don't want the steam/water to affect them so I might have to think of another way and not use the steam above the window.

While I was letting the steamer cool down the first time I used the time to cut back some overgrown shrubs as the weather was nice. I dodn't do much, just enough to remind me that I don't have to spend long on anything to make an impact! If it is nice when I get back from work tomorrow I am going to try and do the first grass cut of the year.

ajmoney

I am currently away, I had a conference for work yesterday and have something in the area on Monday so have taken the hit and got a hotel for the weekend. Unfortunately this afternoon I finally ran out of mobile data, I have used as much WiFi as I could but there have been times I have needed to hotspot. I assume it was this while I was away that drained it so quickly. I paid for a bolt on this afternoon to get me to Thursday but I keep getting warnings about being over which I can't turn it off and it is stressing me out. 

I think I have found a different tariff which doubles my data for not much extra. Seeing as this is how I get online now and I am paying far less, it might be worth it. I am going to see if I can find a shop tomorrow to check my figures are correct.

I am currently using the free WiFi in a local coffee shop and once I have overstayed my welcome I will move to the $tarbuck$ next door!

ajmoney

I got back from my trip away this afternoon. I grabbed some food essentials on the way back, I will do a proper shop tomorrow when I am not as tired. I have the washing maching on and am enjoying a cup of tea while I wait for it to finish.

I had loads of ideas of things I wanted to do when I get back but I am pretty tired so none of it might get done today, I will make a list though as I was quite excited about dedicating some time to the house on the way back and I don't want to lose the enthusiasm. I have some quiet work days coming up so my plan is to finish on time, get back and make the most of the lighter nights and slightly ok weather forecast and go out in the garden. If I find any energy this afternoon, the only thing I will do is cut the grass.

ajmoney

I went out to cut the grass which didn't take too long. The first cut of the year so it will need doing again but there is so much thatch and moss in it that I shouldn't need to do it too often. I ended up cutting a lot back around the corner of my house that I don't see very often, finally starting to tidy up from the gardener that let me down last year. I have gone crazy with the roses that are there but they had become very "leggy" so needed taming anyway. I won't get anything from them this year or maybe for a few to come but I don't really mind as have things that need doing around there. My garden bin is pretty full now but there are some nice days still to come so I will grab one of my rubble sacks, fill it and take it to the tip. While I plan to focus on the border at the rear of my back garden this year if I can get back out this week, I am going to work in the front garden. It is what I see when I come home and so I would like it to be a joy. It is pretty low maintenance so it is just tidying, cutting an edge back into the lawn and putting some colour in with bedding plants.

ajmoney

I am working from home today but I don't have too much to do so I am going to do some jobs around the house around it. I would like to finish stripping the wallpaper in my spare room and, if I have time, clean the inside of my car.

Watty1

Love the garden plans.  I think the hardest thing is just to get started.

ajmoney

Watty1 said:

Love the garden plans.  I think the hardest thing is just to get started.

Agreed! I also try to do everything in one go and then strain my back or become so tired I can't face going out again. I am trying to do 30 minutes to an hour each time I go out, it is amazing what I can do in that time and it makes me feel better to be doing something.

I have just done the first stint with the wallpaper stripper and have already done half of what is left. I am having a break while I check my emails and go and clean the inside of the car (it is due to rain later today so I need it done this morning). I will do the rest of the wallpaper this afternoon although I am unsure how I am going to tackle the section around the window as I don't want to trash the wooden surround.

I am really enjoying slowly getting rid of the previous occupants in the house and am looking forward to at least one room being mine later in the year