Thistle's Mission

Smolly

Hi Thistle

Your evening sounds bliss - glad you got the chance to relax xx

My car is booked in to the garage on Monday. OH has had a look and can't see why it is rattling - he thinks it's something inside the exhaust! And he did notice a hole. :eek: I booked it in for Monday as he is off that day too and I was thinking if I couldn't afford to get it fixed then he might dig deep... I did mention this morning that it would make a lovely birthday present!:o

We also suffer from mould in our house Thistle - it seems to spring up everywhere. In fact I've only ever lived in one house where it wasn't an issue and that was a brand new build. I really loved that house... 3 floor town house all to myself and no garden as such to worry about! But older houses have a lot more character (and more mould) and I would always choose an older house over a new one anyday.

Hope you have a productive day anyway. Take care xx

EssexHebridean

Damp is a vile thing to have to live with - we've spent a few years tackling it and there are a few things you can do to improve it, we've found.

- Don't be tempted to skimp on heating - to a limit is fine but if the building actually feels cold, or you are cold in spite of wearing "normal" clothes for the time of year (fleece or jumper and long trousers in the winter, feet covered) then it's time to do something about it.
- For areas where there is actually moisture on the walls inside rather than them just feeling damp, check out the outside of the building and remove any vegetation which is touching the walls where you can - airflow really helps.
- Dehumidifiers are absolutely brilliant - and cost a lot less to run than most people think, but I they are not recommended to be left running when you are out.
- For the worst affected rooms put the dehumidifier on, put some heating on and then close the door.
- If you have an extractor in your bathroom be sure to use it EVERY time you bath or shower. It's also worth throwing a window open even if just for five minutes after you've showered to get rid of the worse of the steam.
- Wipe windows clear of condensation regularly.
- As far as you can avoid drying washing indoors. If you do try running a dehumidifier in the same room. If you have a tumble dryer, it's worth the cost of using it for the most difficult to dry articles like towels, even if you just give them 30 minutes to get rid of the worst.
- Open your kitchen window while you're cooking.
- On milder days even in the winter throw every window you can open for a while and really give the house a blow through - that helps hugely.

Apologies if you already know all of these but a surprising number of people don't, and as I say we've learned a lot from personal experience!

Smolly

Great post Essex, it's amazing what effect just a few small things can do. I'm definitely a throw your windows wide open kind o gal - even in winter (it's the change you know:rotfl:). Much to the OH's horror who spends the summer months still wearing a jumper. He goes after me shutting them all saying we don't all have our own inbuilt central heating system!

Thistle-down

Thank you Essex and Smolly! I do most of the things you've listed Essex, aside from wiping off the condensation every day and opening all the windows. I used to do it in our other house, for at least an hour every morning while I got the housework done. I don't know why I stopped!

I did put the heat on but it soon felt like a sauna so I turned it off again.

I took Thistlepup for an extra long walk today and realised a few things. My posts have become a bit more negative, focusing on all I need to do rather than what I have done, with a bit of the woe-is-me creeping in. I've noticed that I keep running over things in my mind "Oh I need to do this and this and this" and have been forgetting to enjoy the moment. Or I'll be trying to do three things at once and only half listen when my DH or DD is talking to me. I've decided that I need to concentrate on one thing at a time, and at least once a day I will list three things I have accomplished and three things I am grateful for.

My walk today was bliss - the sun was shining, there was a brisk breeze, the river was sparkling, I felt good, pup was bounding with energy. I got back and ran through my setlist and feel completely prepared. I am really excited about tomorrow, and want to enjoy everything about it. I'm not pressuring myself to do anything other than being as ready as I can be for the gig. I'm going to go and try on a couple of dresses now so my outfit will be ready to go as well.

So, today I have accomplished:

1. Washing, drying and putting away the last of the laundry
2. Gone for a long, lovely walk and tired out the pup
3. Sorted out all the equip I need for tomorrow and put it where I can find it

Today I am grateful for:

1. Feeling really good, completely pain free
2. Living so close to a beautiful river and countryside
3. Being married to my best friend :heart2:

Smolly

That is a lovely post Thistle and a great idea to do the accomplished/grateful for lists (have I said I love a good list?!)

All the best for tomorrow. You sound like you are ready for it! Xx

Thistle-down

Thanks, Smolly!

I meant to say earlier that I love old houses, too, even with the mould. Our first was a Victorian terrace that hadn't had the too common terrible 1980's updating. Our second was a 1930's semi, then the flat was Victorian. The place we are in now is also Victorian with enough quirks to make it cute. The idea of a modern house fills me with dread...

We plan on retiring in Whitby and hope to buy a very old fisherman's cottage. The ones we have looked at in the past have been from 300 -500 years old:)

EssexHebridean

Also a fan of old houses here - grew up in a 1901 terrace, lived in a flat in a Victorian Mansion block with MrEH when we were first together, then we moved into a rented flat in a 1920's development which was built in a Tudor style. Looked amazing - genuine timber framed build, red tiles roof, proper leaded windows - but was a devil to heat and was also the place we first learned about damp...:rotfl: we now live in the newest place I've ever lived in - a 1956 low-level block, but with a quirky layout and brick exterior.

Love your accomplishment and gratitude lists too! :T

Good luck for tomorrow!

Thistle-down

Thanks Essex!

I'm having a shower, then picking up my son from the train station. I'm really looking forward to seeing him, it will be the first time he's been home since starting uni.

Aside from that, everything is ready. I just need to put my clothes and equipment in the car, and drive to Yorkshire for the gig. Sometimes I can't believe that this is my life and not something I'm still just daydreaming about! :j

Smolly

Good luck Thistle - not that you'll need it! You're probably well on your way by now so come back on here over the weekend and update us all xx

Thistle-down

Thanks Smolly!

It was a brilliant night, though the crowd was much smaller than expected, and I only sold one CD. The main act only sold a few more, so I didn't feel bad too about it.

I probably only broke even after factoring in petrol etc, but the experience was invaluable. I didn't make many mistakes but when I did, it was because I wasn't completely focused on the song. When you're on stage looking out at an audience, trying to make eye contact etc, it's so easy for a thought to creep in like "wow, that lady has pretty hair" and then play the wrong chord or blank on the next word.

The best bit about the evening was meeting the main act - they both talked to me for quite a long time before and after the show, and they gave me fantastic advice. They are doing the same sort of thing as me but are much further along in their career, so hearing about their experiences and what has worked (or not worked) for them was brilliant.

I didn't get home until after 2:00 am, and today I am very achy and tired. I haven't accomplished anything, but I am grateful for:

1. the advice I received last night
2. the new car being so lovely to drive long distances
3. my son being home again, if only for the weekend!