Empty Nest, Empty Pockets

Sea_Shell

Good Luck with your major downsize!! Have subscribed! Interested to see how it goes.

Julie67

Good morning, Playsnicely sounds absolutely idyllic.
We are definitely going to widen our search area. We have three grown up kids in the North West but certainly don't mind being up to an hour away. They all drive and would come and visit. Our eldest boy is in Australia (youngest is just there visiting at the moment)
The main issue is parents. Dh mum is 80 and we would need to visit as often as possible. My mum and dad are still very active but there will come a time, decisions decisions...
Hi Seashell thanks for the subscribe
It's a gloomy Monday morning in the North West today. DH and I work together on Mondays. Today we have lots of buying to do and our usual auction visit.
We managed to get to the tip last night so save ourselves a job this morning and also managed to wrap the ten parcels going out this morning.
So post office and petrol and then it will be a long day. We enjoy it though and it's great that we get spend some time together.
Sandwiches are all packed. We had got into the habbit of calling for lunch and it was just too expensive so sandwiches it is.
This weeks household projects are
-put the pics up in the bedroom over the garage
-order handles and hinges for the kitchen from ebay, so much cheaper. Soft close hinges are £9 a pair in B&Q
-managed to persuade DH to go to Ikea, he hates it, but they do good work top at a good price
Hoping to be a few steps closer by the weekend, where to? I'm really not sure. Have a good Monday

Julie67

Good morning all,

Busy morning ironing and photographing now to list. I sell mainly plus size clothes so the ironing is tough. My dream in the future is to have an ironing lady but can't justify it as a business expense just yet.
DH has gone off to work with his sandwiches. He usually has a busy day so it will be tea time when he gets in. I've pulled some pork chops out so we shall have those for tea with potatoes and broccoli out of the garden as we have a bit of a glut at the moment.
Been talking to a friend who has a permanent mooring at a marina not too far away and she says the access is fine (she also has mobility problems) so we intend to check that out at the weekend.
Neither of us are sleeping well at the moment. I think it's becasue the future seems so uncertain.
Ooh and good news, we have got a PPI claim with Egg CC. It's a really long time ago so have no idea how much it will be but whatever it is will help to be added to the pot for getting rid of debt.
Anyway better get on, have a good Tuesday

Julie67

Good Morning

Been missing a couple of days, but been mad busy with life and work in general.
The house is coming along, we are ticking quite a few jobs off our list.
Today the bedroom which people normally stay in is being finalised. We have a couple of pics to put and a wire than needs relocating. Also some sealant wants replacing around the shower.
Yesterday we took a day off to visit a marina and look at some boats. We've both pretty much decided, at last, that this is what we are going to do. We had a long chat with a guy and his wife who have lived on their boat for 14 years. She also had mobility problems and it just hasn't been an issue. They had a great set up and showed us round. We have more or less decided on a wide beam. Just like a floating apartment really. They also seem to hold there price very well. The demand has really kicked up a notch in the last couple of years.
Our first job is to find a home mooring. Ideally we need to be based somewhere where DH can work from a couple of days a week.
It's all very exciting and just gave us the kick up the bum we need to get the house complete and on the market. Ideally whilst the garden is looking so lovely.
I am still waiting for 3 of our creditors to reply to the CCA requests I sent out in May. The two that have responded cannot provide them so I intend to use this to help make F&F offers once the house is sold
We are also still waiting to hear about our PPI claim which will add to the pot.
Well better get on. Have a great Sunday:)

System

Just read your diary from the start and what an exciting adventure. I have a friend who lives on a narrow boat in the North West has been there many years. During the summer they move about a bit , no packing for them as it's already there .

There are lots of great marinas around you just have to find the best one for you . I would love to move to Cumbria, but having both parents alive , feel the need to stay close by. One day though I will wake up to my beloved hills.
Will follow you as love your final goal.

Julie67

Welcome CumbriaLass yes it's exciting. I think we are going to be based in Cheshire. My parents and DH Mum are all still going strong but based in Cheshire we could still visit regularly.
We feel if we don't do it now we never will!

System

Have another friend who have their boat moored near Nantwich. Lovely county to be based in, very exciting . Still near enough to Manchester and Liverpool if you desire action!

louby40

My parents were lucky to moor their narrow boat next to a farm and the farmer charged them £5 a week. They moored there for many years (staffordshire) until he sadly died and they had to move it.

Moorings on a marina can be very expensive so be careful.

Julie67

Hi LoubyLou Yes would love to find a mooring for that price!!

We have done lots of research. They seem to vary dependant on which are you want to be, but I think we are going to be paying around £3500 for the year which is just under £300 a month which is not bad. I have seen prices cheaper but we will continue to check prices out until we find what we want.

Julie67

Good Morning,

An early start for me, I was awake at 6 and couldn't go back to sleep. I will be tired later. Anyway so far this morning I have emptied the dishwasher, made and cleared breakfast, done hubby's sandwiches, seen him off to work and put some washing in!
Stretches done. I'm waiting for the hairdresser to open so I cant try and get in today. My hair is driving me mad. I've put it off as long as possible but really need a good cut.
Jobs in the house are coming along. Last night DH sorted out a dodgy floorboard on the landing which meant taking up the carpet and refitting some new underlay after fixing the board. It looks and feels so much better.
Whilst he did that i emptied a double wardrobe which will be coming out of our room and going in the other bedroom to dress it (it's currently a packing room for the business) so we are down to a double and a single wardrobe between us, which to be honest is loads of room. I went through all my clothes and so did DH and we now have five large bags for the charity shop:eek: it's so silly what you hang onto year after year and never wear.
Don't think we will get much done today. DH out at work all day , I'm working from home and then we need to visit mum and dad later. Their internet has gone off after a storm last night so DH will sort that out. Goodness knows what my family would do without him. It's great that he can do more or less anything but it can be a pain with such a big family. There is always someone needs something doing!
We are away this weekend, to Stratford Upon Avon. My sons in laws have a beautiful country cottage with a annex that we usually stay in. Lots of nice food and we usually come home with a couple of jars of their wonderful organic honey they collect every year.
Should be a nice cheap weekend although I always take flowers and a bottle of something as a thank you.
Have a lovely day all x