"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

Boiler and hot water tank have been serviced (for anyone who has a pressurised hot water tank, they should be serviced annually). Hot water tank air expansion tank has been repressurised, so it should stop dripping outside. It's probably the most thorough boiler service I've ever seen - I know the injector is usually replaced, but this guy took all the turbines out and scrubbed them. He also confirmed that there's a problem with the ground floor heating that we think is a wiring issue so needs an electrician - I'm still trying to track one of those down. 

The magnetic filter was completely knackered, so he's ordering a replacement and will come back and fit that.

I've also had someone come round to quote for fixing the leaking soil stack, blocking up a door, putting a loft hatch in, and replacing the extractors in the big ensuite. 

Mouse traps have been set and bait put down, and the obvious holes blocked up - but there's a LOT more filling to do. I haven't checked the traps, as that involves going into the attic which I'd rather do when there is someone else around.

I did manage a bit of gardening today too, not that anyone would notice!

greenbee

It's been a while... I blame the cats! I picked up two rescue kittens two days after my last post and they have taken over my house and take up all my time

I finally started selling all the vendors' lights, curtains and blinds that had been taken down and packed up in August. While there are still quite a lot left (I just keep renewing the listings as I'm finally organised enough to have the space to store them sensibly), I've shifted two HUGE blinds, a tumble dryer, a small folding sofa, a pair of curtains, and most gratifyingly the ugly fitted wardrobe I carefully removed (with help) from the dark, ugly ex-master bedroom. A friend also took a TD, WM, and F/F.

The two TDs are because when it started to get cold I decided I didn't want to make a hole in the wall for a vented TD (which is what mine was - the other white goods were the vendors', and I didn't want to use them despite cleaning them). So I got rid of mine too, coped with an airer for a bit, and then used the money from sales to buy a heat pump TD. I've also bought a new chest freezer as the seal for the old one is still apparently going to be back in stock in 2 weeks. I think I might try elsewhere, but if it does ever turn up it'll be nice to have. If not I can re-use the old freezer for storage. 

I've put up a lot of thermal roller blinds and curtain poles so all my old curtains are up, have a sofa in the garden room and a dining table and chairs on order (due in the next few weeks) and have acquired a lot of cat toys and furniture (large cat tree in the garden room, small one in my office, endless beds, tunnel, cardboard boxes, interactive treat dispenser, radiator beds, igloos, scratching posts, donut beds, wine boxes with old jumpers in, litter trays etc. They refused to eat the food the rescue claimed they were happy eating, but we now seem to have worked out a variety of brands that I mix daily to avoid them getting too fussy. In the last couple of weeks they've grown enough to be able to jump up on to the top of radiators, so a (very) small sideboard was delivered today to replace a console table so I can put the stuff that was on shelves into a cupboard. I'm going to need a sideboard so I can put away stuff that I've had out on surfaces (it was planned for anyway, but it has focused me a bit more on what I need!). 

They cats are now about 2kg, so technically could be spayed. However, as I'm not planning on letting them out until it's a bit warmer, I'll leave it for a bit. All the toys seem to ensure they don't get bored and destructive.

Other than that, the tree surgeon decided in November that he couldn't fit me in, so I've had someone else round - but haven't yet had a quote although it is promised soon. I also found another electrician who has finally provided a quote that I need to go through as it seems to have a lot missing from it. I had a slipped tile in the NY storms, so had a roofer round who also did a drone survey of the roof - and some non-urgent remedial work is now booked in (I like to start at the top, and knowing the roof is fixed is always a good thing!), along with removing the TV ariel from the chimney, and taking the top off the unused chimney (the bricks are spalled so it either needs rebuilding at £5k or taking down to roof height and ventilating - it will also need a lintel internally as it's on gallows brackets). The leaking soil stack is booked for a repair on Jan 16th (I've been using it anyway over Christmas due to visitors. I also had the drainage system checked (it's fine, but will need replacing with a treatment plant at some point). 

So the roof is booked, and I need to go through the electrician's quote and book in the stuff that can be done now (heating controls, small changes, possibly the office) without a. needing all the doors/windows open constantly letting heat out/making me cold, b. causing too much stress for the cats, or c. needing me to move lots of furniture and lift floors. Which reminds me... I did take up the carpet in the horrible bedroom - with that and the wardrobe gone, a new blind and curtains, it looks much better but is still horribly dark. 

I met lots of the neighbours at new year, as next door had a NYE party. Haven't seen any of them since though. And doubt I'll be able to remember who lives where and does what. Hopefully I'll see more of them when it warms up. 

Once the cat litter tray is gone from the garden room (they have two in the utility room and now they're OK with the cat flap I'm going to phase it out) I'll be able to invite people over for meals again. I just don't really feel it's particularly nice to invite people over to eat next to a cat loo!

One thing that the electrician was going to quote for but doesn't seem to have done is solar panels, batteries and and EPS system so that I can run off grid in the event of a power cut - which I want as I work from home. My mum having a power cut over Christmas and my stupidly tiny oil tank have focused my mind on the need to sort out power and heating. 

Despite the endless outgoings, I'm managing to cash-flow a fair amount (and I'm hoping that FB sales will cover a bit more at some point). And I've managed the odd OP too. And I've done a bit of work!

Baileys_Babe

Lovely to hear your update greenbee. Things sound like the are moving a pace for you. 

What is the plan with the cats when you need to travel for work?

greenbee

I’m currently turning down all travel requests on the basis that the business case doesn’t stack up 😂

My neighbours will feed them, and my mum will visit. But I really do need to stay home until they are OK to go outside freely.

redofromstart

Sounds like a huge amount of progress on the house and clearing the stuff that came with it efficiently and profitably.  

I hope the cats give a good pound per purr return on investment.

greenbee

Cats are definitely value for money. At least, they are today So well behaved at the vet. I'm going to take them to visit every time I pick up wormer, just to get them used to the carrier/car etc as it's pretty much the only place you can take cats for a visit  

Jessy103

Lovely update greenbee and the kittens sound great 🙂

greenbee

Kittens are now almost cats... and also having a day of disapproval as I had a lie-in (one of them disapproves of me staying in bed) and then went into the garden (the other one disapproves of me being on the wrong side of the window). They are currently disapproving of my choice of cat food for their supper. 

teapot2

You always know where you stand with a cat 😻

greenbee

teapot2 said:

You always know where you stand with a cat 😻

I wormed them this morning, so they hate me now.