Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

humptydumptybits

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

We decided to do them ourselves this time and not employ an agent, other than OpenRent who do the advertising and referencing.

We did feel like you say, especially with the young couple, but they were living with his dad so it was not as though they had nowhere to go if they did not get our flat. I also felt sorry for our second choice tenant, a lovely young man, pleasant, polite, courteous, who was relocating from Derby with his wife and child, but he too had family in the area. The Doctors and their child I'm sure will have no problems finding a place.

We just knew we had to get our business heads on rather than the friendly grandparents one. This is our investment and is not social housing, we have to do what is best for us. From that point of view the young woman from the upstairs flat was the ideal choice.

Yes it has to be a business decision but I just find it easier to be one step removed. As I said I do think it depends on area and how much housing is available if people in your area can easily move on to something else it is obviously less worrying. The two families competing for my house were both struggling to get something in the area, for one it was because she was desperate to stay in the catchment area for schools. She had one in the local primary and two at the senior school, obviously she wanted to keep the distance reasonable but was also worried that the youngest wouldn't get into the same school as older siblings. The other couple were moving into the area, dad had started a new job and was living in temporary housing and his wife and kids were joining him and he wanted to be a reasonable distance from work with decent schools for his kids and affordable and it was hard to get 3 out of 3. I have something about me that when I meet people, even at the bus stop, they tend to tell me their life story and I know if I'd met both of them I'd have struggled to make a decision.


My other house is smaller, not really a family home and generally it is young professionals who will stay a year or two or older people retiring to the seaside and renting for a while to get to know the area. I find those scenarios less touching if you know what I mean.


To be honest I will be glad to sell both and get rid of the whole scenario, my husband was the one who wanted a buy to let but he isn't well enough to deal with it so just more hassle for me.

maman

Glad to hear you had a constructive day with the flat viewings 7DW.:)


Interestingly there's an article in this morning's paper about how meeting vendors can be a way of securing a property. So it's not just about landlords but there is evidence that many vendors really care who their house is going to even if it means a bit less money. Heartwarming.


Good to hear you had a bit of me time this morning humpty. Maybe your GC is ill after all if he slept in. That doesn't normally happen until they hit teenage years.


Good idea to go to karaoke and put all the stress behind you sugarbaby. Have fun:). Washing machines are like most gadgets and cars and the like. Great while they're working but a disaster when things go wrong. The trouble is that there's so much built in obsolescence as machines are increasingly difficult and expensive to repair.


For the first time ever, I'm on the look out for an artificial Christmas Tree. We've tried all varieties, rooted and otherwise and every year we have a shower of needles.:( I water them regularly and don't even put it up until 20th December so I've decided enough is enough. The problem is that almost all the trees I've seen so far are enormous, 6ft +. So I'm on the lookout for a smallish tree. Yesterday I went to The Range and found one that's acceptable and won't be obviously fake when I've covered it in decs. Today I'm going to go to Wilkos and Dunelm to see if they have a better offering.


They are all such strange shops. I said to DH yesterday that I was going to the shop that sells cr*p looking for a tree. He laughed because there are so many that could fit that description IMO!:D The Range has some amazing mirrors, good craft and baking stuff, some very well priced lampshades, some good tableware and then some of the most hideous things that I'd never give houseroom to. Dunelm and Wilkos are similar but less so.


It's gloriously sunny here but getting colder. We'll have a nice roast later so that'll help.:)

candygirl

I love The Range, mainly cos they do the best staffie proof toys ever :rotfl: Am not having a Xmas tree this year, cos of crazy Zeusy pup.He is literally a magpie, for anything he can get his paws on
I've got a really cute , light up crib, that I can put on the fireplace away from him:D

humptydumptybits

Hi maman, yes it is the one who was off school, I think he is tired as he is first year in senior school and I think the first term is tough and then he went to the Christmas market with me yesterday and walked his legs off. His mum doesn't believe in letting them lie in so he is up before 7 every day, she knows he has a sneaky lie in when he is here and I think it does him good and it certainly doesn't do him any harm. He is bouncing round like tigger at the moment.


I have an artificial tree, due to DHs disability he feels the cold so the house is too hot for me or a tree. I've gone the fake and proud route and treat it like a design statement. Why not make a positive out a a necessity? My warning would be check how big it is to store and make sure you have a space for it. I made a mistake with the first one and ended up giving it to a charity shop as it was just too bulky.


I know what you mean about the Range, it is a good place for a mooch because you do find a bit of treasure amidst the tat.


Hope everyone is having a good Sunday.

seven-day-weekend

humptydumptybits wrote: »

Yes it has to be a business decision but I just find it easier to be one step removed. As I said I do think it depends on area and how much housing is available if people in your area can easily move on to something else it is obviously less worrying. The two families competing for my house were both struggling to get something in the area, for one it was because she was desperate to stay in the catchment area for schools. She had one in the local primary and two at the senior school, obviously she wanted to keep the distance reasonable but was also worried that the youngest wouldn't get into the same school as older siblings. The other couple were moving into the area, dad had started a new job and was living in temporary housing and his wife and kids were joining him and he wanted to be a reasonable distance from work with decent schools for his kids and affordable and it was hard to get 3 out of 3. I have something about me that when I meet people, even at the bus stop, they tend to tell me their life story and I know if I'd met both of them I'd have struggled to make a decision.


My other house is smaller, not really a family home and generally it is young professionals who will stay a year or two or older people retiring to the seaside and renting for a while to get to know the area. I find those scenarios less touching if you know what I mean.


To be honest I will be glad to sell both and get rid of the whole scenario, my husband was the one who wanted a buy to let but he isn't well enough to deal with it so just more hassle for me.

Our flat really is suitable for a couple or single person. Although it has two bedrooms I don't think it is suitable for a family(other than one young child)as there is no outside space other than the car park. The young woman who is having it says the flats are not suitable for two people who are not a couple sharing as the living/kitchen space is not big enough for each to do their own thing and have some private space. The master bedroom has an ensuite, and the main bathroom is right opposite the second bedroom, I would have thought this would be OK, but I can see what she means about the lounge/kitchen area.

She has submitted details for referees onto the OpenRent site and is going to send us a copy of her employer's reference too. She has sent us a photocopy of her passport (as it is a legal requirement now for the landlord to check someone's Right to Rent) and we will look at the original when we give her the keys (hopefully on Wednesday). Let's hope this tenancy goes OK!

TBH, the first tenant we had was fine, he looked after the flat and paid his rent on time without fail. Shame he went to prison for money laundering. Such is life!

Here are a couple of pix of the flat:

https://d36pgh4m67wnlt.cloudfront.net/listings/469631/o_1cs6puhvc1nukfttp1v1s28o06b.JPG

https://d36pgh4m67wnlt.cloudfront.net/listings/469631/o_1cs6pv8j21dng1hpo1mh33oe10o4k.JPG

Wednesday2000

I'm late to joining this thread as I only just read about it.:D

I have been suffering with fibromyalgia the past year or so but am thankfully in recovery now. I got it from a few years of very stressful life, taking care of my husband when he had cancer and various ill/dying pets at the same time and having very little support or social life during that time.

Luckily he has recovered and I have been in a treatment for fibromyalgia the past month and feel much better already. All my animals are healthy as well at the moment.:A

My goals are:

To lose more weight.

I have struggled to lose weight as I like food and alcohol and haven't been able to do any aerobic exercise the past couple of years.

To start aerobic exercise.

I have been walking in daylight for an hour each day and want to get back to using my trampoline or an aerobic exercise video at home. I was planning to start this week but I have just had a very bad cold so that will probably start the week after now!

To make more time for self care, facials, body oils, baths etc...

I will read back and look for tips on this thread.

To dress better.

I've only been thinking in terms of comfortable clothes the past few years so I would like a nice capsule wardrobe with flattering clothes.

To go out more.

I did go out last weekend and enjoyed myself. I want to arrange more trips out and when I am recovered completely I want to travel.

The treatment I'm doing is supposed to take 6 months so the travel will be in 2019, not this year.

indiepanda wrote: »

It's the Four Pillar Plan by Dr Rangan Chatterjee - his 4 pillars being relax, sleep, eat and move. He is a real doctor (i.e. not a fake like Gillian McKeith) but he believes most chronic disease is caused by poor lifestyle and focused on treating the underlying cause of disease as well as helping people manage the symptoms, where so many doctors just do the latter. So far what I've read all seems very sensible.

He is brilliant! I have read his book and I've been listening to his podcasts as well lately. I listened to one about sleep this morning.:) He has interesting guests on the podcasts too.

savingfortomorrow

welcome wednesday.

I cleared out clothes for the charity shop- old clothes and dvds. looking at some clothes its shocking to think that think some items are years old. I got rid of handbags that are hopefully enjoyed by someone else. All the things being cleared out saves space and allows light to fall on things I might actually wear.

I have steadily been wearing make up everyday and simple measures do make a difference, After spending ages neglecting myself and regressing into frump mode, it is great to find myself again. I came to a realization when the coat and unmatched coat gave the total wrong impression. I felt people were not taking me seriously; we should not judge people on exteriors but people do. So out with the frump clothing and let it have a new home. I don't need to buy more but coordinate better and pull out the iron.

speaking of irons, has any one any recommendations? I once rented a house and they has the most amazing iron and it breezed through loads of ironing simply and well. However i never kept the model number. I have a rubbish one now and it is so bad i just drop stuff into the dry cleaner out of frustration.

moneyistooshorttomention

I'd stick in a note of caution on chucking out all old clothes.

They serve a purpose - if only to try on to see what size one used to be - and has decided to be once again.

Yep...I can now actually do up a belt of mine I know I bought in my early 20's (that would be in the 1970's then). I have to breathe in hard to do so - but, when I started dieting it was some inches away from the two ends meeting even. So I've made quite a lot of progress.

The diet is over when I can do that belt up comfortably - several holes in as usual.:rotfl:

You just have to get the tape measure out at intervals to physically measure any clothes that you can't remember "date of buying" about - ie when you see a label saying "size 14" and you're thinking "Is it size 14 or is it modern day vanity size 14?" and you have to get the tape measure out to see what era size 14 it is. Cue for me measuring a Dorothy Perkins jumper this morning thinking "Which size 14 is it?" and thinking "It must be quite an old jumper - as it really is size 14 - ie 36" across the chest". I won't beat myself up for not being able to wear it - just yet - then.

EDIT; I have thrown out 2 petticoats, a cardigan and a tote bag this week though...

humptydumptybits

savingfortomorrow I don't iron much now, before I retired I'd never go to work in something unironed. I find if I'm careful with how I wash things and how I hang them then most things look fine. I would like a "magic" iron for the bits I do. I've never found an iron I'm really happy with so I'm interested in any suggestions you get. My DIL has one of those big steam things, can't remember if they have a proper name but there is a big tank connected to what looks like an ordinary iron. She reckons it is brilliant but I don't want something that bulky or that expensive.

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies.

Well I was a bit hasty chucking out summer stuff because now I don't really have enough for my forthcoming holiday - oh well I don't care. I will just have to wear some things more than once. Shocker.!!! :rotfl

Actually I don't think it's going to be blisteringly hot and it won't be sticky and humid like the Amazon where you dripped with sweat (sorry to be so graphic) and you couldn't possibly wear the same garment twice.

Looked at forecasts and I can't see it being much hotter than around 24/25C so I doubt that a shortage of really lightweight clothing is going to be a problem. The evenings will probably be a bit nippy.

Not sure if there is a laundry on board but as long as I have
plenty of clean knickers I'm happy. I'm only going for 14 nights so it won't be a problem. And roughly half of those will be in cooler climes where it will be jeans, a lightweight sweater and jacket or coat for sightseeing anyway. Northern Spain and Lisbon will likely be around 15C or so.

Dentists this morning, massage this afternoon.

Ooh the sun has just come out. Yaaay. There's no real heat in it of course but it's nice to see blue skies and bright sunlight.

I am so pleased with my new sunny back garden. Light now floods into the back of the house.

Have a great day.