The Final Furlong

Dottles1

Evening all
Monday and Tuesday were very busy with work but I had Wednesday off and spent it doing garden and house jobs.  I managed to get the back lawn cut, hopefully the last one of the season.  I finally got rid of the black mould on the bathroom ceiling by balancing precariously on the edges on the bath to reach.  The spray had a very strong bleach smell but there is no sign of the mould now so a small price to pay.  I hope it lasts until I get the roof sorted as I don't fancy doing that on a regular basis.  In the afternoon I made a start on the dining chairs to go with my table.  I got the seats off by removing very rusty screws and the cover and foam off one of them.  They have obviously been reupholstered at some point as there must have been 100 staples in the one I completed and took me over an hour to remove.  Later I made a fish pie which was delicious and enough for 2 meals.
Today started with a phone call from my accountant to discuss the changes to my business.  I am reassured that my admin appears to be in order and everything is covered.  I only had one client this afternoon so I've done the housework and mopped the floors throughout, picked up friend H's diva dog to stay for the weekend and been to the farm shop for fruit, veg and eggs.  The dogs have been walked and I had the left over fish pie with baked beans, real comfort food.
I have to be up early tomorrow as the car has to be at the garage for 8:15 to have a part replaced that they didn't have in stock at my last visit.  No cost to me so not too bad.  It should only take about an hour so I'm going to take some coffee and my book and wait for it.   I get back I have a client at 11:00 and then I'm done for the week.  Hopefully I'll get the other chair pad stripped and the frames painted over the weekend and some more of the garden put to bed for the winter.  I have picked the last of the tomatoes and put then on the conservatory window sill where I'm hoping they will ripen.
Good news from my solicitor this week by the way.  She has taken advice from senior counsel at no cost to me and has been advised to send one more letter to my ex to say that if he doesn't drawn down his pension (and therefore my share) it will be assumed that he is deliberately keeping the money from me and we will apply to the courts.  She has also told him that we will seek to have all costs awarded against him.  Hopefully that will get him to see a solicitor who will most likely advise him to get on with it which would be a quicker option but who knows.  I'm feeling positive and am hoping that this will all be over before the end of the year.
With regards to Covid news, we are expecting to have further restrictions in this area announced on Monday.   Our town hasn't had any as yet though we are surrounded by towns that have so I think it is inevitable.  I guess we just have to wait and see what Boris has to say.
I'm going to settle down and see what's on the box this evening so will speak again soon.
Keep safe everyone
Dottles x

savingholmes

It will be good to get the pension sharing resolved. Glad everything else is on track. Chairs sound a positive project

Dottles1

Hello all
Well today ha turned out to be a wet and windy day that makes you want to curl up on the sofa and watch a film.  I was going to go into the garage to crack on with the chairs today but I keep putting it off as it will be freezing in there so I'm sitting here with a large mug of coffee.  I will need to get them done at some point as I've invited DS and family for lunch on Sunday and there won't be enough chairs otherwise !! It will be lie that advert where everyone finds weird and wonderful things to sit on for Sunday lunch
Tilly is very reluctant to venture over the doorstep but I will drag her out as soon as the rain eases off a bit though it's not forecast to stop until about 7pm and then only for a couple of hours    We can talk each other out of it sometimes when the weather is bad.  
Work iis still busy but I am beginning to manage appointments so that I ca have working and non working days.  Today is none working so apart from sending one email, I am determined not to do anything business related.  It still feels as though I'm slacking off if I read or watch tv during the day, though I suppose it's a natural adjustment to make after all these years of employment.
The gardener was supposed to be coming round to cut back the hedges for winter but I cant see him coming today.  However, I have had the man round to measure up for the office blind so got him to quote for the bedroom as they are badly in need of replacing too.  Altogether it was a very reasonable quote so I'm very happy with that, another job ticked off my list of home improvements.
With all the "new" Covid measures rolled out yesterday, the inevitable has happened and my little town will join the surrounding areas at level 2 tomorrow.  It won't make a great deal of difference to me apart from meeting up with friends for a coffee as it's not always possible to do so outside at this time of year.  I think I may get my fire pit out and put it in the sheltered courtyard bit at the side of the house for visitors as that area has a 6ft fence on one side, the house on the other and is behind the garage so the wind is kept out unless very bad.  It also has direct access from the gate and so no need to come through the house.  It's quite depressing but what can you do other than get on with it and do your best? 
Right, coffee is finished so I'm going to don painting clothes and go out to the garage and make a start.  If I give myself a target and dangle the carrot of an hour with my book, I will get it done and think how cosy I will be when I come back into the house.  (This is me trying to convince myself).  I also want to make some soup in the pressure cooker, can you believe that I nearly bought some of the fresh soup in a tub this morning until I gave my head a shake.  I'm sure it would have been delicious but £1.80 when it would cost me pence to make far more is not viable, and that was the cheapest own brand one.  It just goes to show how easily I can be lured into spending unnecessarily.  Still I caught myself in time
I shall report back on my progress later.
I hope you are keeping warm whatever you are doingg
Dottles x

beanielou

Happy painting 😊

Dottles1

Hi Beanie.  It wasn't as cold as I'd expected so with my "painting fleece" on I was ok.  Both chairs have had a first coat and I stripped the second seat pad and removed all the staples, there were as may as on the first one, somebody was making sure that the fabric didn't come off.  I took a trip to Dun£lm to get some new foam for the pads which were a bargain at £4 each.  I may get some time to do a bit more tomorrow but other than that it will be finishing them off on Saturday.  I have also made a lovely big pan of vegetable soup for tea with plenty let over for the next couple of days, I always think it tastes much better the next day.
I'm quite pleased with today's achievements.  The gardener sent a text to say he will come tomorrow.  The poor man had been out working most of the day, he must have been frozen.  
Ok I'm off now for the evening.  Tilly and I are curled up on the sofa and I cant see either of us moving far
Speak soon
Dottles x

Dottles1

Good morning.
I have had problems with my internet this week and then when I could get onto this site I couldn't access certain diaries, mine being one of them.  Anyway all looks well again now so here I am.  Sunday lunch with DS and family was cancelled as GD4 was sent home from school to isolate for t10 days due to a pupil in her class testing positive.   DGS's partner also has Covid and isolating.  She is not well, likening it to a bad case of the flu, and it is hard to not be able to go round and help.
Other than that all is well.  I haven't been near to either in the designated time frame so work is going on as usual at chez Dottles.
I spent some time tidying up the small courtyard area this weekend.  I've emptied out the pots, moved the garden furniture and swept up and the whole area looks much tidier. I still have a bit to do in the back but that will only be couple of odd hours between work and rain.
Th workman started on Monday and are cracking on.at a good pace.  As is often the case, as they take things down other problems become apparent but they don't seem too phased by it, I suppose it's just part of having an older house. Today's issue is that the rear bay roof is not water tight so they are going to replace that before they put the fascia and guttering back.  It will be a bit of added expense but is necessary.  Most of the work being done is necessary but mostly unseen however, the french doors will be going in tomorrow so that is when I will see the main difference.  Luckily the office is at the front of the house so apart from the initial cutting through the brick work it shouldn't cause a problem for my work. Then on Friday I have no work on and the builders will have finished so I can spend the day putting things back to normal and cleaning up the dust. 
In amongst all this Tilly has had a a tummy bug and has needed to go out several times a night.  Poor thing, she has looked sorry for herself but seems much better now.  I was caught in the act of following her round the garden while she tried to do her business to see if all was back to normal, by the builders this morning.  I started to explain but realised that didn't make it sound any better and that I looked and sounded like a crazy lady.
It's GD4's birthday today and DS rand last night to say it would be ok to go round to see her and take her presents.  I was expecting to have to leave them at the door and speak to her from the gate so it was a pleasant surprise.  Both her parents are working from home and she is doing online schooling so they are all taking a break at 12:00 and I'll go round them.
I have a work phone call to make and a little admin and then I am going to start knitting the fingerless gloves that I have been planning for Christmas gifts.
I hope yu are all well, it's good to e back
Dottles x

Dottles1

Well the builders popped back for a couple of hours this morning to finish off and tidy up.  Everything is looking good now, I'm just waiting for the electrician to call and give me a quote for a couple of small jobs that need doing but feel as though I'm cracking on with getting the house sorted.  I've moved the furniture around to accommodate the changes but not sure I've got it right yet.  I might ask my DIL to have a look and make suggestions.  As DS was working and we are in tier 2 I couldn't ask anyone to help so I managed to move the dresser by myself but I may suffer for it later.    Anyway everything has had a good hoover and clean and that feels good.  Though I had budgeted for the work on the house it still feels a bit odd seeing the bank balance go down when I paid the builders this morning.  On the plus side I am now panning to save any spare cash to build my savings up to the next big number, first target is £323.16.  I find that having small targets helps me to keep my money saving head on.
I've changed the bedding and done a load of washing ready to hang out tomorrow if the rain stays away and decluttered a few more bits which I'll take to the charity shop in the village tomorrow.   I also shopped from home by finding a basket in the garage to put in the kitchen to keep my vegetables in.   Every little saving helps. A friend is coming round for a coffee in the garden in the morning, again if the rain holds off so my fingers are firmly crossed.
Tilly is much better and enjoying her walks again however, she has been left with a wind problem , very silent and definitely deadly.  At least I know that I haven't lost my sense of smell
I hope you are all keeping yourselves safe .
Dottles x

tedlewis355

I love reading these, it’s like a blog

savingholmes

New french doors sound lovely. Sounds like you are really making the most of your home. I think these tiers are all very woolly. Hard to keep up with the changing rules. 

savingholmes

Hope your family members with covid recovery quickly