Moving forward and upwards

Skint_yet_Again

Lol re power points MF. There is never one where you need it! 

MovingForwards

Today is unpack clothes and shoes day. Wonder how much I can scale it down to 🤔 I'm guessing quite a bit as I rarely went out before.

It's been raining all night, still a bit drizzling but hopefully it's appreciated by the garden.  It's also a little chilly today. 

My garden order is being collected tomorrow from the centre. I'm going to use a little trowel to dig over the herb garden area, put in some goodness, then top it off with mulch. 
-- keeping an eye on the website for when they get their herbs in so I can pounce and get that section set up.

Chased the tree surgeon this morning, not feeling confident he actually wants the work or do you normally have to chase people to arrange dates after saying "yes, I want you to do the felling, let me know the date you can come out". 
-- I'm trying so hard to keep my money with local businesses, where I can. 

Not sure if I've said, but I have set an initial £100pm budget for the gardens, or £1200 over a year; this includes the felling costs. When the gardens are done, I will drop the budget to £10pm and put the money into a savings pot for maintaining it.
-- as with any project, it's the initial outlay costs which add up, then they quickly drop.

Now for the downside of my home, mosquitoes! Little blighters are in the communal areas and a few have come in through the windows. Picked up a few tips from the gardening section 🤭

I'm not paying commute costs at the moment, so thats where the initial budget is coming from for my purchases / spends and it would be nice to have a few finished projects before work opens its doors again.
-- this week I'm only working two days, spread over four, I may do a few half days again the following week. 

savingwannabe

I had a nightmare chasing handymen etc as some jobs were too small for them when I moved in. It may be however that he is worried about covid 19? Is it worth putting out a message on f@cebook marketplace and seeing if anyone else can do the job or asking nice neighbours for names of reliable handymen. Ps they are all nice at first but then they tend to slow down as time passes from my experience. 

Enjoy sorting through clothes. I have done this so many times and Ive ended up keeping some in sacks in my store room. I don't know why I cant see me ever being an 8 again!!! lol. 

Continue to stay positive. Usually people are stressed after moving house but you are just taking it all in your stride which is fantastic. Do you know the song by Matthew Wilder Break my stride? (Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride) that's you I've got the song in my head now. lol. 

MovingForwards

Thanks SW, he came out to do the quote after I sent a follow up email, doesn't need access through the property as there's a gate to all the gardens, happily chatted away when he did arrive and said he isn't available for about 4 weeks. I don't even need to be around when he does it. All I want is the date he is coming so I know how much time I have for doing the rest of my plans.

If he didn't want the job, I wish he would just say. As I wouldn't be sitting here waiting, I would be having others out to quote and do the work. I thought I was doing the right thing in the circumstances by picking someone less than 2 miles away from my home.

I will give it a few more days, if no response will contact some others and ask my mates over this side of they know anyone.

I painted the lower half of the 'porch' area and section above the door. Really need to buy the small 3 step ladders as I can't reach everything I need to. Managed two coats on the lower half and it looks so much more welcoming. 
-- need some wood filler as the previous occupants dog took a dislike to the door. Will be replacing it at some point but it would be nice to do the door and have the 'porch' replastered (will have the whole place done over time)

All shoes are unpacked, donate are bagged. One huge clothes bag unpacked, donate are also bagged. I've another two big bags to go through.
-- rather embarrassed by how much I've actually got, knowing how much is already bagged and ready to donate from when I packed to move.

Got very cold earlier and put the heating on, switched it off after 5 minutes as it was like a sauna. Winter should be toasty 😀

I'm so much happier here, I feel like I've a secure home. Got loads to do, but I don't have the urge to rush, gut and do.  I'm happy to give things a sanding, lick of paint and then put my feet up again.

It will all be done before I retire 🤗 

Chrystal

It's so lovely to hear you sounding so relaxed, after all the recent turmoil.  And you're right, you have all the time in the world to get your home how you want it to be.  The old saying of 'measure twice, cut once' also applies to home/garden (don't ask me  how I know!) XX

MovingForwards

@Chrystal thank you. I know what you mean about measuring, my brother is a chippy so I've had that drummed into me for years 😊

I do have some funny stories about my adventures and should start to include them! 

The major funny is garden related.

I've seen the deeds, checked them a billion times, know which is my garden, got underway with my plans, had some trees / bushes cut down, sat there as I was cutting the twigs and my face dropped....what if this one wasn't my garden and I've just wrecked a neighbours hard work 😂😂

savingwannabe

Well if it was the wrong side of the garden you will be in police station right now and I hope you are not. lol. but that is the sort of thing I'd do. Really well done on the sorting it is quite cathartic to do that. Try to rest a bit too.

MovingForwards

I'm still home and have done a bit more on the garden. Discovered the entire patio / secret garden area is slabbed, aside from the herb garden section. This is great news as my polytunnel / greenhouse will have a stable base, as will the composting area.

Will be taking it easy and I'm only really pottering around. Most of the stuff I do sat down, either on a stool or the floor. The high up painting was only the width of a door by about a foot high. 

MovingForwards

Had more stuff dropped off to me tonight, apparently it's three more drop offs and that's it 🙈 therefore all the unpacking and organising has been replaced with the new stuff. Hopefully I can quickly scale down / organise this batch tomorrow afternoon 🤨

I'm thinking about using the last of my hair dye and plucking my eyebrows. You know the whole look good feel good thing. I've a few chemists in my village, in theory I should be able to pick up the same / similar colour.

£50 and 2 weeks til payday 🤗

savingwannabe

Hurrah for more stuff you must be exhausted. Glad you are even thinking of  sorting your hair and eyebrows. You are the most organised person I know.