A Year in the Life of...

girlatplay

EssexHebridean said:

I agree that mirrors can make SUCH a difference to a room - both with regard to the amount of light and the perceived size of the space. I'd ideally like to try for a sneakily positioned mirror in our hallway but I'm not certain it would be possible to place it in a way that would truly boost the light. 

It's fab to hear that your refurb is turning out so well too - lovely when it all comes together as you'd imagined isn't it! 

The mirror will sit on the wall directly opposite LMG's bedroom which gets the sun all day so perfect for the light.

Turns out the radiator is right next to the door surround so I can't get the cover flat on the wall.  It's not exactly how I want it.  Plus see below for LMG's opinion.

girlatplay

I have not quite finished painting yet but the first grey coat is on the bottom half of the walls.  It is exactly the colour I was after and I was really chuffed with it, until LMG said "It's alright but I don't want it in our next house."  Me "Why not?"  LMG "It looks like a cell." As in prison.  Cheers LMG.  Luckily I wasn't planning grey again.  I bought the paint at the height of the grey trend and I've had it so long that it had to go on.  I've taken a (very messy) before pic and I'll take an after pic when it's done and post them here.

Had a valuer out today.  Nice guy, really reassuring.  He reckons it will be valued at what the HA offered us so we should get in excess of that.  I'm not greedy, I'm just need to cover the mortgage redemption, sols/EA fees and have a certain amount for a deposit.  The fact that we are having to market means we now have the EA fees so I just need enough to cover that extra.  We could be out of here by July!  The clampetts downstairs swapped bedrooms with their kids so now I have babies underneath my my room, waking me up at all hours and LMG has the parents underneath her room, creating their next child.

beanielou

Such a picture of joy for LMG~~ not.  

I love grey so I have always had it.  

My conservatory tiles are pink & grey & are over 30 years old! 

savingholmes

Really hope for your sake you manage to sell and get somewhere better soon. I think the grey can look sophisticated. I painted a couple of bedrooms, the kitchen and utility grey and like it but thankfully didn't do my whole house in it.

girlatplay

beanielou said:

Such a picture of joy for LMG~~ not.  

I love grey so I have always had it.  

My conservatory tiles are pink & grey & are over 30 years old! 

I think it's only happened once so far for her.  She just left the room until they were done.  I used to either do that, put my earphones in or put ear plugs in, depending on what time it was (5am was earplug time as I just wasn't getting up at that time when I had to be up for work 1.5 hours later).

I do like grey, it's just not what I would choose if I were choosing now, although I'm not sure what I would choose.

savingholmes said:

Really hope for your sake you manage to sell and get somewhere better soon. I think the grey can look sophisticated. I painted a couple of bedrooms, the kitchen and utility grey and like it but thankfully didn't do my whole house in it.

The valuer doesn't think we'll have any problems selling.  I just hope the muppets downstairs don't make a racket when there are viewers in.

EssexHebridean

Under no circumstances let the neighbours have so much as an INKLING that you're trying to sell if you can avoid it - they sound like the type that would deliberately be a PITA! 

girlatplay

EssexHebridean said:

Under no circumstances let the neighbours have so much as an INKLING that you're trying to sell if you can avoid it - they sound like the type that would deliberately be a PITA! 

I asked if we could do it without a for sale board because that's exactly what I'm afraid of.  We won't even mention it to the ones we do like as they might say something, even with the best of intentions.

girlatplay

The neighbours on the ground floor (we are on 2nd, clampetts are between us) privately rent their flat.  They have only been there a few months and we never see or hear them (I can't imagine what the noise is like from above).  Their bad point is that they don't take care of their garden and it has been getting so bad I was tempted to call environmental health.  However, today I heard gardening sounds, looked out the window (I like gardening sounds) and someone was strimming the forest!  Hooray!!  This will massively help towards kerb appeal for our sale.  They haven't done the back but I can live with that for a few months longer.

Also today, I have been feeling a bit under the weather over the past few days and today my body was aching from just being.  I don't exercise because I'm scared I'll lose weight and I can't afford to lose any at the moment.  Today though I was sitting at my computer, body aching, and I had this urge to get outside.  It looked like a beautiful day and I just knew that if I took a walk it would ease the pain.  I decided to walk at lunchtime, which I haven't done in the whole two years I have worked from home.  I logged off sharp and just started walking.  I walked round the big block (probably about a 15 minute walk for a normal person - took me 25 minutes) but it was so worth it.  Nothing to see but houses, but the sun was out, it was really warm and I just really enjoyed it.  I did feel better when I got back.  After work I ordered a mattress topper which will be delivered next week.  I have been thinking about this for so long as my bed is not comfortable anymore and last night I was aching when I was trying to sleep.  I need to get back on the self-care train and I think today was a great start.

astrocytic_kitten

That is all excellent news! A tidy garden will make a big difference, and well done on getting out into the lovely weather and ordering the mattress topper. It’s great that you’re starting to want to do more self care.

I’ve fallen out of the habit, but I used to find that a few minutes daily of yoga / pilates type stretching was really helpful for aches and pains. Getting out into the sun is good for the soul though. And if you’re on the second floor then you’re also getting a couple of flights of stairs into that too.

beanielou

Glad that you had a nice walk.