Building towards a complete life overhaul....might take a while but determined to do it

mumblingtaff

savingholmes said:

What would make you delay the move as opposed to pressing ahead. I hope you have to a joyful Xmas despite c19

Hi Savingholmes, I was just thinking about being able to go back and forth to view houses, the logistics of moving in a possible lockdown etc. I'll give it a couple of weeks and see how things pan out and continue to get things done this end in the mean time.

Talking of which, I've been back to Wickes this morning for a bit more gravel - the patch in the garden was looking a bit sparse in places now its settled so another 2 bags have done the trick - not fun doing it in pouring rain but it looks much better now - £10 spent.
I've also been for a run with the dog (in the rain....) and tidied out a small kitchen cupboard and given it a clean - more junk in the bin ready for the bin man tomorrow, I really don't know why I was keeping some stuff! Done a quick hoover and dust downstairs - wet weather and dogs don't make for a tidy house!
Popped to the local shop for deodorant - resisting doing the big shop yet - tomorrow will probably be the day. I've run virtually all of the toiletries and household stuff down to nothing now - its made some space at least and saved a bit of money - £1.15 spent from the loose change in my purse.

Spoke to dad this morning - its his brother's funeral today. He seemed ok but will call again later on. Some better news though - my neighbour that had the fall and is in hospital finally texted back last night and is a little bit better.

Just trying to think of a few things that can occupy me this afternoon - its horrible out but I'll have to brave a dog walk later but other than that I don't have any plans except to finish off the study tidy Will have another look at the list to see if there's anything small that can be done - not in the mood for decorating quite yet.

Started watching The Ripper on Netflix last night - its very good if you like a crime documentary. I've met the first victim's son (Richard McCann) - he came to school a few years ago to talk to the children about resilience and turning your life around - he's an excellent speaker and has really made the best of an awful situation. He's written a book too - its harrowing in places but very inspiring. Will watch the last two episodes (of 4) later on.
Right, better do something!

savingholmes

Logistics are likely to be a pain. It's one of the things making me delay too

mumblingtaff

Got a couple more little jobs done including finishing off sorting the study. Hope the bin man is still coming tomorrow as the general waste and paper recycling bins are full to the brim. The study looks much better and I can have another cull when I actually leave work but god knows why I was keeping 6 year old notebooks with to do lists in them from work and 10 year old outcomes reports!

My whole house has now officially been decluttered and there's virtually nothing that doesn't have a use or that I really like left. It will be much easier to move now that its done - its amazing how much tat you keep for no apparent reason. It's taken multiple trips to the tip and recycling centre, charity shops and giving things away to neighbours but it's finally done. Every last room   I could probably do another wardrobe sort before moving but for now it'll do but I will apply the "something new something out" rule in the meantime.

Have taken the dog for another walk to buy him some chicken for tea - he has a bit of a dicky tummy today and looks a bit fed up so hopefully that will sort him out - it usually does. It's in the oven now and he's showing interest in the smell so fingers crossed.

Also finished watching The Ripper on Netflix while having lunch - its a scandal how the women were treated and disrespected by the police just because some were sex workers - its like they were second class citizens and worthless, only when so called innocent women or middle class girls were killed did they really care. It's shocking really. A very good watch though if you're into that sort of thing.

It's the shortest day and its already almost dark here at 3.40pm - quite depressing but things only get better now.

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on the decluttering. Were you intending to hand in your notice in the New Year then? Even in lockdowns you can normally move house but viewing properties may be problematic. There was talk of life getting more or less back to normal by Easter but who knows. Worst case scenario you sell your place but can't find anything  in Wales. Are you going to have to find a job as well or are you relying on setting up a business? 

mumblingtaff

Hi Enthusiastic!
I was planning on resigning at Feb half term to finish at Easter. I could rent for a short while whilst I find a suitable house but would rather not - needs must though if it turns out to be the case. Or, I could hang on a few more months (don't really want to) and still get paid through to August payday and have lots of time to move etc. I'll have enough equity in the house to have a few months off with a bit of supply work to keep things ticking over and keep me active while I set up the business, we'll see.....

Well, today is my birthday - bit of a weird one but not too bad I suppose. Got up early with the dog, took him for a quick walk and then went to Tesco to do the Xmas shop - at 7.15 it was busy but well stocked. Was back home by 8.15 though with a nicely stocked fridge. Managed to spend £86 but £10 of that was hair dye and associated bits that will come out of the hair appointment money already put aside so £76 for shopping. I needed lots of household things and toiletries and now have plenty of food and some treats for Xmas and shouldn't need anything before New Year now except some bits for the dog.

Then decided to make the most of the blue skies ( we haven't seen them much up north recently) and took the dog for a really long walk around a national trust park close to me. Parked on a side road and climbed the stile so didn't cost anything. Had a lovely couple of hours looking at the deer and getting some fresh air and exercise. Got back at lunch time and treated myself to a baked Camenbert and crusty bread for lunch - it is my birthday! Then felt quite tired after the early start and exercise so watched a film on Amazon Prime (free trial) called Room to Rent - very odd but entertaining enough and only 90 mins long. Been for another dog walk and am now going to just potter for the rest of the evening.

Parents and sister have phoned a couple of times to do the birthday thing and I got to open the presents I'd ordered and wrapped for myself from them! I do now have a lovely new thick cosy posh dressing gown - the old one is now in the bin (it was about 15 years old!). Also got some books that I wanted and some nice perfume and a couple of other small gifts. Quite a nice haul and all stuff I needed or wanted - the benefits of doing your own birthday shopping!

So, 50 next year - bloody hell - where did that go? I'm glad I'm making big changes in the year ahead - its a milestone.

triple_choc_chip

Happy Birthday MT 🥳💐🥂🎁

Pink_Butterfly

Happy birthday!!! 🥳🥂

vampirotoothus

Happy birthday, glad you had some sunshine

Buffythedebtslayer

Happy Birthday  
I too found four small boxes of stuff from school from a million years ago Decluttering that gave me an enormous sense of closure ! Did question my past self on why I was keeping some of it!! 
Baked camembert is so good! 
Take care XX 

MeandO

Happy Birthday MT!
Just a note to say that you may be wise holding off on the move for a few months. I think I’m very much in the area you’d be moving to and have spent the best part of a year selling and trying to buy a house. I viewed nearly 50 properties, most were instant no’s with obvious problems upon viewing that had been omitted from photographs! I offered on 4 and was beaten by cash buyers offering over asking price nearly every time. The last one turned into a nightmare and I lost £1000 in the process of having an offer accepted and starting the purchase. I have had to pull out and have now taken my house off the market as there is absolutely nothing to buy here presently. I was trying to downsize too, so wasn’t looking for anything grand. There are plenty of absolute wrecks requiring total renovation, overpriced and dated bungalows, or 4/5/6 bed ‘executive’ houses over a certain price bracket on the market here, but a real lack of anything in between. 

Try registering on zoopla and on the market and setting up a search for the area, you’ll get an idea of what the market is like at the time then. Xx