My 5 Year Plan to a better life!

Thelaughingcat

Oh my lord, you’ve been busy while I’ve been away!  So glad you’re up and out and so very nearly there - you’re smashing it ☺️

The hotel is a stellar idea!  You do need to get your rest and sofas aren’t as comfy as they were when we were twenty.  At least, that’s what I’m telling myself...definitely not that my bones are older 😁

bellevie

Wow its all go for you!! Hotel sounds great, well essential I'd say....I'm not in your situation but I've contemplated the odd night just for silence  😅
Have you any dates for potential completion on your new home?

MuffinTops

Well that was a rollercoaster of a ride!  I can't actually believe how much time has passed.

Anyway, a quick update:

A couple of days before I was due to be out of my house, I received a call from the Estate Agent of the house I was buying saying that they were all waiting for me to get my paperwork sorted so we could exchange contracts!  You may remember I'd been told the chain had broken and then weeks later I was told it still hadn't reformed.  Well, it had reformed 3 days after it broke!  So everyone was merrily pushing forward and I was kept out of the loop!  Luckily I had gone ahead with the sale of my house anyway, so the money was about to be available for the purchase and all I needed was to sign some papers.  I couldn't do much until I'd moved in with my Mum as I packed away printers etc, and didn't have time for them to send me documents, so I went through the last bits of getting that house prepared for me to leave, which I felt strangely numb about.  It was like I had no connection at all to the house anymore, although I was also exhausted and uncomfortable due to the lifting, carrying and rushing around so that could have also stripped me of any emotion.

Booking those hotel nights was the absolute best thing for me.  It meant I could get rid of the sofas as I didn't need them anymore, and I was also separate from the house so I could take out the things I wanted to keep and leave them in the hotel room and then anything in the house was to be disposed of or cleaned etc.

As soon as I arrived in my new area, I printed all documents off and sent them to my solicitor and within 3-4 weeks I had the keys to my new house!  The previous owners (a newly retired couple) needed 4 huge lorries, 3 white vans and a small lorry to clear the house.  It was actually lucky that I wasn't part of the chain because they were still in the house at 5pm when we completed at 12pm.  But it all worked out.  I honestly don't know where they fitted everything but I assume things like the loft, workshop, sheds and garages were packed full.

My initial walk around the house was a panic as all I could see were the imperfections and work that would need to be done and how expensive that would be.  I felt so disheartened at that point.  It was very liveable, but it seems that some of the works they'd had done were a bit of a botch job.  They patched up an old doorway really badly so you can see the lines of the doorway as though it's just a closed door, things like that.  But after that all sank in and I walked around again I could just see why I fell in love with it when I came to view.  There is work to be done, but I have a budget for it and it's all working out ok.  I think my worry was that I don't know any trades people here, but the Facebook community group have been amazing at helping me find the right people.

So, I'm in my new home, works have begun (plastering, heating and plumbing, electricity fixes etc) and although I still have no furniture (I want the messy work to be finished first and now am considering waiting for a big sale event) it feels more like home than the last house ever did.  I absolutely love my new house and the location.  From my house I can hear the steam train wooh wooing and Choo chooing along the tracks, there are also squawky seagulls flying around at times and I'm just a short walk to the beach.  The summer holidays were a good test as the locals say how busy it gets, but compared to what I'm used to "busy" being, it didn't come close to what I feel is busy.  I only tend to walk through town early anyway, but if I go to the beach I've found the back streets which are generally empty.

Work are still being amazing.  They have stated that they don't want many people in the office at any time and are happy for people to remain working from home for the forseeable future, so I feel like I've won the life lottery right now.

It's now time to put my finances back in focus, and I do now have a large debt to pay.   My health is also more in focus now too, as I have a decent kitchen (which I didn't have before) and lots of room which was always my reason for not doing much cooking or experimenting before.  I am much better at cooking a meal etc, but I need a meal plan as I'm rubbish at the ad hoc method of meals.

I've lost access to large supermarkets etc, so I've started looking up the closest supermarkets of choice and visiting them to see what they're like.  If they're not great I think I'll start getting my shopping delivered, but wanted to try this out first.  I'll probably end up doing a bit of both though as I think I'll end up saving money if I do online shopping as I'm a sucker for the offers they strategically place at the entrance.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed the summer we've had.  It's been a mix of heat and cold, but hopefully everyone is happy and healthy.  I'll be catching up on other diaries as soon as I can.

MTxx

BellaLasagna2018

@MuffinTops, I’m glad you’re back with an update. I was reading your diary regularly and then your disappeared! It looks like you had âne eventful but exciting few months! 

I’m glad it looks like all the pieces are falling into place with your new house and that you loved it! 

I live about 20 minutes by car from the sea and we get seagulls too, to the point where it occasionally feels more like Jurassic Park than the suburb of a large city. 

RosaBernicia

Fab to hear from you MT and glad it is all working out.  I love being by the sea too

RB xx

MuffinTops

Hello BellaLassagna2018 and apologies for just disappearing.  Thanks for reading my diary regularly before I did.  It has been very eventful and exciting and I think that's due to continue.

Isn't it lovely living so close to the sea?  The sound of seagulls always takes me back to childhood holidays. You're definitely right about it feeling like Jurassic Park.

MuffinTops

Thanks RB.  It's fab to be back too.  I don't know why I have these breaks, as being accountable to my diary always keeps me on track, even if I do wobble at times.

MTxx

MuffinTops

Today has been pretty uneventful.  I did pop out to go shopping and picked up a dress for an event I have at the end of this month.  It wasn't expensive, which is great as I was invited after I'd sorted out the budget for the month.  I've just taken it out of groceries and will need to make some frugal food decisions to make up for it.  If I need to, I can get some supermarket vouchers from my shopping scans, but I shouldn't need to.

I didn't get any food shopping so will need to do a weekly shop in the morning using the food plan I've been working on.  I was also planning to do some housework today, but my eyes are struggling to stay open so I think I'm going to have some dinner and then an early night in the hope that I feel fresh and raring to get it all done tomorrow.

Let's hope tomorrow is a little more productive.  Happy start of the weekend!

MTxx

MuffinTops

The last couple of weeks have been a bit weird.  The weekend before last was a write off due a friend needing a huge amount of help which took up Saturday and Sunday.  The weekend just gone was fun.  I met up with some friends in London for a little event and a meal.  It was a lot of driving, but definitely worth it.

I can tell I'm not in good habits though because as soon as things go from my standard routine or expectations, I seem all over the place.  

I have managed to find 2 larger supermarkets within an hour's drive from me.  One stocks the supplies I was really hoping for, so that's a bonus.  I haven't sorted the meal plan out yet, but I am trying a gluten free diet to see if that helps me.   I'm feeling a lot of brain fog these days, so am hoping a better diet for my body will help.

On the house front, I've contacted a bathroom company to replace my en suite.  I'm going to need some ideas of how to use the space as it's a bit of a unique area.  This company have dealt with a lot of houses in my street so can hopefully give me some inspiration.  The problem is he has a long waiting list, but I'm also finding that reassuring that they're a good company.

I've also been in touch with the plasterer and plumber to get my living room completed.  Then I'll just need to paint it and buy some furniture.  At this point I think I'll wait for the sales before buying furniture just to save a bit where I can.

Quite a tedious update as not much has been going on, it's all just about getting the house updated for now.  I hope all is well with everyone.  I may get an early night to catch up on other diaries tonight.

MTxx

Hazelnutty

Hi MT! I've just read your diary cover to virtual cover What a journey you've been on! But brilliant to work out what wasn't working for you and what you neeed, and then to make it all happen! I'll be following your onward journey. From a fellow introvert with re-entry issues, HN x