Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

catclaires

Hello - I always enjoy reading your diary but am delurking with praise for your hugely impressive progress! We moved a couple of years ago - the long to-do lists, patching-up jobs and mounds of clutter to clear/hide (I am a naturally messy/cluttery person and also a huge procrastinator) made life feel quite stressful for a bit. BUT it's now a distant memory - and it's so worth it in the end. All these things you're doing will make a huge difference - when you eventually get the photos done, you'll be stunned at how incredible everything looks. And it'll be good whether you end up staying or moving. It doesn't sound to me as if progress has slowed - you've done so much that you probably just need a bit of a breather.

The house you viewed sounds brilliant. We moved somewhere with views all around the house - and I'm grateful for it every day and spend ages gazing out the windows - the positive impact for me has been huge. We're in a rural location, which I always thought was my dream but wondered if reality would live up to expectations, but it does and more - I've found I couldn't care less about the downsides like the relative inconvenience of getting to shops, although I know many people would hate that! The house needs work, but I feel quite relaxed knowing it'll gradually get done over time as we have the money etc (none of it's urgent) - I think this feeling comes with being truly happy with the location.

I love your soft cat being on your list of wins

beanielou

You are doing SO well.

Also got the £150 today.
All earmarked already!!

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie - glad you got it too.

Thanks @catclaires - always nice to hear other's stories - and 'meet' lurkers.

Well I turned up for my dentist appointment today only to find it was yesterday. Oops. I have rearranged for July. So frustrating!!

My neighbour told me that my guttering has come apart again next to the garage so I need to ask the handyman to fix. Will call him tomorrow.

Today's achievements so far:

• I painted one window sill before work
• I framed one of my artworks - it makes it look so much more professional.
• I added 4 artworks to a charity bag as they were interesting experiments but they aren't worth the house room for me. Someone else may love them though.
• I found an empty grey plastic rattan style basket that I was able to put the cat food in - making it quick and easy to tidy the utility.  I refilled the cat food plastic tub in the hope that would empty the bag but no there's another full plastic tub's worth left in the bag so that could be weeks yet - which normally would be good news but when you are trying to tidy is less so. Unfortunately - another delivery of that is coming this week 7kg but it was the best offer I'd seen in a long time. I found another empty crate and put my clean washing in it and took it upstairs. Not put away yet.
• I updated my recent spends and was horrified and filled with fresh resolve. I returned £135 of stuff to Dun*** .

Mixed blessing
I spent £44 between HB and in MnS. I'm having pizza and salad for tea with coleslaw - probably prompted by MF and her little trip there for treats yesterday. I also bought my fave coffee cake, bananas and moussaka for another day and a few other bits and pieces. I bought a cheaper bathroom caddy £12 - to try and see which is my fave and then hopefully return one.

To Do

• Tonight I need to push through and finish sorting the lounge. There's not that much left to do but it is still just sat there accusing me. However - I created art in the lounge last night so now have about 12 lots of paint down here [roll eyes]
• Ideally paint wood that needs to be painted white - priority being window sills and the back doorstep.
• I have a piece of work I need to push through and do either tonight or get up early tomorrow and do it. I think it's needed for a meeting tomorrow.

savingholmes

My parents rang and then DD rang - so no time left tonight. I've offered to pay DD to give me some help tomorrow and said I'll take her out to eat. She also needs help with a college assignment.

I'm going to briefly put on my painting clothes and do a few window sills but other than that leave it until tomorrow. I'm going to have to get up early to do the work thing.

savingholmes

Well I deliberately made it so I got up with the light by not using one of the blinds. It's so bright right now it's gorgeous.

I read that people go to the windows first on a viewing (I do) - so even though I don't have the energy to repaint all the woodwork in a room - I've prioritised the windowsills. Last night I painted the window sills in the lounge, the kitchen, the landing and DS's room. The kitchen one ideally could do with another coat but I doubt I'll bother. Ideally I'd do DD's this week too and the back door step.  It really does make the rooms look brighter and improves the reflective nature of the surfaces so totally worth it.

I need to get a new trickle vent for DS's room as the lack of it has caused damage to his window sill - that and he loved having his windows open in all weather anyway. The cover of one in the lounge has also dropped off - I still have it so may be a way to disguise that - but ideally I'd replace. I know where to hopefully get one from it's just there's a lack of parking there which is putting me off going - plus it's only open in work hours. I'll have to go one lunchtime.

Managing to get DD involved in helping me get the house ready for sale feels a huge breakthrough. It makes everything more doable. She hadn't realised I'd found a house until I mentioned it to her friend - and then they discussed it - and now she's more on board. I had said obviously but it hadn't got past her 'I don't want to leave the only house I remember filter' which is understandable.

Goals today

1. Put stuff on the sofa into a basket so it feels less overwhelming and would be easier to tidy away. Most is stuff I use regularly in this room.
2. Take art stuff back out of the lounge and put away.
3. Ideally empty the landing.
4. Put the wooden toybox in his room or my art room. I suppose I could use it in there as a mini seat if I put cushions on it. That might be more realistic and other than the clutter and boxes of stuff I don't know where to put it's looking a bit bare as the only furniture in there is a desk and two stacking stools. I want to leave access to the windows free so that people can see over the garden easily.
5. Write update on an issue for work before 9am.
   
6. Paint back door step.
7. Get DD to clear her room surfaces and perhaps use the special boxes I bought to help with that. (I can then return any she doesn't use).
8. Get DD to sort her stuff in the family bathroom so I can quickly make it look good for the photos/viewings. Get her to help me make a decision re the bathroom caddies.
9. Ideally swap DS's desk for the one in the garage as it is smaller or use the fold up table in his room. At the moment the desk is narrowing access into the room which is the opposite of the feeling of space I'm trying to create.
   
10. Help DD with her college presentation.
11. Go to Nan*** with DD.

Let's see how much I can get done now before work...

Sunshine_girl2

SH I don't know where you are getting the energy from for all that you are doing. The list is still very impressive. Have a good day achieving the said list. 

catclaires

Yes, really impressive - I'm in awe of the late-night AND early-morning painting and other jobs as well as still managing to fit in some art! It must be a huge relief to have DD on board - mentally as well as for the practical help.

Good luck with today's list - glad to see the last item on there is a fun one!

savingholmes

Thanks CatClaires and Sunshine - the art wasn't good enough yet and a distraction - so reused an older painting instead.

• I used sticky strips to hang a mirror yesterday - really like how it looks. I've hung 2 paintings today. I've got more strips arriving later and then will hang others... 
  
• I took the art stuff upstairs in a bag - but not back in drawers yet.
• I arranged/decorated a window sill in the art room and the top of a chest of drawers in my bedroom and that's now how I want it.
• I've added 2 things to a charity bag.
• I put some meds away.
• I put a few things in a crate in the lounge.
• I painted the back door step and frame. If I was staying I'd replace both as they are bad. From memory the front door step is pretty bad under the paint too. I think it needs another coat. Ideally I'd paint the door too but trying to focus on the worst bits only.
• I've gone back over the kitchen window sill.
• I've ordered a new towel holder for the downstairs cloakroom as it looks a mess.
• I emptied the bins.
• I got my report done.
• Last night I slow cooked gammon - so had some of that today with half a portion of dirty fries and salad. Tasty.

jwil

Well done on all you've achieved!

beanielou

You are on fire!