Small steps lead to big changes...

jwil

I'm really struggling at the moment.  DH's car is still in the garage!  The bill is going to be over £1k. 😭 He was going to take the van, then it wouldn't start so he had to replace the battery.  He used it once and one of the lights and the windscreen wiper have gone on it so he can't use it until they are fixed.  He used his motorbike one day, but then snow came, so that wouldn't be safe.  So he's been using my car, and I've had to walk the kids to school both ways.  Which is fine, but it adds at least 1/2 an hour on to the normal hour I allow to do the school run, so it makes a long work day even longer.  

My knee is also so painful, it's not too bad going to school, but so hard coming home uphill.  The very small silver lining is that whilst it hurts an awful lot, I think it is marginally less than it has been so hopefully the exercises and new trainers and walking are working.

Last night I took little jwil to his school disco.  As it was only an hour, I thought I'd sit down there in my car rather than drive home and have to come back again.  Took him down fine, once the pickup rush had gone, I moved the car to a nice convenient place and waited.  By the time I went and picked him up, my car wouldn't start!  No notice whatsoever!  DH walked down, and we had to call my Dad to come and jump start it so we could get home.

It's never ending!  So we bought a new battery this morning for my car, but ironically it's been starting fine again since!  At least we've got the battery though and DH will swap it over before I am using the car again.

When we went to get the battery this morning, we went to a couple of carpet places, one chain to get a rough idea of prices, and then to an independent that we had pretty much decided we would use as it is someone with links to our family.  The independent was loads cheaper than the chain, and we've got the carpet for less than £150 fitted, including underlay and grips etc!  That's way less than we expected, and it's booked in for the end of the month, so nearly done!  DH has continued painting today, so really it's just one final coat on one wall, and then the woodwork to do.  I didn't do anything today as I wanted to rest my knee, but hoping that it will be less painful tomorrow so I can get on.

We then went to look at some second hand shops and in one found a perfect chest of drawers for little miss's room.  It's not too deep, and that is what we needed.  So we bought that as well, and it's stored downstairs until we have finished the room as I refuse to put anything in there until it's done!  I'll give her the dressing table from my room as it matches the chest of drawers, and so apart from some storage for her toys, curtains, and a chair for the dressing table, that should be everything we need.  Hopefully it will all be done ahead of the easter holidays, and then I can make a start on little jwil's room.

So basically, we're skint, vehicles are a nightmare, everything hurts, my mood is rubbish, but we are making progress!

beanielou

The only room I still have carpet it is my bedroom & when it's time to be replaced it will be with click vinyl or click laminate.  So easy to clean & lasts so well.

beanielou

Sorry, just read your latest post.
House wise things are comcar ing on well.
Great price for the carpet.

Boo, just boo to the cars & van.
Hope things are resolved really soon.

Humdinger1

@jwil you are due some humongous pieces of good luck after all that!  Well done for keeping on it onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

WinterWarrior

As a fellow car sufferer I feel your pain. Extra well done on sorting the carpet and furniture. I hope your knee stops hurting soon x 

jwil

beanielou said:

The only room I still have carpet it is my bedroom & when it's time to be replaced it will be with click vinyl or click laminate.  So easy to clean & lasts so well.

Thank you.  I might have a look for some of the other rooms.

beanielou said:

Sorry, just read your latest post.
House wise things are comcar ing on well.
Great price for the carpet.

Boo, just boo to the cars & van.
Hope things are resolved really soon.

Thank you, I hope so too!

Humdinger1 said:

@jwil you are due some humongous pieces of good luck after all that!  Well done for keeping on it onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Thank you

WinterWarrior said:

As a fellow car sufferer I feel your pain. Extra well done on sorting the carpet and furniture. I hope your knee stops hurting soon x 

Thank you

jwil

I've finished the walls in the bedroom now.  Yay!  Just got the woodwork to do now.  I started this morning but the gloss I had bought was like water, despite giving it several big stirs.  I've bought another one now, but have lost the will to carry on today.

DH went to fit the battery today, and despite using the vehicle checker on the website, it wasn't right.  We took that back this morning, and got the right one.  It was the same price, but they gave me a £5 refund for the hassle, so that was a result.  We picked up the replacement paint at the same time.

DH used the new stop tap this morning to fix the dripping tap.  It's so much easier than the old one. Another result.

I am so grumpy today it's unreal.  Everything and everyone is irritating me.  I think I'm going to hide in a corner with a hot water bottle and book this afternoon.

savingholmes

Sorry about your motoring bills. That's some run of bad luck. 

Hopefully things will improve soon. Your DIY activities sound good - and great price on the carpet.

Well done on the PADs.

EssexHebridean

Oh what a nightmare with all the car and van issues - talk about it never rains but it pours! Fingers crossed at least once the big bill is paid that'll be you all done for a while on that front. 

As for grumpy days - we all have them, treat yourself kindly! 

BalanceBy50

Sending lots of love. You have a lot going on. Impressed on the MSE way you are doing the bedrooms & still PADing x