Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

daisy_1571

Glad you are back online 

Dxx

stoplurking

Glad you all got there ok TG, how exciting to finally be there. Can’t wait to hear how you get on with the house etc. I  hope the work thing gets resolved soon but this time next year whatever happens will just be history.  

TallGirl

Thanks all just a quick check in we are progressing with the house but also making time to go out and explore and play golf. We did have a lovely Friday evening with a drink on the harbour in a lovely little pop up bar. Unfortunately we then got a bit lost and ended up rowing. We know we need to work on this side of our relationship as it is usually when DGs anxieties sets in. 

Saturday we got a lot more done on the house, went to the tip but also managed 9 holes of golf. We got the sofas sprayed with protective spray and had to get another bottle the next day which was annoying. From our house you have to drive through a forest on very small bendy roads or go a longer way around so it makes sense to do things as you are out anyway. We also got hooks up in the hall way (I resisted paying for designer ones) but DG did spend £50 on Halloween stuff but it was all in the sale and actually super cheap. It makes her happy to have all that stuff and it is a much bigger place to decorate now. We also got the lounge a bit more homely with our own rugs which helped a lot. 

Sunday we had a putting competition and they were all so lovely there. It was a Scot who was organising it so he was so kind to DG which helped a lot. We then went to the big town to get more spray for the sofas and look at a coffee table for the new sofas as mine do not fit. The old ones will fit in the cinema room but not in the lounge. The table is lovely they have paired with that settee but it is super expensive. £630 for a coffee table is mad but it is solid wood and mine are nearly 25 years old. We did also buy bright green bedside light for the guest bedroom but we only got one as the other one was not in a box. We should have got 2 as it is 75% off at £12. My mum is having a look today to see if there are any in her shop of the same chain and see if she can get any money off the coffee table otherwise we are going to wait and see if they drop the prices or get it when we go and look for chairs for the dinning table. 

I have topped up my cash ISA as I am still officially living in the UK and the Premium Bonds are all full now for both of us. 

We still have a huge to do list for the September trip but things are coming together and I can now concentrate on work this week. Sadly the gardener cancelled he was due this morning but he is coming later this week. Cannot wait to see what the garden looks like with a normal size hedge and mown lawn. 

TallGirl

Very misty day today but still sunny and a bit nippy. The cats are getting used to staying indoors at night but soon we will not be able to have the door open it will be too cold. Also when my niece cat sits she will be out for several hours and it is not really fair on them or her to have to leave it all open. So we do need someone who can fit a cat flap sooner rather than later.

The gardener has not been in touch hopefully soon as I went slug hunting last night here I have the huge brown ones which I was completely without at my last house. They are awful when you step on them to get things from the freezer.

Booked train ticket for DG unfortunately you cannot take the train direct any more from CPH to here you need to change. DG is not amused but it is crazy to pick her up when I would have to pay to cross the bridge and also its really early. 

Looked at Boots for my Slimfast and it can be delivered after security so I can also get my shampoo and conditioner. Here it costs £12 a bottle in Boots on offer I can get 6 bottles for £21 a no brainer. 

Still not moved my money from the house sale I really must do it as it is over the £85K. The pound - kroner is still not good but I do need to pay my mum back the £42K she lent me. Plus I need to invest the money obviously. I cannot wait but it also feels scary and it will have to wait until I am settled here permanently. 

I think that is all the updates for now tonight we have our first ladies game after work 5pm. 

TallGirl

We ended up super rushing to golf but all good although my GPS died on the first hole lol. DG and I played on different tee times something I am actually proud off. She did not know any of the people she played with but they were so kind and although is played awful she is playing tonight again with some of the same ones. We did have a beer afterwards but I only had half and stopped when we got home. 

I have now moved the following:

Money Box Cash ISA 3.7% is now full and the rest is in the simple saver at 3.16%. I also have in Monzo at 3%. I do need to move more but I want a full spreadsheet so I can see where I am with everything as I do have a goal for what I need to invest again. Basically the SS ISA I cashed out to buy this house. I also need money for a car here (I can use the £8K I will get for this one) but it will be a lot more expensive but in the meantime I have my dads car to use. I think I will feel better once I have everything updated and I know where I am. Then it is just the decision to move the money from UK to DK to invest it but that can wait until I am officially living here. 

I have now set up to pay my bin collection fee and the sewerage water via DD so that is all good but I still need to find out about water. I think that is the last bill we need to sort out. There was also a letter in the UK about the property tax which I must call up and deal with. I might do that when we are in the UK. 

I have started to slowly tackle the weeds in the patio and found that we do have a path to the "pool bar". It is a large building that is a few steps away from the house and is DGs play den really. It will become a cinema room and bar but the name has stuck from her old "pool bar". 

The garden is actually really lovely and a lot more together than I first thought. Around the patio there is a border of small grey stones currently full of weeds but then up against the grass is a straight metal edge which I really like. It is just so overgrown you cannot really see it. I am not sure I brought my grass edger I might have to get a new one. The back also has 2 raised beds with herbs in it and a lot of marigolds. The herbs are good and there are also some beetroot. They can bed used next year for growing veg and best of all you can just collect compost at the local dump for free. The front of the patio has a large border of perennial flowers that looks amazing right now. I will do some pictures for you. It is all my favourite's and all the ones I would have planted myself. I think they can easily be divided as they are so large so that is a bonus. There is also 2 black current bushes and a red current one. Then we have against the pool bar 3 pink roses that needs new support but are stunning and against the garden shed is a rose and a clematis that is in flower. Rose has finished and needs pruning. It has a large hedge all around it and to the back of that still on our plot are 3 birch trees and 3 apples trees. There are apples on them but I cannot get to them until he cuts the hedge. 

In the front we have 3 crap apples in fruit, some small pine trees and a wild border that has to go. There are also a wisteria that again needs support. In the very front there is a large rectangular flower bed that had tulips in it when I came to view but how has marigolds. Against the house in the stones are some orange poppies which are actually lovely but almost gone. 

I think I am going to contact my garden person and ask her for advice on what I have already and then next year get the garden designer in. I think I need to see what is what first. 

The patio badly needs cleaning and re-sanding but I might do that next spring. Just want rid of the weeds. There are also millions of large slugs (the brown ones) I did not have them in my last house. By the way I love this Danish site I am definitely getting some of that rusty looking stuff it is lovely. 

Right best so some work!

savingholmes

Sounds like you are settling in well. Hope that work resolves in your favour. 

TallGirl

Thanks Savingholmes things have sort of settled down but now there is the mad scramble for getting things done for our trip back on Friday that has come around so so quickly. 

I do need a massive to do list for that or I shall forget half the stuff. Currently trying to work out a way to sell the car on my return. I have had my details in the motorway one and it is around the £9K which is nice and then I tried Webuy lot and he rang me and offered £14K without any details of the car and clearly for that I am not interested in using them. I had heard lots of bad stuff so happy not to go that way. I have finally entered the details into a portal for a local firm near to where we used to live so lets see on that one. We do have 2 weeks until it has to be gone so hopefully it is enough time.

Work has settled down and my manager did ask me directly yesterday what would happen if I did not get VR. I said I would resign. Today is the day they are making the decision on the VR so that will be interesting I am almost resigned to it being a no but then again if it is then I can just get on with moving on. I was offered more projects but none of them appealed to me I have really become a one trick pony. My manager did say my speciality could be marketed and someone would pay for it but then again they do not have much money so I cannot see how that would work. 

DG went to play golf on her own last night with the new club people. She played badly again and now all she wants to do is pull out. I really thought we were passed this but sadly not. Also has had already had a massive IT meltdown as her calendar view has changed. She is most certainly neuro diverse but I still love her. 

The cats have settled in nicely eventhough they do not have a cat flap. We have reluctantly decided to get one in the front door. Not ideal but everywhere else is glass so would be far more costly. I can get the one I want here but it is white or brown. They do do it in the UK in grey which is the colour of the front door so would look better and save the faff of buying paint and painting it. Obviously that means my niece will have to leave the back door open when she is at college while she cats sits. Not really ideal but what else can we do. Then when we return I can have it fitted and it will read the micro chips so we avoid that other cat coming in. She is really cute but the cats do not really like her and it does create more mess really. 

We are getting our new freezer delivered today so no more trapsing outside to get anything frozen. Will be really good but we still need to work out how we can plug it in. Still nothing from the gardener I really would like it done before we leave it looks awful and is so so long. 

I really need to get back to work now enjoy your Thursday almost the weekend. 

To do
Sort out selling the car
Boots order -DONE
Add luggage to flight booking

daisy_1571

litter trays and door closed?  Who knows what beastie or creature (or human) will be popping in and out of an open house ?

Dxxx

TallGirl

Morning my sister came around yesterday she suggested opening a window that has a lock on it so it cannot be opened from the outside. So yes Daisy we are not going to leave the door open definitely not a good idea. 

So the freezer was delivered yesterday but unfortunately it opens to the right instead of to the left. We were not offered another option it was not even mentions just how it would attach to the existing cabinet doors. I have never bought an integrated one so annoying so it is just sat there and we do not dare change the hinges in case we mess it up and it has to be sent back. I have now been on hold for 30 min trying to speak to someone to see if we need to get a part or can just do it. So annoying.

Feeling a bit flat today and it is hard to do some work which I really should do. How do people keep motivated when they are just wating for answers. 

It was lovely to see my sister yesterday that is definitely a big plus of living here. We also got our hedge cut which was nice it is not perfect against the neighbours side but that can be corrected next year. He could not cut the grass as it is so long and I had not brought the right machine. Very annoying as I was really looking forward to that. Still battling slugs and trying to get rid of weeds but hard when you also have to work. 

Getting to grips with my laptop but house is not really getting there during the week. I think we just have to say it will take time. 

I have tried to sort out selling the car but unfortunately I did not get very far so will try next week. Right now I have been on hold for 45 min and I am number 13 so onwards and onwards for sorting the freezer our. Wish me luck. 


To do
Sort out selling the car
Boots order -DONE
Add luggage to flight booking
Order grey cat flap

savingholmes

I think if we buy are willing to offer you more than elsewhere - I'd take them up on it. They bought DD's car when it needed lots of work doing. You get the money immediately as I recall.