Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

Watty1

Sorry the MRI was hard.  I find meditating the only solution but they are tough I know.

jwil

Glad you got the sick note for 2 weeks.

Good that the builder sounds good and that you have some time to save.

TallGirl

Lots going on still but it sounds like you are getting better yourself. Dismantling a large bed on your own can be done but do not try to build it again that is impossible. Be careful as it is easy to injure yourself with the large pieces. Builder sounds promising the busy booked up ones are usually the best. Gives you more time to really find out what you want and need. 

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie, Jwil and Watty
 
Beanie - positive energy always welcome. I've hoovered both rooms. I managed to get the mattress off and the sprung base - but only some of the frame's screws agreed to undo with the battery cordless screwdriver.... Not totally given up - I've just got some cash out in the hope I can bribe  ask them to do it for me and give them a tip!! Wish me luck. The mattress is now hanging out in the bathroom - not ideal - but again very heavy. I did get the sprung base into bedroom 2 (sweating cobs). I will also need them to unpack the mattress from the other day. Worst case I'll move the sprung base back - and just use the new mattress for now while I await the handyman's return.

Thanks Watty on the MRI - it was not something I think I could repeat unless my life literally depended on it. Still not heard back from the hospital.

Jwil - yes I'm feeling quite positive re the builder - all this spend is likely to delay my retirement by a year or so though if I go ahead - but I should end up with a more functional home.

I'm hoping that I can use my 0% CC for around £500 per month of spends - and send the related £ to the ISA so effectively the building work is 0%. I think I had a 17 month deal but need to check when it started from. That might give me £3K extra to play with there without raiding savings with penalties. On top of that I'm hoping to 'genuinely' save between £250 and £400 a month. It could be more or less depending on how much the handyman also costs.

savingholmes

My efforts were largely for nothing as they don't assemble! They nearly failed the delivery as they struggled to get it through the front door and were more concerned about the time the delivery was taking than actually delivering! I was  disgusted. They even suggested that I unbox it outside to see if I could get it in. I pointed out I live alone and that was impossible. I'm going to have to move the sprung bed frame back which is relatively light and then try and manoeuvre one of the heavy mattresses into position. Completely unimpressed. Cost me £1250ish - and completely let down by the delivery element of the service and the website not making clear enough that they don't assemble!! 

I have done a washing load - so need to get that in the dryer now - and the dishwasher is on so progress. I may go out for the day as need a break from the house. It's currently very sunshiny outside - a massive change from the windy weather of the last few days.

beanielou

That is really really disappointing. I hate poor delivery people. Most will go the extra mile but there’s always one. 

Blackcats

 how disappointing about the delivery/assembly bad service.
please be careful lifting and moving things - you've been v poorly (in case you need a gentle reminder)

KajiKita

Ugh, that is really poor service. 😢
Could son or neighbour help with the whole bed logistics thing? 

(You describe it well, but my head is so full atm I can’t fully picture what you are trying to do, apart from swop beds and move very heavy things on your own!)

KK

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie, Blackcats and KK. I rested and made art yesterday as I was conscious I've done a lot this week. I then left trying to move the slatted frame back in place until bedtime - which was obviously a bit late!! It took me several attempts to get that in position. I tried and failed to get my mattress back into my bedroom - so instead dragged the shrunk but still super heavy new mattress onto my bed. It took forever but made it eventually. I then had to shove the other mattress more out the way. It was a nightmare and I think took about 90 minutes before my bed was dressed again to sleep in. I therefore only got to bed about 1am - and because the mattress was still expanding from its shrunk down state and it's always weird to get a new mattress only got to sleep around 5am. I got up at 11am.

I'm definitely getting stronger again - but I'm also super stubborn and there was no way I was going to sleep on a mattress on the floor!

Someone came to measure for my new patio door - but I'd forgotten he was coming so quickly dashed upstairs and dressed (after 1pm!). I then had a shower and got dressed properly after he left and went to a new garden centre. Thankfully it had a clearance section where I got loads of tulips half price, some violas, some primroses, some lupins, white and blue muscari - but taller than what I have now, a soft mahonia that I've been looking for called Caress, plus a few full price alpine plants including saxifrage and a few other perennials I can't remember the name of. They are still in the car as only just got back. I also got a couple of petrol blue hanging baskets and a couple of black obelisks with the shape of a bird on the top. I signed up to their club (1 month free trial - £15 for the year) and a got a free coffee - and then he threw in a free cheesecake slice too - I only ate half of it as it's high fat.

It was 17 degrees here today. Lovely sunshine. I'm now going to eat some jacket spud and Bolognese sauce from the freezer. After I've eaten I'm hoping to do something with my new plants. The tulips I'll line up along the 'upper terrace' in their existing pots for now but other things I'll plant. I still need to plant my Morries haul too. At some point over the next week - if the weather allows - I'm hoping to rake my patch of earth at the front. I will then scatter my wildflower seeds and hopefully have a beautiful tapestry of colour while I wait for my drive to be done. 

If the builder from the other day works out - he suggested creating sleeper raised beds at the front (to help retain the drive and protect the fence) and that way I can keep a decent planting area too. I know I probably shouldn't be buying plants for that area now - but it seems I am. I'm seeing it as investing in a season's growth - as that can massively inflate prices - but probably by the time I've allowed for pots and compost I may not be saving as much as I think. I will however have lots of plants I like.

jwil

Plants sound lovely.  It's nice to see a bit of sun and warmth again!