Watty's Awakening

Watty1

@Cherryfudge I still have not given up on the pony trap. Just saying!

beanielou

Good news on the car. 🚗

KajiKita

So pleased about the car. Well done VNM 👏😊

KK

Watty1

VNM is indeed super talented at fixing things.

Forgot to cancel the counselling service via the NHS so decided to give the session a try, I think it was PIP who said just try it, it might not be as awful as the last person (the one I wrote a blistering complaint about).

Currently paying £65 a week for private counselling so if the service works it would be a serious saving. Counsellor had read my notes before the meeting, including my complaints. For that she did get a thumbs up. She did a lot of history taking (session ran over), gave some clear explanations of what could be happening in my brain and was OK. So rather than ditching the service, I'm going to go back for a second session (jury out as I thought the first person was OK till we got to the second session).

One thing we did look was the long list of things I don't / can't bring myself to do. She suggested I start to make a list of the things I would like to do, goals as it were. If I get nothing else from the sessions just making the list (I've started) might be helpful.

Suffolk_lass

Personally, I would live in the 1 bedroom annex while refurbishing and improving the energy overheads of the farmhouse and then moving across (or renting out part of it) - I would be adjusting the layout too. That part of Scotland you need to be aware of the prevailing winds (the trees will tell you) and making sure the windows are super insulated on that side, and glazing bigger on the south facing aspect

Cherryfudge

It sounds like a more positive experience with the NHS counsellor: people always say it's about finding the right person for you. Giving the new person a second try could be useful.

Interesting what you say about avoiding certain things. As a self-diagnosed PDA person, I know there are certain things that I find really hard to do, and that for me it helps to reduce the stressors elsewhere in my life, which in turn eases the logjam. You might find it interesting to read up on PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance/ Persistent Drive for Autonomy) - to find how other people cope with pressures like this. (I'm not diagnosing you! Just thought it may be of interest, especially as it can be linked with cPTSD, and sometimes it helps to know you are not the only one who can't make themselves do the things they feel are expected). (I also think the list of things you would like to do may be a way forward but for me it might not be… but there are obviously a lot of things you can and do achieve and a list of those may be helpful too).

Watty1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81974240#Comment_81974240

Yes I thought the annex was lovely. And after living it, I'd probably stay put and rent out the farmhouse. It is a lot of property for the money, even if the farmhouse does need some work. Not yet in a position to apply but love looking at properties and thinking what I might do.

Planning has been kicked down the road to July, it seems we might not need to include biodiversity net gain stuff then as it is such a small project and this will be a saving and apparently will make the property more desirable when it is up for sale if there is no need for a 30 year BNG commitment so holding off until then. After all I already have the problem of PPH when I come to sell, no point in adding more layers of complexity.

PennysIntoPounds

Really pleased for you that you got something worthwhile from the counselling session, hopefully this one will be able to avoid 'the difficult second session' and you won't have 'creative differences' 😁

Fab news that the biodiversity bit might not be needed, July will come around soon

Watty1

I hope so PIP. - I feel in a limbo with everything which is adding to the sense of general gloom in my mind.

Emailed accountant re company. The person who wanted to buy vanished again. Every so often she pops up but at the last pop up I was firmer and said come to me with your accountant if you are keen.

Instead, have come up with a long term plan whereby I can give up work but use the retained earnings as a mini pension until all gone. Just now need to work that backwards to see how it will look from various dates.

Shorter term: get planning permission then discuss with agents best way to sell up but that now pushed down the road for a few months.

Even shorter term, try and get the rest of the vehicles usable although that is in the capable hands of VNM. New alternator for lorry was fitted yesterday and something else broke. Sort of confirms my opinion I need to upgrade it as things keep breaking now.

Watty1

Went to the farmers market locally, came home with 5 curries which I will split and freeze for those evenings "quick easy takeaways" shout as these are so much better than going for a takeaway. One loaf of cheese and sun dried bread, 2 slices of Victoria sponge from the cake stall and a hosta because no one was buying from her stall

Really wanted some sweetpeas but need to organise a frame first to support them.