Cherry takes the reins

So here I am back from a couple of days working on Mum's old house and feeling a bit down about it. The heating is mostly in but some of the walls were in too poor a condition to fit radiators yet so the plastering will be done in the New Year then the job can be completed. It's really looking as though I won't be able to afford to keep it though and that's sad.

The other reason for feeling low - apart from getting tired - is that I spent all my time cleaning areas I've already done and boxes have been shifted into areas I had clear and habitable so they are now inaccessible. Then I fell on a slippery step and pulled a muscle which has stiffened up overnight so today I'm hugging the computer till the painkiller kicks in. Sigh.

However: the house is now warm for the first time in ages, the kitchen and bathroom are useable again and the bedroom I used is no longer heaped with stuff my sister has packed to keep. (That's going downstairs). It makes all the difference to have clear areas. I've also done a tiny corner of another bedroom, and stacked some bags of bedding all together there. I may as well leave that in case my sister wants it to cushion stuff that she packs.

I have also ordered a washing machine! SO good to have that to look forward to though it's a big expense and I had to go well over budget to get one delivered at a time I can accommodate. Then there are the extras on the boiler bill: they couldn't get to all the floor spaces due to furniture and carpets so they've had to put in a filter which cost over £200 but will protect the new boiler from sludge in the old pipes. I did discuss replacing the bathroom suit with a cheap modern one as the old one is wrecked and has to be removed to change the hot water pipes. Some hot water taps still don't work as the feeder pipes leaked and had to be sealed off, and they can't be replaced till the bath comes out. What's another £300 to £400 in the scheme of things?!

I'm at work this afternoon so probably won't get to do a financial update till later. Sorry to moan but it helps to quantify what's going on. And if I don't include that I've paid myself back out of the Executors' account, give me a kick in the right direction!

A bit less moany today! The back is a bit better and I managed not to end up on the sick as my colleagues did all the physical work themselves and gave me admin to do.

I'm back in work this afternoon (and a shift with less physical work expected) but in the meantime I find Christmas is coming up alarmingly fast and I haven't sorted everyone's present, sent cards or wrapped everything! I thought I'd post here to keep myself working, and maybe include some financial stuff as I go along. I'm still awaiting the final invoice for the boiler but have made a payment on account to show willing. That all comes off the Exec account so doesn't need to show here. The payment I made for the washing machine and other bits off my own account isn't yet paid back as it's not yet showing up on the online banking and unless I wince my way over to the suitcase and grovel within for my notes, I can't remember exactly what it came to. Maybe later.

Food/housekeeping went quite well last week: again DH footed quite a lot of it so £10 from my share went to him but there is still some left over - about £6.50 give or take. I haven't worked out what share of the online shopping came from this budget (again, see suitcase. Maybe I had better brave it).

Meanwhile there is a load in the washer and a load in the dishwasher - thank goodness for machines! Also DS2's new shirt in the sink as I'm fairly sure the colour will run. I haven't sorted out whether I can reach to get them on the line so I think despite the lovely sunshine and dry conditions outside, they are going on the airer.

Will be back to edit if I make enough progress.

1pm update:
Washing is on the airer... suitcases unpacked and ready for some kindly soul to take them to the loft.
2.30 update:
Hand washing also completed - 3 lots
Another 2 presents ordered: £36.45
Spends on the house transferred back to me (£741.78)
Online shopping on 14th: total £60.49 of which £12 toiletries, £30 gift and £18.49 food - so I was £1.51 underspent on the food budget (result: happiness ).
Also £3.95 on Christmas hot chocolate on the way, train fare £52.20.

WannabeFree wrote: »

And make time to have a cuppa

It is really foggy here!

Hope your back is feeling better x

Of course. Have one with me? :coffee::coffee:

Painkillers doing their job very nicely thanks.

We have all the sunshine... hopefully you'll get some tomorrow. It's was freeeeezing when I went through your area the other day. Proper parky. How is littlest one? And yourself?

Just going to update my earlier post then off to work.

Cushion covers washed (ignoring the 'dry clean only' label: I'm pretty sure I've washed them before and it would cost more to dry clean them than it did to buy them in the first place. Anyway they seem to have survived).

Bathroom cleaned. My back feels a lot better so I felt able to attack the mould that gets on the ceiling and it's a lot better. Spent quite a while on it but quick cleans will probably get us through Christmas now.

Nothing spent yet today but I'm off to get food and laundry liquid so that won't last. I also have another online shop I'd like to do...