Get a grip !

Quick update as sooo tired ! Gravel arrived around 7.30 am its amazing how precisely they deliver these huge bags into the tiny forecourt at the front of my house.

After walking puppy we all had a fry up then DM was shovelling gravel into barrows for DS and DF to bring to the back alleyway and I was raking it into place. It looks great and will keep the weeds down and allow me to park on the hardstanding at the rear of the garden if there is no where to park in the road. Total cost about £250 so saved at least £250 (verbal quotes of "around" £500, £900 and £1500 !!! )

The "new" charity shop sofa arrived this afternoon but they couldn't find the bolts to fix the arms back on, so returned to the shop. Then they phoned an hour later to say they had found the bolts so they were coming back ! Sofa now delivered and assembled and the puppy has been snuggling up


DS slept this afternoon and has just gone to work on nights. Hope the weather is nice tomorrow, I am taking DP's out to lunch to say thank you for their help today.

The cheapest quote for the alley was "around" £500 just to deliver and barrow on the gravel. We got gravel delivered for £151 so saved at least £349. The more expensive quotes of £900 and £1500 were to clear the alley lay the membrane and deliver & barrow the gravel so am really pleased on how much I've saved.


It was a lovely day on Thursday so I got some washing out and then I took DP's out to lunch. We went to a pub with a lovely sea view and DP's had the over 60's 3 course lunch for £5.99 and I had fish and chips £6. They let me order the childs dessert chocolate brownie and ice cream for £1.99. so total cost of food just under £20


Then we went for a walk on the common and picked some sloes so that DP's can take them home to make sloe gin


Yesterday was dull and grey so I spent the day helping DP's fill in the power of attorney forms and getting some quotes for them on gas/elec as their fix ends on 30 October. Also managed 2 puppy walks as DS was sleeping after night shift and then back to work at his volunteer job at 4pm.


I am going to a friends pamper party this afternoon and I am really looking forward to a facial and shoulder massage £20. DP's are going out for the day and DS is puppy sitting this afternoon. He's just got in from volunteer work, fed her and played with her and now gone to bed, which means I didn't need to get up this morning and so I am having a lie in and will try and snooze soon. I always wake up early even if I don't have to get up.


Puppy will sleep in her crate now till 9am when she will be ready for a walk. She is really loving the new sofa and has been snuggling up for cuddles which she has never done before in the armchairs we previously had. :happyhear


I have checked online banking this morning and I still have £100 left in my account. DS gets paid tomorrow and will pay me his bills and food money, so I am on target to have £100 left which will be paid onto new 0% credit card plus the £75 from neighbour for gravel. Once DP's have gone home I am going to start emptying my bedroom and will move into spare room ready to get a new carpet for my room.

The massage and facial yesterday were lovely and so relaxing. Worth every penny of £20.


Today DM made a roast dinner which was delish. DP's go home in the morning and I am back at work so am feeling a bit


I have another problem with my boiler too. It is over 20 years old but it had a new diaphragm and I had it serviced earlier this year. The timer switch is now making a very loud ticking and is no longer keeping time. I've searched the internet and the part is obsolete, but I found one website that shows they have one in stock priced at £55. I have emailed the company and they are going to physically check their stock tomorrow and let me know. Have been through with DF how to turn boiler off, get old timer disconnected then connect new one. If I get stuck I will phone the boiler man. Just hope I can get the part I need.

Short day at work today so I could come home and walk puppy. She was very well behaved. Hope she is same again later. She's chasing an empty plastic tub of peanut butter round the room at the moment trying to get the last little bit out of the bottom.


I have had no contact from the heating parts company I have ordered the timer from and am beginning to think it is a bogus company although they are registered with companies house. I phoned the number on their website and it just goes to voice mail saying the mail box is full. I found another phone number on the website which I rang and someone said it has nothing to do with them and the wrong number is on the website Hope my money is protected through pay pal.

I don't think I get credit card protection when the item was under £100 ? So I thought paying by PayPal would be safer as the company will not have my credit card details and PayPal would protect me if the part doesn't turn up. I have sent 3 emails to the seller so far no acknowledgement of my order or details of dispatch and my order does not show on their website but I have a receipt from PayPal so I will give it 24 hours and if still no part and no answer to email and no answer on their phone I will open a dispute with PayPal.