A new kitchen bin! Delivered yesterday. I have also now got 3 council bins - non recyclable, food waste, & recyclable. No more black plastic sacks in the kitchen - Hooray!
A new lockable steel cabinet in the car port for all the stuff that went in the garage or the shed, which I now don't have. Assembled for me by Maryon & Ed on Sunday. Tools out of the hallway - Excellent!
A solution to the problem of only one phone point in the whole house. A plug that lets you connect a computer anywhere in the house through a 3 pin socket - Amazing!
Another plug that has a shaver / toothbrush socket in so I don't have to go upstairs to the top floor to re-charge my toothbrush in the only socket in the house - Fantastic!
A rug cleaned like new.
It really doesn't take a lot to make me happy. Must avoid looking at the long list of stuff yet to do, so as not to dispel this euphoria at problems solved.
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Friday 20 September 2013
On being ignored.
In this day and age people's "moral compass" seems to be more than 360 degrees. I am definitely morphing into a really grumpy old woman & will probably end up talking to myself or shouting aloud in the street.
Moving house is a frustrating minefield of problems, large & small, some fixable & some you just have to live with. I have finally, after 3 weeks, had to get my solicitor to write to the solicitor of my vendor, because he is ignoring emails & letters & hasn't done some of the maintenance that was agreed for the sale to proceed. Similarly my purchasers owe me quite a lot of money for things I left behind for them, which were not fixtures & fittings & they too are ignoring a letter & my emails. I try to treat people with respect & I expect them to respect me too. I find it really hard to understand how people can just knowingly ignore the right & fair thing to do. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur & am becoming extinct.
Oxford is full of tourists & students. Both species move around in packs. A pavement is only a certain width. If the pack are communicating they occupy the whole width of the pavement oblivious to the fact that there is an approaching, different, solitary, species. Obviously their antenna are malfunctioning. Or, possibly it really is true that after a certain age we become invisible. I may have to wear "dayglo" outfits or make noises as I approach them.
Finally there is the queue. Not having used public transport much in rural Berkshire or Gloucestershire I often find it difficult to work out where the front and back of the queue should be, especially in bus shelters. So I guess. If I am one of the first, I then seem to end up rammed up against the shelter wall by later arrivals. Again I must be wearing my invisibility cloak. The young simply can't see me.
I think I should cultivate bad habits like spitting, farting, belching & mumbling. Possibly there may be an advantage in not bathing too often either, or eating a lot of garlic.
Moving house is a frustrating minefield of problems, large & small, some fixable & some you just have to live with. I have finally, after 3 weeks, had to get my solicitor to write to the solicitor of my vendor, because he is ignoring emails & letters & hasn't done some of the maintenance that was agreed for the sale to proceed. Similarly my purchasers owe me quite a lot of money for things I left behind for them, which were not fixtures & fittings & they too are ignoring a letter & my emails. I try to treat people with respect & I expect them to respect me too. I find it really hard to understand how people can just knowingly ignore the right & fair thing to do. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur & am becoming extinct.
Oxford is full of tourists & students. Both species move around in packs. A pavement is only a certain width. If the pack are communicating they occupy the whole width of the pavement oblivious to the fact that there is an approaching, different, solitary, species. Obviously their antenna are malfunctioning. Or, possibly it really is true that after a certain age we become invisible. I may have to wear "dayglo" outfits or make noises as I approach them.
Finally there is the queue. Not having used public transport much in rural Berkshire or Gloucestershire I often find it difficult to work out where the front and back of the queue should be, especially in bus shelters. So I guess. If I am one of the first, I then seem to end up rammed up against the shelter wall by later arrivals. Again I must be wearing my invisibility cloak. The young simply can't see me.
I think I should cultivate bad habits like spitting, farting, belching & mumbling. Possibly there may be an advantage in not bathing too often either, or eating a lot of garlic.
Friday 13 September 2013
Reunited!
After 2 weeks without one of my suitcases filled with clothes, including all my nighties & pyjamas, they were finally couriered on Wednesday. It has been a week of several positive moves in the right direction. The Stressless 2 seater settee, which the removers couldn't get up the stairs & said they couldn't dismantle, was successfully moved by one man with a screwdriver on Tuesday! (3 removers unable to do it!) The bill will be going to the removal company.
Also on Wednesday 3 good friends, K, C & D, visited from Newbury, (they brought their own biscuits too - not to mention flowers & chocolates). But best of all they solved a problem I had no idea about. My 3 seater reclining settee hadn't been put back together properly by the removers - big gap you could fall through. It was too big for the space in the sitting room, so their brilliant idea was to put the 2 ends together to make a 2 seater which fitted perfectly. The middle bit is going into my bedroom. I had no idea you could do that so would never have thought of it in a million years. D also set up my stereo so I can dance around in the space created by getting the settees sorted. The combined brain & muscle power of us pensioners is awesome.
Today's treat was discovering a Sainsbury's superstore 10 minutes away & getting some proper food in. It took me most of the morning, normally I'm faster than the speed of light. Tonight will be home made smoked salmon pasta in a creme fraiche sauce. Cook chill & take away's pall after 2 weeks.
So, apart from the death throes of my boiler, I think this week has been fairly productive. One of the cheeriest moments was videoing D and D doing a tango & exchanging a rose from mouth to mouth. Don't ask!!!
Also on Wednesday 3 good friends, K, C & D, visited from Newbury, (they brought their own biscuits too - not to mention flowers & chocolates). But best of all they solved a problem I had no idea about. My 3 seater reclining settee hadn't been put back together properly by the removers - big gap you could fall through. It was too big for the space in the sitting room, so their brilliant idea was to put the 2 ends together to make a 2 seater which fitted perfectly. The middle bit is going into my bedroom. I had no idea you could do that so would never have thought of it in a million years. D also set up my stereo so I can dance around in the space created by getting the settees sorted. The combined brain & muscle power of us pensioners is awesome.
Today's treat was discovering a Sainsbury's superstore 10 minutes away & getting some proper food in. It took me most of the morning, normally I'm faster than the speed of light. Tonight will be home made smoked salmon pasta in a creme fraiche sauce. Cook chill & take away's pall after 2 weeks.
So, apart from the death throes of my boiler, I think this week has been fairly productive. One of the cheeriest moments was videoing D and D doing a tango & exchanging a rose from mouth to mouth. Don't ask!!!
Monday 9 September 2013
Boiler Rage
I have been here for 11days & for most of that time I have had no hot water / central heating. The lovely Gus has been twice & has now signed the death warrant of the boiler. The immersion also seems to have packed up too. The fault was noted by me & my surveyor & a condition of the purchase was that it should have been fixed by the vendor before I moved in.There had been a fairly catastrophic leak which has apparently done permanent damage, resulting in a permanent, intermittant problem with the pump overheating & causing "lockout". (I'm getting very familiar with central heating innards).
It's now going to cost £2,500 for a new boiler. I am hoping that the vendor will fullfil his obligations because the last thing I want to do is take legal action. Sometimes I do wonder if some greater power is testing me for sainthood. Not that I feel saintly - I'm very p.....off! At least the telly works.
I will just have to order a crate of wine and ignore all the problems.
It's now going to cost £2,500 for a new boiler. I am hoping that the vendor will fullfil his obligations because the last thing I want to do is take legal action. Sometimes I do wonder if some greater power is testing me for sainthood. Not that I feel saintly - I'm very p.....off! At least the telly works.
I will just have to order a crate of wine and ignore all the problems.
Saturday 7 September 2013
Pitfalls & Pleasures
It's fascinating how fairly small things can make you almost ecstatic. After 9 days without the telly, (none of the aerial sockets worked), Catherine, a very competent woman TV engineer came today, (from Tetbury, how ironic is that), & I now have working TV's. This means I can collapse in a heap with a gin & tonic, glass of wine, or cup of tea, depending on how the day has gone.
Similarly it's a 5 minute walk to swim at Summer Fields school, where Maryon teaches, & up to now I've generally had the pool to myself, or shared it with only one or two others. (A heart attack might be bad news, but I'd go doing something I enjoy!) The population of North Oxford are probably better off now I don't need to cycle to Marston Leisure Centre.
I've got a bedroom which is blissfully quiet in the centre of a city & I can now walk round the bed & select something to wear from the wardrobe. On the negative side the removal men went off with a large suitcase which has all my nighties & pyjamas in. (There must also be something else, but I'm not sure what).
One of the pitfalls is the central heating system. Gus, a very nice South African heating engineer, came to breathe life into my boiler on Thursday so I was able to Dymo label all the switches, which up to then had baffled everyone who tried to work out the heating & hot water. That was the good news. Sadly the lights are on but no one's home. Although the control panel says it's working there's no hot water.
My lovely new neighbours invited me round for a drink this evening, so I was able to remind myself what a fully functioning house looked like. My old friends & neighbours are extremely good at boosting my morale with cheering emails, phone calls & practical help. Steve, my computer wizard, was able to sort out my errant wireless mouse long distance today. For some bizarre reason it woke up & refused to budge. On Steve's advice, a judicious prod with a big paperclip in the right place got it going again.
Life is a balance between good & bad. The former far outweighs the latter, but sometimes the latter obscures the former.
Similarly it's a 5 minute walk to swim at Summer Fields school, where Maryon teaches, & up to now I've generally had the pool to myself, or shared it with only one or two others. (A heart attack might be bad news, but I'd go doing something I enjoy!) The population of North Oxford are probably better off now I don't need to cycle to Marston Leisure Centre.
I've got a bedroom which is blissfully quiet in the centre of a city & I can now walk round the bed & select something to wear from the wardrobe. On the negative side the removal men went off with a large suitcase which has all my nighties & pyjamas in. (There must also be something else, but I'm not sure what).
One of the pitfalls is the central heating system. Gus, a very nice South African heating engineer, came to breathe life into my boiler on Thursday so I was able to Dymo label all the switches, which up to then had baffled everyone who tried to work out the heating & hot water. That was the good news. Sadly the lights are on but no one's home. Although the control panel says it's working there's no hot water.
My lovely new neighbours invited me round for a drink this evening, so I was able to remind myself what a fully functioning house looked like. My old friends & neighbours are extremely good at boosting my morale with cheering emails, phone calls & practical help. Steve, my computer wizard, was able to sort out my errant wireless mouse long distance today. For some bizarre reason it woke up & refused to budge. On Steve's advice, a judicious prod with a big paperclip in the right place got it going again.
Life is a balance between good & bad. The former far outweighs the latter, but sometimes the latter obscures the former.
Sunday 1 September 2013
Friends - a prize beyond compare.
I am a very lucky woman.
This morning D & D arrived to see the house & help in any way they could. A goody bag including Dr Seuss "Oh the places you'll go", a bottle of wine, fruit, & a mug for tea in case I hadn't found mine! We all tried to work out the central heating & hot water - didn't succeed. But they did come up with practical suggestions & went away to find a TV engineer because none of the TV sockets work, and went online to get a Velux window pole because the owner hadn't left me one & you could expire in the top bedroom with the windows closed!
This afternoon A & N arrived & set to with gusto, again giving me practical ideas, moving furniture, getting rid of rubbish. N is a very practical man & got the cooker working, showed me what isolators are for & discovered all the maintenance work that hasn't been done by the owner as agreed. He advised that I should contact my solicitor & the agents because "the house is not fit for occupation". He couldn't understand the heating & hot water either! I hope that I can resolve this with the nice maintenance man employed by the owner rather than going the legal route though.
My son in law's mother popped in with a lovely plant. His brother helped me with the computer. Maryon has not only helped, but made sure I eat, & taken me swimming at Summerfields. I finally got round to opening my post & cards, (which cheered me up no end).
Just when I've got to the point of being overwhelmed by it all someone arrives & literally saves me. Not just in a practical way, vital as that is, but by cheering me up & lifting my spirits, which I think is a even more important. I am very touched by such generosity.
It's really nice to know I'm not alone.
This morning D & D arrived to see the house & help in any way they could. A goody bag including Dr Seuss "Oh the places you'll go", a bottle of wine, fruit, & a mug for tea in case I hadn't found mine! We all tried to work out the central heating & hot water - didn't succeed. But they did come up with practical suggestions & went away to find a TV engineer because none of the TV sockets work, and went online to get a Velux window pole because the owner hadn't left me one & you could expire in the top bedroom with the windows closed!
This afternoon A & N arrived & set to with gusto, again giving me practical ideas, moving furniture, getting rid of rubbish. N is a very practical man & got the cooker working, showed me what isolators are for & discovered all the maintenance work that hasn't been done by the owner as agreed. He advised that I should contact my solicitor & the agents because "the house is not fit for occupation". He couldn't understand the heating & hot water either! I hope that I can resolve this with the nice maintenance man employed by the owner rather than going the legal route though.
My son in law's mother popped in with a lovely plant. His brother helped me with the computer. Maryon has not only helped, but made sure I eat, & taken me swimming at Summerfields. I finally got round to opening my post & cards, (which cheered me up no end).
Just when I've got to the point of being overwhelmed by it all someone arrives & literally saves me. Not just in a practical way, vital as that is, but by cheering me up & lifting my spirits, which I think is a even more important. I am very touched by such generosity.
It's really nice to know I'm not alone.
Up's & Down's
Immaculate is not anywhere on the horizon yet!
Thursday - The removers didn't leave Oxford till after 7pm!
Middle Way completely chaotic. You could barely move for boxes. Removers took little notice of what was written on the boxes / bags -
(perversely they did read some of a previous clients labelling). Couldn't get 2
wardrobes & a 2 seater settee upstairs & removers didn't seem to think it was their job to haul stuff up through the big windows.
Friday - completely exhausted & zombie like! Brain dead. Couldn't fit computer together. I was lucky to be able to stay with Maryon for two nights or I might have had complete meltdown.
Things must improve.
Saturday -What a difference a day makes, (& a decent nights sleep). I'm
connected, (thanks to Ed's brother John - Apparently I had been nearly there). Brain now functioning as well as the computer. Yesterday
both of us were malfunctioning badly. Now all systems are "Go".
Sunday - Still boxes everywhere & complete chaos. Getting rid of the boxes is as bad as the actual unpacking itself. Discovered that having TV sockets in every room doesn't necessarily mean anything - All TV's say No Signal. There is miles, not an exaggeration, of bare wires in the sitting room & study. The consensus is that it has something to do with Sky / Virgin / Surround sound???? How can people leave a house like that?No info whatsoever about C. heating, hot water, alarm, appliances!!! Spent a good 10 minutes the first day trying to lock the front door from the outside. Two of us couldn't open or lock it. A dollop of WD40 has helped. Can't open / close several windows either! No shaver point to charge my toothbrush!!!
Velux windows on top floor - can't open or close - no pole! Lovely patio on top floor too - no key for door! Thinking of putting a Welcome mat for burglars / murderers.
Paid shedloads of money for this!
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