To give the f*** up?!?!

[Gingerinthegarden]

NC as outing details

I’m beyond fed up. In lockdown with a baby, a medic DH and am pregnant with number 2 so tired and struggling with back/hip pain. Writing this locked in downstairs loo having a cry whilst DC screams at DH who keeps knocking on the door asking if I’m almost done!

Everything is going wrong. We moved into this house in feb. It needed lots of work doing but very little got done as just couldn’t get workmen in post covid. No availability.

Since Christmas we’ve got 2 shower rooms both broken/unusable and 2 fridge freezers broken losing all our food. (Second was a temporary measure until first could get sorted as integrated and non available online).

Neither is a easy fix. Getting workmen out is like pulling teeth. 15 phone calls to be told everyone is booked up for months. Tried listing on my builder/check a trade, NOTHING!
Finally get someone out, they make it worse, then say we need a much bigger job doing to rectify it as it’s a ‘bigger problem’ all of which is crazy expensive and they don’t have any availability to do for months!

I cry most days. I’m sick of project managing and getting nowhere! I’m sick of having to wash using a cup in a bath tub I can’t even fill the bath tub as the bath taps don’t work. Have to use the sink taps to fill the cup FFS!

We’re staring down the barrel of about £5k of expenses which would have been half that had we been able to get the work done over summer like we planned! Instead stuff has broken/flooded and caused damage because it was left.

I’m just sick of it. Feel like we are swimming through treacle!

Oh that sounds so so tough and so stressful. Have you got any family that have enough space for you to stay with comfortably until everything is sorted?

@MsChatterbox

No no one who could or would host us. DH works directly with covid patients and the only family we have who have the facilities to host us are vulnerable so it’s a no go.

Huge sympathy from me. Really hope that things get better for you. Try to take one day at the time and focus on you. Try to rest.

@blueangel19

I would be happy with one basic working shower and fridge freezer. Never in my life could I have imagine it possible for it to be this complicated!!!

Suppose when I can get the council to collect the second broken fridge freezer I can put another in its place (no room anywhere else) but again just another temporary measure!

A shower feels like I’m asking for a unicorn. Never seen so much tutting and head shaking from plumbers. It’s not an old house and not in bad condition. The work was all supposed to be cosmetic/updating from 15 years ago!

I know it doesnt look great but could you just store broken freezer in the garden for now to make space for a new one?

I know the feeling, my living room has had plaster down for six months, all electrical outlets and light fittings taped off and there's no heating downstairs at all. Not even the fireplace is currently functional. Everyone has about 15 jobs on the go at the same time. Thankfully though I don't have a small child (nor an as-yet unborn one) to contend with.

Could you get one of these and attach it to the sink taps in the bathroom? Obviously a short term solution but better than a cup?

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2766177?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixilqqrwt&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:898-274-0554%7Ccid:9563031039%7Cagid:97151844886%7Ctid:pla-1002576203719%7Ccrid:423211491744%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:408914580595592896%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1007284&utmmsource=Google&utmmedium=cpc&utmmcampaign=9563031039&utmterm=2766177&utmmcontent=shopping&utmcustom1=97151844886&utmmcustom2=898-274-0554&gclid=CjwKCAiA9rrBRBZEiwAHZv184u4a2CWU6-X9RHfiuC0zRwbvYxR--deVScnT0PUOZOdS7urylaFBoCEuEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@MsChatterbox the second broken freezer is already in the garage. That was the only place to put one when the built in fridge/freezer broke!

So now we have a broken built in one we can’t source a replacement for (90% of Currys are currently unavailable) and no freestanding ones can fit in that space even if we could get it out. Then we have a ‘temporary’ fridge freezer in the garage space, also now broken.

Where are you based? Can you not post on a fb buy and sell group man with van needed to dispose of broken freezer? And get a new one delivered.

How much stuff needs doing in the house, have you got the next door app? There is always workmen advertising on there. The men in my family are tradesmen and for alot of smaller jobs that people struggle to.get workmen in for they recommend contacting a local handiman.

Our Freecycle is still operating (some not) so you might be able to get a freezer. I have a Freecycle freezer, it is a bit battered but it works.

I have also found tradesmen in the last 3 weeks by posting in the local Facebook groups for recommendations. Had people recommending plus messages from those wanting work, and had a couple of problems sorted. Put a description of what needs doing in the post.

Well, one of those problems is quickly solvable at least: Appliances Online or John Lewis will deliver a new fridge freezer in a few days, and take away the old one.
Did you get a second hand one as it was supposed to be temporary?
If that uses up your budget, sadly you’ll have to not replace the integrated one for a while - though it’s not in stock anyway 😩

It does suck, I feel for you. But you may as well knock off the stuff you can.

Local Facebook page to ask for recommendations on builders and plumbers?

Make one room absolutely beautiful, candles, flowers and calm, and spend as much time there as possible.

You may not be able to fix everything that needs doing overnight, but to have somewhere warm, clean and comfortable is an absolute must.

Very tough for you with a medic dh, pregnant with a little one. One day at a time and buy hot pads for your back - just stick them on and they work for 12 hours. They are amazing.

@DressingGownofDoom

I’ve just ordered one on next day delivery
Didn’t even know they existed. Anything is better than current situation.

I have just had a quick look and AO.com have loads of fridge/freezers available for delivery from the 9th and they will take away your old one (for a fee) so I would sort out the one in the garage.

Sorry I cannot help with the builder problem.

I'm in a very similar situation to you, pregnant with a toddler who's testing every ounce of patience that I have and just moved into a new house with a load of issues.
We've taken it upon ourselves to fix as many minor faults as we could, sorted the shower ourselves, and fixed the boiler ourselves after we lost all heating and hot water in mid December although I wouldn't recommend messing with gas appliances unless you either know what you're doing or you have really good home insurance. We've had difficulty getting tradespeople in for plumbing issues, everyone is booked up so I understand your stress a bit.

Any minor stuff could you fix yourself, even just temporarily so you can use it?
The old fridges could you contact a local scrap metal collector on Facebook to take away? We have guys driving round and people just leave their old appliances outside their house for them to take.
You could buy one of those shower adapters that goes on the taps, at least then you could sort of shower, I think someone previously posted a link to one.

Christ OP.. it never rains but it pours... and I've not seen a shower/tap converter since the 70's.. lol brilliant things if they stay on the tap

good luck and vent on here..

Middle of a pandemic probably wasn't the best time for pregnancy when already have a baby and a husband working on front line after just moving into a new house.
You certainly didn't make is easy on yourself that's for sure. I do feel for you though. It's a tough tough year.

OP, you poor thing. Enjoy your shower. However, make sure you don’t turn the cold on too much, I’ve had it where the increased pressure blew it off the taps at a pace.

@popNlock

Middle of a pandemic probably wasn't the best time for pregnancy when already have a baby and a husband working on front line after just moving into a new house. You certainly didn't make is easy on yourself that's for sure. I do feel for you though. It's a tough tough year.

Well. That didn’t take long. FFS.

Winterwoollies
Okeydokey.

@popNlock why kick her when she’s down?

I second AO.COM they are bloody brilliant. Also dont pay for the removal of the broken one as they always phone up and say they are being nice and will take it away for free anyway.... good luck and hope it gets better. it will and soon you will laugh about it!

I'm not. I said I feel for her and it's been a tough year. She put a lot on herself. So obviously its becoming too much.
It is a lot.

Baby .project managing new house,pregnant in a pandemic,husband I assume working all the hours god sends . It's a lot.