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!

[quote Gingerinthegarden]@DressingGownofDoom

I’ve just ordered one on next day delivery
Didn’t even know they existed. Anything is better than current situation.[/quote]
Happy days, hope it helps a wee bit!

Try again @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.

This is judgement, not sympathy.

I had a plumbing emergency in lockdown and it is difficult to get someone. I went to British Gas local heroes, not the cheapest but it got it done the next day. I've just written off the extra cost as I needed it done.

You sound like you have alot on your plate, well done on the fridge freezer.

Winterwoollies

Try again
No.im ok thanks. I dont need to try anything again. I just said what I said.

I have my opinion, you have yours and of course op put it out there so I am free to think what I like. Even if that bothers you. You will have to just learn to live with it.

That's awful. I remember years ago being pregnant and living in a house with no heating and a very old freezing cold ceramic bath. My other half used to boil kettles to bring the water up to just semi warm for 5 minutes. It can wear you down definitely. Forget baths . Get hot water bottles lots of them for comfort. It's cold enough to leave a frozen meal in a bag in your car something else I've done. Stay calm it's just a moment in time and will pass.

Can you throw some cash at the situation and get a short term rental while a property maintenance company comes in and just sorts everything out for you? I couldn’t be arsed finding and coordinating individual trades people at the moment. And I’m sure there are plenty of air bnbs empty and available for emergency accommodation for a dr and his family in their time of need.

[quote Gingerinthegarden]@DressingGownofDoom

I’ve just ordered one on next day delivery
Didn’t even know they existed. Anything is better than current situation.[/quote]
Bless you, you must be much younger than me, these used to be very common lol.

Sounds like you’ve got a lot going on!

Have you got a washing up bowl? Run some hot tap water and stick some bubbles in it and sit with your feet in it. It doesn’t do anything except feel nice, bit like a bath and will warm you up.

If you happen to be near London try Pimlico Plumbers. They are expensive but have fixed a fridge freezer and when that wasn’t a goer they ordered a suitable replacement and fitted it. Have also sorted out many other plumbing issues very efficiently.

If it’s just a question of cost then borrow if possible. It’s an emergency.

@Winterwoollies

Try again *@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.

This is judgement, not sympathy.

Possibly not written in the most sensitive way, but a lot of people are dealing with a lot of crap they didn’t chose at the moment. OP is suffering too, but with things that ultimately were decisions and will pay off (cheaper house needing work, children close together) in the end.

There were a load of threads 6 months ago about the wisdom of pregnancy during a pandemic. I think if you’re pregnant at the moment, people knew roughly what they were letting themselves in for (if planned, of course) re Covid.

Maybe PopNlock hasn’t had a great week either.

Can you get the old fridge freezer taken away by whoever brings the new one, I think currys etc do that sort of thing for a tenner x

Have you joined Nextdoor.co.uk ? It's a site that links you up to any of your neighbours near you or locally. Loads of people ask for builder/plumber etc recommendations. Take a look you never know you might strike lucky.

Are you sure you can't find a new freezer on ao.com or appliances direct? Our freezer broke down on a bank holiday weekend during the first lock down and we managed to get one next day. We were restricted on size due to the gap it had to go in but still had some choice, only the very cheapest stuff wasn't available (ppl panic buying second freezers)

Oh god, OP it sounds like hell! I've been driven to despair just by having new windows, doors and boiler and I'm not pregnant and don't have any kids.

As well as local FB groups, there's something called Next Door that's like a local message board thing. There are always good recommendations for tradesmen on my local one. And try some smaller fridge/freezer online retailers, Appliances Direct have a good rep, also independents who might be able to suggest an alternative that will do the job.

And you've got a lot on your plate, so don't ask too much of yourself.

OP, if you're happy to say roughly where you are, someone on here might be able to recommend a plumber. I have a fantastic guy, but he's Brighton/East Sussex based. He's one of those kind-hearted tradesmen who will put himself out for people who are really in a fix.

Attach a hose pipe to the sink taps to fill the bath.

If the problem is with the electrics, maybe just put the new fridge freezer in the living room or anywhere else in the house with space and a plug socket? Unsightly, but at least you have food.

Oh it’s a nightmare. Keep on venting OP if it helps.

I remember when we had a fire in the Rayburn (inherited with the old house, I’d never buy one myself) and lost our central heating and means of cooking in one go. It was early January and bloody freezing. It took months to finally resolve as we (me) were arguing with the insurers and the company servicing it, who actually caused the fire. Both passing the buck!

I’ve often looked back on that time feeling very grateful we didn’t have young children to worry about.

popnlock - unbelievable. you are unbelievable.. shut up!

I’m in a similar position OP, pregnant and living in chaos with no furniture/lots of things broken and covid making it so hard to get anything fixed. I feel for you .

ao.com delivered and fitted a new washing machine and took away our old one - super reliable. This was during the last lockdown when dh was waiting for his test results. (He waited upstairs).

[quote Gingerinthegarden]@DressingGownofDoom

I’ve just ordered one on next day delivery
Didn’t even know they existed. Anything is better than current situation.[/quote]
Oh bless you. You must definitely be younger than me. I’m not that old (40s) but when I was growing up those were more common than showers! It’ll really help 👍🏻

Another recommendation for AO, my fridge went on the 20th (in wales, so already in lockdown), new one came 22nd. Then on Boxing Day it was my bloody microwave - that came NYE. Brilliant service from them :)

Ask your dh to speak to the estates team at work for plumber recommendations. Our hospital estates team is fab and super helpful. They won’t come and do it for you but they tend to live locally and know people.
I buy fridge/freezers from AO - customer service is really good. I have one in the built in slot that I took the cupboard doors off as it’s a temp measure. NHS get discounts with AO and hotpoint too!