Me again!! Help Me!! (again, you were all so good last time!!!)

[gabity]

Well, since the magic (or coincidence) of mumsnet helped me sell my house - help me buy a house (before I need to be confined to the looney bin or divorce DH)

1. Do-er upper. House needing totally re-done inside. 8k of work needed structurally. Fantastic garden. Forever house. Middle price range. Okay location. Would need to work but not full time.
   
   
2. Move in condition. Ideal location. No prospect of making money on it. Not forever house. Cheaper than cheap. Would let me stay at home with DD or return to uni and finish my degree. Terraced house, with less than ideal neighbour.
   
   
3. New build. Ideal location. Forever house. Quite expensive but affordable. I would need to work full time. (house right next to my mum, she would have DD no probs there). I wouldn't get a chance to finish degree.
   
   
4. Okay condition, but needs cosmetic work. Totally out of the way location. (but great for DH's and my work, just not family). Middle price range. Would need to work but not full time. Lots of land and stables.
   
   
5. Rent somewhere until something ideal comes along? Maybe wait forever? (but there have been ideals for sale in the last 18 months) There is nothing in the ideal location rental wise at the moment, but plenty round about.
   
   
6. Cardboard box on the street.
   
   How do people make these decisions without going crazy? Is it just us that are inept at decision making? (bearing in mind we are out of here 5 weeks on Monday)

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Yay Do you have any idea of when you will find out?

When do you have to let the others know if you are going to accept their offer or not?

Getting out of where you are now sounds like a good plan - but I guess it depends what they come up with.

Are you happy with the money for J3?

Great you have been to the house again - have you signed the papers? Is it 'yours' yet?

Absolutely - triple rate for that though, sorry. But fully prepared to trade it for Scotland Trip Planning services.

[gabity]

Job 3 interview went well, would LOVE it. Such a nice (on first impressions anyway) boss. Seemed to get on really well, was in for ages which is usually a good sign.

Just been to have another look round new house, even more fab than I remembered. Came away armed with brouchers for flooring and tiles. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Do you also offer interior decoration advice as part of your service cheese?

Happy Days

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Did you find a fab holiday??

Sorry about your Dad, that must be really hard for him :(

I bet your M&D are both pinging off the walls with the thought of you moving in next door - it's lovely to see your Dad with his grandaughter isn't it :)

I will keep my fingers crossed that Job 3 comes off then!!

[gabity]

Road testing holiday destinations I can do! Going to have a serious look just now.

No, wheelchair is a permanent thing for Dad. He is coping remarkably well but always loved his holidays so would be great for everyone to get away. He will enjoy having DD to stay, they love each other so much and one always seems to keep the other one entertained!

Was hearing about restructure at work tonight, everyone moaning and complaining, I don't want to go back to having to deal with that! Def not.

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

LOL at packing the 'self control' - it's over rated anyway

'Scotland' thread here if you fancy a read later. I know you don't have anything else to do

My friend is coming over from NZ and it's part one of the trip - she LOVES Puffins, so it actually started off as 3-4 days somewhere up in Scotland to see the Puffins and it's grown like a weed! We have a few days back here - well, I say back here, actually racing around seeing relatives and doing stuff in London, then a months madcap adventure starting in Paris... we are going to be fucked exhausted.

I hope you find a great deal in Madeira (or elsewhere), it will be lovely to look forward to and will take the edge of staying with your parents in a smaller house with DH, DD, Dog etc... no matter how well you get on, it's never easy to share your space for that long.

Sorry to hear about your Dad :( Is there any chance he will make a recovery or is the wheelchair a permanent thing now?

How about you 'trial' Madeira in April and then you can all go if it's OK

[gabity]

Medeira looks fabulous as first glance! Hot but not too hot, shortish flight time (am a terrible traveller!) and looks beautiful. Why have I never thought of going threre before? No one I can think of has been either. Don't mind 'old people's place'! That means quiet which suits us just fine!

Prices are v.reasonable for a week in April, just went into one site so guess I will manage to get it even cheaper than that.

Will google more tonight! Thanks for that!

Mum was talking about us all going away in the summer, Dad had an accident last year and is in a wheelchair now so they coulndn't manage just the two of them. "a week in the sun, all expenses paid to carry your suitcases Mum? Oh I think we could probably manage that!" Will maybe suggest Madeira to her also!

[gabity]

Oh dear my self control seems to be lacking somewhat today - perhaps I have packed it by mistake!

House is clean and as tidy as its going to get! So DD having a nap am I'm having a cup of tea before we go to Tesco.

Your trip sounds AMAZING! Have got family in Fort William, its is beautiful. Mum and Dad often go up to Mull, make sure you 'do' Tobermory! You will have a wonderful time, make sure you take tons of pictures, hope the weather is kind to you. You will be knackered after 3 weeks! Need a holiday to recover! What has made you decide to go? Bit unusual holiday choice, but fab all the same.

We were probably going to have a summer holiday this year. Last year I thought DD was too young to go, the year before we were booked up and I ended up in hospital with the worst morning sickness you could imagine so had to cancel. Feels like an eternity since I have felt the sun! Away to google Madeira, never been.

Bloody SIL and BIL are here more on business than anything else, they let out 4 flats in Glasgow city centre and need to do something or other with them. However they will bring DD an amazing birthday present i'm sure so can't complain too much!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Gabity - your life sounds like mine! LOL Just when you think you know what you are deciding between (or have made a decision!!) up pops another option!

When do you have to let Job 2 know if you want it or not?

At least the work meeting is today - are you included in the meeting? However, I guess it will take them a little while to outline the new roles etc - I guess it depends how long you can stall jobs 2 & 3 for... buggering bugger!

What a shame the house will be ready except for the garden - sodding pain in the bum that needs to be done for the completion certs! Your Mum has stolen all the snow (though I'm sure she'd say she could do without it!!)... because they said this year would be as bad, or worse, than last year I bought winter tyres for my car - they have travelled less than a mile in slush ...grrrr. I need to get them swapped back to summer tyres as they wear out too quickly when it's warmer, but I just know that if I do we'll get a late dump of snow!!

I'd say at least one weekend away with DD and one weekend away just the two of you will be a must - call it sanity saving and in the scheme of things, wont make much difference to your deposit. Save one until towards the end of the two months - because you know what the chances are of them finishing on time! Do you have a penalty clause in your contract??

We are starting in Inverness, going around Loch Ness (going on a boat and to the castle), doing the train trip out to Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton
then driving back out there the next day too... going to Skye, Fort William (train trip to Mallig, over to Ben Nevis (and around that area), down to Isle of Mull (few days there to see Puffins etc), through Oban down to Mull of Kintyre, back up to Glasgow, Falkirk wheel, Sterling, Edingburgh, down to Seahouses for more puffins & fly out of Newcastle... all in 3 weeks!!

Loving the self control turning off the laptop - PM me some of that would you??

SIL & BIL - bloody typical isn't it! It's not like you're moving to Australia and they need to make the most of you being here! LOL Rope them into packing up some boxes!

LOL at your Mum, bless ... at least she's braving the M8, she must looooooooooove DD

LOL - yes, I'm sure a month fortnight away will seem very appealing! In all seriousness, if you are going to have a holiday away this year, it might as well be then! You could probably get quite a good deal in Madeira - it has a reputation as an 'old peoples place' but I've had a few friends go there on holiday with their kids and had a fantastic time!

[gabity]

No, money isn't everything - Have done this job long enough to know that! Really don't want to go back to it. Thought my mind was made up, if I get this one on Friday I will take it, however my old boss text me this morning to say there is a huge meeting at work today and along with a big shake up, the roles are being redefined and there will be some interesting vancencies coming up.

The guy who is building the house is making getting the garage finished his priority, it only really needs painted. It is massive so will get all our stuff into it without having to pay storage costs. He e-mailed me this morning asking for final choices for flooring and tiles, thats all that is really to do cosmetically and just the radiators to be fitted. Its the landscaping that is going to take the time, which has to be done to get completion certs. Mum said it was snowing there yesterday (1000ft above sea level, snow there when we are sunbathing in Glasgow!) so that won't help matters!

Think OH is getting worried about the couple of months with mum! He was saying last night about how much money we can save as will have no bills or mortgage, then in the next breath say that will pay for some lovely nights out and maybe even a weekend away to give us all some space! Maybe he is right!

Scotland is beautiful, especially if you get the weather. Where about are you going? Further up is where the real beauty is, if you could guarentee the weather it would beat anywhere else in the world imo.

Right, that is my breakfast had and I need to get on, laptop is being switched off for the day! Apart from the usual day of chasing DD round the house, I have to clean, DHs sister and BIL coming to stay tonight and tomorrow night, decided all of a sudden, they know what kind of mess we are in with boxes etc and they are the richest couple I know, couldn't they have found a hotel? Grrr. So that to do, make the house look as presentable as possible, trip to Tesco to get breakfast stuff for them for tomorrow, then working 3-10. Mum is coming tomorrow morning for DDs birthday, she is terrifed to drive on the M8 and will only do it first thing so says she will be here for 7am! Oh the joys. Think I will be telling OH to sod the weekend away and lets book a fortnight in the sun with no family or stress!!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Anyway, buggering off to bed now - will catch up tomorrow x

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

He is dead. He would be

Couldn't help but laugh!!! Farking typical isn't it!

£160 isn't the end of the world when you are talking about a house sale - but there are nicer ways of spending it huh!!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

It sounds like a lovely little village :)

I'm going to be up that way in June - I have now spoken to so many MNers in Scotland that I think I'm going to have to do another trip up there just having coffee/lunch/dinner with MNers

It's great your Mum is like that - I could not live next to mine (see earlier post, that's just a snippet). The two months will probably be quite hard work because it's a lot of people in a smaller house... but as long as she remembers DD is yours and you remember it's her house and you all remember it's only for a few months... it will all be fine (gulp)

Where are you storing all of your stuff?

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Yes - I offer job advice too, but the fee is double - is that OK?



You did say about the interview and you seemed quite excited about the prospect of doing the job, so 2 sounds good - where does the pay fit in with that of the first job - between the Junior and Manager rates??

3 sounds even better depending on the £££ how much less than 2 would they offer do you think?

The thing is, money isn't everything - however, if you are leaving DD all day to work full time (when you didn't really want to) you need it to be worthwhile and whether that in monetary terms or satisfaction that's only something you can decide isn't it?!

[gabity]

p.s re Bathroom

Tried to contact the solicitor that we used to buy the house. He is dead. He would be. (sorry no sympathy left) He was the main partner in the company so it now ceases to exist. After some serious research and trawling of papers found our orignial file which has a letter from the council stating that they didn't need a building warrent for the works done.

Only found that out after arranging to get a letter of comfort, our solicitor suggests getting it anyway to avoid any problems, or come backs. Which is fine by me, anything for an easy life. Sodding £160 though.

[gabity]

Its right between Edinburgh and Glasgow, but really in the middle of no where. No shops or buses for miles, sounds dire but what a fab place for kids to grow up! Primary school has 20 pupils and is excellent. Little nursary in the village hall for DD at the moment.

Re parents, we all get on incredibly well really. Mum isn't the type to be nosying around us all the time. She is really fab and have no worries long term. 2 months of us under each others feet in the same house however....

[gabity]

Oooh you offer job advice? FAB!!!

Options:

1. Stay what I am doing just now, but in a different location about 5 miles from new house. No problem getting a transfer. Now I can either go in a junior position, set hours, no responsibility but crap pay. Or go back to a management position. Fab pay, long hours.
   
   
2. Been for an interview last week (did I tell you that?), doing something completely different from what I have ever done. 9-5, reasonable money, but a total change. Been offered job.
   
   
3. Going for an interview on Friday, similar to 2 but a bit closer to home, and a bit less money. Nicer environment, think it would be quite a nice place to work.
   
   Will certainly have to work for the 18 months to build up a better deposit, depending on how much we manage I don't think the mortgage will be very different to what we have at the moment so going back to Uni is still a posibility in the future.

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Just thought too - DH was right - you will be sitting in your own garden this summer drinking wine (or whatever it was he said he wanted to do)!!

Save me trawling through the thread again - where abouts in the country is it?

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

I can see them now :)

Weather looks vile!!

Strange about the windows isn't it? You can always apply to have them changed later or put skylights in if it bothers you!

It will be lovely once you have the outside all sorted out! I look forward to the update photos! I have now saved you onto my watch list!! Don't want to lose you again.

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

No wonder you are knackered - you have been doing loads and making some pretty big decisions!

What a hassle (re your bathroom) hopefully that will get signed off quickly! How come you were able to buy it without it being signed off?

You sound happy with the financial deal on the new place, so that's good. It's brilliant you have got there in time to choose some of your own fittings/floor etc - it makes a big difference.

I don't know how to break this to you - but living with your parents wont be for two months - it will be forever - what's 2 front doors between parents & children . I will try never to mention my post 31.01.11 (15:21) ever again




How do you feel about not doing your degree?

What's the news on the job front??

I couldn't get onto your profile to see the pics :( I'll keep checking!

[gabity]

I'm KNACKERED! Packing all day, DDs birthday party on Thursday, leaving party on Saturday and been working evenings.

Anyway - update:

We have been having trouble with our house sale, apparently the people who had the house before us extended the bathroom and didn't get a building warrent . So now require a letter of comfort. Hopefully that will go through no problem and it will all still go through in time.

We have agreed (subject to our missives getting signed) to rent the new build for 18 months, paying less rent than mortgage we were paying for this place! And then purchase it for what it is valued at then less 5%, as builder will save on estate agent fees etc. We are happy with that, we can save a large amount every month and put it towards a larger deposit. In 18 months we would hope (if everything goes according to plan!) to have at least 15k extra to put down.

Also getting to choose floor coverings, bathroom tiles, blinds etc and having the garden landscaped the way we want it with a large fence to keep the dog in.

Downside is that it is now looking like it will be may before he gets completion certificates so will be living with my Mum for 2 months. EEEEEK. Anyone with a positive experience of living with parents, along with husband, baby and dog in a 2 bed house please talk to me!!!

Will stick a couple of photos on my profile to let you see the new house. Feedback welcome, but don't really care what you think cos I LOVE IT!!!

Hope this and my previous thread can give some hope to someone who has had their property on the market for a while and watched houses come and go - it all works out in the end!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

I lost you!!!!!!

What's the latest??

[gabity]

Honestly can't cope with this any more!



3) Valued at less than we could possibly of imagined!! (like 60k less!) But now he says he can't afford to sell it for that??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop]

Purely that I like doing up! Plus garden is important, forever house...

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Probably - but if they sell their house to you, what do you care?? If it ever comes up in conversation in the village later - deny deny deny.... you don't even have to put Gabity on the note you can put Fred & Wilma - they wont remember what name you put on it when they're signing the papers!!

[MrsSharp]

I think that note sounds fine (Chipping's one, not yours so much!). Our friends found their wonderful house exactly the same way. Good luck!