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)

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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!!

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

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.