TUESDAY - PRE-SETTLEMENT VIEWINGS

 

Today we have two important things to do.

1.  We go to have the final, pre-settlement viewing of our new home.

That's when we get to make sure nothing has been taken out of the house that is supposed to stay.  Like curtains/oven etc.

And to make sure everything works, like lighting, garage door opener etc.

THEN: 

2.  We have the purchasers of our current home coming this afternoon to do their pre-settlement viewing.  Same thing goes, they get to make sure everything is as it should be.  

Thank God the carpet is dry now! 

So, it's going to be a fun day I'm sure. 

ABOVE: I completely forgot to tell you, THE PSYCHO SCRAPPY DOLL was one of the three sold on Saturday.  😂😜😏  I might just make another couple like that! lol

I'm starting to miss sewing... like I know I need to make more Scrappy's and I want to do them NOW.  But of course, all my sewing stuff is packed.  *sigh*

10.30 am, and we just took the rest of our house plants over to Steve 'n' Bex's.  They will stay there till early next week no doubt.

I ordered some glass domes off Trade Me a week ago, and they got delivered to our new address this morning.  So we drove out there and picked it up.

ABOVE:  The first piece of mail with our new address on it.  Might just keep it.

ABOVE: The little glass domes.  They are way smaller than I anticipated, but I will use them on a mosaic project at some point.

We are now taking a break, as there's bugger all to do now.

I'm looking at the kitchen, thinking OMG it's naked!  So weird.

We are gunna have lunch at Chartwell Square today, after we have viewed the new house again.  I'm looking forward to a chicken filo with salad. 

I have one piece of meatloaf left in the freezer, it is coming out tonight.  We will be eating it over the next couple of days... because after tonight, I'm not cooking anything else in the kitchen.

2 pm:  The viewing at our new home went just fine, no issues to worry about.

Our agent knew all the things to check, so we didn't have to try and remember everything.

After the viewing, we had lunch.  

Then I tracked down a book I have already read, but wanted to buy.  Cos it's THAT GOOD!

ABOVE:  Such a good read, well worth buying and reading again one day.  Stew has even said he will try reading it.  *snort*... he's not much of a reader.  

ABOVE:  I then went to Farmers, and they had managed to restock my lippy!  So when she said 'Buy TWO, get the Third one FREE' ... of course I bought three.  lol

Home now, and about to do a few last minute things before our buyers come for their last inspection.

4.15 pm and the final inspection is over.  And it went very well.  Our buyer is DELIGHTFUL, such a lovely young woman.  We have exchanged phone numbers, so if she has any problems or wants a pool tutorial etc, we can come and help her.  Only too happy to do that for her.

NOW we can relax.

MONDAY: BLOODY HELL

 

4 days until this house no longer belongs to us.

And what's the one thing you don't need to happen?

Besides the house burning down... is a leak.

I was walking down the hallway last night and saw a dark area in front of the linen/hot water cupboard. 

I immediately KNEW what it was.

ABOVE:  Yep.  A leak from the hot water cylinder, or pipe work.

Stew immediately went to get Steve, who would know what to do.

Meanwhile, I lay on the floor and listened and watched.

And found where the leak was coming from.

A pipe connection.  It was hot water dripping out.

ABOVE: Steve did a temporary 'tighten' of the joint that was leaking.  Today I hope our plumber can come and fix it permanently.

OMG the last thing we needed.  Another bloody leak, in the space of two weeks.

First the one out by the footpath, and now this one.  SHIT... things go in 3's eh?  

Back to the rest of today:  

Stew is taking our trailer down for a new WOF.

Then he's dropping the lawn mower off for a service, before it gets given to Lacy.

While he's doing that, I will potter around here, doing odd jobs.  And waiting for the plumber. 🤞

After lunch Stew and I are heading into town to sign the final paperwork pertaining to the sale and purchase of our home(s).  

My leg:  It is 7 weeks since I injured it, and I am happy to say we are at about 95% better.  Probably a week or two to go until it is 100% again.  I hope I never do it again.  

OK, time to get a move on...

Catch ya later.

7.30 am, and Steve has organised a plumber... who will be here soon.  What a relief.... I tossed and turned all night long, worried it would burst overnight, and I'd wake up to a totally flooded house!

Thank God that hasn't happened.

9.52 am: Plumber has been, seen, and gone to get a new washer.  Seems it's happened a lot with this particular connection joint.  A 'faulty washer'.  *sigh*   A simple fix, and he'll be back to do it soon.

Meanwhile, I went out and bought a small fan heater to dry the floor fast.  I do not want it wet when the purchasers come for their pre-settlement viewing TOMORROW.

IT.  IS.  FIXED.... and the little heater is now drying out the carpet.

Lacy has been and picked up some seafood chowder, and one of my houseplants.  She is just looking after the plant until next week.

ABOVE: Stew is busy dismantling the garage shelving, and packing up all his shit, I mean garage stuff.

ABOVE:  I may still need to burn down the house!  Ikkkk.

A couple of times this morning I said to Stew "Let's not forget our 1.30 pm appointment with the lawyer today"..... and the final time I said it to him, I glanced at the time on me computer.

1.28 PM!  Oh shit a brick.  I quickly rang the lawyers advising them we would be late, SO SORRY!

All the legal shit is done now.  Bring on Friday and hopefully everything goes like clockwork.

7.01 pm:  Feeling decidedly jaded.  But happy with what we got done today.  Lots of little jobs.

Tomorrow will be the same I'm sure.

Just getting all the last ducks in a row.

Stew's gone out to get us something for dinner.  I'm almost ready to stop cooking in this kitchen.

8.14 pm:  And today is done and dusted.  I'm already wanting to go to bed!  Another hour or so and I reckon I will be.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

SUNDAY - MORE PACKING

 

Right, today I'm going to finish emptying the kitchen cupboards.  I'm going to put up a trestle in the dining area, and put everything on it that we still need to use.

That way ALL the kitchen cupboards will be clean and empty.

Stew meantime, is going to mow the lawns and weed the gardens for the last time here, as long as it's not raining.  If it is, they will have to be done on Monday or Tuesday.

I'm not sure what else I will get up to today... there's only so much left I can do before say, Thursday.  Then it will get a bit crazy.

11.42 am.

The day has begun very well.

ABOVE: All the last minute kitchen stuff is right there.

I only have one cutlery drawer to empty, and that will happen on Thursday night. Every single other cupboard and drawer in the kitchen has been emptied and cleaned.

ABOVE:  I have made a BIG pot of Seafood Chowder this morning, and it should last us a couple of days at least.

ABOVE: Stew taste tested it, and declared it delicious.  Yaaa.

It's an easy recipe. 

https://heavenlyhomecooking.com/creamy-seafood-chowder/#recipe

I do not add the celery (Ikkkk), and I double the amount of seafood, and add more stuff like squid rings, octopus, mussels etc.

ABOVE: This is IT.  His last time mowing these lawns.  

I have LOVED this home and garden.   We have put so much love and $$$$'s into it.  I really hope the new owners love it as much as I do.

I'm now taking a lunch break, and Stew will be able to very soon as well.  I bet he's having... seafood chowder for his lunch.  😂😋

Another LAST this afternoon.  I did the pool winter maintenance treatment.  Shock Chlorine and Algicide.  That should keep it healthy for the next month or two, until the new owners learn how to care for it.

I'm making Garlic Butter to have with some thick toast bread.  Dinner is sorted.

I have meals lined up for the next 2 days after today, then I'm DONE cooking here.  Exciting.

ABOVE:   There was a little bottle of Lindauer Pinot Gris in the fridge.  Every time I opened the door, it tried to fall out.  So we just drank it.  It wasn't that good, but it felt good to 'toast' the LASTS today.  

There will be a few more LASTS over the next few days... then we start FIRSTS at the new house.

And YES, we are down to plastic glasses!

Well, it was a good day, until it wasn't!

A bit of stress this evening... nothing that can't be fixed tomorrow... but I really didn't need it.

Grrrrr.... catch ya tomorrow.

SATURDAY - TAMAHERE IN MAY

 

It's freakin' early as... and we are getting ready to head off to Tamahere.

This is the last market we have before we move.

I feel like I have been waiting AGES for this market to be over and done with, so I can then pack it all away until after we move. 

My calf/leg feels much better this morning.  If I  take small, deliberate steps, there is no pain!  It's only when I forget and try to stride it out that it reminds me it's still mending.  But, it is getting there.  

I have a large piece of pork in the crock pot, which I will switch on as we leave.  Dinner is sorted.

Right, time to go... catch ya later.

...

ABOVE:  expected fog... wasn't wrong.

ABOVE: It's 7.49 am, we just took our time today, so set up finished a bit later than our 'norm'. It's still very foggy, but the sun should burn it off eventually. 

No expected wind or rain, which is awesome. 

The organiser of this market goes around taking photos.. then puts them on their Facebook page. Today she featured my Scrappy dolls.

Meanwhile, there's a lady lying in bed, scrolling Facebook. She sees my dolls... jumps out of bed and drives down here...

ABOVE: She is very happy with her doll. (Posted with her permission)

ABOVE: Nearly 11 am and we still have fog!  A decent amount of people here today. 

Would you believe it! Another lady saw the dolls on Facebook this morning and came and bought 2. Looks like I'll be making more once we have moved and settled in.

ABOVE: At 12.15 pm, forty five minutes before the market ended, the FOG FROM HELL finally lifted!  

There was a reasonable amount of people at the market today, and most stallholders turned up.

AFTER 12.15 it turned into a gloriously sunny, warm day.

We are home now, and just relaxing for a little while.  Stew will head off to the supermarket shortly to get diet coke and other bit's 'n' bobs.

We ended up having decent sales today, which was nice.  What really made me smile was A) The dolls selling and B) one of my runners is off to Switzerland.  

I love it when they go all over the world.

The pork in the crock pot is smelling delicious!!!  So nice to come home to that smell wafting out the door.

2.45 pm: Stew is at the supermarket, and I just finished loading the van with heaps of stuff, ready to go on Friday to the new house.  BIG TICK.

ABOVE:  Oh almost forgot.  A lady from Hamilton City Council was wandering around the market, looking for stalls to invite to the MATARIKI FESTIVAL,  to be held on Friday, June the 20th at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake.  It is a Twilight Festival.  She was looking for 'one off, unique, locally made' products.  She loved our stall and invited us to attend.  How lovely was that?  We shall certainly be going.

Best put that on our calendar right now.

6.38 pm, and I'm signing off early.  We are both knackered... half physical, half mental.  So much to remember to do over the next 6 days.  I tried to have a power nap this afternoon, but my brain was like ... hell no.  

So we will stay up till around 9-10 pm, then go to bed, hoping to get a good nights sleep.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ONE WEEK TO GO!

It's Friday.

ONE MORE WEEK until we move.

Stew finishes work tonight, and has the next two weeks off.

He will be busy though, helping me get the last minute things done before the move.

And then helping get us settled into the new house.

We have the Tamahere Market tomorrow, so we'll load up the van today, in readiness for market.  

We are borrowing Steve's van for the next week, so we can keep all the market stuff in it, and also fit in anything else we want to get out of the way/garage, before the movers arrive next Friday.  BIG TICK.

ABOVE:  I just ordered these glass domes off Trade Me.  And changed our delivery address... they will probably turn up at our new home BEFORE us! lol

I didn't want to put our present address in case they turned up after we moved, and I didn't get them.  Shit happens.  Trying to avoid SHIT at all costs.

I was going on an FBG Social Walk today... but just tripped over Coco and wrenched my sore calf again. DAMN IT.  So now I'll have to cancel. I was looking forward to going so much. 

...

How typical.  Already my leg is feeling quite a bit better.  Though I think it was wise not going on the walk, it's at Raglan, on the beach.  Might have been a stretch for my leg to cope with 5 kms of walking on sand.

I've already done quite a bit in the house this morning, like empty all but two cupboards and one drawer in the kitchen.

The washing is on, and I just scrubbed out the laundry sink.  Tick tick.

Time to put my leg up and rest it for an hour or so.

2.42 pm:  Why do the seemingly little jobs take so much time?  All I did was clean out some of the bathroom cupboards and cabinet.  Two hours and two boxes later, and that's done.  All that's left in the bathroom now is stuff in daily use. Yet another big tick.

I know I'm actually getting way ahead of the game... come next week there is going to be bugger all to do.  That's not a bad thing I suppose.

Does anyone else do this?  I just hid in my hallway because there were two men knocking on my door.  They kept knocking.... Coco was going nuts as she saw them coming to the front door.   I loathe door knockers, no matter what reason they are on my property for.  This lot were religious callers...  and I ain't into that.  They knocked several times... until they left finally.

I felt like a right twat hiding in my hallway!

Hanging out for Stew to get home.  I've not had lunch today... cos I want a Subway sandwich for dinner.  Starving. 

7.45 pm:  All is done for the day.   Van is ready to go.  Dinner was awesome.  And I'm knackered and ready for bed.  It's just a wee bit early for bed though.  Maybe in another hour and a half.

Till then, I'll watch some mindless TV, while Stew is in the lounge watching ... SPORT.  Of course.

Catch ya tomorrow. 

MOSAICS AGAIN TODAY

 

Today I'm off to Cambridge to work on my little projects at Mosaics.  I am enjoying it, it's different from sewing.  And I get to hang out with a few very nice ladies.  And Yak.  Gotta love the yakking.  😂😉

On my way over there, I'm dropping Coco off at Lacy's.  Lacy is going to give Coco a bath for me, as I don't want the 'wet dog stink'  in my bathroom after it took me 4 hours to get it spotless!  And it's too cold to bath her outside.

So, Lacy can do it in her wet room/bathroom for me.

I'll pick Coco up on my way home from Cambridge at lunchtime.

I have sold or given away SO MUCH STUFF, in preparation for our move to a much smaller home. While visiting Lacy yesterday something strange happened.

ABOVE:  I spied this gorgeous blue platter... said it was gorgeous and ... Lacy gave it to me.

I don't often get given stuff, it's usually the other way around.   

ABOVE: See how gorgeous it is!  I will definitely find a spot for it in our new home.

ABOVE:  Talking about our new home... I drove out to the Village yesterday as well.  Look what I spied in my new garden.  Such a pretty iris.  I think it will be interesting to see what pops up in the garden over time.

ABOVE:  It is now 12.37 pm, and I'm just in from Cambridge.  The day started with another really heavy fog... so I layered up with me thermals to keep warm.

Of course, by lunchtime (like now), I had to take them all off cos it's warmed up considerably.

ABOVE:  My Lizard On Shist is coming along nicely.  I added grout today, and next week one of the ladies will cure it for me.  I won't be back there now for a few weeks... due to moving etc.

ABOVE:  I got quite a few more bits 'n' bobs on this rock today as well.   It's looking lovely and bright.  A happy rock.

It is now lunchtime, so as per usual, I'll take a break and be back.... later.

Thanks for saying how lovely the Lizard looks, but remember, I didn't actually make him.  I'm just repairing him.

I had thought of leaving him in this garden when we move, but decided I liked him too much to leave him.

Our new garden is much smaller, more compact and I have no idea where everything will go!  Or if it will even fit.

Considering how much I've already given away ... I may still need to rehome more stuff!!!

That kinda hurts, but it is what it is.

Stew arrived home and I've just dropped him down at the pub.  I chose to come home again, instead of visiting the kids this evening.  I'm tired.  Bex is tired (baby woke too early today).  So  I now have about 3 hours to kill till I pick Stew up from the pub.

What to do?   Might just sit here and watch TV.

So I am watching tv, the NEWS in fact.  But I also just emptied 3 more kitchen cupboards and cleaned them.  More ticks.

9.38 pm:  I ended up spending half an hour with Stew at the pub.  Then home to chill out till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

HUMP DAY

 

I checked my lists... and there is like, NOTHING I need to do today.

Which means I have nothing to do.  

No plans whatsoever.  Totally bored.

I should be thankful I suppose.  But really, I just want to be busy, so time flies faster.

Oh I know what I can do!  I'll wash all the windows outside.  The insides are fine, but the outsides sure need another clean.

There, solved me problem.  

That should take me an hour or two...  catch ya later. 

Two jobs done already, and it's only 10.20 am.

ABOVE: When I started cleaning the windows, it was super foggy, really damp, almost like drizzle!

But by the time I'd finished it had cleared, and we have a gorgeous day out there.

After finishing the windows, I came inside and did the next job.  Talking to the Insurance Company again.  I'd changed all our policies last week, to reflect smaller home, less contents etc.

I also cancelled our trailer insurance, effective next week.

But as Stew pointed out, WHAT IF some bastard steals it the day after it's no longer insured?  So I reinstated the insurance on the trailer, just to be safe.

I'll cancel it after we sell it. 

I am now considering going out and about... 

Sorry Christine, forgot to reply.

Score the top of the meat, going through the fat.  Put some oil on the top and sides to stop it drying out, sprinkle with salt.  Into a low oven for about 3 hours, then turn the heat up a bit to crisp up the top.  Serve with apple sauce and veges.  Super YUM.

ABOVE:  Flowers delivered to me door just now. ??

From Stew...   'Thinking of You'.

I get it.

It would have been my Mum's 88th Birthday today.  I have tried to keep myself busy.  But that kind gesture from Stew made me cry.   

ABOVE: And then I laughed, cos the closest thing I had to a vase to put them in was... the bottom of the blender!!!   Works for me.  

Thank you Darling.

See you later.  

6.38 pm:  Stew arrived home and we sat and pondered 'dinner'.  Usually we just have snacks, but tonight we decided to have a pizza.  So he's gone out to get some.  I felt cheated, as we had planned on having pizza for lunch on the weekend, but ended up having a burger instead.

ABOVE:  Dominoes Thin and Crispy Crust Pizza... perfect!   We really enjoy them, cos you don't get too much dough.

Now that dinner is done (sorry Coco, none for you), we will blob out till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.