Thursday, 11 March 2021

" On Holiday?"

 I shall never ever again try and do all the business of moving by myself!

I'm knackered.

 It didn't help that just as the removal men were finishing loading on Tuesday, the postman brought me a letter from my solicitor requiring me to go and swear a declaration at a solicitors in town to say that I've never had any problem with using the lane to the house. (I've mentioned before that the track that serves the 4 houses isn't owned by anyone ). So instead of doing some hoovering and cleaning and then a relaxed 15 minute journey to the holiday let, I had to find a phone number, ring for an appointment and dash to Stowmarket for a solicitor, swear the declaration (£5 charge) and then get the signed thing in the post by special delivery (£6+ postage) so it got back to my solicitor for completion midday yesterday..... No idea who to blame for it being left to the last minute!

That meant that I had to go back earlier and for longer  yesterday morning to finish cleaning and read the electric meter before completion. 

It then took me an 52 minutes to get through to Eon to give them my final meter reading. I couldn't do it on line because I needed to query a couple of emails telling me I'd not paid my last quarterly bill 10 days ago.....even though I'd got a confirmation reference number. ( Is this all a sly plan to get me to have a smart meter?)

So after all that I'm now on "holiday" in a small bungalow in a small close of similar small bungalows in a small village 8 miles from where I was,  1¼ miles from Son, DiL and my bubble grandchildren and 4 miles back to where I will be. It's comfortable and warm and has everything I need for a months stay although the weather isn't exactly holiday weather ....with gales forecast and plenty of rain. But I finally got connected to t'internet, the TV is a smart TV so I can carry on watching all the crime dramas and I have books to read and puzzle pages to do but what on earth can I blog about?

Oh, nearly forgot...........Thank you to everyone who clicked me past that frightening 666 number! Hope you know I wasn't being that serious although I have to admit I love to see the numbers going up! 😃

Now to think of a topic for tomorrow.

Maybe Back Tomorrow
Sue

 

51 comments:

  1. It's one hassle after another, Sue. By the time you've finally settled into your new place, you really will need a holiday - a month of doing absolutely nothing except what you want to do!

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    1. It will be months of unpacking when I get to the new bungalow!

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  2. Oh, what a palaver! Solicitors do seem to leave everything to the last minute. I think they have a different idea of time to the rest of us. Still, at least you're finally ensconced in your "holiday home" and can relax - until you have to do it again! Hope the next move is easier. xx

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    1. Sort of relaxed but still worrying about the purchase being sorted by Easter

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  3. Pity they didn't email you or ring about the Affidavit, it would have reached you 2 days before a letter and taken away the last minute emergency of it. Strange because a lot of other stuff had been done by email. Glad you were in on Tuesday in the window of good weather. The gales and rain of yesterday you could do without.

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    1. I was very glad the removal men had good weather for shifting my stuff to the lorry and then into storage. Yesterday was horrible as I was loading the car with the last minute stuff. Today even worse.
      I suppose they had to send the statement to sign as it had to be witnessed and rubber stamped by a solicitor.

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    2. Well at least a phone call would have forewarned you that something urgent had come up, given you the chance to even belt in in the car and pick it up. Very odd the way solicitors think. Foul weather here as you say.

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  4. Now enjoy a well earned rest. Those books wont read themselves. X

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  5. My smart meter halved the electricity bill, is there something bad about the meter then? Enjoy your holiday despite this lousy weather.

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    1. Your electric bill was halved by using less electric!
      Lots of people have problems with them in places with poor signal or in areas where the electric goes off frequently due to trees falling on wires etc.

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  6. Thank goodness that’s all over. Time to relax. Hopefully lots of walks with the local family and a good rest.

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    1. I'm debating over biking to my bubble family but there are two steep hills and a busy road!

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  7. Will you get a smart meter at the new place? They can't seem to fit them in parts of Norfolk because phone signals are patchy, apparently

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    1. I don't really want a smart meter but it seems to be the way we will all have to go

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  8. I should put your feet up for a while at least! I cannot understand the benefits of a smart meter as I believe they too use electricity...if everyone was sensible and turned off what they don't need on anyway. Can't think it would do us a whole lot of good...the fridge needs to stay on...the boiler is on timer...lights outside have sensors...x

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    1. I don't understand the ad that says a smart meter will save money - No - only using less electricity will save you money!

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  9. I'm so glad that things sorted themselves out, despite the last minute hitches. Now you can take some time to chill, relax, generally get things together again and plan for the next adventure. It's lovely to be so very close to family.
    I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your holiday home . . . :-)
    xx

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    1. There wont be photos of the holiday home - nothing interesting in a small bungalow

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    2. < grin > Maybe I am just insatiably curious!
      xx

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  10. And breathe! I am digging in my heels over a smart meter too. Apparently, every time you switch suppliers you need a new one, which is a huge thing putting me off. I visualise a collection of them. Feet up and relax now, hopefully, for a few weeks.

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    1. Hopefully not too long here as I need to be sorted by Easter.
      I hate having things like smart meters forced on me when I dont need it!

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  11. I wondered why they had written as quicker to phone, but then they can CHARGE for a letter, can't they?!!! Very poor service, to my mind, and worth complaining. I don't trust any solicitors now, when it comes to conveyancing.

    Never mind, at least when you are in the bungalow you can take your time with unpacking and finding homes for things. You will have less than us so it shouldn't be too arduous. Enjoy your tv and reading relaxation now anyway.



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    1. It had to be a letter as it needed an unconnected solicitor to witness the declaration and stamping and signing.

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  12. So pleased you are settled for a month and hopefully you will enjoy your little holiday and you can walk to your grandchildren if the weather is nice.
    Hazel c uk 🌈🌈

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    1. Not a road for walking as its very busy country road with no paths but high banks on each side in parts

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  13. I know you had no option but to do the move on your own but hats off to you! We move tomorrow - there is (are?!) 2 of us who are almost 60 and I am completely shattered and ache in places I didn't know existed!

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    1. Julia - good luck with your move! See, it did eventually come to pass, but gosh, you had a long wait. I hope you LOVE your new house as we do here.

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    2. Thank-you! 6 months to the day since we put in our offer! Thank Heavens I couldn't see into the future! I love your new house! The views around you are amazing.

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  14. Solicitors do tend to spring surprises on us at the last minute don't they?
    At least the first part is over with and you can relax and twiddle your thumbs for a few weeks. Too early for Wimbledon though, but maybe there are other sporting things going on for you to watch.

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  15. Like a few of the others above me, I don't trust lawyers as far as you can throw them. I'm sure moving house - and many other things - would be far more easily achieved without them! I once got charged £20 for a lawyer to watch me signing something. Took 2 minutes of his time and I had to pay cash!! I bet that didn't get put through his books!

    But - that's the first part done. Hopefully the next 4 weeks will fly by. :o)

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  16. Isn't there always something? The very day I moved, I had to drive to the solicitor's to sign something that had gone astray.

    I have a smart meter but as the indoor monitor packed up very quickly, it's not much use in helping me save electricity. I think the advertisements (like the ones you hear on Classic FM) are very misleading. They seem to suggest that just having a smart meter will save you electricity, which is obviously nonsense.

    I still have to go outside to read my own gas meter. When I said yes, I would like a smart one, I was told I couldn't have it because I wasn't on dual fuel. Since then, I've occasionally been told I'm on a waiting list. Perhaps I'm better off reading it myself, despite the hassle.

    As I've been told that my gas, electricity, phone and council tax bills will all go up this year, I could do with saving money! I hope you can pretend to be on holiday for a while, before the effort of the real move.

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  17. I think you've done an awesome job getting moved by yourself. Well done!

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  18. I am 400 miles out of 1000 into my move
    Apartment people didn’t do a walk through wi5 me but I took a million pictures
    People here in Tennessee don’t seem to know about masks
    Hope those in Georgia and Florida do
    This is my 31 sr move so no big deal
    Just a 1000miles
    Son bought a condo on the Gulf area for me
    Bittersweet leaving one family for next but exciting also
    I am blessed

    My daughter and I masked driving and son went ahead with little trailer
    They have not been vaccinated
    Hope you get in your home soon
    I a, a minimalist and gave almost all furniture to Habitat which is a group building homes for those in need
    My boxes are memories
    Prayers and glad that number is gone

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  19. Whoa! You've have had a time of it. But now it's done and time to relax a bit before you move to final abode and unpack. Take care.

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  20. I've in Sheffield and I'm on a 2nd generation smart meter which means I can transfer to a new provider should I decide to do so, with the same meter. Maybe it's because I watch it constantly but I have saved money since having it
    Well done on your move; what an achievement.!

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  21. I have never met anyone that had a smooth moving experience. Moving house seems to always carry complications. Some due to incompetence and others happenstance. Regardless, both add to the consternation of moving. Being near family and grands will be marvelous. Makes the move all worthwhile. Spring warmth and sunshine is just around the corner. Time to enjoy your holiday home.

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  22. Sorry about the last minute paperwork. I'm sure you are completely exhausted after all you've had to do with the move. I have the greatest admiration for you doing all this by yourself. I hope you can relax and enjoy this break you have and also have some visits with the family!

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  23. I'm glad you got needed done for solicitor. Of course things happen like that when you have a busy time in life. Enjoy time in your holiday bungalow. I'm there's something nice in there to see. Relax. Cuppa tea ☕. I have many people reading my posts but few comments. Weird. Prayers for you.

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  24. Chin up my love. You will one day be able to look back on this and laugh!!

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  25. The first hurdle is done, at least. Now there's a bit of time to rest before the next one. Soon you'll be all settled, though! --EM Griffith (who has moved house far more times than she cares to count, with another coming up)

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  26. Well, I'm glad you're moved in, although that's an awful lot of unnecessary stress on moving day! Just tell us what you read and watch during your holiday if there's nothing else to write. I'll still be there!

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  27. Oh my goodness Sue, this is reminding me of all the problems of moving house. To think we are considering doing it again! Now you're there I hope you enjoy the rest before you have to move on again. xx

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  28. As tiring as it was, I'm glad your move went well overall. I have smart meters for electric, gas and water. I wasn't given a choice. I got a notice to pick a day for the appointment and utilities showed up. No way to refuse here! Best, Celie

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  29. What a total nuisance - time-consuming and stress making. I hope you are feeling more settled now Sue. Weaver is right - you will be able to look back on this and laugh - but not before you've done some eye-rolling first! May the rest of the paperwork etc all fall into place.

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  30. At mile 800...200 more miles to go and little condo is waiting along with little grandsons I haven’t seen because of pandemic...my daughter and I have gone only 400 miles per day...my age and her Brain Concussion Syndrome...has been a quick trip and next few weeks with paper work addresses...new license...car tags etc...busy...son ordered a new w and dryer and has unloaded the trailer...I have few things...mostly memories...will this 31st move be my last???? For the near future indeed...good luck getting situated there...love your blog...prayers

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  31. I would enjoy seeing photos of your holiday "let"..

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  32. So good that you are at last settled and can relax for a while.

    We move out of the Welsh home on Tuesday and then Alan is temporarily staying at the flat with me and we pick up the keys to our new homes on Friday. To complicate things and add to the 'moving ourselves bit by bit with a small truck' confusion Alan was struck with DVT on Wednesday of last week, so we had doctors and hospital appointments in Wales with follow on notes handed over ready for a new doctor in England to cope with as well.

    Hopefully we will be able to relax for a couple of days next week.

    A good blogger never runs out of material, why not share some of your favourite other blogs or YouTube channels with links etc.

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  33. Oh don't you hate it when you have to follow-up on so many details, and no one is making it easy for you. Glad to hear you got through all of it - enjoy some rest now.

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  34. Glad you're settled. So close to the family must be nice! I hope you are able to see them.

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