We handed the keys in this afternoon, but no money was forcoming. K has cut the end off his finger and is in hospital. C came round, went round the house with her nose in the air, no comment about the fire surround, no comment about the state of the house, took the keys and departed.

I am not happy but not much I can do; K, we were told will come and see us when he gets out of hospital, I am not holding my breath.....if I have not heard from him within 14 days I am going to take legal advice.

I am so glad I had the forthought to cancel the payment for March, I doubt very much we would have got it back either.

Thursday

DS2 has left for his drive home, he should get back around 3pm. The fortecast was for heavy rain and high winds, so he decided to go early. Bwfore he went he put empty crates etc into the loft for me.

I gave him the money I owed for the wood he had used and also some petrol money.

A stormy day, wind and rain, the trees in the garden are waving madly.

All the boxes are empty, everything is away and the house is begining to look like home. I dare say there will be some adjustments as we get used to living here, I have to do my fist wash on the night rate tonight, our bed linen from Tueesday and then change the bed that DS slept in., OH and I have worn the same top clothes all week, just changing underwear, so not too much of that washing but quite a bit of stuff that we have used over the last week or so.

We have decided to put nets on the bedroom windows, may be its me but they do seem a bit open....a quick trip to Dunelm on Saturday should see us ok. from then on every penny is a prisioner until we have repaid the costs of the move into our account.

We are doing another bric a brac sale on Easter Sunday, hopefully we will get rid of some more stuff and cash into the account. I have to prepare for a craft sale in July, the machine will be coming out shortly.

From now on I will be shopping once a fortnight rather than once a month. I will still do the menu plan and possibly buy all the months meat, but fruit and staples will be purchased once a fortnight either from Tesco or Aldi.

Off in a while to hand over the keys to the cottage, if LL does not come through for the fire, watch out for fireworks.......I will be telling him to fetch the Manitou and take out the fire, liner etc.......

Gammon and salad for supper tonight with cous cous, we have some banabas to eat up for dessert.

Wednesday

An early start this morning OH off to do his bit at Amisfield; DS and myself to the cottage where we finished the outssianding jonbs.

OH was back before us, we came back with a car full of stuff that OH had not had room for yesterday, so for a while the kitchen looked like a dump, but having done some more sorting this afternoon the kitchen is becoming clearer.

After about 4 weeks with out a dizzy OH has retired to bed. I will cook supper and leave his on a plate for when he gets up, mind you we were late having our lunch, it was almost 2pm by the time DS and I got back.

It was a dull start to the day then it cleared a bit, but rain followed, it appears to have stopped again now and it may well turn into a fine evening.

I am shattered. once DS goes tomorrow we are taking life easy for a while and just enjoying our new surroundings.

Time to go and sort out supper.....sausage mash and baked beans. DS asked for applw strudel for dessert.

Moving Day

OH slept all night without coughing!!

We were up early and starting to pack up bed linen etc into bags so I could re-make the beds.

We left OH at the cottage and DS2 and I went to the apartment with the TV cabinet and its components so the chaps who sorted the aerial and installed the new freestst box and the old sky box in the sitting room.

DS2 took my car back for OH and I waited whilst the men did the work and sorted out the TV. DS returned with another laod and told me the removers had only just turned up, they were given the wrong address.....OH turned up around lunch time, he went to open the gate for the removers to get in. By 4pm they were finished and away. Thanks to sterling work by DS2 we are almost straight.

He and I will return to the cottage tomorrow and clean up so its all ready to hand back the keys on Thursday afternoon, we will see then what the LL has decided to pat towards the cost of installing the stove.

Our across the road neighbours put a card through the dorr with a gift card in to buy something for the house. So kind of them, They were so helpful when we were snowed in.........I shall miss them....

Our new Landlord called in to wish us well which was very nice of him, he brought us a new toilet roll holder.

I am shattered, a bath will be on the cards and a little more relaxed day tomorrow. Time to start and enjoy our new home and get some sewing done, the kitchen curtains for a start.

Suooer tonight was a bit of a scrappy affair, scotch pie, mash, arrots and cauliflower with onion gravy. DS2 and I had rice pudding OH banana and ice cream.

I need to work out Aprils menus and do some shopping. Life goes on.

Thank you to all of you who have sent us good wishes for our move, we really appreciated it. Everything went as smoothly as it could.....and we are in....

Monday before our move

Today has been a very busy one. We did a trip to the apartment for DS2 to have a look a round. We then went back for a further load and DS2 set off in his car back to the apartment. We have been there all day, chandelier is up in the bedroom, wall unit in the sitting room and the window restrictor fitted. Wall unit in guest bedroom, cabinets in the bathroom, tool hanger and little wooden unit up in the kitchen. The chicken hanger with the hearts on in the hall, barometer up and cross stitch pictures in the guest room.

Lunch was Scotch broth, bacon sandwiches, the remains of last nights crumble and tea.

Our LL called, he had brought us pate from his sojourn in France, we will enjoy that on some toast with a glass of red wine. He wished us all the best for tomorrow.

Back home; supper, beef stew with dumplings, carrots and brocoli, strawberry cheese cake for dessert.

I am shattered, a shower and an early night I think. Thankfully OH did not cough so much last night and DS2 did not hear him which was fine.

We should have our internet connection back tomorrow, so I will take some piccys as the day evolves and publish them later.

Sunday

Another bright day; warmish this morning, but chillier after lunch. We started packing up stuff we do not need tomorrow to go to the apartment in the morning.

DS2 is on his way up hoping to be here around 6pm.

OH had another bad night, but not quite so bad as the previous 2. He woke around 1.30 coughing, got up to make a drink and fell asleep before he drank it. We were late getting up this morning, I just could not be bothered.

Did a small load of laundry, cooked the beef for tomorrow nights casserole, made a pot of scotch broth with the lamb stock and prepped the veg for tonight supper. I set the oven on auto pilot, first time I have used it in weeks, I also cut OH’s hair, he had been moaning it was getting too long.

Lit the stove about an hour ago as it started getting quite chilly, brought in the washing, it was dry, so on the airers just airing off……washer to be disconnected tomorrow.

I made a rhubarb and apple crumble for today, got a cheese cake from Tesco in case we need a pudd tomorrow night.

OH had to ring the girl about the freezer, it got to 8pm and no one had come, she had forgotten, turned up half an hour later with a couple of friends, after a bit of a struggle she got it into the back of the car and off they went, I just hope it did not shift on the way to her house. So the boot room is now looking rather empty, I swept the floor under where the freezer had been, it now got the bags and boxes fir tomorrows trip there.

OH has retired to bed for an hour, we turned the clocks forward last night so along with his disturbed night he was feeling tired………me, I just carry on as normal, might have a nap shortly…….he has just has his medication……….

Broadband should be up and running on Tuesday night, so may be a blow by blow report then or Wednesday, depends how the days span out. Till then …..adios amigos……….

Saturday

Another bad night with OH coughing, I think I managed about 4 hours sleep.

We took the rest of the plants in pots and a couple of bags to the apartment. I fixed a couple of things up. Put key hooks on the inside of the door to the hall cupboard so we can hang our keys up, maybe then we will not forget them when we go out. I tried to fix the chandelier in our bedroom, the blooming thing is so heavy, I need the bigger steps so it will have to wait. OH went up to the bowling club and paid his dues, I had a quick look round the farmers market and the antique/craft fair in the corn exchange. Nothing that really floated my boat though.

I had an email from Orkney Flowers, she was in Edinburgh for the day, could she pick up the chain saw…..no probs. So she arranged to call late this afternoon. I did a quick clean round and laid the fire in the stove. Prepared rhubarb and apple for a crumble for tomorrow and sorted the veg for tonight’s supper, started off the liver and sausage…….then sat down for a welcome cuppa.

Orkney flowers arrived and picked up the chain saw. We were also expecting someone to collect the freezer, by 8pm she had not arrived so OH phoned her…she had forgotten!!! But would be with us shortly……..

I do hope that we have a better night tonight, OH does not seem to be coughing as much….but then he didn’t yesterday either…he seems to start when he gets into bed…………

I hope you do not forget to put your clocks forward tonight, I can do without loosing more sleep.

Friday

UUUUUUURRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH Oh dear what a bad night that was!! OH started coughing before he went to bed and carried on for most of the night. Guess who was reading till 4am???? Consequently I am shattered this morning. The source seems to have been OH’s partner at the games afternoon. Apparently he and his wife are both stricken, so it seems I might get it!!!!! Hoo blooming ray I do not think, Just what I need 3 days before we move.

We have a run to the apartment with plants planned, we are to take delivery of a freestat box for the TV and delivery is by courier between 1150 and 12.50, so I am taking some lunch with us. Having junked sky TV the box will have paid for itself before the end of the year. This time next year I will be looking for a better deal on the telephone and broadband.

The freezer in the boot room has defrosted, there was not much ice in it anyway, it only needs defrosting every second year. I have to take the plug out, drain the little bit of water in the bottom and then clean it out ready for collection tomorrow,

The sun is just breaking through. I lit the stove first thing, it was a bit chilly, have a line of laundry out, possible the last load I will do here……..a loaf ready to switch on in the bread maker, so not been sitting on my laurels this morning!!! Backside may be laurels no!!

I need a quick visit to Tesco as I suspected the dosh has run out and I need something for puddings whilst DS2 is here, so I am going to have to eat into next months house keeping money. LL owes me £30+ for the keys to the back gate I had to get cut) Once we are moved every penny’s a prisioner. I still need to pay some things off.

A quick look round the garden this morning, one or two things coming through, I might take a spade to before we go……..

The bowling club have bought the long table that used to be in my sewing room, supposed to be collecting it, but at the rate they are going we will be trying to get it in our car and taking it. OH has to hand his keys in so we can kill two birds with one stone.

May be back later……

Thursday

Well, after my trip to Tesco last night, I managed to sort out OH’s cough, he was up a couple of times in the night and by this morning sounded like he has swallowed rusty nails. He did however sleep without coughing. I woke at 6am and gave up the struggle at 7am and got up. Phoned the Drs and got him an appointment.

We packed the car with stuff to go to our LL’s and set off via the Drs. OH it seems could have a virus or possibly an infection so antibiotics and a mouthwash prescribed.

We finished up last nights chicken and tomato pasta with some garlic bread for lunch. Once again I fell asleep on the settee, it seems to becoming a habit!!

It would appear that the cottage is going to be let, the pig man is not coming in……OH saw LL this morning we have arranged to hand over the keys a week today at 4pm. OH told K to make sure he brings his cheque book!!

Fish, chips and green beans for supper; I am turning the chest freezer off tonight to defrost it ready to go to its new home at the weekend.

It’s been another really nice day, sun shining and warm enough to go out without a coat, just with a fleece on. It’s cooling down a bit now though. According to the forecast the weather is due to change at the weekend so I am planning on doing an overnight wash so I can get them dry on the line tomorrow. That will be the last wash here unless something goes wrong.

We have another trip to the apartment tomorrow; we have to wait for the freestat box to be delivered so that we can sort the TV out when the chap comes to move the aerial on Tuesday morning.

5 days and counting……….

My Oh is driving me slowly nuts, he started coughing on the way back from the apartment this afternoon.

I have just driven in Haddington to get cough stuff and throat lozenges for him, called at the apartment and got aspirin, olabas oil, vick and whisky, he will really drive me dolally if he coughs all night, think I might sleep in the guest room tonight at least I stand a chance of getting some sleep!!

I did chicken and pasta in tomato sauce for supper with garlic bread……there is enough left for lunch tomorrow. So I will change tomorrow’s supper menu to fish and chips and we will have the pizza on Friday. Golly where has this week gone?????

Wednesday

Spring At the Cottage; Tulips in the container by the gate and daffodils in the front, the little tete a tete are so pretty.


Quite a busy morning; I had a bag of lamb bones in the freezer, so in the pressure cooker with leek, carrot onion and garlic and cooked till any meat fell off the bone. I now have a jug of stock waiting for the fat to set so I can skim it off and make Scotch broth.

Made a pot of leek and lentil for lunch today, also made up a container of crumble mix for a crumble at the weekend. Need to get some fruit tomorrow as well as more veg as DS2 will be here for a few days next week helping us move and get settled. I need to apply my brain to meals whilst he is here, especially puddings, he has a good appetite and as he has given up smoking I suspect he may be eating more.

It’s a lovely morning. OH is at the garden at Amisfield, we are doing a run to the apartment with pots of plants this afternoon, I then have to go round the cottage and pack anything surplus to requirements over the next few days so we can take them tomorrow.

I have arranged for the freezer to be picked up Saturday evening, so it will be switched off tomorrow defrosted and cleaned out.

The weather is glorious again this morning, its quite warm in the sitting room, the stove is lit but closed down.

Heard this morning that the machine arrived safe and sound and the lady is delighted, phew……..the money transferred into my account today, so a nice slice, not that it will be there for long!! We have to sort out the box for the TV and also the digital change over; we have a small TV which I want to use either in the kitchen or bedroom or both…….

The scab over my eye came off last night, I don’t think it was really ready, but I caught it on my pillow and off it came, it’s a bit sore, but nothing I cannot handle, I now have a red patch rather than a black one. OH says it is gradually shrinking.

Time to go, I have found that if I write my blog entry in word and then copy and paste, it does not use up too much time left on the dongle, I am keeping track of it……..

By the way, I have heard from Frugal Queen, she is ok, but will be closing her blog…….you will only be able to read if you are invited. She has a limit of people who can log on…….I am honoured to be among them.

Monday/Tuesday

I decided that I could not leave you will without an update as to what is happening here.

Yesterday we had a day at home…..I started the clean up, taking a toothbrush to the windows, I dare not scrub too much the paint is flaking badly.

OH went to his games afternoon and I went round and put things we were not needing into bags. I removed the medicine cabinet’s contents into a box and took the cabinet off the wall.

OH had an appointment with the nurse this morning his BP has not changed despite the medication to reduce his BP. We did a trip to the apartment today with some garden stuff as well as some more books. I need to go through the bookcase and sort out the books; there are quite a few that can go to the charity shop. We collected the new keys for the back gate, I need to try them and make sure they are working ok. We walked to the bank and then to the library to change our books.

A nap this afternoon, supper was pork and bean casserole, banana fritters for dessert.

OH is at Amisfield in the morning. I have taken the lamb bones out of the freezer to make stock for soup. The big freezer is almost empty so I will be able to turn it off and defrost it. Hopefully it will go to its new home this weekend,

I am waiting to hear that the machine has arrived at its new home safely.

Mondat

A quick note, I will be off line for the next 9 days, I have almost used up my monthly allowance on the dongle, if I use it all it will cost me 10p a MB, which I am not prepared to pay. There are more important things for me to check, like my bank account……..

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible……..

Where is Frugal Queen????

I have been trying to get onto Frugal Queens blog, I keep getting a message to say its been removed....whats happened???? I love reading about what she is up tp, she is such an inspitation, someone tell me where she has gone!!

This is the message I keep getting, anyone else having a problem?

Blog has been removed
Sorry, the blog at frugalincornwall.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs.

Sunday

OH decided we should do a trip and take more books and a couple of the planters from the garden. So off we went. I wanted firelighters and also some lettuce for salad so a trip to Tesco, I ended up spending £9, I bought whoopsied meat for the freezer.

We ate the pizza left over from yesterday for lunch with some soup. After lunch I cleaned the bathroom and kitchen which should have been done on Friday. The freezer in the boot room is almost empty. I will give the boot room a clear out next weekend when the freezer has gone.

I fell asleep on the settee this afternoon. Supper was roast chicken with all the trimmings and the last piece of apple strudel from the kitchen freezer. I took a frozen bottle of elderflower cordial over to K. I had two in the chest freezer, one is in my fridge defrosting. I do love elderflower with sparkling water and ice cubes, its very refreshing. I have always made 4 litres, if I find any elderflower this year I will have to make half the amount.

I heard from Sky today, they will switch the broad band on at the apartment on the day we move in, I will plug in the router the next morning and see if its working.....

Tomorrow will be a house day. I have to wait for the courier to come and collect the sewing machine, I hope they turn up, I also have to give the bedroom a bit of a spring clean. Windows need cleaning, the cills have quite a bit of grit on them so I need to sort that out, if its fine I may well take the curtains down and wash them, hope to get them back up. OH will be off to his last games afternoon.....

A good morning, we have the plants out that we want to take with us either for oursleves or for our LL's garden.

3 Loads of washing dried on the line and now airing, I have even done the ironing!!

I made tomato sauce for the pizza, bacon and cheese on top, its waiting now to be cooked, I also did some belly pork for a pork and bean casserole. It should do us 2 meals.

We have decided to do a quick run to the apartment tomorrow to take some of the books so OH can spend an hour or so putting them away and I can get some boxes onto the other bookcase in the guest room.

I lit the fire, its just starting to turn a bit cool, the temperature has gone down quite a bit and its beginning to feel cold.... we have just enough fuel to last util the coal man comes on Monday....the oil tank is about 1/4 full so I guess we will not be getting any cash back for oil, I paid for it, so I'll use it.

I am glad we have managed to get all out of the garden we wanted to, I know it will not be looked after the same as we have done, but we are moving on.......I doubt we will be this way unless we go to the coffee shop at Tyninghame any time.

OH neighbour in the house that joins us appears not to be talking to us, she muttered 'good morning' when I was putting the laundry out, but scuttled back in, I noticed when I came in she came out and carried on hanging her washing out....silly woman.......

I managed to bang my face this morning, ouch it was sore, OH says it seems to have scabbed over ok, so I just have to wait for it to fall off.

Not sure what the forecast is for tomorrow.......but no probs I am up to date with the laundry, just need to keep on top of it this next week.

Sunny Saturday

Bright sunshine, there has been a frost so a bit of a nip in the air.

One load of washing finished and about to go on the line and another in the washer, the laundry basket is empty!! I need to keep up with the washing so I do not have a load to do the week after next especially as I will have to dry it inside.

I have managed to get rid of the chest freezer, ended up giving it away, Its being collected next weekend. I have some stuff left in it, so need to try and get it in the kitchen one, its moatly veg from last year, a couple of pizza bases, think we might have pizza and salad tonight, that will get rid of one and I can do pizza one night next week too.

Right offsky now to get started..... back later............

Sewing Machine

My little sewing machine has just sold for £256.00 Brill.......I now have to arange to get it collected and delivered.

Friday

A very had frost last night, the car was very white first thing. By the time we left for the apatment it had cleared and the sun was starting to show through, mind you it was blooming cold.

LL has finished the jobs I asked him to do. He and OH came with the van to collect 2 book cases for me, so we can get some of our 200 books taken over and put away. I can also get some of my quilting stuff onto the shelves up off the floor.

We had to go to the locksmith and order 2 new security keys for the back gate so we can get the furniture in, just under 2 weeks to go now, I will be glad when its all over and we are settled in. The residents seem to be really friendly, everyone speaks when you see them, and stop to chat.

The forecast for tomorrow is good so hopefully we will beak the back of the garden stuff and move it either to our Landlords gaden or to the apartment.

I am doing no more today, I made tea and lit the fire, I am just going to chill out apart from getting the supper. Fish, chips and green beans ready......

Thursday

Another bad night thanks to OH choking on his cough stuff, I was just dropping off to sleep....that was me awake until after 3am.

A trip to the apartment, out LL came and took out the washing machine, he has the wood for the shelf in the airing cupboard and also the new toilet seat. He was amazed at how much we had managed to move. He is gong back tomorrow to fix the shelf etc and will also bring OH back here to collect the bookcase out of the sewing room, then I can get stuff up off the floor......we spent the afternoon packing some of the small stuff like oil lamps and bedside lamps etc and emptied the cupboard under the TV into a crate.

Cauli and calebrese gratin with baked potato and tomato's,OH has asked for banana fritters for dessert.

It was a wet morning but cleared up into a pleasant enough afternoon, the temerature is dropping so I have lit the stove.

I cannot think there is much more we can really take to the apartment apart from the plants.. I will be glad when a week on Tuesday is here and everything is gone, I just have to come back and clean whilst DS2 fixes the fire place......

Wednesday

Not a good night last night, was still awake at 3am, so made tea and read for a while, as I put the light out they started harvesting the brussels in the field opposite....4.15am.......I did eventually sleep for a couple of hours, so am very tired today.

I have finished packing up the sewing room. OH was at Amisfield, so I did the ironing, hung out two loads of laundry and then finished off the sewing room. I have a box of quilting patterns to go through, I think most of them will be destined for the dustbin, there is no way I am going to be making them anytime soon.......I have also found a boc of cards, birthday, wedding anniversay etc.....I am undecided as to whether to thow them away......they go back over 20 years and have gone with us on every move up to now.

Barbara if you read this can you email me a link to cottonlady's blog please.

The mist has cleared, it a brigh sunny day but still a bit chilly, I hope the laundry dries on the line.

OH wants me to dig up some of the plants from the garden, I need a rest, might go out for an hour or so later....we have the car to load.

Loaf of bread in , I have taken out some sliced pork, I am going to do a roast dinner tonight. The last of the sponge to finish.

Update.

The car is packed managed to disaude OH from digging up plants in the garden, he was complaining earlier that he had palatations. I have lit the fire and made a cuppa, supper prepped so I just have to put it on.

I am away to get my book and have a quiet read.

Tuesday

A very early start, we were up before 7am, on our way I realised I had forgotten to pick up the keys, so we had to about turn and come back. We were just leaving the village when the BT chappie phoned. I explained that we were on our way in. I apologised when we got back. The phone had not been disconnected, so the chap tested the line and was away.

I carried the boxes up stairs, had put some of the books on the shelf in my wardrobe, it was time for me to set off to the hospital. A very quick procedure, I came out with a bump on my head and a small reddish brown mark where the wart had been scrapped off. I have not to wash my face for 24 hours, well that won't be a problem, I haven't washed my face for years except when I wash my hair.....I use baby lotion to clean my face.......The scab which will form should drop off in a couple of weeks, no picking!!!

We had everything inpacked so decided to come home.

We were both starving so had an early lunch.....I cleaned out the fire and at the second attempt got it burning. We both fell asleep for an hour or so.

Its a horrible day, raining, dull, misty and very cold!! just the afternoon to be tucked up by the fire with a good book.

Bacon and mushroom fritatta and garlic bread for supper, ginger and caramel sponge for dessert......

The machine on ebay has 2 bids and 17 watchers. The table has 9 watchers but once again, no bids...it finished tomorrow evening. No movement on the freezer, if it has not sold by the weekend it will go on freecycle...we worked out today that it has cost us less than £2 a week since we bought it....it can go to someone who will appreciate it. I guess I will get a lot of people wanting it....a stick in a pin job I think......

I am going to have to order some more solid fuel, the forecast is not good for the next two weeks. I turned the sitting room heater in the apartment down again it was so warm in there even with the door open.

More packing tomorrow but no trip to the apartment until Thursday, hopefully that will see the sewing room cleared, will I ever remember where I have put everything?????

Monday

Oh dear another dreich day, raining and very misty.

Bed stripped and remade, laundry is on the airer in the second bedroom.

Last night I put a parker knoll chair on freecycle, a gentleman has collected it this morning, so a big thing decluttered.

I also decided that I was going to put my backup sewing machine on Ebay, I have a bid on it so it will sell one way or the othe 10 watchers too plus 9 watchers on the sewing table, wonder if it will sell this time?????

OH has done some de-cluttering of papers this morning, he is off to is games afternoon.

I will be off shortly to pack more of the stuff from my sewing room, I am going to have to pack the books for the removers to take, the lighter stuff cottons etc will be gettiing packed this afternoon and moved tomorrow. I have my appointment at the hospital tomorrow at 9.15, so OH will wait at the apartment for the telephone engineer to come and sort the phone out for us.

Stovies for supper tonight, not sure about dessert, might make a creme caramel, or open some fruit.

Sunday

It had been raining when we woke up, but by the time we went out it had started to clear.

Going along the by pass we could see snow on the Pentlands. As we went west the weather started to clear.

Wilkinson was quite empty and we quickly got what we wanted, includiing the tension rod for the kitchen. We came back via Dunelm for two new cushions for the kitchen chairs and Ikea for some plastic boxes for my sewing stuff.

We decided that as most of the stuff we had was for the apartment, to make a detour and leave the stuff there. Unpacking the bag I said to OH is the curtain rail in the car.....he went off to have a look and it was not there....I checked the receipt and there was no curtain rod on the receipt.....it must have slipped out of the basket as we were walking round. I was not happy, its a 60 mile round trip to Wilkinson and the thing we had gone for we had managed to come home without!!

I decided to cook supper early, braised beef with dumpling, carrots, leek and cauliflower. Dessert was apple strudel...delicious.

No trip to the apartment tomorrow, its laundry and Monday clean day, we will do some packing in the sewing room ready to take on Tuesday when we have an early start and I have an appintment at the hospital.

The evening turned out to be really lovely, quite bright and sunny, but the temperature has dropped quite a bit since the sun went down.

Saturady

Another day moving stuff from here to there.....we woke to a very dreich misty morning, we could not see Traprain Law at all the cloud was so low. It started to sleet as we drove into Haddington.

More stuff for the loft, so the ladder was brought down and up I went, it gets easier each time I do it, although I do need OH to give the ladder and extra push as it goes back.

We took our lunch with us....pork and cranberry rolls.

Despite the 14 watchers the sewing machine table did not sell, I have re-listed it for 5 days if it does not sell it will go with us. I can see the guest bedroom being for 1 rather than 2.

Its been a very cold wet day, no snow thankfully although we could see it on the hills around us.

OH is doing well he has not had a dizzy for a while, but I have noticed before he can go for quite a long time between attacks, especially if he has something he is concentrating on, when we moved to Keeprs Walk he went for 5 weeks without one.

The fire was still in when we got back, I put some wood and coal on and away it went.

At the apartment this morning, the door to the sitting room had been closed, I opened it and was met with a wall of heat.....I have tuend the heater down, hopefully we will be able to turn the heat off at the end of this month, or at least have it on very low.

As we pack up we are finding things for the next bric a brac sale, so they are all going in the ame place in the attic, so I just have to lfit them down.

We are having a day off tomrrow and going out for a day, a bit of retail therapy.....for a change.

Supper tonight toad in the hole, calebrese and carrots, rice pudding for dessert. I have cooked the stew for tomorrow night, so I just have to re-heat it tomorrow when we get back and cook the veg.

Friday

A bright morning, no snow, but it is forecast for later. Cold out.

We had the morning at home, OH packing up the last bits we do not need from the kitchen and store cupboard and some stuff from the bathroom.

I did the Friday clean. After lunch we decided to pack the car and take the load to the apartment, we are forecast snow for tomorrow so we may want to stay at home if it arrives.

We finished off the lentil soup for lunch, I have enough to make a second pan for tomorrow. I have some lamb bones in the freezer, i think I will chop soome of them and make some lamb stock to make scotch broth.

My sewing table finishes on E bay tonight, there are 13 watchers, will one turn into a buyer one wonders???

I have to ring sky and give them my mobile number for the phone chappie.

Back from a trip to take more stuff, I cannot believe its all disappeared into the cupboards and we have space left.

We called at the library in Haddington and took out 3 books each, then called in at East Linton to return the books we had and say cherrio to the girls there, they have become friends over the past year, we will miss seeing them.

It has turned very cold and grey, there was snow on the hills as we went into Haddington, I hope it misses us......I have had enough snow this year.

I was going to do fish and mustard mash but I am so tired its going to be fish and chips with peas. The rest of the syrup sponge for dessert.

I have 14 watchers on the machine table, I really hope that one transmits into a sale, a) I could do with the room and b) I could do with the money. Yesterday I bought a new toaster and kettle, have had a email to say they are on their way.....they are coming here we will take them to the apartment later, the old ones will be gracing the trash can!! The toaster we have had for 12 years and its hit and miss with the toast, the kettle has always driven me crackers, its supposed to be an eco kettle.....takes ages to boil.


I guess I will sleep ok tonight I am shattered.!!!

Thurday

A wet start to the morning.......by the time we were ready to go out it had cleared but boy was it windy.

We unpacked all the boxes and got quite a bit of the stuff away, apart from the bits we might need over the next couple of weeks the store cupboard is empty.

The china from the wall unit is in the kitchen cupboard with the everyday china. I expect once we get in I will change some things over, but for now everything is away.

We did some errands whilst we were in Haddington, a visit to the council offices to hand in some forms, saw the local policemen, so sorted out the access at the back for the removal men. Called at the ironmomngers for some firelighters, we saw a very nice toaster, ours is in a rather tatty state we have had it for years, so I may well treat us to a housewarming present......

We stayed at the apartment for lunch, by the time we came home we had rain, sleet and wind, its just gone very black again, so i think we are in for a bit more. The stove is lit and churning out some very welcome heat.

We are 'at home' tomorrow packing up more stuff to take on Saturday, be the end of next week we hope to have cleared most of the small stuff from the house, so we can concentrate on the garden. OH has just come in from filling the coal skuttle, he says it just starting to snow!! Oh Joy!!!

Macaroni cheese and salad for supper tonight, treacle sponge and custard for dessert.

Wednesday

A bright but cold morning, snow about 8 miles as the crow flies, but not for us!!

OH at Amisfield this morning. I made a large pan of leek and lentil soup, a loaf in the breadmaker and also cooked the mince for tonight supper, OH just needs to decide how he wants it, with dumplings,tatties or spag bol with garlic bread. I have taken the last bag of flour out of the freezer....the freezer is gradually emptying.

I managed to clean the bedrooms, but the sewing room is still full of bags and boxes.

I decided that I was not going to the quiltiing group this afternoon, I have more packing I want to do including the June Bouquet tea and dessert set from the wall unit, I am hoping to get the unit down. The removers will take it, but it can stand at the back of the sette.

Hopefully we will get more packing done this afternoon and into the car ready for tmorrow.

DS 2 contacted me last night, asked me to send a list of jobs down to him, so he can make sure he brings with him all he needs.

They are working in the field opposite cutting brussels, I cannot think that they are in very good condition now, they look very battered.

Disater, I put a loaf in the breadmaker and forgot to put the paddle in!!! flat squishy, floury mess. Another loaf in now, hope this one turns out better!! I think I need a rest.....car packed ready for tomorrow..two wall units taken down and jam jars packed to go in the loft.

Tuesday

Harbingers of Spring..........


Shattered again last night, spent most of the evening sleeping in the settee, eventually gave up and went to bed, then I was wide awake!!

OH had an appointment for his BP, the nurse again doing her nut as its too high....I give up......she has recommended a pratice in Haddington to join.OH has made an appointment to see the Dr in a couple of weeks and one more with the nurse. As he seems to be tolerating the new meds the Dr may try increasing it slightly, he is on a very small dose. Seems crackers to me, he is on medication to keep his BP up and also meds to bring it down........

Lovely bright morning, the fire was still in this morning so chucked some stick on it, away it went. Washer on need to put the stuff on the line before we go off to the apartment. Think we will be lunching there today......

May be back later depends on how we get on and how tired I am when we get back, so off for my foray into the loft with boxes.......

Tuesday Afternoon.......

Back from moving more stuff, amazing how things are getting swallowed up in the cupboards, The kitchen is coming on ok........I got the loft ladder down and clambered up, we have all the stuff for the next bric a brac sale up there along with a box for the photograph albums. A bookcase I thought would have to go into the attic fits in the hall and the one from the sewing room will go in the corner of the 2nd bedroom. I can get some of the quilting books into the cupboard in the wall. The rest will go on the old bookcase.

The store cupboard is gradually disappearing into the kitchen cupboards, amazing, I did not realise just what we had in there....I think we could live for a couple of months at least without having to buy anything apart from meat and fresh fruit and veg.

The medication had not made any difference to OH's BP, nurse spoke again about him seeing the Dr, he told her he has seen the Dr and the meds are not making any difference, I seems mad to me to give him medication to keep his BP up and then give him meds to bring it down........

Stove made up, its blooming cold ouside. The laundry had almost blown off the line, thankfully it was dry so its now airing. I am going to have to get used to washing at night on the cheap rate.

OH is off to Amisfield Garden tomorrow, when he gets back I am going to the quilt group, not that I have anything to do........except chat.

The sewing room will be the next room to be cleared including the two machines.....one is going in the loft along with the box from the other one, having the ladder makes it so easy to get up there and its huge, really space for a room up there!!

OH met a chap who was gardening, so he spent a few minutes chatting.

We stayed for lunch, did a couple of errands on the way back, called in to Tesco to take the pack of horrid cheese back and got some from Aldi, I also complained about the daffodils which went over so quickly, and I got another bunch free.....

Since we have been back at the cottage OH has repacked the car for his garden trip tomorrow and chopped some more kindling for the fire. I have folded the laundry and put it away.

Corned beef salad for supper, OH wants pancakes with maple syrup for dessert.

Monday

Not a good nights sleep. OH woke me coughing about 1,30am. He went back to sleep, me? forget it, 4.30 before I put the light out.

We were up just before 8am and away from the house by 9am to the hospital to see about his cough, waste of time, like me they said it was asthma!! rubbish......his chest was clear and no rattles or creps.....they are going to give him an inhaler, we have been down that route before...... it did nothing....

Called at Pound Stretcher for 4 new mugs and a second mug tree, the chipped mugs are now in the bucket smashed up.

After lunch OH went to his games afternoon, I packed the cupboard under the sink, baking tins and 2 shelves from the store cupboard. I just hope I can get it in the cupboards.

We packed the car when OH got back. I am putting stuff up in the attic, so all the stuff for the next Bric a Brac will be put up there out of the way. I also put the last of OH's shirts in the car to go in his side of the wardrobe. I need to measure the shelves in the second bedroom see if they will take my quilting books.

I am hoping to go to the quilters this week.

The renewal came for the house insurnace, so thats been sorted and the new address given. Tried to give the suncription people my change of address, they were supposed to phone me back......so far no call, I might have to write to them.

Early night tonight to catch up with lost sleep from last night.

Supper was egg, chips and beans with baked banana for dessert. BBBBBBRRRRRRR snow forecast for later in the week, might have to get my long johns out again.......

Sunday

Not quite so late getting up this morning although I was in bed just after 9pm, exhausted.

Cold dull morning, not very inspiring, decided to light the fire. Sun came out at lunch time.

A lazt day, no packing although we did decide what was going next, stuff for the attic so we do not have boxes all over the place when the furniture gets moved. Several things earmarked to go up there including stuff for the next bric a brac sale. There is stuff I have no idea where it is going. OH asked me why we had so much when we had lived in the one bedroom apartment, I reminded him that the big bookcase was in the very large hall cupboard we had, just now its in my sewing room. No idea where its going!! We measured the second bedroom and we can just get the bed and wardrobe in there with a small bedside table.....we might geet the bookcase in the corner but will have to wait and see.

Pork chops with all the trimmings tonight, banana's for dessert. Another early night on the cards, we have to be at the hospital by 10am tomorrow for OH to see the man about his cough, if they tell him its asthma I shall scream!!

Sat and read for most of the day, just chilling, I do not want to run out of steam on the last lap.

Saturday

A late start this orning 9a, before I opened my eyes.

I put laundry in on the time switch so it was ready to go on the line. I will be using the timer more once we move to wash on cheaper electricity at night. The clothes are out on the line dancing in the wind.

OH is in the veg patch digging stuff up which is either going to our neighbours or to the garden at Amisfield. He has filled some troughs with compost and put the garlic in, so I will have home grown garlic this summer.

Bathroom cleaned and the floor scrubbed, thats a job I will not need to do at the new house, the floor is sealed parquet tiles, so just a wipe over with a damp mop will be all that is required. Kitchen has had a wipe over and a pot of beef stew done for tonights supper. Think we will have banana fritters for dessert.

I have not been lighting the stove until after lunch, the fuel we have should last us until we move.

Its clouding over a bit, need to keep an eye on the weather, the laundry is probably lamost dry, so it could come in onto the airer to finish off. The cupboards are beginning to look a bit bare, not many clothes in the wardrobes now, just what we need to see us through.

Time for some lunch, soup and sandwiches I think. Oh will have a yogurt. I will have an apple.

Friday

Another day moving stuff, mostly clothes this time. It was only a short visit, OH went off to the hospital, I put the curtains up, hung the clothes up, generally faffed around until he got back, made a coffee and then we came back to the cottage. We are not taking anything else until Tuesday which will be things for the attic....now we have sussed out how the loft ladder scomes down. I will not use it if there is no one in the housew with me. The floor is boarded and there is an electric light up there so no issues with falling through the ceiling etc!! and plenty of the floor is boarded. I think quite a bit of stuff is going to end up in there.

OH is out in the garden digging stuff up from the fruit garden, its going over to our neighbours......he is also potting up onions to take to the garden at Amisfield next Wednesday. I am hoping to go to the quilting group next week. Maybe towards the end of next week we will move some of the plant pots, the hostas are putting their noses above the gravel. I bought some in bud dfaffs yesterday, they are just coming out in the sitting room, so pretty on the table in the window.

We are out tonight, its the senior citizens club meeting....remembered to buy something for the raffle this time, a box of after dinner mints. Parcelled up in gold paper ready to go.

Have a load of washing out on the line, hoping it will dry a bit. I can finish it off on the airer in the bedroom later. Stove lit, so it should be nice and warm when we get back tonight.

HM fish and chips for supper with the remians of the lemon cheesecake from last night.

Thursday

A very dull day lots of mist and smurr.

More stuff taken to the apartment, the agents husband came and sorted out the loft ladder, I went up and had a look, there are floor boards over more than half of the attic, so easy to get stuff up there, the ladder makes it so much easier.

We took more stuff for the kitchen cupboards, and also some clothes, I forgot to take down the curtians in the sitting room, they are down now and in the car. We are having just a quick trip tomorrow.

Shopping list in hand we went to Tesco and Aldi, the last time I am using the car for a shop, from now on it will be once a fortnight using the shopping trolley from next month.

OH was falling as;leep in the chair so he is in bed for a snooze. Tomato, bacon and mushroom pasta for supper with garlic bread and salad. I have a lemon cheesecake for deaaert.

Wednesday

Another bright day, we had a heavy frost last night, the car was white when we went out.

OH was at the Amisfield garden, he dropped me at the apartment along with the boxes.

All unpacked and put away, I went for a short walk round Haddington, taking a form into the council tax poeople and changing our address and ordering a new card at the bank.

Back home for lunch, we ate the sandwiches I made yssterday for lunch, with a cup a soup and yogurt.

After lunch we packed some more boxes and also put some of our summer clothes in the car ready to take tomorrow. We will have a quick call in on Friday but that will be the last visit until next Tuesday......I have taken the curtains down in the living room ready to hang in the new sitting room.

Toad in the hole, cauliflower carrots and green beans for supper. pineapple and ice cream for dessert.

We did a freezer audit and I have the months menu made up, we will call at Tesco and Aldi tomorrow on the way home. I am hoping that we sell the chest freezer before we move. I really do not want to take it with us.

Tuesday....

We were away by 9.15am and the apartment is now ours......The storage heaters have been looked at and hopefully will come on tonight. We will see when we get there tomorrow.

We moved all the stuff from the car and I started putting things away. I forgot the sandwiches, left them in the fridge, OH had to go and buy some from Tesco ...oooppppsssss....still they will be ok for tomorrow.

Hospital this afternoon, specialist agrees its a wart and is going to take it off and send it for hystologu to make sure. So I will be going under the scapel two weeks today, it should take about half an hour.

More stuff packed away for tomorrow....OH is going to the garden, he will drop me at the apartment and collect me later. I can get some of the stuff put away. We will come home for lunch and pack more stuff tomorrow afternoon.

K our present landlord stopped at he drove in and spoke to OH, he is coming to see us before we go to'settle up' apparently he is deciding how much he is going to contribute to the stove.....he also has to pay for the oil thats left in the tank.... So hopefully I will not be too much out of pocket at the end.

Spag bol and garlic bread with pineaplle upside down pudding for dessert.