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Cute I hope

Great news! I think we need some new photos to celebrate the end of operation watertight

Fence, even if it's chicken wire or sheep netting, to keep them out / save your sanity. Bash in a post, staple it on, unroll and move to the next one. Easy peasy. Sounds like you will need to be diligent if you have Japanese Knotweed around anyway, and if you still think there is a chance of them planting any (I would have thought it unlikely TBH), then keep checking the borders regularly once the fence is up because they won't be walking into the middle of your garden once that happens.

I know someone who has one going up for sale . Seriously, I hope yours works out fine. Law of averages says we can’t have 2 ASHP failures on the trot so fingers crossed.

If he will let you wire the money retrospectively I’m not clear why he can’t arrange for them to be delivered and then you wire the money post delivery. You could offer to pay for the delivery before arrival potentially so he knows you’re not taking the pee. That said, if this arrangement suits you then it’s all good, but others who are further afield may want to negotiate an ‘immediate payment post delivery’ arrangement if that’s possible.

NOOOOOOO!!!!! That would be crazy and mental. The second the old one broke down again you’d be cursing yourself. You may be better using the local selling sites on Facebook or similar to get shot of the old one given its size. No fees to pay either. And using eBay as a back up option.

It’s all worked out pretty well though. You’ve now got a (hopefully working) current model that should work great. I know you will still be thinking that it was hassle but I thought that you may end up with your money back and struggling to replace the item for the same ballpark figure. I didn’t think they would want the unit back because let’s face it you live in the back of beyond and it would have cost them to retrieve something that was ultimately worthless to them. Find out the price of the new one and that will cheer you up I’m sure. Probably the ultimate bargain.

You know at the time I didn’t think anything of it because I was so caught up in the whole thing I never worried about how many hours I was doing and how many things it meant I didn’t have time to do outside of work. I took my work Blackberry on holiday and would reply to emails while I was off (I still have a tendency to do that TBH lol). It took a life changing thing to happen for me to realise that there is one shot at this life so live it. No one ever remembers someone for how many hours they worked!

About 25 years ago we refitted the kitchen and ordered standard worktops from one of the sheds. We then took it to a local joiner who cut the joint for us. It was much easier than trying to buy the right kit and doing it ourselves. Alternatively you could buy the worktop from a company that offers such a service like the one below: http://www.worktop-express.co.uk/information_guides/masons-mitre-joints-kitchen-worktops-worktop-express-nutshell-guide/ As far as how far to go with your kitchen refit you need to ask yourself whether you are happy to live with the doors and drawers that you have and the configuration of units that you have. If the answer to that question is yes, then you can work on a makeover with new plinths, worktop, tiles, and sink (for example). You can rub down and paint the doors if you fancy a colour change. There are lots of videos and links on how to do that if you google. You should easily be able to buy replacement kitchen drawer boxes as needed, and shelving, plinths etc too. If you can’t live with your doors etc then consider ripping it out and starting from scratch. In this case it’s worth keeping your eye on Gumtree, eBay and the local Facebook selling sites as you can often pick up kitchen units for next to nothing when people decide to refit their kitchen that could be pretty decent still. So no definite answer. You have some choices to make

That’s excellent news. Hope the new one is brand spanking new and works straight off the pallet. The rewriring is a pain but it’s much better to have a current model and wiring is your bag after all . Large companies almost always have an executive complaints department so it’s nearly always worth an email to the CEO if you can’t resolve it with the local team. Forget Ryanair however. Apparently Mr O’Leary doesn’t give a stuff about such things ?. Now the big decision will be what to do with the old one!

We all have our obsessions, but we need to be aware enough to take action if it starts to effect our mental health. Sometimes we can see that for ourselves and other times it needs someone else to help advise as we can be so immersed that we are too blind to see. A few years ago mine was work. I was running an IT site in SE England and I was obsessed with managing every small detail. I ended up working 70 hours a week to try to cover everything, plus I would lie awake for hours at night trying to work out how I was going to fix something of particular concern. When I moved to Scotland I changed role and resolved to do less hours, but it really took until my hubby got sick for me to learn not to sweat the small stuff because suddenly I was able to put things into perspective.

Honestly the more they see they upset you the more they will continue to do so, so do try to stay calm mostly if you can. The cat thing will pass but only if you don’t bite on it. Unless you have evidence that they are putting cat crap in your garden there is nothing that really can be done because cats are free to roam and crap wherever unfortunately. Better to direct your energy into getting your house sorted internally since that will be what makes your house nicer to live in and should improve the value. It’s easy to write this from here as I have great neighbours but I have had an issue with a neighbour in the past and it’s not fun I know so can sympathise.

Most of them will be for irrelevant things like neighbour responses etc surely? You should just have to look at the decision and conditions. Seriously, an email to the planning dept should sort it. What LA are you in?

When you buy a plot most of the sales particulars will mention any contributions the buyer has to pay (well they do up here anyway). Personally I would email the planning department, quote your planning permission reference and ask them to confirm that as there is nothing on the planning permission that references CIL that you can find your assumption is that it does not apply to this permission and can they confirm. Plus mention that you are a self builder who can apply for an exemption. Say that you phoned but wasn't given a clear answer. TBH your solicitor should have noted it at the time of the purchase surely? So maybe a quick phone call to that office might confirm also.

If you start work you can’t contest it I believe so you really need to confirm that you are not CIL liable PDQ if you have any doubt.

Where would the fun be in that?

Do you need to get bricks, roof tiles or whatever agreed by the council? Doors are coming from the window supplier I assume?

How long have you said before they can use the bath again?

It’s a term more commonly used in pet rescue. Wonder what we are all being rescued from

Are you buying a warranty? If so now is the time to arrange it.

He has horsey neighbours who will have power tools (aka electric clippers) for such things so he can go with a bag and collect the hair. Not much clipping going on this time of year though. About another 4 months to go before that will start up again . I think we may want to see the plastering finished before then .

Beer before wine makes you feel fine, wine before beer makes you feel queer ?

Just had a look. CO detectors / alarms are peanuts, but CO2 sensors seem quite expensive in comparison. I don't think I really need one here tbh as I never notice it being stuffy. especially with only me here plus there is MVHR.

This thing then huh?

Cool! Yeah, I've finished my time in rehab recovering from that day so all good now .