What. A. Day. This morning I took Captain Pyjamas to play in the park. Everything was going fine when he suddenly started howling inconsolably. For a minute or two I couldn't work out what was wrong with him until I finally figured out that he'd been stung by a wasp. Behind the ear . I took him straight to the pharmacy and the lady was extraordinarily nice, but most products for stings are for age three and up so there wasn't all that much that could be done.
He spent the rest of the day being as cheerful and even tempered as you'd expect of a person who'd been stung behind the ear by a wasp.
You can add into today's joys that it was 35°. With a face mask it was horrible. I don't know how people cope if they have asthma.
Ouch. Sympathetic noises to the gallant Captain - I know how painful wasp stings can be, even without (TBTG) the dangers of anaphylactic shock...
Yes, face masks are Horrible™. I can put up with one for the 15 minutes or so (max) it takes me to totter around the supermarket, but in church I head for the porch, where I can take the blasted thing off for at least the first part of the service...
Poor Captain Pyjamas, my son had various run in with wasps and is now phobic about them. As the last incident when he was six was pretty serious, if not quite in anaphylactic shock territory I don't blame him.
Had the first valuation of your house today. Price suggested was lower than I hoped, let's see what the guy on Thursday says.
Poor Captain Pyjamas! Hope he feels better v. soon.
In other news, I appear to have bought a flat!
It's on the High Street in Linlithgow, in a (listed!) 1970s block, which comprises some owner-occupied and some Council-owned. It needs a little TLC, but mostly just cosmetic, and I got it for a price which leaves me enough to do it (having a nephew who's a painter and decorator won't hurt!).
The location sold it to me: it's right on the main street, and on the other side is Linlithgow Loch, which is seriously gorgeous (with swans and ducks), and Linlithgow Palace is just round the corner, so I'm practically next door to Mary, Queen of Scots, IYSWIM.
We had a very pleasant time with friends yesterday evening, it being warm enough to sit in their (huge) garden for the wine and nibbles bit and when it got dark we headed indoors for the coffee and cake bit. I was having quite a good week on the Slimming World plan up to that point... :rolleyes:
Mr Nen spent some time with the husband of the couple who has a train set and permanent track set-up. Once they'd finished playing all the carriages were tucked up in their boxes and locked away securely, so clearly more valuable than they looked.
Linlithgow is a lovely place, and your location sounds ideal. That is a great loch, almost small enough to be a lochan, so walking (ambling in your case) around it is a very pleasant thing. And feeding the fowl. So happy for you @Piglet. Next step, to get a job!
I've just spoken to my solicitor (whose wife was my bridesmaid), and he's flagged up a few possible worries - the age and design of the building, and issues that some buyers have had with iffy neighbours, but I'm hoping they won't be insurmountable - it's such an ideal location that I'd be really sorry to lose it. Part of me isn't bothered about the neighbour issue - where we lived in St. John's we had some very iffy neighbours - but it's worth being aware!
ISTM that if the main issue would be re-sale value, that might not bother me too much, as I'm hoping it'll be my forever place (famous last words), in which case it wouldn't be me selling it, IYSWIM.
There is a fall-back option (for the moment anyway) - the other flat I saw yesterday was also very nice, but a wee bit out of the town, although still just a couple of minutes on the bus.
It's a grey, but so far dry day, so I'll go for an amble in a wee while.
Excellent news, Piglet! Always liked Linlithgow - nice place and very accessible these days even without a car. We were there a lot when friends lived there. Sounds like The Four Marys just across from the big Kirk will be very convenient for you - had a few pleasant lunches there after church.
“The name Linlithgow comes from the Old British lynn llaith cau meaning "lake in the damp hollow". Originally "Linlithgow" referred to the loch itself, the town being known as just "Lithgow" (hence the common surname). Folk etymology associated this name with the Gaelic liath-chù meaning "grey dog", likely the origin of the black bitch on the burgh arms.”
Which made me warm to it immediately as I have my own lovely black bitch. 🥰
I googled it too, and it does look like a bonny wee burgh. A High Street, with Shops!!
Building issues can be dealt with (or put up with IYSWIM), but iffy neighbours...dealing with them can be messy, especially when one runs out of space in which to bury the corpses...
(My father's second wife - so no relation of mine - was a Lithgow, something to do with the ship-building people, I believe.)
Building issues can be dealt with (or put up with IYSWIM), but iffy neighbours...dealing with them can be messy, especially when one runs out of space in which to bury the corpses...
Building issues can be dealt with (or put up with IYSWIM), but iffy neighbours...dealing with them can be messy, especially when one runs out of space in which to bury the corpses...
That's why they have the lake.
Yeeesss...but the wretched things tend to float to the top, and there's only so much tonnage of lead shot, scrap iron (pig iron?), chains etc. that one can lug around, or store...
... the black bitch on the burgh arms ... made me warm to it immediately as I have my own lovely black bitch. 🥰
There's a lovely statue of the Black Bitch right beside the flat.
BF, I have absolutely no intention of throwing anyone in the loch!
I think I'm going to go for it - the position of the flat in the block means I probably won't need to go anywhere near anyone else's flat (the door leads almost straight out to the street), so if I don't bother the neighbours, they probably won't bother me.
Nothing you can do about neighbours - even if you have good ones when you move in there's no guarantee that they might move out and the next lot be less congenial.
I was another who Googled Linlithgow and took a virtual stroll along the High Street. it looks a delightful place. I envy you the opportunity to live in such a lovely location.
<snip>
I was another who Googled Linlithgow and took a virtual stroll along the High Street. it looks a delightful place. I envy you the opportunity to live in such a lovely location.
It obviously helps that Google obviously visited Linlithgow on a bright sunny day, but yes.
I too looked up Linlithgow and it looks lovely. We live somewhere close to local amenities and nice walks and on the whole it is excellent.
The second valuation on our place is this afternoon. I hope to be able to put it on the market with one of the agents tomorrow. I really don't want the faff of getting a third quote as we'd like to get moving sooner rather than later.
My son, the one who is a Pilot and lives in Bristol, is keeping his job. What a relief - redundancy has been hanging over him for too long now. EasyJet has asked all their pilots to go part time and all have agreed. A few older pilots have taken the offered redundancy.
So long as flights remain at the level they are now it looks like the company will be OK.
He’s having to re-do his mortgage to a longer term, as he’s on his own now, but he will be able to afford it.
"This is your pilot speaking. It's 5 o'clock, and I'm off. Bye!"
It's an utterly glorious day here in Embra; the sun is shining from a cloudless sky, the bedlinen that's been waiting for what feels like an aeon to be laundered is now flopping about on the washing-line, and I've put a formal offer in for the flat in Linlithgow.
It's possible I might have some competition: my solicitor said that one of his colleagues has a client who's also been looking at the flat, but as I'm a cash buyer with no chain, I might be in a better position. If it goes through, we'd be looking at an entry date of 23rd October, which would suit me fine (and incidentally coincides with No. 2 Nephew's birthday).
I went to my first exercise class at the local leisure centre this morning. It was really nice to be back but I did have mixed feelings about being in a - large - hall with 30+ - 2m apart - people, unmasked, dancing together in the same air space for 45 minutes and using - sanitised - mats and weights. Probably the most risky thing I've done from a virus-spread point of view. Not sure what to think about future classes.
It's a glorious afternoon here and the lawn mowing job seems to have my name on it.
Good news about your son's job @boogie and fingers crossed about the flat @Piglet.
Second estate agent came round, and I'll think we'll be using his companies services as he seemed a bit more switched on than the other guy and sold a house up the road for above asking price very quickly a few weeks ago.
I also went out for coffee and cake with a friend. The first time I've done something like that since March. That is my second slice of coffee and walnut cake in a week. I must stop it or all the weight I've lost over the last year will be piling back on.
OH, PIGLET! A sty of one's own! Congratulations! I looked at some photos of Linlithgow last night, and it seems quite a charming place. I hope that it all goes swimmingly.
Comments
Ouch. Sympathetic noises to the gallant Captain - I know how painful wasp stings can be, even without (TBTG) the dangers of anaphylactic shock...
Yes, face masks are Horrible™. I can put up with one for the 15 minutes or so (max) it takes me to totter around the supermarket, but in church I head for the porch, where I can take the blasted thing off for at least the first part of the service...
Had the first valuation of your house today. Price suggested was lower than I hoped, let's see what the guy on Thursday says.
In other news, I appear to have bought a flat!
It's on the High Street in Linlithgow, in a (listed!) 1970s block, which comprises some owner-occupied and some Council-owned. It needs a little TLC, but mostly just cosmetic, and I got it for a price which leaves me enough to do it (having a nephew who's a painter and decorator won't hurt!).
The location sold it to me: it's right on the main street, and on the other side is Linlithgow Loch, which is seriously gorgeous (with swans and ducks), and Linlithgow Palace is just round the corner, so I'm practically next door to Mary, Queen of Scots, IYSWIM.
Exciting times, eh?
Congratulations! The Piglet has landed! It sounds wonderful.
Bridges should be seen and not heard!
Excellent news, Piglet! Way to Linlith-go! Very happy to hear it.
The West Lothian question answered!
We had a very pleasant time with friends yesterday evening, it being warm enough to sit in their (huge) garden for the wine and nibbles bit and when it got dark we headed indoors for the coffee and cake bit. I was having quite a good week on the Slimming World plan up to that point... :rolleyes:
Mr Nen spent some time with the husband of the couple who has a train set and permanent track set-up. Once they'd finished playing all the carriages were tucked up in their boxes and locked away securely, so clearly more valuable than they looked.
I've just spoken to my solicitor (whose wife was my bridesmaid), and he's flagged up a few possible worries - the age and design of the building, and issues that some buyers have had with iffy neighbours, but I'm hoping they won't be insurmountable - it's such an ideal location that I'd be really sorry to lose it. Part of me isn't bothered about the neighbour issue - where we lived in St. John's we had some very iffy neighbours - but it's worth being aware!
ISTM that if the main issue would be re-sale value, that might not bother me too much, as I'm hoping it'll be my forever place (famous last words), in which case it wouldn't be me selling it, IYSWIM.
There is a fall-back option (for the moment anyway) - the other flat I saw yesterday was also very nice, but a wee bit out of the town, although still just a couple of minutes on the bus.
It's a grey, but so far dry day, so I'll go for an amble in a wee while.
I’d never heard of Linlithgow so I googled it.
“The name Linlithgow comes from the Old British lynn llaith cau meaning "lake in the damp hollow". Originally "Linlithgow" referred to the loch itself, the town being known as just "Lithgow" (hence the common surname). Folk etymology associated this name with the Gaelic liath-chù meaning "grey dog", likely the origin of the black bitch on the burgh arms.”
Which made me warm to it immediately as I have my own lovely black bitch. 🥰
Building issues can be dealt with (or put up with IYSWIM), but iffy neighbours...dealing with them can be messy, especially when one runs out of space in which to bury the corpses...
(My father's second wife - so no relation of mine - was a Lithgow, something to do with the ship-building people, I believe.)
And I hope Captain Pyjamas is OK after his nasty wasp sting. I find they tend to linger rather.
Yeeesss...but the wretched things tend to float to the top, and there's only so much tonnage of lead shot, scrap iron (pig iron?), chains etc. that one can lug around, or store...
BF, I have absolutely no intention of throwing anyone in the loch!
I think I'm going to go for it - the position of the flat in the block means I probably won't need to go anywhere near anyone else's flat (the door leads almost straight out to the street), so if I don't bother the neighbours, they probably won't bother me.
I was another who Googled Linlithgow and took a virtual stroll along the High Street. it looks a delightful place. I envy you the opportunity to live in such a lovely location.
It obviously helps that Google obviously visited Linlithgow on a bright sunny day, but yes.
The second valuation on our place is this afternoon. I hope to be able to put it on the market with one of the agents tomorrow. I really don't want the faff of getting a third quote as we'd like to get moving sooner rather than later.
So long as flights remain at the level they are now it looks like the company will be OK.
He’s having to re-do his mortgage to a longer term, as he’s on his own now, but he will be able to afford it.
I’m so very pleased.
It's an utterly glorious day here in Embra; the sun is shining from a cloudless sky, the bedlinen that's been waiting for what feels like an aeon to be laundered is now flopping about on the washing-line, and I've put a formal offer in for the flat in Linlithgow.
It's possible I might have some competition: my solicitor said that one of his colleagues has a client who's also been looking at the flat, but as I'm a cash buyer with no chain, I might be in a better position. If it goes through, we'd be looking at an entry date of 23rd October, which would suit me fine (and incidentally coincides with No. 2 Nephew's birthday).
I went to my first exercise class at the local leisure centre this morning. It was really nice to be back but I did have mixed feelings about being in a - large - hall with 30+ - 2m apart - people, unmasked, dancing together in the same air space for 45 minutes and using - sanitised - mats and weights. Probably the most risky thing I've done from a virus-spread point of view. Not sure what to think about future classes.
It's a glorious afternoon here and the lawn mowing job seems to have my name on it.
Cash buyer + no chain = better position...
<votive>
I did most of mine yesterday but not quite all ... and it's sunny ...
Second estate agent came round, and I'll think we'll be using his companies services as he seemed a bit more switched on than the other guy and sold a house up the road for above asking price very quickly a few weeks ago.
I also went out for coffee and cake with a friend. The first time I've done something like that since March. That is my second slice of coffee and walnut cake in a week. I must stop it or all the weight I've lost over the last year will be piling back on.
In other news,
OFFER ACCEPTED!!!
I'm honestly not sure whether I'm elated or terrified - probably a mixture of the two!
Elation and Terrification are both understandable - but hopefully all will go well, and you'll be in your new abode in the next few weeks.