News

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Less than four weeks before DS1 and family arrive from NZ. I am frantically trying to accumulate everything they will need and hope that today we will hear about the rented house they want. I have a single mattress stored under the bed and all manner of boxes of household items stored in the conservatory which looks like a badly organised secondhand shop. Every day I think of something new. Today it is bed linen. Has to be cotton sheets and all wool blankets. I'm thinking Dunelm perhaps. Still so much to do and so much to get. No bed for parents yet and nowhere to store it anyway. No sofa but do have a dining table and chairs. Just remembered kettle! We seem to be rushed off our feet but it is all very exciting. He will stay for six months but hopes to stay for much longer. DiL has to get a special visa as she is a NZ citizen and they are applying for that under her ancestral status. Very complicated and very expensive as they are using an agency that specialises in these things. The trip is taking four days with stops in Aukland and LA. Arriving here on 5th March. Oh yes we now have a large family car for them which is parked in our driveway which is not ideal but...

[Daisy]

BL - goodness, you've certainly been busy. But you must also be so excited.

I'm sure it will all come together, but when you look round your own home and see all the things we use every day without giving them a thought, starting from scratch like that is a big job.

I do hope your DIL's visa goes through ok - the paperwork must be endless.

[Gemini]

What an exciting, and hectic, time for you BL!

I hope the visa goes through, and I hope they stay much longer than the 6 months

[Plantaholic]

That is very exciting BL, I am sure they will be very pleased with your arrangements.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Yes Daisy that is exactly what I keep doing. Every time I use something I start to wonder if I have managed to get one of whatever it is. Luckily our town is blessed with a large number of good charity shops and I have discovered things for sale of FB pages. I got some lovely Mega Bloks on FB the other day.
Thanks Gem I too hope they stay for longer and I know my son does too. It is DiL we have to convince.
Thank you all for missing me that is very nice to hear; I do think of you all and how kind you are in-between visits though.

[Mimi]

Bizzy its a lot to organise isn't it, I suppose when you tick of one thing at the top of your list you add another two to the bottom !

[Clover]

Bizzy,it's a mammoth task you've undertaken.I hope the house let works out for your family.

[Grauntie Mag]

Very exciting BL. How about freecycle, lots of things on offer.

[Nanto2girls]

Bizzy, youv'e got quite a lot of stuff together,but i bet you will think of plent more.
Exciting times for you.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Yes GM I have those sites bookmarked as well. We have a local site called Street View (I don't think these are Countrywide yet) and I got a lovely office chair from there totallly free. He needs a good desk and chair as he work from home doing web development. This is why he can come for a long period of time. He can work anywhere since he has no office to attend.

[Nana]

How lovely for you. I bet you're so excited. The site Shpock isn't bad. It makes me laugh tho' because sometimes the things they sell you'd think no-one would buy. Have you looked into a Charity that might help them to set up a home? Glam do you /did you work for St Vincent Dr Paul? In our area they have a warehouse where they store household items that's been donated. They help families who need help for whatever reason. Just a thought. Hope this helps.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Thanks Nana. There is a nice place near us where they renovate furniture and resell it. I think it is run by the church and helps young men, who cannot find work, to regain confidence and learn a skill. The items are very reasonably priced too. We are still waiting for confirmation about the house though. My brain is all over th place. This morning I showered thinking about all this and then found I had used Extra Body Shampoo instead of shower gel. The last thing my hips need is extra body!!

[Daisy]

BL - I hope you hear about the house soon. I do silly things in the shower as I use it as thinking time. Ironing is also thinking time, but i don't do much of that!

[Glammanana]

Bizzy if you have a local St Vincents de Paul near to you or in next town etc you can get in touch with them and tell them your family are starting from scratch and will be in need of XYZ items and if they can arrange a refferel for you via their scheme,tell them you have a manager of one of their Community Shops as a personal friend and she (me) told you to get in touch,they could supply the curtains/wardrobes/pans/tv cabinets/etc all would be in good order I can assure you.they also have storage facilities until needed all you have to do is make a donation to the Community Shop concerned,or direct to the Conference which serves the shop.

[Gemini]

Very useful information from Glamma there. I hope you have one of the shops somewhere close to you, BL.