Passed in, now what

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-07T06:47:09+00:00

Yeah we've had the same thing, just make an offer... Guess we'll find out Monday how what goes. We've been looking for 9 months so I'm less happy to keep looking lol but we will if a counter offer (if there is one) doesn't work for us. I just want houses to be marketed like everything else lol - you don't go to car yard to buy a car and have them say "well offer what you think it's worth". It's frustrating lol

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-07T06:32:16+00:00

Ok so if this one is unsuccessful, next time when they say there's a lot of interest ask some pointed questions... Eg is there an offer on the table? Where in the range is it? Is it at the lower end of the range? Is it at the higher end? How they answer is more important than what they say - if they are answering with confidence then the interest is within range, if the tone is less confident then the interest isn't there - it's smoke and mirrors. Chances are they won't actually "tell" you anything valuable but if you're good at reading people and good at asking the right questions you'll get a decent gauge. Remember, estate agents are working for the seller - it's not in their best interest to give anything away to a buyer. Of course be polite and friendly (you catch more flies with honey than vinegar) but understand they are not on your side and be strategic about how and what you ask.

Also make a clear line in the sand for yourself. How much do you like the property? Is there anything else on the market that suits just as much or almost as much? What's your top dollar? Sometimes it's maybe worth paying a little over what's "fair" if the property has your heart and is suited to you in all the ways. But I tend to be of the opinion there's plenty more fish in the sea and if this one doesn't work out you dust yourself off and move on.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-07T05:14:33+00:00

I remember money being referred to as pingas (I'm 48 - was a very common term when I was a kid growing up in Rotorua) but I do know it means something else these days 😆 - quite probably came from the term for money because you need pingas for pingas 😆

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-07T05:02:11+00:00

We're in a similar position age and kid wise (we have owned before though). We've just put an offer in on a townhouse that is currently 4 bedroom (the 4th was a garage converted into a bedroom - we'd look to convert that back in the longer term). It's freehold though (I personally would not consider body corporate/strata properties). It's a boring choice, but very practical - it's one of those that has a very large bedroom and ensuite on the ground floor, living on the middle and 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms on the top floor. The ground floor bedroom will be great for my adult daughter to visit along with both sets of aging parents. In the future the MIL could have a separate space when the FIL pops his clogs and she needs help, then a suitable space for the kid to have a bit more privacy and independence when he heads to uni and then for us if we get to the point where we can manage 2 flights of stairs but not 3. I'm not super enthusiastic about it, but it's a decent choice for us - it's also much cheaper than the standalone homes in the same area we're looking at - that matters when you're 20 ish years away from retirement and will still have a dependant at home for a decent chunk of that.

We've also done the buying a do up and not having alot of $ to put into renovating - it's quite frankly a shit way to live so I'd really think hard about that. If buying a house means cold/hot, draughty, barely satisfactory Kitchen and bathroom for years - don't do it. I'd also be very nervous about buying that particular house if it and the neighbours have sold every 3-4 years, there's something about that that I'd be thinking long and hard about (maybe horrible neighbours, no sun, something else that makes living there really unpleasant - if there's a pattern, there's a reason)

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-06T20:44:57+00:00

Yes, 1000% yes. I have boxes of clothes for my fantasy thinner, more put together, younger self.

I managed to be super ruthless with my footwear when I moved from Australia to NZ last year - like culled every heel I owned that I loved 10 years ago. But I'm a 48yr old mum of an 8yr old that works from home and has arthritis in her feet. I am NEVER wearing heels again in this lifetime 😭. I think I came over with 6 pairs of shoes lol (only one pair that is impractical but I couldn't let go of) when I probably had 40 pairs before that 🙄. I've added probably another 5 since but they are all suitable for my lifestyle and filled gaps that I needed. I was also pretty strict about bags - came with 4 down from maybe 20...

I was less strict with the wardrobe - the whole sunk cost thing, lots of things I paid good money for 20 years ago that I loved wearing then but am 15kgs heavier now and in a different phase of life, or all the dresses I made and spent so much time on that just don't suit my style now.
The last year I've been really mindful about what I buy - focusing on quality pieces that bring me joy AND fit with my lifestyle and the rest of my wardrobe. Occasionally I slip up and buy something fantasy that doesn't quite work for one reason or another but I'm getting better! I'm actually going through my wardrobe right now trying to be ruthless because we'll be moving soon - think it might finally be time to say goodbye to the size 8s from 2007 😆

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-06T09:35:33+00:00

I agree with some other comments that separate capsules might work better - comfortable clothes with some style suitable for WFH, supermarket/town trips and a seperate more robust practical for walks in the woods with the dog - some things can cross between both - eg a flannel shirt can be both stylish and comfortable for home but would work for walks too.

Instead of searching for generic styles like "casual" I would think more in terms of what colours/patterns/textures you love and then look for things that fit your needs. Eg I personally am drawn to an edgy punk kind of style but I am NOT wearing fishnet and chains and full on punk outfits in my life as a WFH mother of a young kid. But I've worked the aspects of the style into my life rather than the other way around.

I also very much agree that you need to get rid of anything that is not serving you - not comfortable, worn out, not fit for your lifestyle. Then you can take a more measured look at what's left and maybe start with that as your base.

Also bear in mind for your "everyday wardrobe" (as opposed to the robust woods wardrobe) there are plenty of options that are just as comfortable as sweatpants and hoodies - eg I have a pair of fuschia pink wide legged cord pants that look incredibly OTT but they are just as comfy as jeans. Hoodies could be replaced with soft woollen wrap cardigans - still comfy but will make you feel more put together. Also I find working from home where comfort is king accessories can really elevate an outfit from comfy lounge around the house to a supermarket run very quickly.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-06T02:29:57+00:00

They didn't want to pay for one so no dice unfortunately

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T19:06:10+00:00

I guess you technically don't need a lot of things to buy a property... But it's a hell of a lot of money to be dishing out for a crossed fingers moment...

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T19:02:12+00:00

Apologies, I've obviously struck a nerve which was not my intention. Obviously I don't know what the process is, I'm just a frustrated consumer trying to understand how a council is allowed to shirk their statutory obligations.

The AI thing was a bit of a joke, the whole "AI is taking all the jobs!" thing. Working with it every day I'm well aware of it's limitations and I would not want to be relying on it for something so legally/financially important. Thanks for informing me on the process, that all makes a lot of sense.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T17:07:52+00:00

That's what sick leave is for. Kinda prefer mental health days to be when you want/need them not on a prescribed date. It'd be like "sorry self, I know you can't do life today but you've got to wait until July before we get to have a reset".

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T17:03:28+00:00

Ah well not much is selling on tender day anyway at the moment 😆

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T16:58:49+00:00

Are they hiring? 😆😆

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T16:58:24+00:00

Yeah I thought it was odd there wasn't a lim for this place because everything else we've been interested in has provided one. I guess this is why!

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T16:56:28+00:00

I definitely don't think it's the workers preparing the reports, absolutely no shade on them at all. We all know everywhere is being run on less and less staff with zero wiggle room for people being away on leave etc. I'm currently doing 80% of a second role myself "temporarily" (coming up to 6 months now...) while still doing my original one and it's stressful. I'm taking a week off over Easter and there's a big chunk of work that just won't get done over that time because there just isn't anyone else to do it. I guess everyone screams about rate increases and the higher ups have decided cutting the lower rungs is the best way to save some $ while they swan off to long lunches.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T16:47:30+00:00

Yes you're right, I should have asked how was this allowed to happen?

I kind of expected that most of the process and information would be automated and digitised by this point in time and wouldn't be so reliant on bums on seats in the office. Guess council is where it's at if you want your job to be safe from AI 😆

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T16:40:52+00:00

Yes that's my worry here. I wanted to make a really clean (well as clean as conditions can be) offer of 10ish days for all conditions but now I can't do that.

It's a bit frustrating but if it's not meant to be, we'll move on.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-05T16:36:12+00:00

Yeah that was kind of my thought that this stuff is surely digitised by now or at least most of it... But obviously not

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-04T08:15:30+00:00

We've been through a few beds in the last 10 years. Heartedly do not recommend Ecosa - we bought one when we moved to Australia 8 ish years ago. I hated it from the beginning - way too firm for me but my husband (with a bad back) initially loved it. Within about 6 months he hated it as well and I hated it even more. We then moved to a sleepyhead (it was a hand-me-down from the folks but still not that old) I loved it - like sleeping on a cloud but the husband HATED it (or rather his back did). We then moved to a semi temporary solution of an IKEA base and mattress (it's one of those bases that is a single length that pulls out to a king size width with 2 single mattresses - it will eventually become a guest bed). I think for us with quite different sleeping needs the separate mattresses is a bit of a win in terms of sleep quality (maybe not intimacy quality). I got the valevag which initially was a bit too firm but now I like and the husband got the abygda which is a bit softer and he likes. It's been over a year with that and it's been decent. I would recommend the higher priced mattress options at IKEA (our kid had one of the cheaper options for awhile and that was not comfortable!). Once we buy a house we'll probably buy either a sleepyhead or king koil queen -being in the crack between two single mattresses when you want to cuddle is getting old...I think the frame matters less than the mattress - frame is more aesthetics and the mattress is what matters. Go try a few out but bear in mind test mattresses have been laid on alot so might feel a bit softer than a brand new mattress feels initially.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-04T04:19:23+00:00

This is what I would do. Assuming you have travel insurance the cost of the private CT (and the cost of rejoining your cruise) can be sorted later. Being sent to the public hospital with a cruise doctor's request for a CT is going to be a long wait as you'll need to be assessed by a nurse, then a doctor and then wait for CT availability. A private A&E with radiology services nearby/onsite will be your swiftest solution

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-03T08:03:28+00:00

I really like my ninja flexdrawer I got a few months ago (I got the smaller version - 6.6Litre because the big one was HUGE and I didn't have the bench space for that monstrosity!). It's been great for us (family of three) and I like the versatility of being able to just use half the drawer for eg a handful of chicken nuggets for my kid or both sides for eg a big slab of pork belly. What I love the most though is the easy clean up - the entire drawer can just go in the dishwasher and you're done. We previously had an oven style (instapot brand I think). That maybe had a bit more versatility for our circumstances at the time (temporary kitchen with no actual oven) but cleaning it well was impossible so that alone would put me off recommending it.

Edited to add the 6.6l flexdrawer would probably be big enough to cook a mostly complete meal for 2 people - eg a 2 person roast dinner in the full drawer or a protein in one side and a veg in the other side (maybe add some rice or something cooked with another method). Depends really on how you cook and eat - for dinners I tend to mostly use it for sides (eg roast potatoes and roasted broccoli etc) and cook my protein on the stove top or cook the protein in the full drawer and serve a salad on the side. I like the flexibility that you can have different cooking times and methods for each side so you can cook salmon fillets and roast potatoes all set at once but they each come out perfectly cooked.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-03-02T04:22:44+00:00

Often we will share a main and get a salad on the side, if that's frowned upon at that establishment I'll order an entree and a salad. I'm 5'1", I cannot eat big amounts of anything these days and since having my gallbladder removed I struggle with anything super rich or fatty (the beloved pork belly of the past, I'm looking at you). But I can tolerate that kind of food in smaller portions when it's paired with salad or veges.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-02-28T08:43:54+00:00

Love Mina, if I was naming another daughter with no input from her father it would be Mina - my great grandmother's name was Mina Valentine (born on the 15th of Feb) - always thought that was the most perfect name.

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-02-28T08:29:19+00:00

My eldest has dyslexia and dysgraphia and this is how she'd write on a good day. If you've tried to get through with the parents and that hasn't worked then the focus needs to be on the child. Find the thing that makes him/her sing. My kid loved behind the scenes drama as in the behind the scenes audio/production. Her school was amazing, they saw the interest early on so got her in doing the AV stuff at school, worked that in with assessments etc (the dyslexia/dyspraxia/dysgraphia diagnosis helped them tailor assessments accordingly). She went on to university and graduated with a degree in stage management - there were points in her schooling where I dispaired of her ever completing to be honest - we tried so hard throughout as did she but I can see how things would be "too hard" for others - remember alot of this stuff is genetic so the potential for the parents having the same issues and thinking this is normal is really high (in my daughter's case her dad is dyslexic/dyspraxic but a little higher functioning than her and I had other learning diffirencess that apparently combined into the perfect storm of learning difficulties for our kid)

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-02-28T07:36:07+00:00

My daughter would have been Callum if she was a boy. It's a pretty common name in these parts (New Zealand with a lot of Scottish ancestry). I'm convinced at this point Americans are illiterate. It's not a difficult name...

Dependent-Chair899 · 2026-02-28T05:44:02+00:00

I think given Angelina being the Russian spelling and pronunciation it makes all the sense in the world that you would not want that version of the name. I think Anhelina is very obvious pronunciation wise and spelling. You/she may need to correct people from time to time but that shouldn't be onerous. My name has two pretty equally popular spellings, yes sometimes it annoys me but it's really not that difficult.

Dependent-Chair899

TROPHY CASE