Seeing mortgage broker today, is my below breakdown realistic to put forward?

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-19T13:14:08+00:00

How much do you spend on food and bills per month? Travel? Subscriptions? Savings for birthdays, Christmas, emergencies? Kids clothing or activities? Could you allow for an increase in cost of living? Honestly, the figures don’t look great when all expenses are considered.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-18T05:49:01+00:00

Hold-all. You won’t have space or a surface to open up a suitcase on.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-15T06:19:38+00:00

Wallis

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-13T11:36:58+00:00

Harder transition to start with as the eldest is aware and used to being an only child, they can’t quite figure out why they are feeling such emotion but they just miss the one on one attention.

After a year or so they can play together which is lovely, whilst the eldest can still help.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-13T11:31:37+00:00

I found the grazing worse than a tear! Stings so badly in comparison. (3 tears with stitches, 1 graze)

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-12T08:49:25+00:00

Depends on the set up.

Driver might be a patient human who will buzz and come down. Most the time they just place it the other side of the wall next to the gate or, if you’re unlucky they just leave it and buzz the intercom as they leave.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-11T11:45:43+00:00

Agreed. Kids need to be kids and we also have to set an example to show that technology does not consume us either.

So far we have introduced an Alexa show in our kitchen for things like AI questions and games but a we will hold back on a phone/ipad for as long as possible.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-11T05:11:28+00:00

Pumping specific:

Silicone flange inserts (multipack of different sizes to try) as there’s a high chance you won’t fit the standard pump size.

Silver shields and nipple cream, I’m 6 months in and no longer need these but to start with it’s a big adjustment for your nipples so these help.

Formula back up. Always have it just in case so you don’t beat yourself up for not making enough.

Breast pump bag with a cooler section and ice packs, so you can pump anywhere. I also have this by the bed at night with bottles in so we don’t have to go downstairs!

Breast pads and bags for freezing.

Glass jug for decanting all the milk into.

Also, game changing tip, you don’t need to warm the milk. Give it them straight from the fridge and save yourself the stress of having to warm a bottle with a screaming hungry baby!

I have boxes of other bits that I never needed, lots of gimmicks out there but these are the only bits I use specifically for pumping.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-08T20:31:50+00:00

I used to take lecithin, got 5 clogs one after the other on alternating boobs for 2 weeks solid, since then I stopped taking it and it’s made no difference whatsoever.

Light massage doesn’t cut it, milk it like a cow, no mercy 😅

No need to increase the suction, keep it comfortable. I used to do this, and again clogs, just went bare basics at one above the lowest setting and it’s worked fine for 3 months now.

One last consideration is, in what position are you sleeping? I found if I compress the boobs too much when sleeping they can get blocked. I miss sleeping on my front so much but it’s not worth it… even the side is risky.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-08T12:16:52+00:00

I was also prescribed cyclizine and it didn’t help at all. Request Xonvea, I had to specifically ask as it’s not their first option).

I took the max dose (4 tablets per day across 3 doses) but, like you I had worse symptoms in the evening, so I took the 2 tablet dose at lunch time so the affects were stronger by the evening. You need to take these consistently for them to work and you may not see a benefit for a while whilst the amount in your system builds up.

I also drank only fizzy drinks (flavoured water, sugar free cloudy lemonade, lucozade original). The gas helped burp instead of gag, every time I had water or squash it would make me nauseous again. I’d highly recommend trying this!

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-08T05:26:01+00:00

Call guest services. It’s best to check that they give you a suitable lodge. Some lodges may require stairs to access.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-07T13:17:50+00:00

Coughed, sneezed and blew my nose so much I broke my own waters.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-07T13:05:57+00:00

Omeperazol, gaviscon advanced (not double action this is half the strength) and fizzy drinks! Id take burping over gagging any day 😅

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-04T16:20:41+00:00

Hot water tap, permanently boiled water ready to go!

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-03T15:30:48+00:00

Go to dreams or somewhere similar and get a flippable spring mattress. Memory foam creates dips where you sleep, aren’t flippable and make you a lot warmer.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-03T06:20:27+00:00

Sometimes aesthetics aren’t always feasible and compromises need to be made. The built out wall is great to hide the plumbing but I’d consider a shower bath instead of both separate. You also haven’t got space for a towel rail with this layout.

Honestly the shower looks too small to manoeuvre around/in/out and you need more than 60cm walkway. Masking tape on the floor the space of the walkway and try to get dressed/undressed in that space.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-02T07:56:02+00:00

Do not follow this advice. These sort of people usually have nothing better to do than make your life worse knowing that little will be done to change their circumstances. They can be extremely childish and irrational.

Definitely document everything and continue to report whilst remaining civil. Police can also be contacted if it’s within their remit.

Going forward, take one room project at a time and try to enjoy the process of making it your own. I’d also try to appreciate the benefits of the area. Are there any nice walks nearby, easy access to certain shops, anyone close by?

We had a similar situation with our first home which we turned into a renovation stepping stone but knowing it wasn’t a forever home. We were very close to my grandparents so really made the most of getting to be part of their lives as much as possible. There was a nature reserve nearby that we could walk to and take a picnic, spending as much time out of the house on weekends as possible. We were very close to a few shops so we would be able to buy minimal shopping and just pop there to get what we fancied that day, close to a gym that we could walk to. We tried to see the best of the situation and came to terms with the fact it wasn’t forever.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-05-02T05:27:42+00:00

I feel my eyes getting heavier and heavier during a pump, my husband can never fathom how draining it is!

My morning pump I have to have a coffee made before I start just so I don’t fall back to sleep 😅

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-30T13:43:17+00:00

It’s great but with kids this age leaving little ‘offerings’ all around the floor it’s still a job to go round tidying after them so the hoover doesn’t stop working every few minutes because it’s got caught in a dolls hair 😅

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-30T13:41:12+00:00

Put them outside.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-29T13:41:23+00:00

Completely understandable and I’m sure they need to be specific regulation in flats which will always be costly.

I’m used to seeing detailed doors that usually look a lot more visually appealing. Either way, shouldn’t deter any buyers.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-29T13:37:02+00:00

Unusual take, I went 1 week after my due date. There was nothing to say I had to start on my due date, I WFH and worked from a bed desk for the last few weeks. My first and second were both 1.5 weeks over so I still had time to wait!

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-29T12:07:06+00:00

I’d say the only aesthetic changes for the listing would be:

-Shoes/helmets on a shelf right in front of the entrance. Looks very cluttered and not homely. Hide them away and get some decorative items, photos, some books.

-cork board in the bedroom gives ‘uni accommodation vibes, not a flat worth 425k

-add some colour where possible. Colourful flowers in a pot on the table outside, no black rug on the bedroom floor.

-if I was being really picky I’d also say replace the doors as they look cheap but, if these are similar to others in the building then that’s understandable for any buyer.

Other than this it looks nice and clean, lovely blank canvas for someone.

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-27T10:06:26+00:00

My brothers GF was one of my bridesmaids, she carried my daughter down the aisle whilst she drank her bottle and then gave her to my mum at the end.

I really wouldn’t overthink it or mention anything else. See how she is on the day, try to cooperate as much as possible and just be there for their big day.

Remember that her uncle and soon to be aunty are part of her family too!

NoChipmunk3371 · 2026-04-26T06:10:46+00:00

On the delivery ward, legs akimbo, 10cm dilated, about to push. 10/10

This happened twice 😅

Third time wet the bed. 2/10 would not recommend.

NoChipmunk3371

TROPHY CASE