I always have bits and pieces of timber lying around the cellar.... house.... garden.... well, anywhere really, and they come in useful when something unusual is called for. I get them from building sites, tree surgeons, all sorts of places. Mr M whistles the theme from Steptoe and Son at me when I bring home... Continue Reading →
Haggling at B&Q and Lush Living Etc paints
Project Ballbrook is almost complete, a quick tickle of a rental flat which has turned into a newly tiled bathroom, full redecoration, new kitchen work tops and lots of added bits, sorely needed in what had become an unrentable apartment. Well, unrentable at a decent price, and some of the would be tenants who viewed and didn't take... Continue Reading →
House prices drop by 30%? They have round here
Gutted to hear about another amazing family home being sold in Fallowfield, just up the road from us, for an absolute song - £295K to developers / landlords who are likely to ram it full of students and generally rip the heart out of it. 18 months ago, the same type of house was going... Continue Reading →
Looking to your pocket time at Project BB
It's really funny how everyone's approach has changed so radically, people are really having to look to their own pockets, and see what's actually there, before they make any decisions. Primarily because unlike in recent years, you can't just spend it then get it from the mortgage/back/credit card. Me included. Tenants have moved out of... Continue Reading →
Channel M lives to fight another day
Its tough tough tough out there, and even the 'glamorous' tv world isn't immune. Every media type person I speak to is looking for exciting innovative ideas, but they ain't getting commissioned unless they are el cheapo to make. I used to do a weekly show for Manchester's Channel M, getting out and about looking at... Continue Reading →
Mortgages and scary standard variables
Well, we are all waiting for the budget with (bated) breath, how much is it going to cost us on personal level and all that. My mortgage on house is luckily on a tracker, but only til Autumn, and I checked the paperwork this morning - it said their standard variable is 7.85%. I nearly... Continue Reading →
