Owning your own home

Phew, bought it pre-vote and it was manufactured 20 years ago, although it would be fun to smash up the local wetherspoons.

lol I was just putting the top rated not £500 or Dyson from Which here (as its behind a paywall). Quick scan seems to show similar issues (battery life/snapping handle!) but from users who have had it some time. Shows it's important to not just go on tester reviews

I just find it strange that you get the "What vacuum should I get that isn't a Dyson" but not "Which insurance company but not Hiscox" or "Which funds management company but not Hargreaves Lansdown".

I did move my insurance from Hiscox, albeit not directly due to their Brexit stance.

It's a good point.

You have also made me question whether not buying a Dyson is a greater expression of metro-elite tribal identity than switching from Hiscox.

Shit. Just switched to Hiscox for PII. Didn't have many options. Didn't realise they were Brexit-y.

We are all Brexit-y! Democracy FTW

Are you even part of the metropolitan elite if you haven't switched your SIPP from Hargreaves Lansdown due to their views on Brexit?

The crazy thing about the Dyson boycott is that I don't think there is a boycott.

It's just a lot of individuals who have concluded he's an ass and as he's so strongly associated his identity to the brand and products, buying the products is endorsing an ass... and nope, just better not to buy the products.

When you create a company named after your own surname, expect some people to not want to buy the products because they don't like you as a person.

But what do you use to 'hoover' up the debris?

The Titan leaf blower from screwfix is good for the money (under half price of Stihl)
It sucks and blows which can be handy. Its 2 stroke though, if that's something to consider.
It isn't orange, so no one will take your commitment to blowing seriously, although this could be be solved with a can of spray paint.

But what do you use to 'hoover' up the debris?

Stanley the robot.

Where you moving to?

To the land of South Africans. :D
I still can’t quite believe it. Varying emotions of panic and joy, and then uncertainty.

On this note. Apart from asking @Hovis to come round and build it, any suggestions for a good garden studio supplier.

Ubuild
Haven't used them but I like their system and I think it's what I'm going to use once I get around to it.

That works for me :)

Clapham?

Getting slightly frustrated with our and the vendor's solicitors... they're both adamant they're waiting on the other as completion slips away this week. Would it be legally stupid to contact the seller's solicitor directly?

I think I’d like to get an extension onto my house (instead of moving). Is remortgaging to do so a difficult process? Does anyone have experience of it?

If you have sufficient LTV to cover it then it is generally straight forward enough. The mortgage company only really cares that there is an asset to cover the mortgage and you can afford to pay it back.

I did it for a loft conversion and there was no issue. I don't even know if they were aware I was taking extra.

I haven't done it but it should be a fairly straightforward process, provided you have (i) sufficient equity in the property to release to fund the renovations; (ii) income to support your intended mortgage; and, (iii) long enough until retirement to give you a reasonable term.

Uh - that's why you have leaf blowers

We ordered a cordless Bosch vacuum, they sent a leaf blower. Luckily my wife noticed before I got stuck into the hoovering.

Getting slightly frustrated with our and the vendor's solicitors... they're both adamant they're waiting on the other as completion slips away this week. Would it be legally stupid to contact the seller's solicitor directly?

Stupid to speak to solicitors... but could always reach the vendors themselves and ask what they believe the hold up to be. Likely just some misunderstanding by one of the solicitors.

We did this. Pretty straight forward although we wildly underestimated how much money was needed.

@Velocio the estate agent has helped here in the past, as a 'normal' person to pass on messages. After speaking to the estate agent this morning the seller now knows we want indemnity insurance as there's no completion certificate for an extension. Hopefully the vendor pushing their side and us this side should move things on. Just so frustrating when we've been chasing our solicitor for over a week and the vendor was oblivious!

Cheers guys. Will look into it with the mortgage company!