Haven't been on here for a bit...
Kat, I think it's a very good idea to have a friend help you de-clutter. A third party sees things in a different light, and will not want to cling onto stuff "just in case" or because it still has some life in it.
Weight loss has stalled (and reversed, I think) and when friends visited this weekend we came to the conclusion that my (digital) scales are anything up to a stone out, and that I am closer to the horror story of those at the doctor's. I missed a zumba class because I had Freya over, and then it was cancelled last week (guess who actually went?) and there isn't one this week because the school it's held in is on holiday.

However, the house doesn't look too bad at the moment. I am bearing in mind that in the not too distant future the work may be starting (I have one price in, and another due anytime) so I need to pull kitchen and toilet facilities (porta-potti) into the main body of the house. Washing will be on an ad-hoc basis!
The work could take about 4 months, according to builder #1. I will see what the other guy says. At least the cost they have given so far is within my price limit.
The guy who was going to enlarge the loft hatch and insulate the roof space says he can get the stuff up there with the hole as it is. He also said that the rafters are very uneven, which would make it difficult to board over. So I am just going for the insulation, and will see what they can give me when I get my new bit of roof. I have unpacked another couple of big boxes in the "annexe" and if I could just get the old beds out of there it would be much more spacious.

Anyway, well done all of you! I am going to go get a good quality set of scales and then start to take a serious look at the weight again. My left leg's aching just below the knee after my last morris practice....it isn't used to being thumped about by such a lump! Didn't help that I slightly ricked my left ankle crossing the road to the hall, either!

Andrea