Ive never had a full sized dishwasher as I couldnt fit one in, so I had a slim-line one even when the children were still at home. It was a bit of a tetris puzzle to fit it all in, but I was pretty determined..........
My mother-in-law had one of these and I didn't know this was the name. I have a condenser sensor dryer which means it can go in any room. A bit more expensive though, but I find the sensor a bit hit and miss. With a large load,eg sheets, there are areas of damp still. You don't have to use the sensor, but It's a bit trial and error.
The choice of vented or condenser depends on where you put the dryer. If it goes on an outside wall and you are happy to have a hole cut in it, then you can have a vented one. Or site it near a window that you can open to hang the tube out when using it. I have had both types and have noticed no difference in performance. My current one is a condenser type as it is no where near an outside wall or a window.
We moved this summer, downsizing at the same time and there's no room in our small kitchen for a dishwasher. We inherited a Zanussi washer/dryer with the purchase and have been pleasantly chuffed with how good it is. Just how much it costs to run is another matter though, until the bills flood in, I'm not sure. One option that may be worth considering is a 3 tier heated airer which Lakeland.co.uk sell. They are apparently very cheap to run and even the mini-standard one has good capacity. They have a zip up cover which apparently also accelerates the drying process, and they fold up when not in use.
People keep on asking me how mum is,
I suspect they are asking if there`s any change in her condition.
Hope the doctoral proposal is a useful distraction - does it have a deadline to keep you focused?
I think I find it harder with each change; but in a way the last few months have also meant I have seen Mum as a person rather than just my Mum
Even though you split up, you must have left a lasting impression for him to get in touch like this. Maybe his current situation reminds him of his time with you and that he lost you then because he was unable to commit.
But some people are just like that. They can't commit for fear of missing out on something better. In fact, they spend their lives missing out on happiness they could have had.
I understand why it was unsettling, however, what you said was very generous. Odd as it sounds I've heard of this before.
As far as ending up like you are alone and looking after your mum, I hope you are happy with your choice and this isn't what unsettled you. One of the things I've regularly said is everything should be done in the best interests of everyone, not just the PWD. I realise that your mum has stipulated certain terms re care home to solicitor etc, but if you aren't coping with looking after her, you do have the option to take a step back, which would likely force the issue. I had to wait for a crisis with my mum to force the issue, which was very uncontrolled and with hindsight she was very much at risk (which I wasn't aware of) Whatever you do in work doesn't mean you can cope with similar things at home. I know this wasn't the subject of your post per se, but the phrasing you used just caught my eye.