Lucielle's daring debt free journey

lucielle

Ok, wages are dire. I am having to dig into Avon money to make up the shortfall and I haven't included dinner money which will be needed next week. Oh did come back with something and has pushed his budget, which I will possibly have to raid the Avon account to tide things over until he gets the stuff sold. 1 of his purchases was a really nice computer chair, as the old one had metal bits poking through the seat and the back rest fell off every time you moved and as it only cost a fiver I think it was a billy bob bargain.

Got all the items bought for school and the children decided they didn't want to go swimming so took them to the park instead (did buy lunch while I was out). Got 3 hours work in last night, off again shortly.

Made a card payment of £105.41. Balance transferred 1/2 my Abbey account onto HSBC fixed at 3.9% for 6 months. Abbey has the highest interest at the moment.
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lucielle

Absolutely shattered today. It hasn't stopped raining, which due to the way the wind is blowing is causing it to leak in our bedroom. Honestly it was like chinese water torture last night. I have written and phoned the landlords but they ignore me. Oh went into the attic to see if he could find where it was leaking, it seems to be coming down the chimney breast and then coming through our ceiling. There is no place to put a bucket or seal any holes. It is also leaking outside the boys bedroom, again this is due to the chimney. Oh thinks they need pointing. I personally think the land agent needs shooting and I would be quite happy to do this act.
Due to the weather OH has been called into work. The money will be useful but I am worried about him going. I went into work for a couple of hours this morning and it was scary. He has gone to get DD from a sleep over. Did the snowball this afternoon whilst bored still makes for scary reading. Also just had a laugh and watched the Full Monty, British humour at its best IMO.
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lucielle

Bit of a stressful afternoon. OH went to get DD2 from friends, he got stranded and phoned me to go and pull him out of the flood. When I jumped in his car the fuel light was on (very skint this week and unable to feed car). He had taken DS1& 2 with him I had DD2. Got to the place where I thought he was after being flagged down by a 4x4 driver to say you couldn't get passed. I daren't go through the water as it was at the top of some traffic cones and I was in a peugeot 406 so not very high clearance. I didn't have any reception on my mobile. The chap who had flagged me down came back and he waded round the edge to see if he could see him. Walked further away and managed to get through to OH. He had gone a different route but was stuck again. Managed to get through loads of floods to meet OH coming the other way as a tractor driver (very nice man) had pulled him out.

OH managed to get into work later on. A local bridge has been shut, due to the amount of water going through it has 'moved'. The number of leaks have increased and I am having 'lovely' water music. The paper is starting to come off. I think I will sleep in the living room tonight as that is drip free. The forecast is for more rain tomorrow. Where is it going to go? Phoned the livery yard, the boys are ok and they are in for the night. I bet they are glad. Hope everyone else is ok.
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Seaxwyn

Blimey Lucielle, what a drama! I am glad you are all home and OK (well minus the drips).

Is there anything you can do to force the landlord to repair the chimney? If not, try writing to the Council. We did that once when living in a place that was falling down - the Council wrote to the landlord requiring him to carry out the repairs by a certain date.

Hope the floods subside soon.

lucielle

I will try and speak to the cretin tomorrow. Still shattered today. Spent the night on the settee, until Oh came home at approx 7.00 this morning then shuffled off to bed. He had managed to get 14 hours overtime so that will hopefully mean I can actually do a food shop in 2 weeks when it comes through. Got some lamb to roast for tea so that will be nice, might make a pudding if I can be bothered. I will have to get the children to do some homework, nothing like leaving it til the last minute.
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roxy7699

Wow lucielle what a few days youve had! How's it doing now? Is it still raining lots by you. Landlords must have to do something. As scary as your snowball seemed you seem to be making loads of payments. Good on ya.

lucielle

Hi Roxy, it isn't raining at the moment but more is forecast over the next couple of days. Finally some of the family called last night to see if we were ok as it has been on the national news, I was beginning to feel unwanted (sad I know). I am thinking about phoning the CAB to see if there are any ways I can 'force' the landlord to get the repairs done, I was also thinking about phoning environmental health as living in damp conditions with 4 children can't be good. Any suggestions welcome.

No work today. Children's last day at home as they are all back tomorrow.
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penguin83

Hi Lucielle sounds like it has been awful where you are. There must be a way to make the landlord do the repairs - you could ask on the housing board there are quite a few experts there but I agree with CAB and council.

My mare has literally had to be dragged out to have a couple of hours in the field during the day - she's not enjoying this weather!

x x x

lucielle

Hi Penguin, my old boy was definitely not for staying out. The younger one would quite happily churn up the field. Have spoken to the cretinous land agent and lo and behold a builder arrived. Went round the house and then went into my bedroom and prodded the ceiling with a broom handle and promptly made a very nice hole. He said he hadn't meant to do that and went off muttering about a new ceiling. Now don't get me wrong and I admit I'm no expert and a new ceiling would be very nice but don't you have to get to the cause of the problem before you put new things up? Is it me????? He has toottled off not sure when his botchit builders will be back but lets hope things are moving. Not sure what OH is going to say about the hole, probably not very much.
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Piquant_2

Hi Lucielle - you'd have thought they'd want to sort out where the water was coming from and fix it first wouldn't you? You'll be having a lot of new ceilings otherwise! Have you managed to find time to contact CAB yet? I do feel sorry for you, it's horrible when water's coming in, it does so much damage.

My boy hates the rain too, he stands with the rain dripping off looking very miserable and tries to follow you back to the stable.

Piq