A fresh start

Seaxwyn

Thanks both. Buddiebabe, I hope you enjoy the election count work. I have been to one count and the atmosphere was quite exciting - all the candidates hover over the tables as the counters sort the ballot papers to see whose pile is biggest. So you are under a lot of scrutiny but it is exciting as everyone is so eager for the outcome.

Karmacat, our boiler is turned off most of the time, but when we need to heat up some water for a shower or to wash up or whatever, all the radiators come on too. OH has had a look at the boiler switch but not sorted the problem so we will have to get an engineer out.

I'm doing a 5 mile Fun Run this morning - looking forward to that (kind of) then more canvassing this afternoon. I'm also hoping to finish off my tax return for last year. I want to get the figures in as possible to find out if we are entitled to an increase in tax credits. We get £42/month at present.

Amazing news of the day... I went into the newsagents to be greeted with the news that my OH is starting a paper round tomorrow! The kids knew, apparently he was keeping it secret to surprise me. I am amazed, this is a man who finds it hard to get up before noon.

Karmacat

I think I'd enjoy being at the actual count too ..... hope it all goes well.

Seaxwyn, I should have known you were already switching it off when you could!

Enjoy the fun run - and fancy that about OH!!!! Its a start, and a very accessible start.

hypno06

Good luck with the run! It's not that long ago that you could only dream of running five miles, and now you can do it with relative ease :T:T:T

And hurrah for OH getting a round - a baby step,that could actually be quite a big step in the right direction - fingers crossed!!


As for the money - well, we can gloss over that for the time being - concentrate on you, and your election for a few more days, then come back to it more determined than before. Remember, you only have so much energy to go around!

xx

Seaxwyn

Well I ran in bucketing, freezing rain, and was only one minute quicker than in the same race last year. Bit disappointed about that, never mind.

Got back to find OH studying the map of his new paper round, and plotting the most efficient route. I do think it could be a big step in the right direction too.

I'm now going out to buy my dad a birthday present. He is 78 today and I feel every year is to be cherished as he is quite frail now, physically. I am going to buy some compost, fertiliser and plants for hanging baskets, this is something he mentioned recently that he would like. It will cost a few quid, but I feel he deserves it. The only other 'extra' expenditure in May, as far as I know, will be DS's 9th birthday at the end of the month. We will have to have a party and as his friends are little toughies with loads of energy we will hire a local hall that has trampolines, football equipment and stuff. It's not that expensive and I couldn't contemplate having them all here.

hypno06

I hope your Dad had a lovely birthday.

How did your election day go?

taxi73

Just popping by to see how you got on in the election?

Karmacat

Hope its all going okay for you, Seaxwyn - your dad, your run, OH! Lots going on here........

Seaxwyn

I missed being elected by just three votes! It was gruelling.... we asked for a recount as the result was so close, and watched the 13,500 votes all counted again by hand.

My friend and fellow Green candidate romped home with a comfortable majority, so we have one Green Councillor, the first in Surrey for 20 years.

A huge relief it is now all over!

hypno06

3 votes :eek:

Blimey - are you pleased or gutted to be so close?

Karmacat

Ye gods, yes, what was it like? How do you feel? A friend of mine is a Green councillor in London, Seaxwyn, and she regrets the day she ever got into it - her time is never her own, she has no party system to back her up, she's so isolated, and the volunteers who come along seem to back out after about 6 weeks, she's carried on alone for her entire term.... and she's someone who does a *lot* of voluntary work, from buddying for women wanting to start jogging to running art classes for prisoners. I was quite worried about her at one stage........