Getting money back from cowboy builders

MrsMoo2U

It was always going to be the case that after such highs everybody would experience a low. Mike, I want to second what the others say. No amount of help form DIY SOS was ever going to change your whole life over night. What it could do is ease a little of the discomfort and take away some of the huge and overwhelming parts of that problem. Life is difficult and full of twists and turns. We all build little walls around ourselves to help us to cope with the difficult times and slowly you have to start dismantling that wall and letting a little chink of light in. But you can only do that when you are strong enough and the time is right for you. Dont feel obliged to come on here and be UP. I didnt post often but I always read your thread, I still come back in to check you out from time to time. I guess that as you popped into MGs thread that you are watching over there too. The things that are happening over there are quite uplifting and it does remind me so much of your first thread. I think that you helped lots of people who were in need as much as they helped you. Now take the time to grow strong and make your life what you want it to be. Also remember that whilst I understand your gratitude for the support that you got on the thread you dont OWE anybody anything as everybody took as much as they needed from that experience too. Remember that people are just happy to share your good times and your bad times and by talking about them that is thanks enough for most people.

lisawaters

Thanks Billie and Cherisong. You're both spot on. I'm glad you said what I am feeling. I'm not 'unhappy' but I'm not as happy as I think I should be! if that makes sense.

Thank you.

x

MrsMoo2U

perfect sense Mike. We all feel pressure to be what other people want us to be at times. Just be you and be as "happy" as you want to be. Other people can go whistle if they think you should be anything other than that.

lisawaters

cherisong wrote: »

perfect sense Mike. We all feel pressure to be what other people want us to be at times. Just be you and be as "happy" as you want to be. Other people can go whistle if they think you should be anything other than that.

I've never been able to be 'me' somehow... upbringing, expectations, that sort of thing! And what would this other 'me' be like anyway? I was always told off as a child for colouring outside the lines, and I guess I try not to do that in any way even now.

My wish to start work again is getting stronger, although I'm not sure the ability is there yet. This leads to some crazy conversations in my head. I look at everything now and think - could I make a business doing that and earn enough to live comfortably? The answer is usually 'no'.

This week's Big Idea follows talking to a friend who has a room stacked with stuff that is like an albatross in her life (do I mean albatross? Vulture? Sword of Damocles? Millstone? Thrush? Sparrow?). She says she "would give anything for someone to clear it, sell the stuff and decorate the room for her." Whether this 'anything' might include a few hundred pounds is as yet unclear. So could there be millions of other people who would pay to get a company in to sort out an aspect of their lives? Not one of these lifestyle coaches, but just in--out clean, clear and tidy...

I understand the secret of making money is to do something other people don't want to do. I've always had a bit of a fetish about cleaning (as those who know me will attest - I can get quite excited about microfibre cloths, and distinctly pink-faced about steam cleaners!)

Perhaps my strange personality will lead me to become a (very successful) cleaner next?


Or perhaps this cough syrup has got something strange in it.

x

gallygirl

Am delurking.......

lisawaters wrote: »

This week's Big Idea follows talking to a friend who has a room stacked with stuff that is like an albatross in her life (do I mean albatross? Vulture? Sword of Damocles? Millstone? Thrush? Sparrow?). She says she "would give anything for someone to clear it, sell the stuff and decorate the room for her." Whether this 'anything' might include a few hundred pounds is as yet unclear.

So what exactly is in this room? Is it saleable? Would it fetch a few hundred pounds? Could you volunteer to clear, clean & decorate for no fee in exchange for the contents? The it would be a win win for both of you . Or if it has valuable stuff you could offer to split.

lisawaters wrote: »

So could there be millions of other people who would pay to get a company in to sort out an aspect of their lives? Not one of these lifestyle coaches, but just in--out clean, clear and tidy...

Yes - I'm sure there is - baby steps & all that

lisawaters wrote: »

I've always had a bit of a fetish about cleaning (as those who know me will attest - I can get quite excited about microfibre cloths, and distinctly pink-faced about steam cleaners!)

Gosh..........

wanders off muttering "........ the man really does have issues............" :rotfl:

Don't ask me to clean my own house, but there is something v satisfying about taking a dirty room, gutting it, cleaning it & painting it .

Maybe you are trying too hard to find a "one size fits all" solution? For example, if you could make a living from doing the above day I day out would you be happy, ditto with graphic design - would that be enough of a challenge for you? Maybe you need have a 'portfolio career' - or in proper language 'a bit of this, a bit of that'.

As for being "me", I think many people out there can sympathise with you on that one. Most people are somewhere of a sliding scale of the 'real them' - maybe you are just a bit further in the wrong direction? Can you slide a little further up and take a look? You may like what you see. And if you talk to those who know you best you may find they have a better idea of the real 'you' than you think.

Keep taking the cough bottle

lisawaters

On a whim, I went through the little dance I used to do with the boiler to get the heating to run (turn off everything, leave for 30 minutes, quickly turn thermostat up, push reset button for five seconds, turn thermostat back by two degrees) and it lit! I just stared at it in disbelief! Although it's not cold today I had to run it for a while and see if all the rads worked (all except one it seems) and the bathroom towel radiators even came on!

My god this is exciting!

But I know if I turn it off it won't light again...

So. Leave it running full blast until May and just leave the windows and doors open?

Or would it cost less to get it fixed?

x

gallygirl

Oh wow, how great - the boiler is not faulty!!!!

Keep it turned up for now, and post what you've just said on HERE - am sure someone will be able to diagnose and give you a rough estimate.

Does the thermostat click in the appropriate places?

lisawaters

gallygirl wrote: »

Am delurking.......



So what exactly is in this room? Is it saleable? Would it fetch a few hundred pounds? Could you volunteer to clear, clean & decorate for no fee in exchange for the contents? The it would be a win win for both of you . Or if it has valuable stuff you could offer to split.




Yes - I'm sure there is - baby steps & all that



Gosh..........

wanders off muttering "........ the man really does have issues............" :rotfl:

Don't ask me to clean my own house, but there is something v satisfying about taking a dirty room, gutting it, cleaning it & painting it .

Maybe you are trying too hard to find a "one size fits all" solution? For example, if you could make a living from doing the above day I day out would you be happy, ditto with graphic design - would that be enough of a challenge for you? Maybe you need have a 'portfolio career' - or in proper language 'a bit of this, a bit of that'.

As for being "me", I think many people out there can sympathise with you on that one. Most people are somewhere of a sliding scale of the 'real them' - maybe you are just a bit further in the wrong direction? Can you slide a little further up and take a look? You may like what you see. And if you talk to those who know you best you may find they have a better idea of the real 'you' than you think.

Keep taking the cough bottle

I doubt there's anything there worth 50p...

Portfolio of jobs - will work for food...

Asking friends to tell me what they think of me is fraught with dangers. I've only just got them used to letting me indoors...

I have made occasional forays further along the slide to see what's there. The case comes up next month.



.

lisawaters

gallygirl wrote: »

Oh wow, how great - the boiler is not faulty!!!!

Keep it turned up for now, and post what you've just said on HERE - am sure someone will be able to diagnose and give you a rough estimate.

Does the thermostat click in the appropriate places?

Great idea. Posted and sitting here hoping the universe sends me a plumber now...

(Not something I expected to say when I woke up this morning...)

x

gallygirl

lisawaters wrote: »

Great idea. Posted and sitting here hoping the universe sends me a plumber now...

(Not something I expected to say when I woke up this morning...)

x

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I am often quoted about the time I said I had woken up hoping for 6" . In my defence, I was talking about snow :snow_laug