startagain, Starts Again....... Again

startagain_2

sw - I don't stalk!

Good lord - a whole egg, that is some feat..... talk to you tomorrow, off for some food and footie!

SA

startagain_2

Good Morning,

So.... there I was yesterday evening cooking a bit of fish pie for tea and the doorbell rings. MrT and I answer it (him more excitedly than me) and there in front of me is one of the Conservative Candidates for the local council elections next week. I have already pledged my vote to the Independents (a nice bunch) and told him so. Why, he asks? I say - because the council are useless, money squandering and arrogant. Why do I think that, he asks?

So.... the tale of the tree.....
I live next door to a small park which has a row of very, very large sycamore trees along the road side. The last of these trees is about 3 metres from the house (would be illegal now), the roots go right under my garden, the branches stretch right across the road and are intermingled with the phone lines. Each and every time there are high winds or a storm or even winter large boughs come off this thing and drop anywhere.... usually in my garden, or the road or neighbouring properties.
When I first moved in a number of them fell, breaking my old fence. I took numerous photos and claimed compensation from the council (only £145) for the damage. They refused telling me it was "one of those things". I debated long and hard about taking them to the Small Claims Court but actually ran out of steam and replaced the fence at my expense. More importantly they refused to cut the tree back saying there was no danger and nothing wrong with it.
The houses opposite live in permanent shade when the thing is leafy, it is right in their windows. So... I point it out to Tory man and say to him that until something is done to cut this tree either right back or even down, he a'int getting my vote.
Well, Tory man turns out to be a landscaper and agrees with me and tells me that the sycamore is "nothing but a weed" and it is a disaster waiting to happen and that he had never actually noticed how bad it was until I had pointed it out and also all the broken boughs that you can see on the tree. He is going to the "Tree" department today and is going to report back within 48 hours.
If this tree is cut back, that means no more mossy half garden - hooray! No more sap all over my car for two months every year - hooray! No more bird poo from the crows that are nesting in there - hooray!
Heck, I love a campaign, don't you?
It is a sunny day today and more importantly the last work day before another 4 days off..... all work and all play at the moment
I hope everyone has a good day and has a nice break this weekend. Sorry if you have to work
I have to tell you... I sent my first payslip in to the HB office and it varied by £8 because of an hours overtime and they have reassessed the whole claim and sent out pages and pages of calculations - this country is so enveloped in burocracy - it amazes me. How mauch must that have cost in time, labour and materials?
Crazy, crazy....
Oh well,

SA

savingwannabe

SA you are such a catalyst for change. Amazing. Most people would have made polite conversation till any candidate moved on.

Good luck at work. I am working from 6-9 tonight but have to go in vvv early to do lots of admin!!!

Still i have only worked for 2 days this week. Utterly delighted.

Aesop

I love Election Time I used it last year when they wouldn't empty my brown bin - this is the one you put garden and food waste in. Got it emptied within a week and every week since then

Have told someone at work who is having problems to contact her local MP and have told Marru to do the same, as I was researching her problem and found that other people had used this method and it worked.

Yay to having someone canvassing who is a landscape gardener so knows what they are talking about. :j

hmmm what issues do I need dealing with, rather than just shutting the door?

Your rug sounds lovely, well done you. I keep thinking about planting in my garden but DS likes to kick his football into the plants and the boy next door hits over at least 4 different types of balls. How long would anything I have last?

maybe I should go for hanging baskets.

startagain_2

"A catalyst for change" - I like that - thanks sw. I just like things simple - If it/they leave me alone then I am fine. So when the Fatty family start encroaching on my peace and sanity and the big tree starts encroaching on my garden and car, then I kick off.... BIG TIME :mad:

As I type Fatty family are trying to break the world record for how many times you can slam a door in an hour. They are getting on my nerves and had better watch out.... :mad:

I had to stay an extra 45 mins at work again tonight because my manager is off for the next week and I am in charge..... ooh, Get Me! At last my OCD has paid off and they can see that I like to get things done and finished properly. I wont let them down.

I have also been invited onto the interview panel for new contractors for the HA in May. I am not sure if I want to get involved - I am feeling a little bit frazzled at the moment after the mad Easter rush in Choccie World. Royal Mail let us down badly and too many parcels have not been delivered for my liking, so this week has been about refunding and resending. The sooner we get a tracking service in, the better, but they dont do themselves any favours in a very competitive sector.... I dont like the thought of kids not getting their easter prezzies (or not the right kids, should I say!)

The good thing about all this quiet living and working longish hours is that I dont spend anything. Spare time is spent walking and making up to MrT and as a result I seem to be able to buy something fairly significant every few weeks.
I am still waiting for the invoice for my new bit of fencing from the HA (wont remind them) and so it looks like I can get my new cooker in May when I get paid. Hooray!!!!! The one I have got now was second hand when I bought it, and that was over 7 years ago! Wow, that is how long I have been back in the UK after living abroad for 3 years, doesn't time fly?

What a waffle this is turning out to be... please excuse me

I hope everyone is well

Hugs


SA

Aesop

Do they need to use Royal Mail SA?

at work we have to post out work to candidates who have completed and we were using RM and it was costing a fortune. So much that our Director was saying we were no longer allowed to post it and they had to come and collect it. that's fine I said but what happens when they have moved to wales, or live on the other side of london?

So I looked at courier companies and found some can be quite competitive with RM on weight and prices, and as most guarantee delivery next day, much faster!

Aesop

oh sorry ! congratulations on the temporary promotion! :beer: you sound like you will do a great job!

startagain_2

Thanks Aesop - had nipped into the kitchen to put a pizza in for tea.
We use RM at the moment for orders under 1 kg - it is cost effective but I really don't like the fact that there is no trace on it once it leaves and the brand name is printed all over the box!!! We are looking into courier services - our present one can't match the lower weight prices - it is ironic that people pay as much for p&p as they do for the goods themselves.
Hey Ho

SA

startagain_2

Aesop wrote: »

oh sorry ! congratulations on the temporary promotion! :beer: you sound like you will do a great job!

Nope- just tall and gobby..... I talk a great game, as someone once said ....

Wordsmith

So you did bagsy the top job! Well done - that's a real vote of confidence in your work. Great! How did the others in the office take the news that the newbie was in charge? I hope that doesn't cause you a problem. Still, I'm sure you'll find a way round it if it does. I look forward to your diary entries over the next couple of weeks as you revolutionise the workings of the office. Te he.

Being on the interview panel for new contractors sounds like a good thing, too. I know you are tired now, but by the time comes for the HA work I assume you'll be down to your three days again? But maybe it's not what you want anyway. Still, it's another feather in your cap that you were asked.