Horace's Biting the Bullet Diary

Horace

Another day at college - it was my favourite subject today - Health & Safety. Must admit that I felt sorry for the tutor though because the powerpoint presentation did not flow properly and the answer book was appalling with its jumping about and unclear questions - whoever prepared these items needs shooting. The spelling on the powerpoint presentation is horrendous - e.g. discus and instead of discuss and other silly spelling and grammatical mistakes. I must admit I left a lot of feedback tonight.:D

LondonGirl252

Hey Horace,

Sorry I haven't been around much, things are getting on top of me and the forum seems to be bearing the brunt! Sounds like its all go your end, have you got your glasses sorted now?

Hope the rest of the college course goes well

LG x

Horace

College course went well today and I am back in on Monday for 3 days.

I managed to speak to the eye hospital today because I had booked to go there this afternoon to sort my specs out but I needed to be in college - it was decided that I would attend another day because the optician decided that I also needed to have my eyes re-tested considering the double vision I was having with the new specs. I could be back there next week.

Spoke to Mum last night who told me that although the solicitor had said 3 months before the exchange of contracts, she was told yesterday it would be 6 weeks...eeek...I am not ready:eek: May decide to ditch UW after all - it seems they take about 28 days to sort things out and I really don't know if I can be arrised to wait that long because in reality I am not unhappy with Scottish Power. I would need dual fuel in the new place. More investigation is needed - I may even switch to British Gas and have my gas and leccy from them. Have BT provide phone and broadband and Virgin for the tv or freeview or even virgin for tv and broadband.

I think with the UW - I felt coerced into accepting it and I don't like feeling coerced.

Horace

Feeling a bit meh today - woke up with a sore throat down the right side, left side is ok. Can't quite work out if I have been snoring or if I amsday coming down with something or if it is from 3 days in an air-conditioned environment.

My microwave seems to have packed up - I can cook a bowl of ready brek for 4 mins and it is only luke warm and cold by the time I get to the bottom of the bowl despite stirring it. This is a huge inconvenience as I use Ping quite a lot as well as Mosky and Sloth (slow cooker)...I am really looking forward to having a cooker that works and is more controllable than electric.

I phoned Mum last night to wish her happy birthday - she loved the card I sent her..a lovely picture of hellebores. We chatted about her trip to the Doctors on Monday and how her tablets have changed - she is now working on her blood pressure which is dangerously high. She is also having tablets to help her swallow - I am worried about this because I do not know what is wrong with her throat and can't help feeling that some of the problems she is having now is due to her having had rheumatic fever as a child. We talked about phones and I think in the new place I will use the Post Office as they seem to have the best broadband and telephone package. UW probably won't be used in the house at all because how cheap is it really? I am thinking that it isnt that cheap and I don't see why I should pay £1.50 membership fee each month...I wasnt told about this membership fee.

I am off to see the health trainer today - hopefully I will have lost a bit more weight although I don't think I have as my diet has been all over the place as I have been bingeing on sweets and biccies:(

Had some bad news today too - I received a message on FB about a lady that I know to say that she had passed away on 29 February. I met Sarah (not her real name) at a Meetup event last year, I spent a whole weekend with her in Harlech and we spent time on the beach and not going on the really long hikes. At night neither of us spent a lot of time in the pub either preferring to stay in, watch tv, chat and read magazines. I was aware at the time that she had come to the end of her chemotherapy for cancer and had recently had her lower left arm amputated. I met her on some gentle walks after that and went camping in the Summer and she was there again (this was the weekend when I slept..sleeping from about 7pm until 10am the next day). We were always at the back when we were walking because neither of us were into route marches - I think that trip up the vertical hill nearly finished us both off. I was due to see her again in August but I was too skint and it was decided that it would be unfair because I would not be able to contribute to petrol for me to attend even though I had suggested that I drive. It seems that the cancer returned and was more aggressively than before. It is sad that Sarah is no longer with us - she was a great cook, her cakes were fab..she was only 40 or thereabouts too. I don't think that I will go to her funeral on 16 March preferring to remember her in my own way.

Aesop

so sorry to hear about your friend Horace



I think remembering her in your own way is nice.

I wouldn't go with British gas for elec and gas. They are soooooo expensive! I changed from them to scottish power. Got a fixed deal a year ago which expires dec this year, but has been the best offer for me for months! even had eon and npower phone and they tried to beat the quote and they couldn't.

greenbee

Sorry to hear about your friend Horace.

Lots of good advice about utilities on the utility boards here.

Unlike Aesop I'm with BG because for me they are cheap I have an online tariff where I submit monthly meter readings and pay for what I use - no estimated bills or random DDs, I'm billed based on meter readings. It's always difficult when you move because you don't know what your consumption will be. Do you know who the current supplier is at the new house? It might be worth getting on to their cheapest tariff to start with, and then having a rethink when you have a year's meter readings. Most suppliers let you track your consumption monthly online submitting readings now, but if not, try something like i-measure where you submit weekly readings and can compare your consumption with other people.

LondonGirl252

Really sorry to hear about your friend, that is so sad. I also think its nice you will remember her in your own way. Hope you're feeling OK about it we're all here if you want to offload xxx

beanielou

Sorry to read about your friend.

Horace

@Greenbee - I was thinking of British Gas myself and submitting monthly readings as I would rather only pay for what I use, I think the current owner was with British Gas anyway. I was even looking at Sainsburys Energy but would nectar points be enough of an incentive (their fuel comes from British Gas).

I am ok about my friend - I am glad she is no longer in any pain. Must admit that I cannot help thinking that the route marches we were taken on took their toll on her because at the time she was recovering from chemo. Strange to think that at Easter she was looking to buy a car that could be adapted - she eventually got her car in the Summer.

I decided this morning to not leap up and do job searches (I am getting a bit demoralised with the whole business if truth be known) so I jumped in the car and went to Bromsgrove because Mum had told me about a huge YMCA charity shop opening - she had spotted a glass display cabinet in there. Must admit I quite liked furniture that I saw in there but boy were they pricey. There was a lovely hall stand (although too big for my own hallway) it had a bit of beading missing for sale for £179.99. A wooden bookcase £79.99 - must admit that my own bookcase came from a charity shop and cost me £20! The display cabinet was up for sale for £59.99 - there was one from the 1950's that had a bar on the top for dispensing drinks - it needed a good sand down and re-varnishing but there was no way on this earth that I would pay £49.99 for it. There was a lovely gateleg barleytwist table for sale too (only a dinky one) - they wanted £99.99 for it. Considering it is a second hand shop they are having a laugh with their prices - I know that the Heart Foundation shop near me sells similar items for a lot less money. I have a beautiful set of 1920's Mahogany drawers which cost me £20 and other bits of antique furniture cost similar amounts. I am toying with the idea of getting a new tv from the Heart Foundation Shop as I know that I can get a flat screen for £35.

I rang the auctioneers yesterday as I was expecting my items to have gone into a sale on 5 March, however, I hadn't received an auction catalogue - on ringing I discovered that that particular sale had been cancelled and that the sale is due to take place on 2 April.

On my way home from Bromsgrove this morning - I went and had another look at my house, it would appear that the picket fence has been painted with thick dark brown paint and I noticed that some borders need to be reinstated as they are full of weeds - an easy job to do as I have my trusty weeding knife (it came free yonks ago with a copy of Garden Answers). The path is now a bit rickety where the gas pipe was replaced so I shall have to watch that I don't trip on it.

I saw the health trainer yesterday - I have lost a lb..grr...I now weigh 11st 11lb - I need to get rid of more - 10st or less would be nice although I would be happy enough with 10st.

Horace

I saw an advisor at the jobcentre today - she is nice and said that I am doing more than most to find a job. It seems that I am expected to look for 6 jobs per week - I currently look every single day and probably apply for 10 jobs a week. She is very disgruntled with employers who are missing out on a whole load of talented people because they just ignore their CVs. At least I am doing everything right. Even though I had been sent to the college by the jobcentre I am not allowed to include it on my job search form because college is separate.