It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

GreyQueen

:eek: Oh my gosh, but did yesterday evening turn out differently to plan. I'd sneaked onto the lottie for an hour after work; quick bit of weeding and picked beans, home, clothes in washer, tea on, self lounging glamorously (heavy irony) in a silk robe - £4 from the c.s. - when SuperGran knocked on the door.

Always a pleasure to have chat with my pal from the other side of the Towers but she needed to vent.

The back-story is that the Towers are on a communal heating and hot water system. We each have our own rads and hot water tanks but the gas boilers are a dozen monsters down in the boiler house. Anyway, our hot water is very hot and our systems are very pressurised and our water tanks cannot be bought off-the-shelf and come by special order from somewhere in Scandinavia.

SG's tank developed a leak at the start of July and she's had no hot water since and the overflow which comes off the tank and exits outside has been running like a tap. They've been trying to get a replacement tank ever since early July and it's finally arrived and the installation is commencing at 8 am today.

So, first thing yesterday, with 24 hours to go until installation, SG gets out of bed to go the the loo and finds her hall floor and bathroom floor awash and the tide heading up the hall towards the bedroom and living room and kitchen. Arrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

The hot water tank (which refills off the mains and cannot be disconnected) had ruptured completely and dumped a lot of water all over the airing cupboard's contents. SG had to turn off the mains and struggle (lil ole lady, no washer only tiny spindryer) to cope with a helluva lot of sopping bedding inc wool blankets.

I was out at work and the lottie all day and knew nothing until 6.30 pm when she came and told me. Tea was about ready, my washer was half way thru it's cycle, and I wasn't dressed. Told her I'd see her in half an hour and ate, racked my clothes and dressed and flipflopped over to her flat.

It could have been worse and would have been a disaster if she'd been carpetted, but there was sopping bedlinen (inc an eiderdown ) all over the place. I grabbed 2 things which were machine-washable and stuffed them into my washer then went back with a tall skinny rack from Lakeland which I use at the foot of my bed to hold a few clothes, and we had that out on the walkway with a pure wool blanket dripping water (which leaves 2 more like it in her bath-tub) plus the eiderdown. Dunno how the heck we're going to get the eiderdown dry without ruining it.

SG is one of life's troopers and shrugs and says there's no point in getting stressed about it, but as flat-dwellers with no balconies, it is a major logistical problem to handle all that laundry. She decided that we should have a glass of wine and admitted that she's had to resort to chocolate earlier in the day to cheer herself up.

I came back to the flat the second time with a hand-crotchet blanket which her late Mum had made which I didn't have time or sufficient drying space to process last night. Plan to give it a quick wool wash and spin and leave it on the airer whilst I go to work.

You may imagine that I am sitting here typing surrounded by drying clothes and bedcovers......and you'd be bang on the money.

Charis I've found the cause of my little fridge going KLONK; the thermostat is failing. Have 2 thermometers in there at the moment and even with the control turned to the max it is barely keeping 9 degrees. Safety is reckoned to be 0-4 degrees. Found his paperwork and Mr Beko is 12 years and 4 months old and not long for this world. Got the money in the savings account but could do without the aggro of shopping.

Shall go to library after work and do some research in the Which? magazines as want the most energy efficient model. Will have it turned off this weekend as I am away at the folks' and will have it swtiched off too whilst on holiday. Perhaps if I get a wriggle on I can get a new one before my hols, otherwise it'll just have to wait until I get back.

(sigh) I am really looking forward to the weekend as I'm blinking knackered.

Never mind. Chin up and carry on.......

Hope everyone has a good day and which ever person has the yellow ball (seen for about 3 of the last 48 hours and now missing AGAIN), can you please boot it back over here.

redlady_1

kersplatt - just take care. You have to heal before kick starting your life again. Everything will wait until you are stronger. And I can assure you that things will get better but it does take time. Perhaps a stressful job is the last thing you need right now? Personally, I wouldnt send the email. You are angry and raw and what is said cannot be unsaid. I have been where you are and there will be dark days. But one day you will wake up and it will be a funny shade of grey instead. Then you know life will get better. xxx

Mrs C - Oooooohhhhhhh. That sounds like a fab life change. Our F & C van ventured into kebabs, burgers, sausage and chips, etc. Good luck and I hope it gives you what you are looking for.

Rach - congrats to hubby. Enjoy the payrise!

HJ - Hope you are feeling better my lovely xx :kisses3:

OH and I are tackling the Cellar of Doom this weekend. I nearly fell over when he suggested and organised it. DIY is not his strong point!!! Then I want to get the front door painted and the cabbages planted in my garden. Plus the bit by the garage cut back so I can store more wood...Cant you tell I wont be working (paid) this weekend

My mum is off on holiday this weekend. Years ago she switched her mortgage from endowment to repayment but kept paying the endowment and forgot about it (didnt do this deliberately either!) She then got a letter this year saying she was getting a hefty payout. When she told me the first thing I said to her was "well now you have your Canada" money. She has always had a dream to go and so off she is going! I am so pleased for her as she has struggled all her life and deserves it.

smilet - YO! HEARING GIRLIE! Enjoy. I wish I could turn a few people off I can tell you.

HariboJunkie

redlady_1 wrote: »

Cant you tell I wont be working (paid) this weekend

.

I don't suppose there's any chance you might just actually have a well earned REST?? :cool::p:D Good for your Mum :T. We've just switched from part endowment to full repayment but I don't think we'll be forgetting about the endowment any time soon. :rotfl:ps I have new sunset pics for you.

Kersplatt I am so sorry you are being put through this. I too wouldn't send the email in anger but I would try to contact them and appeal to their better nature. They are your childrens' grandparents and have a moral responsibility to them as well as their son, more so in my opinion. Take care of yourself.

Old Tractor I hope things are not as gloomy as you think. I am sure you have lots to look forward to with your family and I hope some happy good luck comes your way soon. x

GQ Hope Supergran is ok. x

SmileyT well done on the funky hearing aids. :T

Thinking of doing alot of baking today which reminded me of Softstuff. Hope you're feeling better and will be posting properly again soon. x

mardatha

Oldtractor, I get £96 pension and the OH will get £136 starting on the 12th Sept when he hits 65. If you're used to have no money then you'll be fine Never worry about what might never happen. You might win the lottery before then!

GreyQueen

:mad: Just took the pooter off the landline to give SG a quick call to see how things are going today. The workman and the new tank are already there and the job will take until 4-5 pm today.

Told SG I'd just put her crotchet blanket thru my washer on a freshen-up and rinse programme and it was now racked and that the stuff from last night is now dry and she can have it any time.

SuperGran told me that the tank's overflow (a short length of pipework with a 90 degree bend which vents thru the wall onto the walkway) had BEEN STUFFED UP WITH PLASTIC AND PAPER FROM THE OUTSIDE SO THAT THE WATER COULDN'T GET OUT AND THUS CAUSED THE FLOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The tank didn't rupture at all and the flood indoors was maliciously-caused.

Fan-tas-tic, isn't it? All her immediate neighbours are good people and knew that the new tank was coming today and the only likely suspect is a very nasty piece of work from the floor above, a druggie. He could have done it in seconds at any time the night before last and it would have been very unlikely that anyone could have caught him red-handed.

Anyway, SG has just popped over to use my loo (her water is switched off until the tank is finished) and will let herself in and out at will whilst I'm at work for the same purpose; we have keys to each other's flat.

Right, must get ready for work.

Gigervamp

GQ, with regards to the eiderdown, if SuperGran can find someone with a tumble drier, or if there's a laundrette nearby, that will dry it nicely. If you pop a tennis ball in with it, it helps to fluff up the feathers. Otherwise, it's just a case of giving it a good shake very regularly whilst hanging to dry so the feathers don't all stick together.

meg72

oldtractor wrote: »

th other week I visited an elderly couple who live down the road. havent seen them for a while so popped in ,just being neighbourly. I came away with mixed feelings. they have been on holiday and were talking about it and all the other excellent stuff they do,going out,meetings,volunteering and so on. they are just great and do a lot. So,this is very encouraging and they are really nice,but we got onto pensions and I told them that I will be well into my 60's as will DH and we can look forward to £280 a week between us. They were really shocked. They have decent private pensions. I have been thinking about this since. it has got me really down. DH has always been low paid and I am a housewife,having left a low paid job as it was going nowhere and we were mega stressed both mentally physically abnd I longed for some quality of life. The couple are so out of touch. they thought i'd get my pension at 60. all their friends are pensioners on decent money too. TBH £280 is about what we have now anyway, just a bit more than that. sorry to ramble but I dont seem to have anything to look forward too.

Sorry you are feeling like this, If £280 is about what you have now
then I think you may possibly be a bit better off when on pension.

Your OH will not have work related expenses.You will both get free bus pass, prescriptions,dentist,glasses.You will get heating allowence,coldweather payments and,if renting Housingbenefit and
Council tax.

I am single,live alone and get £137 and all of the above.I find I am better off than I was.

Hope this helps a bit and you can maybe look forward to enjoying
retirement.

Rowan9

kersplatt wrote: »

Anyway in brighter news, I went for an interview for a permanent job today - I fit all the criteria and could answer most of the questions without difficulty, until they asked me how I cope with stress given everything going on in my homelife (I had mentioned that things weren't exactly roses at home) at which point I burst into tears and sobbed whilst trying to explain that professionally I was grand just that home life was tough at the moment. Needless to say I doubt I will get the job.

kersplatt (((hugs))) - I am feeling so angry at your interviewers for asking the question in that way. In fact I am blimmin fuming!! They, I think, should have worded the question about how you deal with stress AT WORK and then you wouldn't have linked the two and become understandably upset. gggrrrr.
I have huge admiration for you - keep on keeping on. When ex and I split, I used to meet him in supermarket carpark with his partner and they'd have a big trolley filled to overflowing for the 2 of them, I'd be there with my basket and yellow-stickered stuff. He did always pay maintenance though. Don't often see him now but I know that I have learned many lessons from him re money - as he climbed the work ladder he became a pompous g1t and thought money and 'power' meant everything.
Kersplatt -you'll get through this - please don't send them email in anger. Keep your chin up. My sister lived in Alaska at the time and she used to say to me don't you dare go out without lippie, shoulders back and a smile to the world. I heard from a mutual friend that my ex was amazed (and impressed - doh!) at my strength and didn't know I had it in me.
Long post!
Going for a real treat today - a massage booked ages ago through Groupon. I sometimes use Groupon for hair (highlights) but lately have been doing low/ no cost stuff for treats. Our latest is walking up the The Meadows (in Edinburgh) where you can play pitch and putt free. It's a lovely big grassy area with beautiful views of the city. I'm waiting for physio on my shoulder (and stupidly didn't think and played 6 or so holes a few days ago - ouch afterwards!), I walk instead and meet up with DH now and again and then sit and enjoy a flask of tea and my book. Bliss. I love autumn and am enjoying these crisper mornings so know it is coming.
Off out with dogs now. Be good folks and keep knitting/ baking/ gardening/ chutney-ing (loved the Christmas list haribo- hope you're feeling a bit better)/ crocheting and above all smiling at what life throws at you. It confuses people:)
W

scottishminnie

Quick question (as I just know you ladies will know the answer:))

I have the use of a fridge at work which is great - however - we have some thieves in the office who think it's perfectly acceptable to eat/drink other peoples food.

My main issue is with milk - I buy a half pint on on Monday and it should last me all week but someone else is helping themself. My question is - if I add simple food colouring to the milk would it harm it. Obviously I don't want to make myself ill but wondered if some odd coloured milk would put them off?

Thoughts please - before I take someone's head off:D

greenbee

scottishminnie wrote: »

Quick question (as I just know you ladies will know the answer:))

I have the use of a fridge at work which is great - however - we have some thieves in the office who think it's perfectly acceptable to eat/drink other peoples food.

My main issue is with milk - I buy a half pint on on Monday and it should last me all week but someone else is helping themself. My question is - if I add simple food colouring to the milk would it harm it. Obviously I don't want to make myself ill but wondered if some odd coloured milk would put them off?

Thoughts please - before I take someone's head off:D

put it in a bottle labelled 'breast milk'