Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

themadvix

Oh crows can be such bullies! I hope your starlings are still about. They're such a joy to watch. 

I'm currently on hold to former energy company (switched away from in Feb), who still have £80 of my money. I've corresponded with them by email in the past, but my last email dated 23 April hasn't been replied to. Getting somewhere after the system put me through to debt collections... phone systems are such a wonderful thing... not!

In other not-good news, my food processor has died. We think the motor has burnt out. In good news though, there's a local man who fixes appliances and he'll look at it and hopefully be able to fix it. He's coming to collect it next Weds (free collection!). His labour cost will be £20, which depending on parts seems very reasonable. I know about him because the zero-waste shop works as a drop-off point for him - his aim is to keep things out of landfill.

In the meantime, not sure how i'm going to finish the carrot-top pesto I was making with the food processor.... the stick blender doesn't like the nuts.... think it might be a tip it out and chop by hand job!

Suffolk_lass

Rolling pin and plastic bag job for the nuts? Or do you have a liquidizer?

themadvix

It was all already mixed apart from the oil and blender is attached to fp... - so patience and a sharp knife. Call dropped out when I was transferred within energy company, so chopping was a good way to fill the time... still on hold.... 

themadvix

Is it gin o'clock yet? 

Energy company migrated their systems and lost the final reading for my electricity. So they can't refund me the credit until I've retrieved that info from new energy supplier... I hope they have it - we've moved tariff and had a smart meter fitted since. It's very poor that they didn't contact me about this - I'm not impressed that I have to do the work either. Apparently they could find it in the back office, but it would take weeks and weeks... If my new supplier can't provide it, the old one can speed that process up or I'll be going to the ombudsman. Why are companies so difficult to deal with? I must have been on the phone for well over an hour.... In contrast contacting 'Dave' about my food processor was a dream.

In other news, I've put in my claim for SEISS, so I should receive the govt money within the next week. That, remarkably, was a very straightforward process. They seem to have calculated the amount differently, but only out by about £500 according to my rough and ready reckoning - and I'm just happy to have some assistance, even if it's slightly less than I thought.

Meant to be going for a walk with Dad this afternoon, but he's still at work, so I think we might do that tomorrow. Not sure I have the energy now. That said, I've not been anywhere today and could do with getting some steps in. 

Also had notification from supermarket about delivery - no flour (again!) and 4 substitutions (of varying helpfulness). So frustrating! I'm think going to get flour from the zero-waste shop - we're running out of some things, so time for another order next week.

Like I said.... can I have a drink now?!

ETA: 2 (or 3?) PA surveys done

Jessy103

It's 5pm somewhere in the world so I say crack on with the gin, vix!! 😂

South_coast

Definitely! I hope you indulged! 

themadvix

Nah, went for a long walk instead and felt much better for it. Will have a drink now with dinner and the virtual pub quiz.

Busy_Mee

Glad you got to see your Mum and hope you catch up with your Dad soon x

newgirly

How nice to meet you mum Vix 😊

Suffolk_lass

HMRC is one of the Government Departments that have really shone through this crisis. So many departments rely on old outdated IT that is cumbersome and outdated. Some significant IT transformation (and very hard work by the staff) to allow them to put in place the schemes for furloughing PAYE and self employed people while maintaining protections against fraud in the timescales they have, and I hear both the application processes have been clear, unambiguous and straightforward to use.

In contrast many banks seem to have relied on a waiver of fees or automatic overdraft which they have quickly advertised to their advantage, while relying on systems with inbuilt acceptance criteria that have not been changed. I used to work in IT, I can almost hear the conversations