make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

The guy today was a professional chartered surveyor sent by the housebuilder insurance company - its in his interest to keep costs down as the builder will have to pay out, I called them for a small piece I had seen and he brought strong binocolars, cameras etc so was able to see full extent. Realistically he could have agreed a settlement just on what I had reported but he did full inspection and added rest to list for payout rather than have me get a roofer in and have to call them back later.

SpikyHedgehog

kidcat wrote: »

Oh my, we have a guy coming out tomorrow to assess our building claim (house under warranty needs small hole on apex fixing) and we have got to have the house presentable. It occurred that he may want loft access so mad panic to get DD6 room organised as loft hatch in her room (may look into vaibility of moving it actually as its a pain in there). Decided to heave out DS8 room on way past which was awful, managed his room in record time but am left with twenty video and DVD boxes and nothing to go in them - where do these things go?

Cannot believe the mess, especially as its only a few weeks since I had a huge sort out in there.

The steroids are giving me terrible heartburn, am not sure it thats normal, but at least the cough has started to subside I think. Although am not sure if its worse to be up coughing all night or have heartburn.

Can I ask do I come across as being a know it all and pushy? I ask because am really upset that one group I am involved with (they of the cake/petrol saga) the leader has really upset me a few times this week with comments like yes boss, font of all knowledge (she suggested a day out to someone and I pointed out it had closed down two years ago) and a few other bits, its all on FB which is awkward but a few of the group have contacted me and asked am I ok, as they are taking her comments to be nasty as well. I just dont know if perhaps I am being too much and should withdraw.
Its a group that is supposed to be my support and respite for DS - although the respite is a group activity that I have to attend and supervise DS myself and is stressful in the extreme, but he enjoys it loads.

I just feel that maybe it is me and I need to change somehow to fit in I just dont know how to do it.

Threw a casserole in SC this morning, using the diced chicken I had bought with intention on BBQ today, as it rained all night I dont see t he point, ground is soaking and huge puddles everywhere - hedge trimmer still in box as it rained the minute the battery was charged. OH work again tomorrow so have lost my chance as it were.

Managed trip to Mr T yesterday and grabbed mushy peas for 4p a tin, kids thought I was mad but as I pointed out if veg gets too expensive its something at least.
My approved food order is still showing as not being processed yet which is a pain, was hoping for delivery tomorrow so I can escape for day on Tues. when plumber due to install special valves on bathroom to slow water flow and help prevent any further flooding. Dad says he will be here so DS has no idea its happened!!
Gardener coming Monday to quote for garden and mum has agreed to sit in with them when they do job so DS is out of way and OH and I have agreed that when the building work gets done with scaffolding I will stay at travelodge until scaffolding is removed with DS too.

Can I ask how long garlic and onions take to grow, I planted both about 8 weeks ago and cant remember how I know when to lift them ?

kidcat wrote: »

Rant alert!!

GUy been out to look at roof today and its bad, I knew it needed some mortar replacing at front but its so much worse, valley is gone, ridge tiles are not on properly and basically anywhere there is mortar needs taking off and replacing. Its a huge job and I am gutted.

We bought this house one year ago and the surveyor found nothing at all wrong with it - how on earth did he miss the roof being so bad, todays guys says it will have been obvious to trained eyes two years ago at least.
The only plus side is that its covered on warranty. It will mean DS and I moving out for a week while scaffolding is up and there is no guarantee that we can claim for that- he recommends we look at claiming off surveyor - yet another fight to fight.

Some times it just feels like everything I touch turns to trouble!

When I have prednisolone for my asthma, I feel absolutely pants. 2 years ago, I had them at the same time as sleeping tablets & the steroid tablets had more warnings & side effects than the sleeping tablets. This was over xmas when then-DH was swearing blind he wasn't having an affair & telling me I was being selfish in not wanting him to spend all his time with friends from work, so I had to tell DS1 about the side effects & discuss what to do if worried.

I agree with unixgirluk & thriftylass about getting more quotes, but know surveyors can miss stuff - 8 years ago a house across the road was struck by lightning, which caused various damage to electrical stuff in the area, including knocking out all electricity to my next door neighbour's house. Turned out the surveyor hadn't looked at the electrics properly & they were an accident waiting to happen. They did manage to claim money back from the surveyor towards the re-wiring, as he should have spotted that it needed re-doing. But no compensation for the fresh decorating having to be ripped apart for the new wiring.

SpikyHedgehog

kidcat wrote: »

The guy today was a professional chartered surveyor sent by the housebuilder insurance company - its in his interest to keep costs down as the builder will have to pay out, I called them for a small piece I had seen and he brought strong binocolars, cameras etc so was able to see full extent. Realistically he could have agreed a settlement just on what I had reported but he did full inspection and added rest to list for payout rather than have me get a roofer in and have to call them back later.

So, the good news is that he's legit... Oh Kidcat, it never rains but it pours... :-(

prepareathome

thriftylass wrote: »

As from today I stopped smoking (stupid and expensive habit anyway, but helped me cope with stress and was a reward system that I need to replace)./QUOTE]

Welcome and can I say good luck on your journey on stopping smoking. I have been smoke free for 6 months now and its the money I have saved that has helped us keep our heads above water as income dropped and prices rising. I just didn't see how much money I was wasting until I stopped.

Just had surveyor out (amazing how the threat of legal action moved them). Kitchen cupboard will be replaced, but he told me he does not believe I was told I was to have a new front door as my door is fine. I showed him the papers the improvements team gave me and he just said they are to old to count now and what I might or might not have been told in 2008 to him coming out today,does not count now only what he says now.

Obviously that was his remit, so if I go down the legal path they will have his say so that door is ok, not what the other surveyors have said guess their reports will vanish now.

I am blazing :mad:as last year I could have afforded to buy a new front door but was assured no don't buy one we will replace it. Guy agrees its not a good door but he says its ok . He will get another lock put on, again.

I would not be so angry if they had not promised me the new door for 4/5 years, I just feel angry at being lied to for so long. It badly needs painting but I had left it thinking it would be replaced so tomorrow will buy some paint for it and paint it if it ever stops raining long enough.

This surveyor told me he is not for my area - he is from the north(of course that is the only stock they care about) so of course he doesn't want to spend money on my house - the kitchen unit he could not refuse as door and shelf totally rotten.

I have done most of my repairs myself or paid someone if it was possible rather than call them but from now on if something needs doing and its their responsibility I will be calling them out.


I have been a good tenant trying not to call them out if I can help it, but no more.

I pay full rent and in future will expect full service.


Breath girl

kidcat

Pah our housing association has a residents forum type thing, a friend of mine chairs it and he regularly fights for repairs. It may be worth enquiring if yours has something similar.

prepareathome

Oh kidcat I feel awful about my rant - door is nothing and not even my own.

I would still maybe get another person to look at the roof no matter who first guy works for, just to be safe. Maybe I read to much but heard stories of builders having more than two firms and getting insurance work from first for second. So I would find someone totally unconnected with builder to check Then maybe see about suing first surveyor if roof is that bad.

All I can send is lots of hugs to youxxxxx

thriftylass

prepareathome wrote: »

thriftylass wrote: »

As from today I stopped smoking (stupid and expensive habit anyway, but helped me cope with stress and was a reward system that I need to replace)./QUOTE]

Welcome and can I say good luck on your journey on stopping smoking. I have been smoke free for 6 months now and its the money I have saved that has helped us keep our heads above water as income dropped and prices rising. I just didn't see how much money I was wasting until I stopped.

Well done, prepareathome!
I know I can't believe I'v been doing it for so long, but I guess I only noticed it now that I started working again and we have to pay childcare (are just above the wage limit to get financial help) which is a good third of our wages plus all the other bills etc. our disposable income is as low as never before. However, that showed me how much money I've been wasting and going through my budget we should still have money left to save rather than being overdrawn if we change our ways.

Possession

(((hugs))) Kidcat. I guess the plus side is you'll have a nice new roof, but i hope it can work out in the least stress-free way possible.
Wish it would stop raining here. It rained all the time before we went away and the back garden was like a jungle, then had all the good weather while we were away and now it's like a really overgrown jungle.
Have gone through half of DD's room with her and she is great about getting rid of stuff, so different to DS who is like a giant soggy ball of sentimentality. On the negative side she doesn't have that much left (!) and she also wants to get rid of her duvet covers and curtains because at the grand old age of 7 they are much too babyish for her and too pink. This is the girl who when she wants her nails painted, wants them black. So, if I let her change them I need to a) find some really really cheap and b) find an acceptable 'grown up' scheme. She wanted Monster High but I said no as a) they are expensive and b) she will grow out of that too soon enough. Any ideas? No pink! Her walls are painted light yellow but her room is really tiny.

kidcat

Possession I would go plain and neutral then just add a few pics and a cushion that won't cost a lot to replace when she gets bored of it all.

My eldest loved pink then one day just switched off. The youngest is still pink mad and everything has to be pink.

Possession

kidcat wrote: »

Possession I would go plain and neutral then just add a few pics and a cushion that won't cost a lot to replace when she gets bored of it all.

My eldest loved pink then one day just switched off. The youngest is still pink mad and everything has to be pink.

Yes she used to be the girliest girl, loved dressing up, loved disney princess. Now she just seems to aspire to be a teenager really. :eek:
Not really room for pics (it's that small) but I might suggest posters with blutack, as then she could put up a poster or two from a Monster High comic which might go down well.