make do and mend for tougher times

jpscloud

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you so much for posting this, I had no idea. I will try it.

Hiya fuddle hope you won't mind me sticking my nose into this - you probably already know but if you are making changes to an animal's feed, it's best to do it gradually by carrying on with the current food but adding just a little of the new food mixed in... gradually increase new food until it has taken over.

katieowl_2

Update on DD and the flat from hell (or whatever the watery equivalent of hell is?)

After a very restless night with me trying to decide the best courses of action, we fired a shot across the owners bows yesterday first thing, saying we'd had a builder look at the place and he'd identified 43 thing wrong with the place, several of which were major H&S issues, including the mould which makes anyone spending more than 1/2 hour in the place either wheeze, start coughing, or in my case made my eyes burn... We said the kids simply wanted out of the place, which would be better for him, as he could schedule this work, estimated between £2-4K to suit him rather than have to do it immediately and have to find them alternative accomodation at his expense while doing so. I was relying on appealing to his tight fisted nature. I kind of threatened him that if he didn't play ball and let DD out of the contract I was going to 'have no option' but to call Environmental health.

We also sent a copy to the letting agent...CLEARLY in default of his obligations, and followed the e-mails up with phone calls to Owner to make sure he'd seen it, and Letting agent, telling him we were insisting on a meeting with him at the flat today (i.e. Friday)

Cut a long story short Owner insisted on seeing what his builders had to say...so we called in our lovely friendly builder, who dropped everything to be there at the same time. I wanted a) independent witness b) to know if he knew any of the guy that owner sent (and how legit they were) and c) because he'd written the list of stuff wrong and could point it all out. Top plan as it turned out because he did know one of them, and was a total star. We so owe him a large bottle of something wonderful.
The three builders all reported back to the owner that the flat was not in a state to be lived in, and that the work/drying out would take some time. Also the electrician says they will not have safety cert for the electrics (legal requirement to let) as there is no Residual Circuit Breaker on the system. Game over me thinks.
The plumber began to address the problem of the bathroom in the flat upstairs leaking immediately, but whether that will fix it I don't know, but upstairs tennants were mighty relived, as they've been asking for it to be fixed for three months.

I also manage to get the letting agent there, and gave him what for. He agreed the owner should just cancel the contract, and has apparently spoken to the owner. Owner is being an A$$hole to DD and keeps hanging up, so the Letting agent got another telling off from me, I told him he should be grateful we weren't taking it further.

Waiting to find out what day next week the owner is intending to give DD a full refund - all their stuff will be removed to storage over the next two days...by kind builder and some very lovely people where I work. Once we have the money back DD can look for somewhere else. She is very morose, and has a ten hour shift today...she was crying when she left the house. Her BF dissapeared off at 6.30 to take his little brother to the station to get a train home, and OH will be ferrying DD/BF/DS back and forth all day. I've got to pick my grand-doggie up from Birmingham!!!

Never a dull moment chez katieowl.... :eek:

Kate

fuddle

jpscloud wrote: »

Hiya fuddle hope you won't mind me sticking my nose into this - you probably already know but if you are making changes to an animal's feed, it's best to do it gradually by carrying on with the current food but adding just a little of the new food mixed in... gradually increase new food until it has taken over.

Yeah jps don't worry When the feed bucket of JW is half empty we'll begin adding the Arkwrights into it. Thank you, it's great seeing you post again by the way

Margaret54

Morning everyone:) Oh this weather:(
I have been reading lots of posts and am nearly caught up:) I was just thinking what lovely sincere and helpful people on here, and how much we can learn from each other.
I feel for all who are struggling with money health families whatever the struggle may be, and I really admire the niceness if there is such a word, of how folk are to each other here, despite what is a worry to them. I love here so much, and have learned such a lot too. I enjoy logging on, even if I don't always contribute.
We had gas installed a while back(we rent our wee bungalow from the Housing Executive(same as Housing Authority) and we are saving what we can and cutting back as much as possible. I bake and cook from scratch and knit and grow some potatoes and vegs in our little garden at the back, all to help keep costs down. The flipping slugs have ruined so much we had growing, and GreyQueen Yes we also do slug patrols:) Little fat varmots are so sneaky aren't they? Ah well onwards and upwards:) I love my sweeties too Mar(fruit pastilles) lol x

prepareathome

Oh Katie, I am glad it seems to be resolved, but just so sorry for your DD/BF. Plus side has got to be the education they have received on what to look for in houses/flats in future, sad as will have made them grow up a bit more.

I am sitting here feeling sickish but think its the ESP ( it says no oder but there is and I started feeling sick only after I started to use it and then spilt it all over my legs and feet, I hate being so clumsy, as I have put ESP on front door, stool and little sewing box then waited as instructions said and now given them first coat - although unless I feel a bit better might be only coat but they look ok not patchy. I had to use mini rollers I luckily had bought last year for another project that never got done as I do not know where I have stored my paint brushes, saw them a few months ago, but where??????

Front door has needed painting for years but of course did not bother thinking it would be replaced so as its dry and I felt ok( that is the fun part getting those on same day) I got it done.....also stained a pallet that I am in the middle of making into a plant holder....when its dry I will finish stapling the material on it then will be ready, but where I am going to put it heaven knows but I will find somewhere. Its an idea I saw on a blog by someone in America. Been slowly doing it for weeks yet could be done in half an hour.

prepareathome

I see we have been :spam:ed

Do they honestly believe anyone will buy from them or even look at their site, must be blow they couldn't put a link...........poor things:rotfl:

Possession

(((hugs))) Katieowl, i'm hopeful for you she will get refunded quickly. If the LL has multiple properties the letting agent must know very well what he's like unfortunately.
When I was a student in Nottingham there were a couple of LLs who were notorious, but as between them they owned about 250 properties in student areas it was difficult to avoid them.
A bleurgh day here, can't go anywhere as DH's glasses broke last night and he has to go get them fixed. So I am ebay listing which I hate with a passion all-consuming!

fuddle

Katie, it's all in their favour but how disappointing for them. I hope they find a new home soon. Did I read that it's grand doggie day?

I'm just starting my shopping on Asda for when DH is paid on 15th. When I use something out of store I know to write it down to replace as soon as possible. I have to say I am noticing that things are so much more expensive. There's very little in the way of basic value stuff now. £15 in my online basket just on pasta, olive oil, toilet roll, soap, noodles, honey, gravy granules, lentils, tin foil, jam, icing sugar. It's not like I buy expensive brand either

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Katie, it's all in their favour but how disappointing for them. I hope they find a new home soon. Did I read that it's grand doggie day?

I'm just starting my shopping on Asda for when DH is paid on 15th. When I use something out of store I know to write it down to replace as soon as possible. I have to say I am noticing that things are so much more expensive. There's very little in the way of basic value stuff now. £15 in my online basket just on pasta, olive oil, toilet roll, soap, noodles, honey, gravy granules, lentils, tin foil, jam, icing sugar. It's not like I buy expensive brand either

Fuddle just an idea, but Approved Foods have a lot of those items you mention at the moment.

kidcat

Katie - well done, and good luck with the goggie!! My friend collected a pup last weekend and it was car sick all the way home - so can I suggest lots of plastic sheeting just in case

Am exhausted today so have done the barest shopping and then am planning on napping for rest of day, have chicken wings in big SC and some pork belly in the small SC ready for meals so am fairly sorted.

In the last week I have received six letters from my council tax, all stating different figures for our monthly payment and I have no idea whether I am coming or going with it, I assume its due to tax credits finalising but the amount of postage its cost surely it would be more efficient to organise a full and final figure rather than update at each stage of progress. AM now so blase about it the brown envelope doesnt even cause a quiver.