make do and mend for tougher times

danetastic

Fuddle so glad that the horrid LL has thought things thru and changed his mind . However what happens the next time and is he aware of what hoe put you thru re health . Is he going to recompense you for the damaged clothes ? After all if he " lived with the damp " then he knew there was a problem but didn't tell you so you could avoid damage to them . If I was you I would still keep looking for somewhere else but not tell him .

I was at dog show yesterday and van broke on way home :-( just waiting to hear how much it's going to cost to get it fixed . Just when I see a glimmer of light it gets snuffed out ! I need van as I also use it to commute to work so I'm going to have to get it fixed .

maryb

Quite chuffed - a little while back I switched gas and elec to the EDF fixed price tarrif using Money Supermarket which said it would pay out £30 once the switch went through. But then British Gas got onto me and said if I switched back they would give me £100 straight away and another £100 in a year's time. I did some sums and worked out that with my usage I'd be better off even if prices went up by 10% (I knew they would be going up sometime) In fact they've gone up by less than that so that was good.

But because the switch to EDF had already gone through, I've just had my £30 credited - didn't think I'd get that because of switching back.

I can't actually say they are paying me to use gas and electricity but it certainly helps.

Interestingly, I've worked out that it no longer makes sense to have Economy 7. The cut-off point always used to be 25% night time use and mine was about 30%. But that has changed because the daytime rates are so much more expensive than the standard single rate that I would need to use much more at night - and I already have everything I can on timer. Once DH retires and is home during the day the balance will shift even more towards daytime use. I used to quite like having Economy 7 for green reasons - it makes more efficient use of 'base load' electricity, which they have to generate 24 hours a day even if no-one is using it - but it will be quite nice being able to put the washing machine or dishwasher on whenever I need to rather than planning ahead.

PipneyJane

Good afternoon All.

I'm desperately trying to keep up and (probably) failing, so if I miss something, sorry.

Katieowl - no adult should be urinating several times a night. Has your husband seen a doctor about this? It rings a bell for prostate problems. Main symptoms: urge (the need to pee frequently) and reduced flow (i.e. a dribble even under pressure).

Fuddle - Sounds to me that your landlord is playing mind games. He's one step up from a bully because he knows you're caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. No wonder you had a panic attack! He wants the income without spending the money to maintain your house. Probably in debt up to his eyebrows. Please do not back away from talking to the council about re-housing and the environmental health officers about the state of the damp in your house. As others have said: document, document, document. Keep paying your rent and, if it comes down to the wire, make him take you to court for possession of the house.

P.A.H. I really hope your new living arrangements work out. You come across as a lovely person - you deserve far better than what life is currently dishing out.

2Tonsils. Fingers crossed you don't get a bad winter. Thank you for sharing bits of your life - I've been wondering/worrying about how the ordinary Greeks cope, ever since I watched the BBC Panorama program: Life and Debt: A Greek Tragedy back in the summer.

More recently, I just finished reading Michael Lewis' Boomerang, which explained how the Greek tax system has been abused over the years and how it is the poor people on PAYE who are getting stung to pay for all the austerity measures. According to Lewis, very little tax is collected from those who are self-employed. It's not that the laws aren't there, it's just that the tax inspectors and tax collectors are so corrupt that they aren't applying them. I don't know how true this is. What's your opinion?


DD&D Your DH really needs to pursue this with the union to ensure they're covering his back. ACAS too. Sounds like he's being victimised. You can't trust HR to do the right thing. (In almost every place I've been employed, HR is overworked (doing meaningless stuff), underqualified and waste time uselessly chasing their own tails. In every department, there seem to be 2 people who do all the work and 8 people who spend their days dreaming up "employee retention policies" that don't reflect the real world.)

I'm Pam, by the way. Also answer to "Pip". No kids (infertility). No dogs (desperately want one but need new fences). One lovely husband. 47. Australian by birth. British by choice. Good cook. Knitter. Crocheter. I sing soprano in the local choir. Bad but enthusiastic gardener. Nurse by trade. Beancounter by profession. (I left nursing in 1992.)

fuddle

Thank you danetastic. I CBA with him so I won't be around when he calls. I've had word from my council this morning that they are going to send a health questionnaire out and that they are writing to LL for a reference plus they want to see so much identification and BR paperwork.

So when all that is sorted I can bid on houses around here too. I'm not at all stressing about the reference anymore. I haven't the energy. What will be will be.

Went to work, head down, did what I'm supposed to do, did it well and with a smile on my face - who cares if the others are sherkers, I'm doing this for a glowing reference when it's time to go back into full-time employment in schools and for some money at the end of the month.

Trying to just let things blow over me.

Well done with the pastry/bread successes

mardatha

That's how to do it fuddle pet. It's ok getting all fired up at injustice but it takes it out of your energy levels and sometimes it's more important to stay balanced and sail over the bumps. If that makes any sense at all LOL!
Hi PIP

mardatha

I'm on FB but I dono who anybody is unless they use their MSE names, I forget names

Mrs_Chip

So do I seach FB for Mardywotsit?:D

I'm not on, but the cat is!

fuddle

It makes perfect sense Mar.

I'm hoping to get my mojo back tomorrow. I miss the me who bounces around trying out different things, the me who was motivated.

I'll get it back

SpikyHedgehog

paidinchickens wrote: »

Hi everyone

The heavens opened a 5 am when I [STRIKE]dragged my butt[/STRIKE] got up However it stopped and just had to endure the fog by the time the kids went off to school and I took the pooches out.

The doggie politics around these parts are a pain in the backside and are even worse when it's foggy as so n so's dog dosn't like doofa whatsit so everyone is lurking around corners checking their dogs arch nemesis is not about :rotfl::rotfl:

One chappy did make me laugh this morning when he said " having a dog that doesn't come back saves on gym membership" :rotfl::rotfl: I had to agree when his dog sprinted off with him legging it behind him.

On the cat side of thins we still have one eyed cat who is happy to be having regular meal times.

Went to a jumble on Saturday and got a brand new quilt fo a pound which is great as DSs has seen better days.

Made a french stick yesterday............FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER MADE BREAD (not including using the breadmaker)

Why is home made french stick heavier than shop bought or am I doing something wrong???

Hubby is still round the twist and I'm worried about DSS2 as when I asked if he had any rubbish in his room he said yes and came out with a bunch of perfectly good coat hangers :rotfl::rotfl:

Have a great day everyone

PiCx

(I'm guessing he's teenagery aged) You see, coat hangers are not needed as they won't hang up on the floordrobe to keep clothes on :rotfl:

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you danetastic. I CBA with him so I won't be around when he calls. I've had word from my council this morning that they are going to send a health questionnaire out and that they are writing to LL for a reference plus they want to see so much identification and BR paperwork.

So when all that is sorted I can bid on houses around here too. I'm not at all stressing about the reference anymore. I haven't the energy. What will be will be.

Went to work, head down, did what I'm supposed to do, did it well and with a smile on my face - who cares if the others are sherkers, I'm doing this for a glowing reference when it's time to go back into full-time employment in schools and for some money at the end of the month.

Trying to just let things blow over me.

Well done with the pastry/bread successes

Talking about references - I don't know if he'd be able to write a bad reference - it has to be factually correct, so he can write a glowing reference, or he can write just the facts. But he can't say bad things unless he can substantiate them.

The kids at work will see the difference between you and MrsLunchface, and I bet I know which one they already prefer to be with.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Thanks for the advice on the gloss paint. It explaines why the glosswork in the downstairs loo is now the same colour as the walls. Checked the paint out and there is not enough of the old paint to re do the two bedrooms in the same colours so have decided to go for magnolia in both DD2 will cover hers on posters anyway. Off to collect the curtosey car now and will start on the bedrooms when we get back.

I forgot to say that I used a bottle of banana beer 1year out of date in the steak and kidney pie last night (found it lurking in the garage) and it tasted great. OH hs finished off the left overs for his lunch. DD and I had had HM tomato soup very cheap as the toms were home grown.

I need to tighten up on the grocery shopping as it has not gone down despite there being 1 less in the house now. Have stopped meal planning but need to start again to see if this helps.

I can hear the brushes and rollers calling, will take some pain killers and get started.