Flying solo

*Robin*

Back again, and it's confession time:

ITV £[STRIKE]40[/STRIKE] 43
Groceries £70
Fan Heater £ 9.50
Gifts £30
Compost £[STRIKE]24[/STRIKE] 25

Oops.

In mitigation, Divo Four has hollow legs and the groceries include ingredients for either New Year's Eve or Three Kings Day dinner.

The caravan has run out of gas, so buying an electric heater was easier than getting it's UK bottles re-filled (and side-steps the problem of the gas-heater's sticky switch). At least I didn't spend over £300 on a D7son! :money:

It is the time of year when independent traders reward their regular customers; the garden centre offered either a free plant or a discount - opted for the latter, which reduced the price of ten sacks o' compost from £10 each to £2.50 - so that was also an MSE deal (should be enough for all the trees)!

Good news: Van was awarded 2014's yellow "Pass" sticker without any problems - so many thanks to all readers who sent positive thoughts into the examiner's mind! :T

ETA: Who else spotted my mistake .. 2.50 x 10 = 24?? Just shows how tired I was, lol. Also miscalculated exchange rate on ITV cost. Oh yes, and forgot "groceries" spend actually included a new pair of outdoor shoes @ £18. (Should have asked Santa for a new brain! :rotfl:).

missrlr

Hello Robin. I didn't have time to post but was thinking of you and car
Sounds like an MSE spend day to me.
We have had 4 large unexpected bills due to flooding and lack of power but hey oh life goes on!
Hope 2014 is good for you!

Sun_Addict

Good news about the van Robin .) Come on - ITV is a must!!!! Brill re the compost glad to hear independent retailers are still alive and kicking in your neck of the woods! Still had to look twice at the D7son bit! You know what I was thinking!!! By the way ALL sons have hollow legs!! What is wrong with them!!!

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear Friends, :santa2:

ME payback day so no ambitions beyond a hot shower.
Divo Four has gone out with his eldest brother.

missrlr wrote: »

Hello Robin. I didn't have time to post but was thinking of you and car
Sounds like an MSE spend day to me.
We have had 4 large unexpected bills due to flooding and lack of power but hey oh life goes on!
Hope 2014 is good for you!

Oh no Missrlr - very sorry to read you've been caught in the flooding! You really could have done without such complications in your life. :grouphug:
Do hope the insurance kicks in and you get some of the necessary expenses back, eventually.

Sun_Addict wrote:

It's only natural to reflect on dearly missed departed loved ones at this time of year. There for the grace of God go I on that one - I so very nearly didn't have Mr SA around this Christmas.

Sorry Sun.A; missed this comment yesterday. Very true of course, on both counts.

Sun_Addict wrote:

Good news about the van Robin .) Come on - ITV is a must!!!!

Yes. Don't really mind paying to have van checked twice a year; reassuring that an independent mechanic thinks it's fit for the road - especially when you see the machine they use to check steering, brakes and suspension. :eek:

Sun_Addict wrote:

Brill re the compost glad to hear independent retailers are still alive and kicking in your neck of the woods!

They're probably still in the majority, certainly out of town.

Sun_Addict wrote:

Still had to look twice at the D7son bit! You know what I was thinking!!!

Speed-reading, eh?
You thought I was contemplating buying a hoover? 'Fraid I wouldn't swap my D7son for a Henry - having used both, can honestly say there is no contest where cleaning up pet-hair is concerned.

Unfortunately the cheapo fan-heater I bought at the foreigners' superstore is a dud. This is a double disappointment because it means I'll have to enter what to me is a poisonous atmosphere again in order to exchange it.
Ironically, had I decided on the D7son, it's only available locally from an independent retailer, whose shop probably isn't fitted with the air-con which affects me so badly.

Sun_Addict wrote:

By the way ALL sons have hollow legs!! What is wrong with them!!!

:rotfl: It's true, they do - when there's nothing wrong with 'em!

The dining room table looks like it's been set up for a still-life class, with fruit overflowing across more than half the available surface around my generously proportioned bowl - Divo Four will polish off 7/8ths of it within a few days - suppose I ought to be grateful he's not a fast-food junkie or chocholic?
Am definitely grateful that I won't be breaking the Law next time his supply needs topping up (cheaper at the wholesale market which means driving :money:).

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin - oh so you're talking about D7son fans - now I get the drift! Hope all is well with you tonight.

missrlr

Hope the ME pay back was over quickly. Good news re the van! And the hollow legged fruit eating one being so lovely. Hope the weather is kind, we now have frost, better than rain as far as I am concerned!

Insurance playing silly whatsits house revoting and damp so fighting with heat, dehumidifiers and general upheaval stuff being where it is usually not.

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

missrlr wrote: »

Hope the ME pay back was over quickly. Good news re the van! And the hollow legged fruit eating one being so lovely. Hope the weather is kind, we now have frost, better than rain as far as I am concerned!

Hello Missrlr, good to see you've still got internet despite the other problems with your house. Agree frost is better than rain, it's just wearing off here now as we are blessed with sun today. CD has taken DS4 out for a walk to give me a bit longer to get m'self together..
Sounds like I missed an amazing excursion yesterday; feeling a bit hurt not to be invited but think Divo One knew I wasn't up to driving and his car was full..

missrlr wrote: »

Insurance playing silly whatsits house revoting and damp so fighting with heat, dehumidifiers and general upheaval stuff being where it is usually not.

??!!! ..Then found further explanation on Piq's diary:

missrlr wrote: »

Our insurance won't cover as it was caused by next door at the back so are saying we have to claim from them, they don't want to get their company involved ....... and "wear and tear" at the front. We are arguing the wear and tear bit as 6 year old windows and doors should not fail and have water pouring through them! Ever single one of these failed across the whole front of the house!
So now having to get an expert window manufacturer not just a fitter in to assess and provide a written report at our cost to try and get them to change their minds ...... The company who fitted them, not for us for previous owners are saying because the previous owners did not write to them and say they were selling the house at the time the guarantee is void.
I ask you!

Nightmare. :eek:
Sounds like you'll have to sue the neighbours (unless they intend to pay themselves?). And possibly the people who sold the place to you.
Jeez. You have my heartfelt sympathies.. (((hugs)))

Sun_Addict wrote:

oh so you're talking about D7son fans - now I get the drift!

Hello Sun.A, thanks for popping in.
Yes, the new blade-less fan. Because the cheapo alternative I bought doesn't work, am still undecided whether the D7son is worth it's extortionate price..

But. Divo Four has reiterated his one xmas wish; a house (will forgo second year of uni abroad). So am back to feeling very, very broke again. :cool:

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :santa2:

Late shift again (blame a postprandial siesta).

Had some rather lovely surprises after making this morning's diary entry:
A. A "loan" I wasn't expecting to get back, was repaid.
B. One of our xmas day guests invited me out for lunch.
..So not just an NSD, but ended up with a positive balance! :T
C. Discovered at least a hundred bees clustered around an outdoor tap which has a very slow drip. They allowed me to turn on the tap without becoming aggressive; now they have a nice little bee-sized pond, with sloping rocks in so they can get to the water without drowning in it. :cool2:
Forgive the pun, but it was quite a buzz to stand - unprotected - in the middle of the buzzing crowd and watch them discover their new water-source (in exchange, am now hoping for a bumper crop of strawberries as the bees have to fly right past m' plants on their way to have a drink ).

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Very grey and chilly today. Just discovered the smaller garden birds [led by Male Robin] are competing with the bees for their tiny pond.
Today's mission; find something to build into a bird-bath - don't want my namesake to drive away the bees. Yesterday afternoon their owner installed another half dozen new hives, which is great, except that he has only given them an old, half-filled bath to drink out of. Already hundreds have drowned
..Hardly surprising so many are attracted to a safer alternative - the air around The Nest is literally buzzing, even though it's not the kind of weather when bees are most active.

The hoopoes are back too, picking up stems of dried grass - dare I hope they're planning to nest nearby?

missrlr

Hope the bees and your new water feature activity pay dividends in 2014.
Am off soon to catch up with DH at the end of the year.