Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear Friends, :hello:

Thanks for popping in, Sun.A and DFw.
Fancy a snackette? ..Just got a batch of cheese n' onion pasties out of the oven (inspired by finding some organic Red Leicester cheese yesterday - incredibly rare to see it here).
However, [confession ] then overspent on buying the other cheeses required for the recipe - but the end result is delicious.
Plan to send off Divos One and Three with a supply, because the last-minute tickets they had to buy are for a late flight which means they'll miss dinner on their journey.

Sun_Addict wrote: »

so sorry to hear about your son losing his friend. Assume the friend was young - what a tragedy - but whatever his age any loss is a sad one. Have a big hug from me!

Thank you for the hug, Sun.A. Yes, the lad was DS2's age, he spent a lot of time with One, Two and Three when they were youngsters; good mates.

debtfreewannabe321 wrote:

I think it's very thoughtful to visit after the funeral, sometimes I suspect that is when most of the grieving takes place, after they've said goodbye.

That's how it felt for me - loads of attention in the time leading up to the funeral, then once all the mourners went home, nobody seemed to want to mention DH's name again - bar one RL friend, who was and still is a fantastic support. She even visits DH's grave regularly, meditates there, and lets me know how his bee-friendly flowers are growing. :A

So hope sticking to our long-arranged plan will be of more benefit to this lad's Mum than having one more to feed at the wake. For now am sending a card with m' Divos, plus a donation to whichever charity she has chosen (in lieu of short-lived flowers - will take some bulbs or flower-seeds to plant on the lad's grave when we do visit).

debtfreewannabe321 wrote:

I got my first letter from the letting agent in charge of my house. Nearly £1000 was collected in rent over the two months, I got £230....you should see the long list of trivial jobs i've been charged for I am fuming!!! If the same happens this month I will be straight on the phone to them !

Ouch!
Still, it's likely that all the 'snagging' problems have been sorted out by now, so next month ought to see a better return.
Must say, I wouldn't use an agent again. But maybe am lucky in my tenants (charging under market rate in exchange for Ts taking responsibility for minor repairs seems to work well)?

Am suffering today, plugged into TENS machine.
Had to carry three 20mt special hoses and a timer unit out to the van yesterday, during an expedition to buy irrigation gear with Plumber. The first shop didn't have what was needed, so Plumber went to another one while I tried the third local branch. Spent £50 out of Automatic Irrigation Project pot, but saved at least the same again because it was a special offer (- flying off the shelves!).

Other spends: £40 groceries (nearly half was expensive cheeses ).
£60 fuel for van - wasn't quite down to a quarter tank, but need the weight as ballast to get up the hill to the Nest (road surface now turned to fine dust - summer mode :cool:).

CD's hay-fever has come back - poor girl had several sneezing fits over the last few days - so picked up a prescription for antihistamines from Dear Vet. No charge, bless her (unlike UK Vet who holds out a hand for £30+ every time :mad:).
:think: When we next go into town in the evening, I'll take CD to Dear Vet for blood tests (just to check nothing nasty is brewing again, before heading homehome ).

debtfreewannabe321 wrote:

I had a little laugh at CD's antics what a character! xx

CD has gone one better: When I leave her locked in the Nest, I always put the telly on (partly to con her that I haven't really gone out, partly to help keep her calm when she realises I have - one of CD's few faults is a life-long separation anxiety when parted from Mistress). Anyway, both TV controllers shut it down unless a button is pressed at least once an hour.
On two of the three occasions CD has been home alone since the laptop incident, the telly was still on when I returned - between three and four hours later. :question:
Last night CD unintentionally showed me how she keeps the TV on - but alas, that story must wait, because RL is demanding attention. :wave:

missrlr

Oh Robin do please excuse the tardiness of my response have been quite tied up with RL and on going projects so spending a few quiet hours doing matters internet today! Luxury!

(Picks up a pasty and sniffs in the freshly baked aroma, settles down with a nice cup of tea and starts to compose something)

What at horrid reason for a trip for Divos, not nice for anyone but for a younger person always the abrupt stopping of potential seems so unjust. I think the trip planned later on will be welcome by your friend. You are right It is as if the name and subject of our dear departed become taboo and the opportunity to reminisce and sheds a few tears after the funeral are avoided. Not always for every one to know if the reminiscing and tears are painful or relief even at the time! But the opportunity being available is a rare occurrence.

Your plans for the irrigation works seem to be moving on a pace! I can imagine CD ploy for the TV too, Doglet worked out if he paws it he can change the channel ..... I used to find the fashion channel was a favourite! Something about people walking, but when you walk in to underwear models parading on TV a few days on the trot you do start to wonder!

My life DFW that bill is totally unacceptable! What on earth are the agents playing at? Surely you didn't approve all the works? I have to agree with Robin, mange it yourself agents are a third party hinderance where rent is concerned. If you have local trusted workmen you can simply be advised of the "issue" by tenants, get Person round there and they can say result needs xy z, then pay them direct no additional management fees and added on percentages to bills to content with. Only bonus with expenditure like this is that you can claim all this back as tax relief from income and against sales proceeded of house in longer term!

Robin do hope the TENS works. And do be careful we can't have an injured Robin making her way back through Europe! (She says sitting here with alternate hot and cold on her spasming back all the time munching the pasty!)

Sun_Addict

The pasties sound wonderful Robin! Hope you're feeling better today. What a lovely companion CD sounds by the way - dogs are lifesavers that's for sure - I can vouch for that!

satchmo1

Dearest Robin, your sweet song is much missed, have you flown the nest?


I hope pleasant RL events are taking your attention.


Blessings, Satchmo x

HeadAboveWater

Thinking about you Robin. Hope you're keeping well

Skint_but_Optimistic

Aww Robin, hope you are ok, hope RL is being kind and CD is being a furry angel.

Much love and hugs - sorry for your loss. x

*Robin*

Dear Diary and Faithful, MSE Friends, :hello:

Thank you so much to everyone who spared a passing thought for Robin and Clever Dog over the past couple of weeks.
Apologies for going all Secret Squirrel on you, but the story we got involved with is not ours to share..
All I can say is that I've missed you all; managed to read snippets of the diaries on a companion's smartphone but posting was beyond me - such a tiny keypad!

Back to Earth with a couple of bumps; finances don't look pretty although the bill for hire-car damage was repaid promptly.
THEY are causing sleepless nights which is a bit daft, given that I have overpaid by ££££ - unfortunately not a view THEY share. My mistake. <sigh>

missrlr wrote:

Doglet worked out if he paws it he can change the channel ..... I used to find the fashion channel was a favourite! Something about people walking, but when you walk in to underwear models parading on TV a few days on the trot you do start to wonder!

CD uses her nose.. She favours a Spanish channel which seems to run constant repeats of David Attenborough documentaries - a more logical canine choice than underwear shopping, lol (would also wonder about that if it appears deliberate, Missrlr - what did Doglet get up to in his previous incarnation?).

Ah. CD would like me to prepare her lunch now; keen to get us both back into a 'normal' rhythm, bless her.

Knit_Witch

Wonderful to see you back - but sorry RL landed on you with a major thump :mad:

grannyx2

Glad to hear you are ok

Granny x

Sun_Addict

Glad to see you back Robin! Hope things settle down soon.