Flying solo

debtfreewannabe321

Hello CD Duke's not allowed raw anymore so I have to whisper or else he feels left out :rotfl: Hope you enjoyed those sausages ....poor dukie's tummy is too sensitive for them (although he doesn't think so :rotfl:)

Enjoy the beach it's Dukes favourite place

Clever_Dog

maddiemay wrote: »

Hello CD, Miss MM (the one in the picture) is envious of you going to the beach, she used to live by the seaside, until we (her people) moved a long way from the coast, but she is happy because she has a big garden to play in now and in the summer spends most of the day there and only comes in when she wants to lie on a comfy bed (one that she lets us humans share too).

Hellooo Miss MaddieMay! <wagwagwaglickbounce!>
Yes the beach was fun - but would have been better if you were there too.
Didn't see my bestest mate, and the only scents of him were old and grey - don't know if his Master got moved on or he stopped..

maddiemay wrote: »

She hopes that the Mistress doesn't give you any more raw sausages, much nicer cooked!

Reckon Mistress has learned her lesson too - said she's got better things to do than make the same flowerbed umpteen times - so will be very surprised if raw sausage ever appears in my bowl again <snigger!> Mistress might as well just leave 'em on the path to Foxy's den for him! :rotfl:

debtfreewannabe321 wrote:

Hello CD Duke's not allowed raw anymore so I have to whisper or else he feels left out Hope you enjoyed those sausages ....poor dukie's tummy is too sensitive for them (although he doesn't think so )

Enjoy the beach it's Dukes favourite place

Hiya DFw and Duke! <wagwagwaglickwoof!>
Wow poor Duke - I never heard of a dog who didn't do well on raw diet before (sausages isn't proper ).
:think: Actually that's not true. When Uncle lost lots of teeth he had to eat cooked chicken and rice, his tummy didn't like grass called wheat and he couldn't chew bones.
I wish Duke had come to the beach with us too - you know I didn't have any dogs to play with at all? There were only men fishing, and they didn't want my help.
At the restaurant there was a dog - another mad Alsation [surely they can't all be bonkers?] he just screamed obscenities at me so I stayed well out of reach of his chain - he was furious because I was free while he was tied to his Master's chair..
Restaurant man said I had good manners.

Oops - got to go and pretend to be asleep quick - Mistress is coming up the steps outside - Laters! <wagwagwagwag!>

Clever_Dog

Phew that was close! Mistress didn't come inside, she's mucking about with all the new pipes in the garden again.
Wonder if she remembered to get my lunch out of the freezing-box?

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Hey CD <tummy tickles>, lovely to hear from you!

Hope you enjoy your time at the beach. I hope the sea air helps to clear Mistress' head too Xx

Hellooo Mrs Lucky! <wagwagwagwag>

So sorry, did not mean to ignore you - was in too much hurry and didn't look at back-page before.
<rollsover - enjoying tummy tickles! >

Sea air is delicious but we get it at the Nest too - don't know how much it helped Mistress? Had to pull her one way on the beach and she started today by putting her head under the cold tap, so - no she's ok, she's been outside walking down and up the garden for ages since breakfast.

Brightspark87

Hey CD <tummy tickles>, lovely to hear about your adventures hope you are looking after your mistress??

xx

*Robin*

Hello World, :hello:

Well look what happens when Muggins has to leave on both laptops in order to guarantee one will co-operate when required, lol. ..Could have sworn that dog was fast asleep while I was outside wrestling recalcitrant pipework! :rotfl:

Yesterday, DS3 and I collected the deeds to the Nest. The chap behind the desk recoiled when offered my card:
"Oh no! Cash or cheques only," he said.
?? This is the government Land Registry Department, taking three or four figure sums from every applicant - in 2014 how can they not have a card reader? :mad:
Cost 20€ to get the money out of the closest cash-point (not allied with any of the banks I've got cards for, but heigh-ho, without CD to pull me there wouldn't have been time to walk to the nearest 'free' hole-in-the-wall and back before the office closed ).
In exchange for the equivalent of £580 and three copies of my autograph, a very tattered buff folder was handed over; peppered with official stamps, stapled notes and random pen jottings.
What was immediately clear, was that this bundle of papers has taken over fifteen years to go through the system since DH and I bought the Nest! _pale_

DS and I agreed not to bother trying to correct it - DH's name ought to be removed because he's "late" - but there's no chance it will happen during my lifetime, which would leave the Divos a much harder job sorting out my estate when the time comes, if they don't have physical possession of all the paperwork.

Plumber turned up at the Nest in the afternoon - yay! Under his own steam, in his very old 'new' car (he assured me that it runs better than it looks!). He was wearing his other hat; Mechanic, in order to change the van's oil and filters, and check it over for me.
<Mental note to self: Book van's technical inspection.>

A while ago, Plumber was talking about reducing the effects of the hard water in this area by using magnets on the pipework. As I've been a bit concerned about the hot-water boiler, I asked him whether magnets might make it last longer (if I leave it on without using any hot water, sometimes it starts making a bubbling noise which is quite alarming).

"Where is the safety valve and why are the flexible pipes all different sizes?" Plumber asked after inspecting the boiler-cupboard. "And there is no electrical security - you do realise that if the boiler malfunctions without blowing up, which is more likely - you could get a 220V shock when you turn on a tap?"
:eek: :eek: :eek:

Great way to talk himself into another job! :rotfl:
Gave him the pot of 'spare plumbing bits' to see if any of the parts that need replacing are in stock. After a rummage he triumphantly held up a little tap:
"Here is the safety valve!"
I wasn't around when the boiler was fitted, it must have been a term-time holiday when DH flew over alone. The chap who was working on the Nest with DH is a general builder, not a plumber, so perhaps didn't realise the importance of this valve?
Anyway I trust Plumber far more than the other bloke, so gave him funds to buy whatever else is required to make the system safe. He should be back to sort it out in the next couple of days.

As for the other water project: Called in at Company HQ where Auntie was in charge that day - spoke to her when reporting the timer-valve malfunction for the second time by 'phone.
"Oh is everything working properly now?" she said with a happy grin - which evaporated along with her hope that an account was about to be settled - when m' list of problems / parts still needed was unfolded.
She seemed really disappointed that I am insisting on a replacement timer-valve - but why should I pay new price for something their workmen damaged twice and isn't doing what it says on the box?
Turns out it's a special model for low-pressure systems, not in stock, and she had not actually ordered a replacement at that point..
Hope she has now, because I was blunt; bill will not be paid until am satisfied everything functions properly.
Still, we spent a merry hour in the caverns behind their workshop, collecting everything else on my list from their amazingly comprehensive stock of spares, and parted friends. The current ETA for new valve-timer is next Wednesday.. Fingers crossed.

This evening am cooking dinner for Divo Three and probably Ex (whose psychic powers at locating a free meal are phenomenal :rotfl:). Better go and prep the kitchen - do like to start with everything clear and clean.

*Robin*

Dear Diary, :hello:

Summer has arrived with the Solstice - Happy Solstice everyone! - CD and I are hiding away from the heat; shutters closed, fan running for the first time this year but it's still 28'C inside the Nest! (39.5'C in full sun! :eek:).

June's budget has all gone.
Wasn't expecting the Land Registry fee, and then Divo Three needed some short-term cash (for a very good reason no loving Mum would refuse). Still have Irrigation Bloke's money, but will probably have to 'borrow' from it next week to pay Plumber, Gardener and the Van's ITV (=MOT). Tbh, the odds on the irrigation system being completed this month are now very low, so am holding off on taking cash out of savings.

Feeling rather sad and flat today; missed Sunrise.
Also missing DS3 who has had to go and sort out an urgent problem at 24 hours' notice. At least he had a decent meal to set him up for what is likely to be an uncomfortable journey.
He was very torn; supposed to be co-driving van with CD and self - but his dilemma couldn't wait any longer, and as it now looks unlikely that the Nest's irrigation will be sorted out before the end of the month, it made no sense for him to let a chaotic situation get worse (and more expensive by the day).

<sigh> This changes my plans as well, of course. Not sure what will happen; am just plodding on - crossing off each task as it's completed, and trusting that a suitable co-driver will present them-self at the right moment.

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin just catching up with you.Happy Solstice to you too . One good thing - at least you know a decent plumber who won't rip you off. Worth his weight in gold!

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Thanks for popping in, Sun.A.

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Hi Robin just catching up with you.Happy Solstice to you too . One good thing - at least you know a decent plumber who won't rip you off. Worth his weight in gold!

True. He has such difficulty making a living though (no unlimited dole here; for Spanish, EEC citizens or others). Feel selfishly guilty for not encouraging him to move to somewhere like London, where he'd be financially much better off - but spiritually it would destroy him (he loves the lifestyle here! :cool2:).

Well I've crossed another couple of items off the To Do List, but am now stuck because a strong person is needed to move stuff around.

Tinterweb is playing up again too.. May not be around much until next month; running out of 'spare' routers to try, and suspect a different problem this time anyway.

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Life struck another blow at m' plans to head North yesterday: Got the letter inviting me to book van's ITV, but was confused when the website said no appointments are available until half way through next month? Braved a telephone conversation with the relevant authority only to learn it isn't a mistake.. The lady had no idea why letters are going out too late and just said I wouldn't get into trouble with her department, but the police will of course fine me if they catch me driving van during the three weeks' inevitable gap between old certificate expiring and appointment for new test. :cool:
Queues at the other just-about accessible centre in the city are even longer!
..Cynical thought: Is this yet another new cash-flow stream dreamed up by an impecunious government?
..Great wheeze I don't think! :mad:

Breathe. Surrender. If push comes to shove I could always borrow DS2's car, but apart from delaying departure it shouldn't be too annoying a restriction; not as if I usually go into town more than once a fortnight, is it?

Meanwhile, at the fourth attempt I finally discovered why two of the mango trees weren't getting any water: Had changed the pipe so it didn't run uphill. Then added another line to make that section a 'ring'. Moved said line without improvement.. Finally removed the offending 'drippers' - to find each one blocked with strange green fluff - suspiciously, exactly the same colour as the overalls which Irrigation Bloke Two was wearing??
De-fluffed and re-installed, the drippers now work perfectly!
So much for getting a good job done by paying professionals. Can't wait to hear Auntie's excuse when the new timer-thingy fails to materialise tomorrow.
Not giving up on that though - the irrigation system turned itself on again five hours early yesterday, although the electronic display as usual said it was 'off'. It's hardly an automated system if someone has to stand by to turn off the master tap every time the timer-valve decides to open by itself! :mad:

Good news though, is that the top end of the system seems to be working fine. After having to be aware how much water is being used throughout the day, in order to manually switch on the main pump and top up the water tank before it runs out - which could destroy the other pump inside the Nest - it is lovely to feel able to relax and trust the new sensor inside the tank to control the bore-hole pump.
Also looks like there is enough capacity in the well to re-fill tank twice within a short period of time, which means I can cross off "install bigger water tank" from the Do I Need To Do? List. << That is really good news; avoids a difficult and expensive project (effectively I feel £2K+ better off! ).

Not heard from DS3 - worrying about him. DS2 has gone quiet too - more concern.
Oh, and DIL1 has been diagnosed with Lyme's Disease after being unwell since Easter - that's going to make Divo One's life complicated; he can hardly work away from home on his current renovation project, leaving her to cope with an active four-year-old (not to mention their dogs, huge garden and posh rental property).

Looking for positives on which to end this post: Can now see the bottom of the freezer drawers, NSDs are clocking up, and CD is responding well to her arthritis meds - she went very lame when we were at the beach - that day for the first time she looked like an old dog, but now her bounce has returned (she raced me up the steps last night, after being happy to walk more than a klik for the first time since our beach outing).

Brightspark87

Hi Robin - checking in again to see what you and CD have been up too. Great to hear that NSDs are clocking up, that CD is responding well and water tank news!

Sorry about the not so good news...

Look after yourself X