Flying solo

Sun_Addict

Hi Robin just catching up with you. I hope you manage to get T2 sorted out soon. They need a good kick up the a$$. Lovely idea of yours to get DIL's sister to visit her and very kind to pay her airfare. Sorry to hear she's so down - it's only natural after what's happened and very early days yet.

*Robin*

Saturday again..

Hi Sun.A, thanks for popping in.

Looks like it might be better for DIL to visit Sister rather than the other way around - DS1 is on the case, has postponed his next project in order to hold the fort with DGS and pets.

Am very thick-headed, trying to find the energy to wash up, then re-visit potential new house (probably not the best time as can't think straight today; definitely not the right moment to venture into dark corners eg the loft - heigh-ho ).

No response from T2 yet. Reading back m' last email, it was a bit strong - but - small part of me thinks "serves 'em right for lying to me!" Wait and see what happens when they - and I - return to homehome. Made it clear that if they dump the dog they'll be gone too - Lord knows there are plenty of families desperate to find a decent pet-friendly rental house..

Please can anyone recommend a good 'phone provider who does a PAYG plan just for calls and texts? Am sick of m' current one who insist on including internet access I never use and charge far too much for voice-calls.

Knit_Witch

http://ee.co.uk/content/dam/ee-help/e-gain.s3.amazonaws.com/external/content/Orange/Price-plans-and-costs/OUK_PAYG_PG%20010714.pdf

Looks as though "Canary" or "Racoon" could work for you

*Robin*

Thanks for the link, Knit Witch. Will compare it to m' current provider tomorrow, assuming more brain-cells are awake. :T

Haven't done much today, except the washing up and moving camper-van across town. Now parked up outside PNH* to see whether the area gets erm, boisterous at the weekend; so far am pleasantly surprised. Could just hear excitement from the football ground earlier, and very faint traffic noise. Two lads who sounded drunk had a short argument at the other end of the road, and a dog barked once. There was also a firework display - might have been celebrations after a successful footie match - too far away to see any pyrotechnics though.. Yes, given that this estate is quite close to the centre of town it's much quieter than expected.

CD likes it too. She keeps trying to get inside the house - we've got keys - although I've not let her in today because she leaves a trail of fluff wherever she goes at the moment, which doesn't seem fair on the residents who are a house-proud bunch. Didn't tackle the loft, might try in the morning if there's a proper ladder (and CD is content to wander around in the well-fenced garden).

Cooler nights and not feeling great mean I've been using van's heating - had to change over to the spare gas bottle this evening (the other one didn't last long :cool:).

* PNH = potential new house.

*Robin*

Good morning Diary, :hello:

Had a slight disaster last night; discovered at dusk that there was no power in the back of camper-van. ie. No lights, no water from the taps.
Decided to move to homehome in order to A) check whether the 240V system is still working [Yes! ] and see what happened when T2 returned and took over from Friend - good news - there hasn't been a peep out of the dog, so they've obviously kept her inside since getting back.

With the help of some lovely helpful fellow camper-van owners on the interweb, yours truly spent a couple of hours following wiring by torch-light last night, and now think I know where the problem lies - a simple fuse - of course I don't have any spares, so will be heading for a garage shortly.
Need to buy the head-torch some more batteries too, as camper-van isn't equipped with any 240V table lamps - the mains powers the fridge, heating and one plug [used for laptop] only - so it was a dark night!

Brightspark87

Hi robin

I am glad that news of T2 seems to be more positive - perhaps the email was just what they needed? Sometimes people can have all the brains in the world but a little common sense can go out the window! (my step sister had to ring my mum to check is pasta had gluten in when she was told to avoid during allergy checks! She went to Oxford!)

sorry also that you are not feeling great I hope that you are feeling a little better now that T2 seems to be behaving better?

Hows CD?xx

*Robin*

Good afternoon Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Sparky, you're right, academic excellence is no gauge of common sense. MrsT2 is an Oxford scholar as well; BA & MA, double-firsts!
But yes, I feel more hopeful that we can move forward amicably now which has reduced the stress - T2 both appear to prefer compromise rather than moving out.

Camper van had two blown fuses, which have now been replaced. Unfortunately it has another grumbling mechanical issue too, serious enough to need sorting out before heading South for the winter. Good news is that Dealer accepts responsibility, bad news is it might take a week in a garage to fix - not sure where CD and self are going to be staying for the duration, but the problem has put the final kibosh on my plans for one more trip Oop North.
Divo Four didn't want me to go anyway; he can see the house renovations pot evaporating for no reason. Of course he is right.

CD is out-of-sorts today; every time she's ventured outside it's raining, which isn't conducive to going for an enjoyable walk..

Spends:
Fuses - £2.50 (just for two! :eek:)
Gas bottle - £24

Dansmam

Hi Robin
CD is not alone in resisting walks in the wet. Lurcher boy here had to be physically pulled over the threshold this morning. He is not Oxbridge educated and often described as having a brain the size of a pea. But he has decent house manners! So glad T2 seems to have come to their senses. Hope you have heat and light for the evening. Hoping the solution to the temporary vanlessness turns up quickly. Right, dogwalk beckons - and no rain!

*Robin*

Hello World, :hello:

Dansmam - thank you for giving me a nostalgic smile, remembering our own family lurchers who also hated the rain..

I'm missing DH. Yes I know, I miss him every day - he would have loved this camper-van adventure - but right now I could really do with his back up, his thoughts on the current situation with T2, and his inner strength.

The more I find out about what's been going on at homehome which T2 didn't bother to ask or tell me about as various things happened, the more uncertain I feel about letting them stay - even though most of the neighbours are willing to give them another chance (they are such lovely folk!).

I can't tell you the details. I'd like to, but that would destroy the thin veil of anonymity The Box gives us all..
Divo Four shrugged and said people get up to much worse on council estates and the neighbours just have to put up with it.
Thanks, DS4 - for once not particularly helpful. :cool:

A quick shufty on Rightmove has revealed that T2 is now paying between £400-500pcm under market value for renting homehome (including agents' fees I guess). Am going to have to ask whether they actually want to continue their tenancy?
If so there must be big changes, which I will have to oversee.
T2's Dad is coming to stay today - am worried his arrival does not bode well; never met him, but suspect from what I've heard that he's a bit of a bully. He's certainly responsible for some of the damage - which MrsT2 doesn't seem to feel is important.

..Black Dog is snapping and yapping; I feel like running away..

ps. DSD2 has gone to help DS1, so that DIL can go away for a bit. Blessings upon them all, and kudos to DSD2's sympathetic employer for giving her extra time off work.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Hope all is sorted soon. Thinking of you Xx