Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear MSEers, :hello:

Thanks to everyone who has been thinking of CD and self..

We have at last completed the final kilometre of our journey; CD is sooo happy to be back at the Nest!

Must confess to having mixed feelings m'self, though: Gardener has let me down badly; looks like he spent barely any time here, certainly hasn't done the jobs he promised to do - and he lied to me: Told me on FB that he had planted out the asparagus - but they're all dead in their pots; he didn't even set out the irrigation pipes for them.
So far I count eighteen defunct trees, plus m' cherished banana plant which was just coming into fruit when Gardener was left in charge. Ha, and the vegetable beds are a riot of weeds - no-where near ready to be planted up - aaargh!
Most of the garden has returned to wilderness. So much of the effort DH, the Divos and I put in over the years has been wasted.

Asked Gardener how much he thinks he deserves to be paid - he certainly hasn't earned the new motorbike I was intending to give him, had everything been flourishing when CD and I got back - he came up with a laughable figure of almost 1K€! ..Saying that was based on the hours he'd spent at the Nest - yet the book provided for him to note his visits and what he'd done each time, was lying on the floor - there's nothing recorded in it at all.
Don't know what to do about Gardener's wages.. :cool:
..This conundrum hits every time my eye falls on the corpse of a treasured tree or plant.. The lad is well-meaning, there's no doubt about that. He helped DS3 carry my beautiful inlaid chest up to the Nest, and we had quite a long, hesitant conversation about the state of the garden (while DS3 and GF let rip with mop, bleach and hoover - bless 'em!).
:think: Normally I wouldn't dream of undermining a young man's confidence by discussing his work with his Mum, but she sent me a rather odd message after he came to visit, which suggests a quiet chat might be in order..

Meanwhile, Spanish van needs a new power-steering pump. Am not best pleased it passed the ITV in that condition - what's the point of being obliged to pay the government for a bi-annual vehicle inspection if a serious fault isn't flagged-up?! :mad:
Muggins can't drive it, so DS3 & GF simply delivered CD, self and most of our 'luggage' to the Nest. GF was an absolute star getting the Nest cleaned up - the mice and geckos have obviously held many wild parties over the summer (it was pretty disgusting when we first opened the doors).
The new pump isn't going to be cheap. A Ford original comes in at 350€ [including "mates'-rate" discount] so was advised to go for a pattern part - hopefully that is in hand.
Had a shock when 'phoning to renew Tranny's insurance; it is a tatty old van now, no denying it. Decided to just buy TPF&T. But there's not much difference in premium; can't decide whether a 20% saving is worth the reduction in cover?

Campervan should be safe at the secure lorry park in town - eight men and a collection of rangy dogs are on guard 24/7. Spanish van can stay there when we go off on trips - which hopefully will avoid returning to discover that m' campo transport has been 'slightly broken' by whichever Darling Divo borrowed it.

Another problem: The grey-water drain is blocked. Can't have a shower or wash up properly. Been putting the appropriate chemical down the hole every few hours since Friday, but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick.
Am camped out in the areas of the house GF cleaned - living room and kitchen - the rest is still a no-go area, although perhaps that's not a bad thing re my bedroom because every time I venture in there, Black Dog chuckles like Muttley [who remembers Wacky Races?] on sight of the notes deliberately left out on m' desk before leaving; all the prep for my now abortive tribute to DH - the fledgling book about his ancestor.

And then there's the internet. Camper-van's dongle has taken to disconnecting itself annoyingly every few minutes, and the Nest's connection says it's working but won't actually do anything - waiting for the tecnico to turn up now, meanwhile re-setting the mobile dongle repeatedly (more frustrating aaargh moments - haha).

First practical task [after eradicating mouse-sign with copious bleach] was to cut back enough of the meadow surrounding the Nest so that CD doesn't get lost every time she steps off the patio, trying to push through the lush half-metre-tall growth. This - a ragged swathe through the 'lawn' - has been achieved by means of a kneeling mat and pair of secateurs because those were the tools I could find. <sigh>

Sorry not to be more positive; everything feels like very hard work at the moment - paying for the energy used up on our journey..

Spends:
DS3 and GF, for ferrying Muggins around, shopping, cleaning up and general encouragement [towards their travelling fund] - 300€
Lorry park - 50€
Pump tecnico* - 30€
*A tale for another day.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Sorry to hear things aren't great, I think you are coping really well with all that has been thrown at you recently.

Personally, I wouldn't give 'gardener' a cent, and if his Mum has already involved herself then I'd invite her over to show her why!! Xx

Dansmam

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Sorry to hear things aren't great, I think you are coping really well with all that has been thrown at you recently.

Personally, I wouldn't give 'gardener' a cent, and if his Mum has already involved herself then I'd invite her over to show her why!! Xx

Seconded. GF sounds fantastic - does she garden?! I understand what you mean about not disheartening young gardener - if you and mum can work together to show him right from wrong that would be a great outcome. But he'd need to understand he only gets paid once for all the putting things right you'll need to see. Glad CD`s in her element. All will be well and black dog not welcome. Off for a walk with lurcher boy. Damp but the drizzle has gone for the time being. Will take black dog along to stop him bothering you - dark rainy beach'll fettle* him! (*put him in his place, dialect, NE England )

missrlr

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Sorry to hear things aren't great, I think you are coping really well with all that has been thrown at you recently.

Personally, I wouldn't give 'gardener' a cent, and if his Mum has already involved herself then I'd invite her over to show her why!! Xx

Exactly my sentiments, although I'd be tempted to find the FB post about asparagus take some pictures of the dead plants not planted out and post these Photos, perhaps asking which are the ones he thinks he has planted.

Very annoying when people lie about work done. And if he spent all these hours at the Nest where is the evidence? I think I would ask that question.

Regarding the notes etc, get a box, March in, scoop everything quickly off the desk into the box
, stick a lid on it and plonk it in a very separate room. You need to reclaim your bedroom and get some proper sleep. (Sorry if that sounds bossy) only then can you silence the Muttley snigger, (I am giggling remembering that now)

Glad CD is doing well, and GF plus Divo have been superstars.

Take care, I have black dog for a few days so not to worry about that one.

Lucy5781

Ah so sorry to hear about the lack of care on the part of the gardener

Have read through your whole blog over the last couple of months and have just returned from honeymoon in Tenereife, thinking of your Nest every time we went up and down the little roads through the mountains, my husband found my comments about it rather bemusing.

Hope things start improving for you again very soon.

Lxx

Brightspark87

Robin, Can I make you feel better about The Black Dog chuckles like Muttley?? My mum always says thats what I sound like when I really laugh, she knows I thoroughly have the giggles!

But seriously, I do understand how frustrating all the nest issues and things are. However, you do need to reclaim your bedroom. Do you have a file or something to keep is safe but out of general view for a while x

lindens

Oh dear Robin - you must have been so disappointed and upset when you finally returned to see the garden in such a state. What was the point in lying to you I wonder? It was going to be so obvious when you returned seems a bit pointless.
Maybe next time DS3 comes he can remove any offending items in your bedroom and hide them away for a bit, so they no longer mock and upset you.
Hope you are resting and recovering, hence your silence.

Bubblesmum

Me too hope you are resting and recovering.

Dansmam

:wave::wave::wave:Hi Robin, how's things? Sleepless nights here as clock is telling me- for no good reason, just random. Imagine you're resting up after the summer/journey/kitten adventure but would love to hear how you are.

stepuptothepl8

Lurker here.. I do enjoy reading your posts, and I'm wondering how you and CD are getting on I'm hoping that you both have recovered from the journey, and the disappointing sight of the garden. Did you have words with the gardener? Or his mum?