'supporting each other through really tough times'

lobbyludd

hope you don't mind me popping in again - just to say pops that although some of their actions were not good (reading your mail) people, all of us, make mistakes, and I've always found when dealing with others a mindset of "c*ck-up not conspiracy" working with them and trying to see it from their point of vieww gets much beter ressults than all-guns-blazin (e.g. councillors, MP, advice from a homeless organisation). e.g. from their point of view, these 2 people were doing their jobs and could only judge how things were on the day, I bet everyone says "it's not usually like this"!. They don't know you, so allthough it's really hard not to take it personally, you know better, and this was unfortunate timing.

I'd ring them, ask for a copy of their inspection policy, and an itemised list of their specific concerns (as per poster above) so that you can ensure you've addressed them. I'd then tell them there are a few training matters that need to be highlighted - one of them appearing to pick up and read your corresppondance, the standard letter comes across as quite aggressive if you're not used to these things, and the letter mentioned specifics that you were told during the visit where not issues.

I used to get inspected every three months in private rented accomodation, and if I want to work from home now I have to allow my HR dept to come and inspect my work area to ensure it complies with H&S, whilst it is really easy to fall into a siege mentality about this, thinking in that way caused me stress and made resolving issues more difficult.

I've also once had a letter from the council asking me to clear up the mulitple bags of rubbish from my front garden, and refering to prosecution if i didn't - initially I was incandescent - the reason I had those bags was someone fly tipping in the lane outside my house, which I'd donned rubber gloves, cleaned up and bagged ready for the bin men, (which had happened before the letter came )

these things happen, and you'll be all ship-shape for the next one so please don't let it upset you.

Byatt

RosiePuddingPaws wrote: »

I'm not sure you would enjoy looking after my monsters then Byatt. I regularly get mice and shrews (and once the infamous mole that was behind the dressing table). Birds are other regular visitors (including the crow that was hopping along the bedroom window cill when I came home from work one day). I try to catch all I can and put them outside.

Take last night ...

I'm lying in bed reading (with elderly cat by my feet - although under a throw as it is warmer for her there), there is a noise in the hallway. Young boy cat "talking" to himself. Hmm. Usually means he has brought a friend home to play.

Up I get, on with the dressing gown and slippers. Go to investigate. Mouse. By the front door. Go off to kitchen to get beer glass and Tupperware cake scraper to try and catch the very lively mouse. It tries going up the curtain by the front door, drops down, scoots under my legs and heads for the kitchen. Boy cat and I follow.

There is a pile of washing on the floor - ready to go in the washing machine this morning. Mouse scarpers in that direction and ... vanishes.

In that corner of the kitchen is the built-in dishwasher. To allow the dishwasher door to drop down, the kick-board has been cut away a little. I guess the little critter leapt up and went down behind the kick-board by the dishwasher. But, I don't know for sure ...

Given that I live in a bungalow, IF the mouse comes out (if it went there in the first place), then it could turn up anywhere.

Still, that is not as bad as the mouse that I caught one night, we got as far as the kitchen door. One hand was removed from the beer glass/scraper combination to unlock the door. Mouse leapt out of the glass AND DOWN THE FRONT OF MY DRESSING GOWN!! There was a fair bit of shrieking that night.

RPP

:rotfl:I don't mind really, I've been used to it with all my other cats, some very good hunters, who once dragged in a live pigeon through the cat flap (blood & feathers everywhere), various meeces and voles. One mouse walked casually passed the cat one evening, who was sound asleep in his basket!

Not sure I could cope with a mouse down my dressing gown though!:eek:

maryb

Lobbyludd, my motto is - never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence. And most things can.

[Deleted User]

MARY how are your eyes doing now, have you finished treatment for them? I hope you have a huge improvement and are now finished with the medics, Cheers Lyn xxx.

maryb

Thanks for asking Mrs L, life is great with eyes that work!. Not quite six weeks since the second eye was done so I'm still on eye drops twice a day in the second eye. One of them is just like putting surgical spirit in your eye. The DDs always know when I've done it because there is a LOT of bad language, LOL

So worth it. It was my birthday last week and the DDs bought me new sunglasses, which I really need as everything is so bright! And colourful!

But I need reading glasses now. When you are short sighted you automatically bring things closer to you to see small print. That doesn't work with fixed focus so I stocked up on about 10 pairs of reading glasses from £land. But s0d's law, I have turned into a clich! wandering round the house asking plaintively where I left my glasses

[Deleted User]

So pleased everything is fixed and sorted and settling down, I still think you're very brave for having it all done though!!!I know that 'Where are my Glasses?' feeling oh so well, good job I've got 3 pairs, very impressed that you own 10 though and sunglasses too!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

maryb

Thank goodness for pound shops. Funny thing is, that in style they don't look a million miles different from my old frames which cost just a tad more than £1!!!

They even do tinted reading glasses for £1 which were great for reading in the sunshine when we had our "blink and you'll miss it" spell of good weather

VJsmum

maryb wrote: »

Lobbyludd, my motto is - never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence. And most things can.

Mine too - I certainly hope people might say that about any slip ups of mine as I would rarely if ever do anything maliciously but I can be a tad tactless at times.

kidcat

Pops am so glad you were able to get advice even on a Sunday, that really is incredible. Good luck as you deal with it all this week I so hope all goes well for you.

Byatt - please do let me know how you are getting on when you can

DS15 has had a lovely day and its all gone so well. Our friend arrived this afternoon and built the new PC and stayed to add the programming too. DS is so thrilled and to my amazement has handled the whole day much better than ever before. Keeping things low key and routine has helped so much this year I am really pleased.

Dinner went well too with ribs that were falling off the bone and DS15 even ate the jacket potato that would normally have caused meltdown.

My parents came, were put out we had our friend here building the PC, made comments, noises and tried to start a fight, I ignored it all and stayed smiling. The one time they tried to force the issue our friend looked up and they realised they had blown the public image.

MY dad took to trying to bribe DS to go out for the day with him - getting more expensive by the offer, he ended up convincing DS to go to a speedway event, which if he knew anything about Ds at all he would know its not suitable and wont work. The noise would cause him immense distress and the dust would finish him off. I will need to show DS how it will be somehow and then speak to them and explain its not appropriate.

My stomach is still not right and is grumbling away like mad, I fear tomorrow may be a nightmare but thankfully OH is here to deal with the kids.

Mary - am so glad your eye op went well, having had horrid eye drops a few years ago I can picture the air turning blue easily

Popperwell

Thanks KD:)
I was quite surprised about getting advice today, though they close a little earlier I did not feel that I was being rushed.

I'm glad today was a little easier and had some good parts and tomorrow goes better for you. Nearly treated myself to a jacket potato and salad in Tynemouth but ended up with a banana, breakfast biscuits and a small bottle of pop watching the sea roll in but the weather turned and there was a cold wind and a downpour.

So as the bus came past the bus shelter where I was I hopped on but then it passed some ruins of a castle...that I had not seen so I hoped off again.

I was tired when I did get home but that will go on my blog but I'm too busy at present with all that is happening.