The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

ivyleaf

Oh no monnagran, what a rotten shame after all your hard work! I hope the brandy helped ((HUGS))

ginnyknit So pleased for you that OH is feeling Christmassy this year :j

OH and I were doing a bit of Christmas shopping (mostly window-shopping, but we did have lunch) yesterday. it occurred to me that I could really do with a new warm hat, as mine is from Millets about 10 years ago and showing its age now. I thought I'd start in JL as we were near there. There was me and another lady trying on hat after hat and saying "No!" in increasingly despairing voices.

Then I decided to try M & S. I need a size M-L, and most of theirs were too small. I did find one that looked nice on me, in fleece (a sort of strange animal print), a sort of trilby with a smallish brim, but I really wanted a plain one, and although this one suited me it wouldn't keep my ears warm.
Didn't want one that "looked cheap", or with a pompom on it. Eventually spotted one in pale grey, a knitted beret-type thing, the "slouchy" sort that's popular atm. Not the best colour for me, especially with rapidly-greying hair, but it didn't look too bad and was nice and warm so I thought perhaps it would "do"....then I saw the price and realised it was made of cashmere! I didn't like it nearly enough to pay £45 :eek:

So will make do with my old hat for another winter I can't knit any more, and in any case wouldn't know what sort of hat to knit that I'd know I'd look nice in when it was finished. I could ask DD1 to crochet one for me, but the same applies. Oh well <shrugs shoulders> at least I do have a hat.

westcoastscot

Greenbee so sorry to hear of your loss, Ginny lovely to "see" you again and happy to hear your family are thriving as best they can.
Been missing in action - away for a couple of weeks - so love to all, and hugs to those that need them.
Weather damp and/or frosty here and very wintery feeling - have a bad feeling already about 2007 moneywise so going to pop over to the prepping thread, see if being proactive lifts the gloom.
WCS

Softstuff

£45 for a hat :eek: I think I'd have lost my lunch if I'd seen it :rotfl:

We went Christmas shopping at the weekend. ... came home with a tube of conditioner for me and a couple of art pens I'd been after :rotfl: Christmas will be cobbled together this year. Not decorating, not cooking and I've ordered gifts online that may not arrive, but I'm working a full week next week and am not flogging myself.

Hard_Up_Hester

The solicitors saga rumbles on, they have billed me for work I did myself, sigh, so now I need to sort that out.
We aren't trimming up either SS, I'm passing my decs on to my children.
Glad to hear you are ok Ginny.
We may go to view a property this weekend if it's still available. We are hoping that most people won't want to buy this near to Christmas.
Shame about the mince pies Monnagran, it always happens at the worst time, how's the head after drinking all that brandy?

ivyleaf

Oh Hester, :mad: at the ruddy solicitors! Good luck with the property hunting x

I seem to be feeling better! I haven't needed any painkillers for my stomach the past 2 days :j

Softstuff

Hester, if they're billing you for work you did, then the way to sort it is to query your unpaid wages!

Great news about the stomach Ivyleaf

Tough day at work... was told by a technician that I had to keep an eye on what the other receptionist did, because she was making mistakes. ... told em I coild barely keep an eye on myself I was so busy, besides, I've been there a month, she was there for 6 before me! :rotfl:

mardatha

I wouldn't be pulled into that sort of mess SS, you never know what's going on behind the scenes eh.

greenbee

Next time it comes up Softstuff, ask for a promotion But more seriously although you've done the right thing this time in responding humorously, if it comes up again, refer any comments to your manager, as you don't want to be listening to people talking about your colleague behind their back, whatever you may personally think about their abilities.

Sounds as if your colleauges like and trust you, which is great news.

Hard_Up_Hester

So the solicitors bill came in at a sqidge under £900, I was originally told £300, detailed letter has been sent by me to the senior partner. Letter sets out how the work should have been done and includes details of all the spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
If I had received exemplary service from them I would have paid up without complaint, receiving appalling service and still being overcharged just adds insult to injury.

In other news, support staff morale is at an all time low, we have had our hours/pay cut, we have a new appraisal system that is designed to ensure no one is eligible for a pay rise. We are now limited to one free tea or coffee a day, after that it's £1.25 a cup from the cantten and now some idiot at work has come up with Wonderful Wellbeing ideas, all of which need paying for, by the same support staff who have had pay cuts etc. The Wonderful Wellbeing idiot, has lots of money and therefore can't see why we won't all buy a Christmas jumper, £12.99, or join in with a secret Santa £10, Christmas get together £13.
WWI, is trilling and gushing about all her wonderful ideas, WWI is also terribly hurt that none of us want to join in with her Jolly Japes. God give me strength!

Floss

Hester WWI needs a rocket up her backside!