22 Foxhole East

f0xh0les

Just in case you missed it, the criminal barristers got offered 15% back in JULY after about 3  1/2 minutes of strike action. 

badmemory

Just goes to prove that it isn't what you know it's who you know.  To be fair though many were working for under minimum wage.  But then how many of us in real life could actually manage to work for less than minimum wage.

f0xh0les

I have engaged an Architect, after the Loft-man who did not turn up, did turn up, and said he would need his architect to come and look, I asked what his Architect's name was, and lo and behold, it was the same man from Tuesday.  So after 2 glowing recommendations, I have told the Architect to draw up plans for the loft extension and a ground floor kitchen extension, and someone will come and measure up next week.  

Nice Loft-man who finally turned up today is sending the roofer he uses to quote on the roof as well next week - he is working on the next street up from me next week.   It really is who you know, not who advertises locally. If the main roof gets done, then the front of the house is done and I can get it painted this summer as it badly needs it.  It will look better from the street. All other work is at the back of the house.

All in all feeling very positive, hope I can get the top floor of the house work booked in, and a date for roofs and things in the diary for this year asap.  

DS2 has his A level exams April-June, and then there are no exams in the house for another 12 months until DS3 does his GCSEs - that is my time frame.

trix-a-belle

Invisible loft man sounds brilliant now hes materialised, long may he remain in existence & his other chums come through.

a mover i'm trying to build a long standing relationship with (as i've been let down by multiple others) tried to go and pick up a sofa yesterday that I shall be recovering.... 2 months early it took half a dozen frantic calls to me (which I couldn't answer as was in a meeting with phone on silent) before he looked back at our correspondence and realised I'd booked him for April

f0xh0les

Oh bless,  he was trying!

f0xh0les

There is at least one other Dave. 

DS2 woke me up at 1am to say he had heard another rustle under the boiler in the bathroom floor.  Got up and made sure all the traps were set. They were all still set when I left to volunteer, but when I got home, one had been sprung, but the bait was still there, although moved.  So at least it has been noticed.  Will see if it catches Dave II today - used the winning bait again, the Bramley apple slice, but not  like Mr Kiplings.

DH was annoying all weekend. I tried to explain to him what I wanted the extension to look like, but he was being deliberately obtuse,  and not liking anything, and kept saying he did not like xxx and was not happy with xxx and did not like the idea of filling in the side return, but when I showed him (again) the photos of other people's side return extensions, he likes it.  He is just being difficult. He does not like change, does not like the idea of builders, does not like anything and he was the same when I knocked down a wall in our last house. Then he got it.  I am not sure he has an imagination when it comes to this sort of thing, he just sees dust, and mess, and fears an expectation that he will have to do something.   Well I expect nothing from him except his agreement to not whine too much about dust, mess, noise, change, or the Bosnian Eurovision Song Contest entry. 

He is a product of DIY parents who really took on too much, and then spent years reminding him of how terrible it all was.  He has DIY related PTSD.  I might have to send him to kennels while the work is being done.    Or off on a writing retreat or something.

Blimey it is cold though today!!  The dodgy builders did not turn up Fri/Sat/Sun, but the banging has continued all day today.  Driving me slightly insane. 

So now I wait for Mr Architect to contact Mr Measuring Tape  who will  contact me to arrange a time to come and measure up, then Mr Architect will do his drawing things and I get quotes, and hopefully it will be done and dusted by Christmas.  

I have found all my last year lists and plans for Things I would have done by the end of 2022.  Well, last year did not run to plan at all on so many levels.  I learnt how  arrange a funeral, I learnt how to empty a house, and send things to auction. I learnt how to deal with lazy solicitors and Probate - luckily I  already knew how to deal with Estate Agents and house selling - I did everything fairly, and to the best of my ability, and kept to the letter of her will, and made sure some of her friends were taken care of.     I also managed to fit in a few paid jobs, and saved enough money to be able to afford my house extensions and pay off the mortgage.

So this year I plan to win some prizes on my PBs - maxed out at £50k, so I do not pay tax  on it.  Martin says statistically I should win something every month. So we will see whether there really  are lies, damned lies, and statistics.  I need to stick another £25k into a 1 year or 6 month  4% or above savings account.  That will still leave me a budget of around £32k , which will  realistically be £40k+ by the time work starts.  DH has already announced he will not have any money to contribute.    Well, that is fine.  I need to change the house to make it work for us.  He is concerned with his research, and work, to make the world a better place.   We each have our spheres of influence. 

apple_muncher

So Dave's family have come looking for him. Sigh. Good luck with catching the blighter.

mark55man

If its not the real Dave, then ze needs a new name.

How about Wayne - or Waynetta

in_need_of_direction

I know your offspring are all male, please tell me that there isn’t a David among them

f0xh0les

This one has been named Emma - as Dave II sounded a little disrespectful - Emma Rattikanu.