A Ditherer's Diary (again)

CRANKY40

I hate to diappoint you on the "guide dog training" thing but my friend had a black lab guide dog when I worked in London. The incidents are too many to list but the most memorable two are the two and a half hour lunch break because the dog wanted to stay in the park and friend's introduction to her new boss. While friend was trying to make a good impression, guide dog had her head in his desk drawer and was helping herself to his biscuit stash....

Naomim

@CRANKY40 that's funny! 

@GeorgianaCavendish we do qualify as band D so it will help. Luckily with the cc's they are all on 0%. I overpay them all by a few £s with the biggest OP going against the one ending soonest.

With the heating, we have the new boiler that was put in in September so that should be a bit more energy efficient than our old one.  It's also a combi so we're only heating water we use rather than a tank.

WinterWarrior

moving_forward said:

Getting a thermostat really reduced our bills WW and then the smart one even more but I'm not sure if they work with oil. Scotland has been given a lump of money so hopefully you will get some of it off your council tax.

It’s so ancient the boiler has its own room in the garage,  but it must keep going as we can’t replace it! 

And I won’t hold my breath, that money may already be in the independence campaign bucket 😳

moving_forward

We will all be needing a passport to come visit lol

2Scratters

Hi All and @Naomim,
As Hebredian has already said speak with the mortgage people of how the extra payments are to be used. Also when sorting (and still) DS mortgage payments they are on S.O. not DD, there has never been an issue in the overpayments being miss used. Also each month where the interest drops down I use that little bit to pay off too. Other than that for the time being is make the extra payment after the D.D has left your account. Done a TT today as I do but will add them up for the end of the month.

2Scratters x

Naomim

It's official! Doggo is a Sheprador. 50% lab 47% German Shepherd and a tiny percentage of other things further back. She's amazing ❤.  Training started well. Took her out yesterday for a run and she discovered a local brook that runs near here and scrambled straight in 🤦‍♀️ our lovely old boy hated water, wouldn't even go out in the rain 😂

Spent another small fortune in PetsatHome but they have said I can return unopened food as it's own brand and I cant find the receipt 🤦‍♀️

Scottiedog_3

@Naomim That is a great genetic mixture. I hope you have many happy years with her. My old GSD cross was a wonderful dog.

Naomim

@Scottiedog_3 to be honest I never thought I'd have any type of GS. I grew up in the 70's when they had quite a bad reputation, then it was rotties and now staffies.  But, she is the sweetest little (big) thing.  Training is key, especially as she's a jumper but she's a very quick learner! 

Scottiedog_3

Same here. I used to be very nervous of the breed but they are SO clever. As you say, they need lots of training... and love.

ladyholly

My Mum would literally cross the road if she saw a German Shepherd. It was a bit unfortunate that my sister FiL used to breed them. I did see her with a tiny puppy on her knee when we visited many years ago but that was her limit.

It is a shame that certain breeds get such a bad reputation as it isnt the breed of dog that is the problem but the owner who trains them or doesnt. Our staffie X was recently literally chased home by a labradoodle who wanted to play but she is so nervous she doesnt understand the chase game despite seeing our other two dogs playing it regularly.