The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

pollyanna_26

I'm trying to pull myself together. I don't know if many had the very hot weather Saturday and Sunday and into today until the thunder started rumbling and the rains came. I love the sun but can't cope with too hot, it just flattens me.

After the recent debacle of DDs PIP form arriving much later than dated and the date for return already passed I managed to sort that on the phone and they granted a 2 week extension . Hoewver next day I was losing the will to go on waiting to get through after being informed her PIP would stop.

Finally got through to a lovely young man who looked at things and found the Customer Adviser the day before hadn't enteed the

extension on the system.

Sigh of relief and all sorted.

Struggled to sleep in the heat last night but the pain still seems to be easing so hopefully the steroid is working.

Remembered this morning there is a fan I use on too hot days which would have helped but I tend to forget it until it's no longer needed and I'm keeping an eye on electricity use.

I was just planning today when I checked my emails mid morning. Youngest her ESA SG payment didn't go in to the bank on Friday. No idea why she didn't say so then but I recieved a letter here as her Appointee confirming the amount she would be paid this year.

Put that in an email at the time. She struggles with phones. I gave her the letter to put in her file but she'd forgotten that and a lot of emails later she found it in the drawer below her plants and lights where I'd suggested she kept important stuff together.

She went quiet for a file after telling me she'd found it.

Later another mesage she'd rung ESA hung on the phone for ages and was told they couldn't discuss anything with her only her Appointee. We've never come across that before she's been able to contact them and PIP in the past.

I could feel everything starting to hurt so asked if she would like me to contact them tomorrow morning as her Appointee. Hanging on the phone for ages is a literal pain so I couldn't face it this morning.

I have noticed over the years a lot of people seem to contact DWP later in the day but I've found as soon as the phones go on is the best time to get through. With the  PIP the  other week I got through a few minutes after 9am when the phones go on;

I'm hoping the problem will be sorted tomorrow.

Its still very hot here but I'm just watching the weatherman . Rain heading in from the NW but a lot of bright orange and heat on the map. Hayfever high so I'll be staying indoors.

pollyx

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Pollyanna, I have been given a workaround that appears to work 🙂
If you view the profile of the person you want to contact & press the ‘message’ button - it should prefill the recipient name so need to type a name. Type message & send.
The ‘x’ is just a ‘close’ button if you change your mind about posting 😉

It has worked for me, so hopefully will also work for you 🤞

MrsSD

pollyanna_26

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

Pollyanna, I have been given a workaround that appears to work 🙂
If you view the profile of the person you want to contact & press the ‘message’ button - it should prefill the recipient name so need to type a name. Type message & send.
The ‘x’ is just a ‘close’ button if you change your mind about posting 😉

It has worked for me, so hopefully will also work for you 🤞

MrsSD

Thank you for the info. I tried earlier to send a PM but no joy. The name is already prefilled  when i go to send a message but seem to recall I used to have to type it in past times.

I  have managed to send a message when it was prefilled in the past but will try pressing the message button.

Good to hear you are able to send and recieve messages. I did think I was the only one with the problem so was glad to see your post.

I hope you have a lovely holiday . You're never too old for biking. I started off pillion on a boyfriends  big Norton  Then had my own slightly smaller British bike, Years later I was still zooming along on the pillion singing "Born to Run" loudly. Don't know if you ever tried singing that but I enjoyed it.

Four children later the biking days are over but I still watch the meet ups at a neighbours on lovely sunny days and listen for the roar as they set off  for a ride out.

pollyx

nannywindow

Polly I got your message but my reply disappeared when I hit send. I had to sign in again and redo it, HTH.

pollyanna_26

Well I got the notification Nan. First I've had in a while. Did as Mrs SD suggested and the message was sent. Can still see it on the screen

I'll go back and look if I can see your reply.

Thank you for your efforts as two no longer Spring Chickens i think we may both need comfy Rocking Chairs!

I've been half watching Vera again for the wide open spaces,

I should have kept a chart of how many times I've watched whole series of Vera , George Gently. Call the Midwife- I'm confident I could deliver a 60s baby old style should the need every arise and so many other series including all the Doc Martins.

It has been a strange couple of years.

pollyxx.

pollyanna_26

The last message I can see from you Nan was you'd tried sending a messaage and it disappeared so you had to log out then try again.

It's too late to carry on tonight. Il see what tomorrow brings. You're a good friend and very patient so I'm sending you sweet dreams and hope you sleep well.

pollyxx

Rosetta92

Hello everyone, I’m needing some advice on painting or varnishing my garden bench as it needs some tlc. With all your learned discussions on fence painting I’m thinking this is the place to get expert opinions 😀 The bench is wooden and stays out all year. Do I need to pre-treat it before painting or varnishing and any recommendations on what to use? Also, how many coats and how long will it take to dry - important to avoid a sticky posterior. 

Rosetta92

I think my painting question has scared everyone away 😟

mothernerd

Rosetta92 said:

Hello everyone, I’m needing some advice on painting or varnishing my garden bench as it needs some tlc. With all your learned discussions on fence painting I’m thinking this is the place to get expert opinions 😀 The bench is wooden and stays out all year. Do I need to pre-treat it before painting or varnishing and any recommendations on what to use? Also, how many coats and how long will it take to dry - important to avoid a sticky posterior. 

I think as long as it hasn't any green (drippings from trees/ start of moss) on it, you won't need to treat it. If it did I'd try rubbing it with bleach and then leaving a few days before painting. If it's been varnished and still has some left on in patches, I'd sandpaper that off (maybe sandpaper anyway if it's looking rough). I like the cuprinol colours but there are less expensive options if you want it to blend in, not be a feature. I'd try a small area first (maybe buy a sample size pot if you're unsure) it may sink in straight away or start to cover. You will need more than one coat but if it's sunny it should dry within a couple of hours. You might not be able to paint it all in one go anyway. I don't think I've painted a bench but if I was, I think I'd turn it upside down and paint underneath first, then stand it the right way up and the underside can be drying and runs will fall off on the floor (or surface you're using.

I painted a lot of raised beds last year and I levered them up onto an old kitchen table (been outside for several years) and then I could turn them around and was not bending over or struggling to get at inside edges. hope this helps.

Rosetta92

Thanks Mothernerd. Very helpful. I didn’t know to check for green bits. I’ve got some time off next week so I think  to get prep done this week and pray for good painting weather next week.