Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

I received a very prompt response from Gate Man - 6am the following morning! However, the tone of his email isn't very conciliatory. In a nutshell, he's implying that there can't possibly be any damage and, if there is, we've done it ourselves. Also that we were happy with the gate at installation and accepted it. Looks like we're going to have a fight on our hands. I've sent him lots of photographs showing the faults. He's saying he will come out on Monday to have a look. Mr F is away so I've asked a neighbour if he can be with me during the visit.

Otherwise things are ticking along. I need to crack on with cleaning the Annex today as we have paying guests next weekend. There are lots of jobs to do in the house and garden too. The sun is out today so that will help - I'm always more productive on a sunny day.

Have a great weekend guys

Fortune x

beanielou

Boo to gate man.

VintageHistorian

Boo to gate man indeed.

Along with having your neighbour with you, I'd also print off the email you sent highlighting the different faults so that you can go through them one by one with the guy. That way you won't have to worry about forgetting something, and you'll effectively have a script that you can stick to if you feel uncomfortable

Fortune_Smiles

beanielou wrote: »

Boo to gate man.

VintageHistorian wrote: »

Boo to gate man indeed.

Along with having your neighbour with you, I'd also print off the email you sent highlighting the different faults so that you can go through them one by one with the guy. That way you won't have to worry about forgetting something, and you'll effectively have a script that you can stick to if you feel uncomfortable

Boo indeed guys. Let's see if he's any more helpful in person.

That's an excellent idea Vintage. There are two emails now as I've discovered further faults since the first one :eek:

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

I was indeed more productive in the sunshine :A

I got through more than I'd planned in the Annex - it really helps when your guests tidy up before they go. Also did a little gardening and it looks like the potatoes are coming up - finally.

I had a couple of nice surprises. My sister 'phoned for a catch up. She and her other half are very tempted to move to the Shire. I hope they do. I'd love to have some family close by. Then an unexpected visit from a friend who had come across an item which was perfect for the Annex and picked it up for me. Such a lovely thought and so nice to sit in the sunshine with a cuppa and have a chat. Some people restore your faith in the world

It was a bit of a spendy day as I bought FDawg a new bed for the living room He already has one but it's really difficult to keep clean and always looks filthy. It's been driving me mad for months and yesterday I caved and ordered a replacement. I should be able to sell the old one and recoup some of the cost. Not an MSE move but it will make me happy and save me some work.

I also ordered some hanging baskets. We bought some last year from the same supplier and they were amazing. This year the price has gone down so they are even better value :T I can't make them up myself for the price. Again, not an essential purchase but they make the place look so beautiful. It's a small price to pay for something that makes your heart sing

I was very clumsy yesterday and broke a number of things including a glass. I'd used it to capture a spider but when I went to throw the spider into the garden I threw the glass as well. Doh! :rotfl: There was one breakage yesterday that really had to be replaced so a small spend was made there.

Today I intend to pop to the garden centre to pick up some essentials. They've sent me a £5 voucher and, as a member, I get a free plant too. Worth the trip I'd say.

Right, FDawg is mithering to go so I'd better get a wriggle on.

Enjoy the sunshine guys.

Fortune x

PurpleFairy26

All sounds very productive fortune. Boo to the gate man indeed. Did you pay for any of it on you CC? If so you can claim through them direct, for the full amount even if you didn't pay it all on there. They independently look at your side and the suppliers and then make a call. I think it's £100 of any item you have to have paid on your card.

Your annexe sounds lovely...here's to many more NT loving folk and less candle lovers in the future in there :rotfl:

teapot2

That was lovely of your friend, its so nice when people think of you and do a kindness like that

I'm all for things that make the heart sing and I find plants often do that for me. Enjoy your trip to the garden centre. Also glad you enjoyed the Cardoons

brizzlegirl

All sounding good apart from the gate of course. Hope your sister does move x

Fortune_Smiles

PurpleFairy26 wrote: »

All sounds very productive fortune. Boo to the gate man indeed. Did you pay for any of it on you CC? If so you can claim through them direct, for the full amount even if you didn't pay it all on there. They independently look at your side and the suppliers and then make a call. I think it's £100 of any item you have to have paid on your card.

Your annexe sounds lovely...here's to many more NT loving folk and less candle lovers in the future in there :rotfl:

I did pay for some on a CC Purp. I shall call them in if necessary.

I think the annex is lovely (not biased of course) - I try to look at it as if I was arriving for a break and I think it's somewhere I'd be happy to stay. Hopefully we'll get some more bookings though - we're not in profit yet :rotfl:

teapot2 wrote: »

That was lovely of your friend, its so nice when people think of you and do a kindness like that

I'm all for things that make the heart sing and I find plants often do that for me. Enjoy your trip to the garden centre. Also glad you enjoyed the Cardoons

She's got previous for being a lovely friend Teapot In fact, she's a lovely person all round.

brizzlegirl wrote: »

All sounding good apart from the gate of course. Hope your sister does move x

Me too Brizzle - not just for selfish reasons either, I think she'd be really happy here.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

My visit to the garden centre was successful and I didn't buy a single thing which wasn't on my list :A And it inspired me to spend some more time in the veg patch planting courgettes and sewing a second batch of broad beans. I also planted some snowball chrysanthemums in the flower border. They were plants that I bought as Christmas decorations and I kept them when they died off just to see if they'd come back. They did so I've planted them out and am keeping my fingers crossed. Most of my time was spent weeding though - any tips for getting rid of field buttercup?

At 7.00 pm one of our fire alarms starting chirping. It's the one at the highest point of the house. There's no way I can reach it. Thank goodness for ear plugs :rotfl: I managed to get hold of our electrician today so he's going to come round tomorrow with a very long ladder. In the meantime it's chirping loudly every 30 seconds :eek:

No sign of Gate Man yet. I'm sort of hoping he doesn't show as then I can just do everything in writing and not risk any face to face confrontation.

Another glorious day here in the Shire. FDawg and I are going to get the washing in and do a tour of the garden soon.

Hope the sun is shining where you are.

Fortune x