Tales from The Shire

Moneywhizz

I often read your diary which is very entertaining, but just had to comment to say that is an amazing portrait and I am sure you could sell it.  You are a very talented lady. 

themadvix

That is a fantastic picture Fortune - you are so talented! I guess the issue with selling it is the copyright - I assume it was from a photo rather than life?!

savingholmes

I think you've done a stunning job. I would sell it. You are even more talented than we knew... 

Mrs_Money_Penny

What a wonderful portrait. You’d easily make a living from all your arts & crafts. You have a gift.
I thought i’d done well by replacing some elastic in our face masks!, xx

Fortune_Smiles

Moneywhizz said:

I often read your diary which is very entertaining, but just had to comment to say that is an amazing portrait and I am sure you could sell it.  You are a very talented lady. 

Hello @Moneywhizz.  Thank you - that's very kind of you to say.  Do pop in again.

themadvix said:

That is a fantastic picture Fortune - you are so talented! I guess the issue with selling it is the copyright - I assume it was from a photo rather than life?!

Thank you @themadvix - it was compiled from a few photos but, yes, there could possibly be a copyright issue.

savingholmes said:

I think you've done a stunning job. I would sell it. You are even more talented than we knew... 

That's a lovely thing to say @savingholmes - thank you.  I can't wait to put my art nook to good use now.

Mrs_Money_Penny said:

What a wonderful portrait. You’d easily make a living from all your arts & crafts. You have a gift.
I thought i’d done well by replacing some elastic in our face masks!, xx

I might have to @Mrs_Money_Penny when Mr F retires 😆  Now - sewing and knitting, I can get by but not my skill set really.

Thank you all for the vote of confidence but I'm not sure this one would sell - who would want to look at Megxit on their wall every day 😆  I have taken commissions in the past and have painted classic cars, pets, portraits for people.  Now the work in the house is nearly done for the forseeable future I could start that up again.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

How very dare they 😆

The fitter was still here on Monday when I got the invoice for the outstanding balance on the windows 😲  Not only that, but they suggested I pay £7500 immediately and hold back £270 odd until the snagging is done 😲  This is to help with their cash flow 😲 I paid almost this amount again as a deposit back in April 😲 I have politely declined the offer and paid them £5270 odd and held back £2000 to be paid on completion of the work.  We have two panes of glass that will need to be replaced and beading is outstanding on the arches of three of the windows.  £270 is not a large enough amount, in my opinion, to focus their attention and get the work done as a priority whereas £2000 just might.  The fitter should be able to return to carry out the work the week after next.

Young Decorator returned this morning and touched up the paintwork around the replaced windows so I can get busy putting the house back together.  I've done a lot of cleaning and tidying already but there are still a few random items around the house that are not in their rightful homes.  Now it's just the plumber next week to replace the macerator 🙄  And Young Decorator will return as the weather allows, and when he has the odd day free, to restore the annex windows bit by bit.  Oh and I've ordered the kitchen blinds too but these are all smaller and less disruptive jobs so I'm feel less stressed about things now.

I got the afternoon off yesterday as I had a hair appointment.  Whilst I was in town, I dropped the sample book back to the blind company and did some Christmas shopping.  I think I might have to increase the Christmas budget a little but we'll see how we go.  I got some beautiful champagne flutes from Denby by trading in some T£$co vouchers.  You get 3 x the face value for them so someone is getting £120 worth of crystal  for £39.50 in vouchers.  I've been collecting my vouchers for ages so might be able to buy some other presents that way too.  I also remembered that we have some (urry$ and J0hn L£wi$ vouchers so they might be put towards Christmas too.

The house feels so much calmer today and I don't have any external commitments so can plod along in my own time.  I have some gifts to wrap and a few other chores but I'm giving myself a break from any major cleaning work - I need a break 😆

Happy Hump Day everybody

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Don't blame you for wanting a break from cleaning Fortune! Also think you made the right decision holding a higher amount back - given their behaviour so far it's quite likely it would have dragged on forever if they'd only been waiting for £270... Their cash flow issue can be very easily solved by getting the work done!

beanielou

Wow, That is very cheeky.
Right decision I think.

savingholmes

Too right. £2K is a much better figure to have withheld. 

I think there is a potential market for your picture - so would try it anyway. What have you got to lose?

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Don't blame you for wanting a break from cleaning Fortune! Also think you made the right decision holding a higher amount back - given their behaviour so far it's quite likely it would have dragged on forever if they'd only been waiting for £270... Their cash flow issue can be very easily solved by getting the work done!

beanielou said:

Wow, That is very cheeky.
Right decision I think.

savingholmes said:

Too right. £2K is a much better figure to have withheld. 

I think there is a potential market for your picture - so would try it anyway. What have you got to lose?

Thanks guys.  I wondered whether £2k was too much but that's probably what it would cost if I had to get someone else in to do the outstanding work.

Fortune x