Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

helensbiggestfan

OMG. Phoebe that is awful......I hope you get the matter resolved.  I am afraid there are some scoundrels out there.  

My number one go to guy is always busy and I have to wait months.  He isn't the cheapest but he's by far the best, so well worth the wait.  

My other go to guy - the actual builder who does the outside stuff such as roof work etc is a total scatterbrain, overcommits himself and "forgets" to show up but when he does he actually does a great job and is very reasonably priced so I turn a blind eye.  

I trust them both, I can even just give them a key and let them get on with it.  

I have found an odd job/gardiner type duo.....again not the cheapest but so far they have been pretty reliable.  Also have a good decorator and a grumpy 😂. but competent joiner.   I just ignore his bad moods.  🤣. 

My worst experience was in the last house with an electrician........I wrote him a detailed spec of what I needed doing,  which materials to be used, full diagrams and measurements.  He ignored all my instructions. When I pointed out that he had positioned some the lights incorrectly, fitted the wrong lightbulbs,  and the wrong switch plates and socket covers he accused me of "being a typical woman, changing my mind half way through". I was furious.  Quite apart from the fact he just ignored my instructions he had the gall to treat me like some kind of bimbo thinking he could just pull the wool over my eyes.  I worked for years in the construction industry and I can truthfully say that was the first time I had ever encountered such sexist behaviour from a contractor.  Even the labourers treated me with respect. Yes there was the usual banter when they called me "wench" but that never bothered me, they weren't being disrespectful, it was just a form of jokey endearment.  

I managed to get him to reposition the wiring when I showed him a copy of the spec because he hadnt got a leg to stand on (I always keep copies of everything - years of experience in the trade 😂)  When he signed off the work I just got my son to switch the bulbs, sockets etc, so of course I ended up paying twice for those.   So annoying.  I never employed him again and I made sure that my go to guy who recommended him was made aware too so he also dropped him.

Wooden windows are such a specialist job and so very expensive.   My eldest son has them in his grade II listed house. He did manage to repair some of his for now but no doubt they will need replacing at some point. I do have a lot of skills but now I am finding that I lack the physical strength to do some of them...so frustrating.  I would love to do some kind of carpentry or woodworking course. I think I could manage if I stuck with power tools to get round the issue of my weak wrists.  

I have also been thinking about getting a new sewing machine and brushing up my skills. There are a couple refresher courses I could go to.  

As you can see......I don't change, still full of ideas and dreams......😎

Wednesday2000

How irritating Phoebe!

Wednesday2000

Not many champagne moments here, I'm not feeling well still and I still have the sinus infection despite being on my last day of antibiotics.

I'm just about to look at the headlines on the BBC news and I am about to go for a walk. I will listen to music on my phone, at least it is lovely weather again!

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment today was watching Barber Shop Chronicles with The National Theatre for free on YouTube .
I wanted to watch this award winning show before lockdown, so watching it in the comfort of my own home was great, especially for free  

There are other free shows that I will enjoy watching in the coming days, like Macbeth and A Streetcar Named Desire 

phoebe1989seb

Thank you very much for your support, ladies  I'm going to look into contacting Trading Standards as suggested.......

The sun is out here today and it's much warmer so I'm feeling more positive!

mrs_slapshot

Just had a little catchup with your posts while having a well deserved G & T - I've cut the grass, laid some gravel, cleaned the BBQ and done some weeding tonight - all after I finished work!! My son made dinner so I could just get on with those jobs instead of faffing around cooking. I then had a lovely, cleansing shower, so feel nice and fresh now!
I had a massive sortout of toiletries (can't remember if I told you about that?) and realised I had a number of bars of soap.  I have bought some 'soap saver' soap dish type things and a few sisal hanging bags that you keep your soap in.  I shouldn't need to buy any toiletries for months!
I've heard that Superdrug are selling an antibody test now...£70.  You may or may not think that's a lot of money; I think I may buy one.  I have had a cough since I returned from the States, and felt poorly on and off.  Not sure how much of it is psychosomatic (is that the right word?!), but it wouldn't surprise me to learn I have had it, given the amount of people from all around the globe I would have come into contact with, one way or another.  My doctor has booked me in for a chest x-ray next week, so we'll see what that turns up - I an not expecting any issues.

phoebe1989seb

Well, I'm feeling slightly more optimistic regarding the windows today as we have reported our experience to Trading Standards, thanks to suggestions here. Last time we had to do that (back in 2015 when we purchased some garden furniture online that never materialised) it resulted in a prompt refund, so hopefully there will be a positive outcome this time too!

Lovely weather yesterday and today has definitely helped my mindset - although for the most part I'm stuck inside prepping for the next round of DIY building work (removing a 1990s partition wall to open up the master bedroom), but I've done some pottering with the seedlings in the polytunnel and managed to take a few pics of the garden today.

One champagne moment is that the first of the David Austin roses have begun flowering (Desdemona and Nevada), as have a few of the digitalis, but the rose bed(s) still look fairly subdued....not for long I hope as the Sarah Bernhardt peonies are not far behind! Can't wait for it to be a mass of colour 

Gradually things are coming into bud/flower - now that the clematis montana has finished it's good to see the others starting - the one below is a cheapie, Pink Fantasy, from B&Q (moved in a pot from our previous house and now establishing in the ground near the old privy!), while the iris is one of the very few plants worth keeping that were here when we bought the cottage.....

The walled veg/herb garden is looking very green and lush, although not sure what happened to my runner beans this year. Otoh, the broad beans are definitely champagne moment worthy!

A glass of prosecco on the terrace with DH last evening, listening to birdsong was another lovely champagne moment as is the fact we've had a Great Spotted Woodpecker (amongst many others) visiting the bird feeder - I've been trying to get a pic, but no luck yet.......

needmoney

Looks and sounds really lovely

sugarbaby125

Gorgeous flowers Phoebe   Your garden is looking lovely 

Floss

Phoebe, gorgeous garden & fingers crossed that Trading Standards come up trumps.