Making the Best of it.

*Robin*

doingitanyway wrote: »

I don't have any useful legal information but just saying hello and you are doing so well. Your kindness radiates.

Hello Doingitanyway, :hello:

I wish what you wrote was true.. A couple of weeks ago, I must confess to getting so upset and depressed - after one particular incident - that I just wanted to hurt this wretched neighbour. I spent a good half hour looking [online] for the type of pen-laser which people get arrested for if they point it at aeroplanes.. Reckoning that if this sick man could not see, he'd stay at home - Musketeer and I would be safe.
Didn't find one of course [suspect they are only on the dark web - which I know absolutely nothing about bar the name; certainly couldn't get into it].
Do feel very ashamed about even looking, and confessed to our local police constable [who visits every few days]. She was shocked, but as I said to her, I am at the end of my tether. Why are the police not doing anything?

Right now I can hear the poor man, screaming inside his house. He does that a lot. Later he'll come and bang on my window; when I open it he'll tell me that he has a sore throat. I'll say he should drink lemon and honey, and stay indoors to avoid making it worse..

I am the only neighbour who talks to him who has not been physically assaulted, although he has threatened it several times. He is afraid of Musketeer, rightly so as he has spent so much time baiting the dog that Musketeer would go for him if the man hit me. I never go outside without M because of this.

He has tried to get rid of the dog, I believe. I prefer to sleep with my window open a little, and one night we had a "visit" then a short while afterwards M was so unresponsive I had to shake him to get him to open an eye. Sometimes Spanish hunters put down poison for dogs and foxes to stop them taking ground-nesting birds, which the hunters want to shoot later - it's illegal but they do it. One of M's few faults is that he cannot forget his hungry days; if he comes across anything which appears edible he grabs it - so I keep a few remedies and antidotes on hand. I treated him as soon as I realised something was very wrong, and an hour later M was back to normal. But the next morning what I had to pick up on our first walk looked like nothing I've ever seen a dog produce before; slimed in mucus and streaked with bright pink patches - exactly the same shade as the hard casing on some human medications.
Since then M has been shedding fur copiously, which is a sign that he's eaten something bovine to which he is allergic. My guess is that the neighbour put some of his pills into a lump of cheese and dropped it through the window for M to grab before I was aware what was happening.
It was after that, that I looked for a laser. Of course we now have to sleep with the windows shut, which tends to mean that I wake up with a headache, and yet another day is lost.

So you see, I am not always kind. I am very ashamed of losing my temper; Lord knows this man's life is already miserable enough - sometimes I think fate led me here to help push for a better solution, a more positive supportive living situation for him.

*Robin*

Oops, in getting distracted by the current RL angst, I forgot about the MSE stuff:

Positives:
A. Sent back a "spare" mobile wifi dongle I'd ordered, which had a spec much higher than I need, with price to match. My current one is at about the age when they usually fail, and will cost the same to replace like for like while am away as the posh one costs here, but sense has prevailed and I'll get another of the cheaper ones before heading off [if indeed am able to do so]. Saved £120.
B. Barclaycard sent a cheque for £300 - haven't used the card for a while but the SO is still running [that CC costs a lot if not cleared every month so I prefer leaving a SO on it rather than trust m' memory to pay it manually in time. But apparently am not allowed to have a credit balance on it. Getting the cheque into the bank will be tricky though as there's no parking in reach [not within the distance I can walk, anyway].
C. The boiler at New House is well past it's sell-by date; it's developed a habit of switching itself off thirty seconds after the shower is turned on. This is inconvenient, to say the least [shower and boiler being on different floors and at opposite ends of the house] so some preventative action is needed - S*d's Law says it'll conk out completely in the coldest week of the year, when no engineers will be immediately available. Divo Four found a great 0% credit deal, and we've just heard a new boiler will be fitted on Wednesday.

Negatives:
A. I forgot to pay my van's tax - that's urgent as of yesterday.
B. One of the van's doors has been getting very stiff - turns out the lower hinge has failed. A new one has been ordered but it's going to mean a hundred mile round trip to get it fitted by an expert. While the van is there it's due to be measured up for an underslung gas tank - doubt there will be much change from £600 for that, all told. It will save money in the long run; bottles cost £38 each, as opposed to about £4 for the same amount of gas pumped into a permanent tank. Ouch though.

Bubblesmum

Sending gentle hugs Robin, we all have moments of frustration and anger when we are all those we love are threatened, don’t be hard on yourself.

Your overriding gene is kiNdness x

Bubblesmum

Ps we have both been AWOL, it’s good though to come back to our virtual friends x

doingitanyway

It isn't what we think but what we do. You didn't buy the item from the catalogue and your shame is because you have a conscience. You are kind, without doubt but you are not a Saint.

Great news about the new boiler

Sun_Addict

I don't know how you put up with that neighbour. I'd feel like using something a bit stronger than a laser pen on him. Why is he allowed to get away with such appalling behaviour?

Glad you're getting a new boiler.

*Robin*

Bubblesmum wrote: »

Ps we have both been AWOL, it’s good though to come back to our virtual friends x

Isn't it just! Now realise how much I missed everyone here - while not posting I didn't feel I had the right to read, am no good at lurking, lol.

*Robin*

doingitanyway wrote: »

It isn't what we think but what we do. You didn't buy the item from the catalogue and your shame is because you have a conscience. You are kind, without doubt but you are not a Saint.

Great news about the new boiler

Thanks for that reminder, doingitanyway. My heart is hardening though; left my window open again a few days ago, just a crack - and the dog got spiked for the second time! Luckily I realised he was lying too still - unresponsive - managed to get antidotes into him in time, but am terrified that next time I may already be asleep. _pale_

It took two days to install the new boiler, due to the engineer being summoned to Luton for an emergency when he was half way through the job. That night the warmest spot was in my camper, lol, as we only seem to have one little electric fire in the house. Everyone got issued with a hot water bottle and an extra duvet, as that was the best we could do without notice. [Promised Divo Four that I will never moan about the cupboard full of spare bedding again! :rotfl:]
House is toasty warm now though - engineer said the radiators are all in good nik so that's an upgrade which can be crossed off the maintenance list for now. :T

*Robin*

Good morning MSE World, :hello:

Election Day.

Been "on the floor" again. Divo Four was wonderful, taking out M while I was in a bubble of pain. Am good at tolerating pain, but not in the head. Sinusitis complicated by a damaged molar root in the sinus cavity rendered me mindless; feverish and blinded. Apparently was hallucinating too. Eventually remembered that I stock natural "antibiotics" - two drops [doses] of Oregano Oil later the fever and pain have gone. Amazing stuff. Tastes so awful there's no doubt it's strong medicine, lol.

Trying to sort out pension pot issues which have been outstanding far too long. Can't get into one internet banking site because my card has run out. Nine months ago. Have completely forgotten the key numbers for accessing FD too. They summarily cancelled two DDs and refuse to respond to my emails. Need to shift some savings but no longer have faith in FD as have no idea what they are up to.
Dare I use the other bank - what happens if I move money into an account which is no longer operating?
..Every time I hit this conundrum I end up not doing anything.
^^ This is today's confession. Hope that telling you lot will force some kind of action - the only other thing I can think of is transferring into DS3 and DS4's accounts, and hope they don't spend too much before the problem gets sorted out.

Need to contact the building society too - still not changed address since selling the family home. Am no good at 'phones any more.

Also not found passport yet. Must be somewhere in the camper. I hope. It looks like vandals have been in - really need a cleaner; can't ask Divo Four as he already keeps the house sorted out [to a much higher standard than I could aspire to]. He's working hard at two jobs as well as helping the builder when an extra pair of hands are required.

House project is coming along. Roof is on, piles of insulation boards await installation - updated electrics and flue for a wood burner are getting sorted out first. This room has been mouldy and derelict since we bought the place - I went in there for the first time only a couple of weeks ago. The extra space will be very useful - shift the family "library" out of my bedroom for a start. We are keen on books, lol.

Sun_Addict wrote: »

I don't know how you put up with that neighbour. I'd feel like using something a bit stronger than a laser pen on him. Why is he allowed to get away with such appalling behaviour?

He gets away with it because the various official agencies have different rules which stop the others from acting. The colder weather is helping - it's not much fun running into gardens or jumping on cars that are covered in a thick layer of frost, while barefoot and only wearing underkeks. The family in the adjoining house are suffering more now - they have to put up with lots of screaming, banging doors and throwing things [yet another new tv was delivered last week].

*Robin*

Good morning, :hello:

Been up for a couple of hours watching the political map take on colour. The disproportion between number of votes cast and end results does not look like my understanding of democracy.


I weep for the many who are going to find their lives much harder - this site will become even more important for helping people make ends meet.

It has become essential to husband my resources very carefully if they are to last my lifetime; this both saddens and frightens me.
Did speak to the banks yesterday. Black Horse objected to me moving a chunk of savings, threatening suspension of my accounts unless I could satisfy their fraud department. After a worrying hour we compromised on putting the funds into a joint account I hold with Divo Four. Finding a better place to invest it is now a top priority - do not like being suspected of fraud [cleared of course, but it's left a bad taste].

Feeling very despondent. Looking at social media, several friends have already declared their intention to emigrate - two are doctors who can no longer see a future working in the NHS.