System Failure !

another_casualty

The good thing about most soundbars now, is that they have Bluetooth . 🦷
This means that you can play music from your smartphone , or listen to audiobooks etc .

just did more exercise this morning , as prescribed by mr trainer . 🏋️ It was a stretch workout , so  the most enjoyable out of the 4 days I am now doing . The gist now , is that I have the weekends off plus a weds in theory and do the workouts the other day . 

I have had 24 hrs away from bread . Yesterday and today, no peanut butter on toast .
I think it's about 3 weeks or so, without any crisps etc. My next step is to prepare meals beforehand . Something I stop start . 

I've been selling some music stuff on flea bay of late . I used to buy more or less the kitchen sink when it comes to my favourite bands over the years . I was looking at box sets by Metallica and slayer , and I thought to myself " you haven't played those since you moved " You are not 15 anymore " etc . So I managed to offload them fairly quickly.
I did purchase a tangerine dream cd box set with book from their best years. There will probably be another which will complete my list of things from them. They went downhill in the late '80s .  The thing I notice these days is that everything has to be remastered to death , then there are coffee table editions , then a film gets released etc. I'm too old for all of that now, and if I want to track down the extra tracks I can get them from that website I mentioned a while back . Much as I love rush , I cannot buy  costly deluxe editions when I have remasters already . I used to love Motörhead and saw them at their peak , but unfortunately they are all dead and I can't buy the deluxe ace of spades album .
Seems like I'm getting more mse 😸 Ironically enough , when I opened the box sets that I was selling , I noticed the sponge inside the boxes evaporated ! 

I'll leave it there . 

Enjoy the sunshine 🌵🌵🌞🦅

helensbiggestfan

Well done on ditching the bread. Not easy. I love the stuff but unfortunately it doesn’t love me back.  I have to avoid grains as much as I can so I eat a largely paleo diet. 

White carbs (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) are highly addictive but weaning yourself off them is the best thing you can do for your health. They dont have much nutritional value.  Stick with lean proteins and green carbs (fruit and veg).  You could still have peanut butter......good source of protein, just not on toast.  Almond butter is nice too. I spread it on apple slices. 

If you have a sweet tooth then the soft fruits such as berries, peaches, melons, nectarines are in season right now.  Better than crisps etc. 😂.  

Paleo is easy, cooking paleo style is a doddle. You can Keep it simple or if You want to push the boat out now and again you can go fancy by adding herbs, spices or sauces.  

another_casualty

Not too much to write about at the moment . 

I have been off bread for 6 days . Tough going at times , but it's beneficial in the long run .
Ive stepped up my training over last few weeks, focusing on  that , and trying to keep as much negativity away as possible . 🏋️ TBH , until today the most annoying things have been the ads on planet rock radio , and some I can't avoid when channel surfing on the TV.
Today, I don't know if I put my foot in it regarding the potential new tenants above . 

I noticed the letting agent showing a young couple around . They seemed okay for a young couple. However, I took my chance to say something to them and the lettings agent . 

I explained about the guy in the other flat and the random drug parties . I was asked by the chap if they still go on , but I said that they stopped a few weeks ago . I explained about him bringing people outside who were taking over . I told him , the guy was undesireable .
I explained about the family leaving bicycles in the communal area. You know the rest .
To be fair , the couple seemed okay, but I explained that it's best for me to be straight forward as a potential neighbour . 

I explained to all 3 of them , that I couldn't relay my issues properly to the deaf guy while wearing a mask . In a way, the lettings agent now knows the score . 

In another way , I don't want the undesireable to find out ive been talking about him .
Then again , I'm telling the truth . Did I shoot myself in the foot ?? 
I suppose I'll keep another eye on the other visitors , but I won't have to repeat myself again ,,as the lettings agent has got the message now . 

On a slight tangent , I got to finally speak to the snoop director next door and gave him an update a few days ago. I don't need to say any more , as he is up to speed now and so am I . The door closer for the communal finally got installed a few days ago . 

Apart from that, all is okay . 

I'll leave it there ...

Gigervamp

If they were a nice couple, I think you might have scared them off. Decent people won't want to rent a flat where there are drugs parties, so I do think you could have shot yourself in the foot. I'd keep quiet next time.

another_casualty

Thanks gigervamp . 

I think you are right about probably scaring them off . If I have and they are nice folk, then I am annoyed on so many levels 
The only thing that is a positive , is that the lettings agent got a surprise and knows everything now and hopefully will be more cautious as to who to show around in the next  viewing schedule etc
I won't say anything next time . 

another_casualty

Okay , I have to stay positive and keep my mouth shut . I'll leave that there . 

Onto ...council tax !  On the 2nd of this month , I made a payment taking me up to November . I'm obviously paying a reduced rate due to my circumstances .
I have just received a letter from stour valley and poole partnership advising me that a discretionary payment award has been credited to my council tax account . The award is from 1April 2020-2 April 2020 , an amount of £150 . 

This is due to Covid -19 pandemic hardship fund 2020/21
I will be receiving a revised council tax bill showing the updated balance . 

Can't complain about that . 

Had another session with mr trainer yesterday . 🏋️ He is very pleased with my progress .
I purchased a couple of t shirts and track suit bottoms online yesterday . 

Quite pleased . However , once I get rid of the belly , the t shirts will be full length dresses
Interesting to see if I can reduce that in the next month or so . 

I went for a quick walk today . Only 20 mins , but if I keep that up the stamina will improve 
I won't be going out in the heat till Saturday if my friend is around . 🌵🌵🦅
A week without bread now ..
Enjoy the sunshine 🌞🌵

another_casualty

Annoying afternoon /  evening . 

My intercom buzzed today. The mother of the departed family in flat 4 asked for any mail, and advised me that she will be coming back from time to time to check.
No problem . I have been putting their post in the pillar box using the elvis Presley method
When the leaseholder appeared for the first time , he just chucked a letter for them on the floor . Not professional or tidy . This meant that yet again , I have to be the responsibke person and put it in the pillar box . 

I received an email from managing agents regarding my behaviour and putting those tenants off. Okay, hands up I messed up . 

I had to respond as to why I acted the way I did. I apologised of course. 

I mentioned my introduction to the leaseholder of flat 4 and how ignorant I found him
( I worded it better). I just basically said that if he was more responsible , I would have confidence in him advising the lettings agent of my concerns . It's all well him chucking anything in there and being 200 miles away , but it means it could go back to square one and that is not fair on me ! 

I did say that I should have spoken to the lettings agent by taking her aside , but my frustration got the better of me . 

I also pointed out that his tenants could have potentially cost me everything , due to leaving multiple objects in the communal area and my insurers won't pay up. 

You get the rest .

i received a  polite response , advising me that flat 3 have been informed and their lettings agent . That's the druggie's flat . I'm hoping that this is done discreetly as I don't want any repercussions from the druggie . 

I was misconstrued as the complaint said I talked about drug dealers. I mentioned random drug parties, and told them that they stopped a few weeks ago after I complained directly to the leaseholder and lettings agent . 

So, we'll see. 
Yes, I have screwed up , but I hope that I'm lucky and the right tenants are found 
There is a letting board installed outside my bedroom window.
I'll leave it there..
Enjoy the heatwave 🌵🌵🦅🦅🥵

dreaming

Oh dear AC - what a palaver! I did think when I read your post about speaking to the couple and the agent that it wasn't such a good move but never  mind - we all  make mistakes and at least you have had the grace to apologise to the agents. Of course you do realise that the couple are probably telling their friends they couldn't live there because  of the bloke living on the ground floor
Well done on staying off the bread. Carbs are my big downfall - not bread particularly (except garlic bread!) but I love pasta and rice. Apart from actually liking them they are so easy to cook which I can't always be bothered to do living on my own. I really need to knuckle down and lose a couple of stone (to start with) but am struggling to exercise at the moment due to bad knees, bad neck, bad shoulders - all arthritis related so it's a vicious circle at the moment. I need to lose the weight to help the arthritis but it is that which is stopping me from being more mobile so I am just going to have to consider giving up carbs as much as possible. Other than that lockdown has been good for me as I am by nature a fairly solitary person. I quite like the heat so I will enjoy it but from the comfort of a nice seating area in the garden and with a nice cool, non-alcoholic drink by my side. I hope you have a good weekend.

another_casualty

Hi dreaming 😼
Hope you and Alfie are well . 

No need for me to go on anymore about the flat situation , except to say that I put all this down to stupid artogant BTL landlords & casual letting agents . 

One other thing about the above , is that I saw the advet on right move .
A hotch potch of old pictures from years ago, and  an unflattering kitchen and bathroom
Accirding to the snoop next door ( who I think is a friend of the leaseholder), the guy spent £8,000 doing the place up. Well, the kitchen and bathroom still have apppalling chip shop style tiles and original cabinets . My flat looks much better , it has to be said . 

Like you, I'm a very solitary person . If it wasn't for the shenanigans of the artogant tenants , I would have enjoyed lockdown a lot more . 

Garlic bread 🤮
Sorry to hear of your arthritic troubles . I still have pains all over my body , but it would be much worse if I never saw mr trainer 🏋️.
I was wondering now, if you have considered something similar , or Pilates/ yoga/ water aerobics ?  A routine ( and cash) makes all the difference .  Mr trainer is a fraction of the cost of a London trainer , and his video workouts are cheaper so for me it's a must do.
Hope things keep progressing well for you and Alfie 😼
I'm staying indoors tomorrow 🌵🌵🦅🦅🥵
Enjoy the weekend 

dreaming

Thanks AC - just need to get into a routine really that incorporates more movement into my daily life. I did consider a PT but I really don't like being told what to do! Most of my hobbies are seated ones - reading, crafting etc. but I do still like to get in the garden and that is where I have really noticed my loss of stamina. I did about 20 minutes light digging the other week and I had to sit down whereas I used to be able to shift slabs, dig, and paint fences all day. I have been doing some seated exercises to try to keep the joints free and trying to walk a little everyday, even if it's just round the block.
You must have forgotten that I no longer have Alfie. I miss my little ginger friend (still have his picture as my screen saver though) but have decided that I won't get another cat - the first time in over 40 years I will have been without one.