Watty's Awakening

Watty1

Vets rang to book in CC so before I accepted the booking I asked how much they planned to charge and they said it would free. Hurrah. Shouldn't have had to make a fuss though.

ladybird1106

🥳 brilliant news.

Love 🐞

Cherryfudge

Do you think someone from the practice is on this Forum? 😄

Great that you aren't going to be charged.

Watty1

A few days without internet was illuminating and somewhat scary in how much of our lives depend on some kind of connection via the net. Work got really behind (it was a major outage with 180 houses locally affected).

Had bi-monthly meet up with a small group of women I know in a local farm shop and bought a few pickled and/or fermented salads to make the current evening meals of salad a bit more interesting. This week food bills been kept low by using up just to make up for last month and making salads to save time. Am noticing I feel much better if I keep my eating simple and very veg based.

Bloods and x-rays done and back next week for some breathing/lung checks. Am beginning to wonder if this was just all exhaustion though. Would be nice to know results but doctors surgery very bad at sharing, and, does not use app for anything other than reminding one when the practice will be closed and appointments. Will discuss with the nurse end of next week. Presume they would contact me if anything significant.

Supposed to be going to a university reunion this weekend but just cannot face it so although I have paid for the overnight stay I will send an sorry can't make it to the whatsapp group. All of the people I would want to see are not going so happy to park that one.

Watty1

In other news I might have someone to start on re-doing the front of the house/drive. This has been something I've been wondering what to do with for some time. I've asked for a couple of quotes from various trades which have never actually come back with anything but in a quiet moment a few weeks ago I loaded photos onto AI. Now first was a magazine worthy garden with beautiful reimagined beds and second was a complete rebuilding of the cottage changing its shape, removing a window but when I got the prompts right AI came up with some very sensible options.

Whilst out with CC I passed a board for someone doing some work on a gorgeous farmhouse so I came home and called the chap. I showed him my two options and we concluded my preferred option which involves laying a path was not viable as there is some doubt about what is actually under the current mess. So we are going for the second very simple option and his daughter who does his office work has just emailed to say he will drop a sample of the proposed stone surface in on Monday.

Now I'm still very suspicious of this all as his quote was much cheaper than anyone else but he was likeable and seemed to know what he is doing - and - subsequently CC have popped back to check on the work at the farmhouse and it is looking very good (garden walls etc). I now need to remove most of the weeds as that will make it cheaper to dispose of the current broken down slate chippings apparently.

TallGirl

That sounds really good if they are doing work locally you can check out then its quite reassuring. Often trades just do not want to do a job and quote silly prices. Getting that drive done will make a big difference as an avid reader I know its been on your mind for a while.

Cherryfudge

I would really struggle without internet - now that genie is out of the bottle, I think every one of us would be affected with even a short-term loss. It's something we all need to address in terms of resilience, whether at home or work.

The plans for the drive and the front of the house sound exciting! Even if the chap is cheap because he's new and wants to get established, we all have to start somewhere. Perhaps drop a note in to the place where he's working, stating you've seen the work and liked it and would they mind sharing their impressions of the business. We are all going to be (virtually) slowing down every time we go past to see how it's going at your place!

beanielou

Hope the quote works out.

PennysIntoPounds

It might be something like his quote didn't include materials yet as your choice hasn't been confirmed?

Or he might not be VAT registered yet?

Or as @TallGirl says, often people just give stupid quotes if they don't really want the job

Watty1

I think there is a mistake on his quote tbh. It is so far under what it should be and it says it includes materials and VAT - but - it does not include taking away the rubbish. He was at school years ago with the posh farmhouse owner so CC and I just looked over the wall to assess what was going on. The advantage of being on a horse is one can have a good look over a garden wall 😊

He is coming round on Monday to show me his choice of material for the front so I will chat with him then.