Progress is...

Watty1

Just caught up.  What an (edited) piece of (edited)    I'm not surprised no one spoke up.   Having once witnessed an incident I did speak up, and I am a tiny 5 foot lady and was surprised no one backed me up.  When I returned to my seat shaking with the effort it had cost, but, incident avoided, two people said well done.          Why had they not joined in support?  People baffle me.

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh goodness rt - I don't think I meant report to BTP on the spot.  Even without rushing to meet your connection, you were (like we all would be), in shock that such a thing could happen, in broad daylight, in front of other people, in a place you'd all paid (presumably) to be, etc etc.  You mentioned there was a camera in the carriage - working?  Is there the mechanism to report the matter 'after the event'?  After all, your bruising - which must have been pretty bad - wouldn't have come out immediately, so in some ways - if the recording captured the encounter, you have more evidence now.  

Your budgetary mindset is getting you to where you want to be, but it also gives you a 'safety net' when you need it.  You currently need that safety net to be deployed for a little while.  Please be kind to yourself.  Life is throwing some 'life' at you - and you're coping.  We all wish you didn't have to be tested, but your planning is keeping your's and OH's lives on an even keel, despite other people's deplorable actions.

Greying X

greenbee

I came back to say congrats on the mortgage (I hope to join you with the under £150k success by the end of the year), and was horrified to read about your commute. Given that you've written some of the details down here, maybe send a written report to the BTP with details of the train and carriage (if you can remember it) as they may decide to pursue it. As for the assistance, it seems to be a regular failing if the news/social media is anything to go by. Given that politicians of all colours talk about the need to get people off benefits and back to work, they really do need to prioritise enabling them to do so. 

I hope you recover quickly. 

rtandon27

@GP - lol - I didn't mean to say that you did suggest it, but I"m very much a do it now or it will never get done kind of person!  - and there are ALWAYS a contingent of BTP readily available at Wat on the balcony before I go down to my train palatform!  So in my head that would be the most logical way to proceed.

@greenbee - you have done just so much on your house, that in and of itself is quite the accomplishment!  We've done very little other than maintenance, but that was actually the intent - the house had to be move in ready when we bought it as I had zero intention of spending anytime doing anything to it for a few years.  Now that we've lived in it, we know what we need/want but that can be done in time & as life currently is a distraction, we are planning but not carrying out anything just yet!

Thank-you for the recovery wishes!  My soreness and bruising is easing up, thanks to physio and painkillers!  My nervous system took a bit of a battering as I knew it would and the inevitable tics/tremors & NES manifested overnight so am a bit tired from that.  OH was up at least 10 times last night struggling with his own symptoms so it was not the most restful of nights - We have both had coffee, a bit of breakfast, now have flasks of electrolytes going and I"m on a nice warming cup of herbal tea.  Autumn is in the air, apple & cinnimon and cloves bring comfort!

rtandon27

...on a totally different topic...

Grumble of the day - I'm feeling jaded in general today so here goes...

I just opened up this week's mail and found a reminder for the second installment of the annual water bill.  If you remember the saga, this bill doubled this year & the second installment is what I paid for the entire year in 24-25!  I'm also signed up for an on-line account and in the past have had e-mailed reminders for the second installment.

MrSWater will not be getting a penny out of me before the 1st Oct when it is due!  The letter wants me to contact them if I'm experienceing difficulty paying.  The flipping thing isn't due for another 3.5 weeks from the date of the letter.  I also take exception to the closing sentence of the reminder which alludes to the cost of chasing outstanding balances being passed on to customers!  How absolutely rude and presumtious!!!  I have never been late paying any bill in my entire life, let alone the extortionate cost of the current water bill.  I'm tempted to write back and ask if they will be sending an equally rude letter to the muti-millionaire who is filling his artifical lake with tankers of water from the same water system and paying only 80 pounds a tank???  We do still have a hose-pipe ban in place despite the recent torrential rain, and no matter how much water my household uses, it will not even approach the amount being used to fill the artificial lake!

The letter is ironically signed by the Head of Customer Service, whose LinkedIn account states...
"An experienced leader and professional. I'm a highly effective communicator that loves to work with people."
What a crock!

greenbee

This house was supposed to be move-in ready... but I realised I couldn't live with what was here! I did see some places that were beautifully finished, but sadly not to my taste. I think it's worked out for the best, but I would like to get finished at some point... particularly the utility/kitchen which will make life a lot easier. 

I hope you can get a bit of rest today. 

rtandon27

@greenbee - I completely agree that you have to be able to live with a house the way it is or it needs changing!  This one is not done up particularly to my taste, but it is liveable!  Our kitchen & bathroom are high on the list for changes as is the carpeted staircase which is far too industrial for my taste.  We are in a early 1900's property & some of the changes that have been made to it are out of character to it's soul!

Well we've been out and about & had a nice visit to a Heritage Open Days Museum and Great Hall - really nice to get out and about if only for a few hours.  I'd completely forgotten the beauty of a blue badge on a weekend (as we rarely venture out on down days!)  We had a spot within a 3 minute walk from the entry doorway in the middle of a city!  Fabulous and means neither of us got tired.  Have picked up a b-day card for workplace 'aunty' and a cross-stich kit to play with in the evenings.  We made it home though another torrential downpour, and go figure it is sunny a bright now.

rtandon27

Another weekend, another over-ambitious list!

important tasks...
 ❗ do bus pass application
 ❗ clean up of spare laptop sitting at the office, I've not cleaned it up yet! (will get on this next week)
🔱 never ending paperwork filing - a new batch has arrived
🔆 my savings need juggling
🔆 find a black ball point pen to sign passports - I know there is one in the house somewhere!

routine tasks... (for the weekend)
✅ YNAB juggling
✅ across the pond banking
✅ grocery order (we have some veg already)
✅ meal plan
🔱 weekly digital planner
✅ supplements
🔆 Weekly surveys & contests
✅ laundry - 3 small loads & 1 large load done & hanging up in the summer house - 1 from mid-week put away

non-routine tasks...
✅  renewed garden waste annual subscription - it's gone up another pound!
🔆 EHIC card - is old one valid or do up application
🔆 send a message to BFF across the pond - sort out money owed both ways - lol
 ❗ Delay Repay
🔱 Nightmare Train Delay snot-o-gram!

medical follow-ups...
 ❗ my dermatologist referral - have docs names - now need to book
🔆 follow-up on OT recommendations for work assessment
🔆 follow-up on private eye specialist
🔱 OH waiting for NHS to get their butts in gear and  contact him about what was found on scan - we already know as private consultant told us but as it is not his field, he can officially diagnose it - my ire with the NHS continues

epic list of garden things... (again for the weekend)
🔆 pick and process apples
🔱 start getting quotes for new felt for flat roof & summer house & shed (needs doing in autumn)
🔱 need to transplant two chili plants & one more pot of flowers
🔱 once lavender is dry from rain make lavender bundles for drying
⏳ 4 bags cotswold stone - trip to W!ckes postponed - on hold
⏳ transplant remaining baby trees into their new pots - on hold 
⏳ trim down and rehome butterfly bush - on hold
⏳ new trellis needs to go up for the climbing rose in the front - OH has acquired the hardware! - on hold
⏳ finish taming climbing jasmine & add more supports for it to grown on - on hold

social calendar...
💝 ladies who lunch monthly outing - Thursday
💝 korean street food - Monday 22nd?
💝 Oct - the office clan - monthly lunch at a restaurant - Week of 6th?
💝 Oct - thanksgiving - we may settle on confit turkey thighs!

Meal Plan...
OH has had a lot of input into this upcoming week, so it's not as international as usual!

✅ 🍔🍟Saturday - Easy Eating Day - Brunch leftovers & crumpets - Dinner - chicken burgers & waffle fries (freezer)
✅  🍛🥔🥕🧅Sunday -  Roast - Ossco Bucco stew with assorted root veg
🔱 🍝🥒🍗Monday - Veggie Day - Basil Pasta with Courgette & Chicken (pretending it's a veg for OH's sake!) NOT-Veggie Day - we have plenty of stew left which has lots of veg in it, cooked to OH's liking - I will add some sprouting broc on the side of mine & courgette for OH - We will eat with pasta as most of the potatoes were eaten yesterday! - makes it MSE as chicken and courgette
🐟🥔🥬🧅Tuesday - Fish Day - Sea Bass Fillets & new potatos & cabbage/onions - late getting home so turned into Fakeaway day - chicken nuggets & waffle fries & salad

🥦🧀🍗Wednesday - Chicken Day - cauli cheese & chicken Fish Day  - Fish Day - Sea Bass Fillets (fresh not frozen) & new potatos & cabbage/onions
🥧🥕Thursday - Meat Day - cottage pie & steamed carrots
🍔🍟🥗Friday - Fakeaway - chicken nuggets & waffle fries & salad - Chicken Day - cauli cheese & chicken Fish Day
🍜🍙Saturday - Easy Peasy - Bao buns & dim sum & pak choi
🍖🥔🥬🌽Sunday - Roast - Pok Loin chops & champ & corn

KajiKita

Every time I read these lists I keep wanting to pass you a black pen, as I don’t like using them so always have spare ones hanging around! 😉😂

Hows your bruising now? Is your shoulder recovering a bit? 

There is so much in this list, could you have this as a master list and perhaps focus in on one or two things, just for today? I’m thinking you can’t do much about supporting OH with his battles as the people you need to speak to won’t be working today for example and the black pen and ordering pot trolleys might be easy wins? 

KK

rtandon27

@KajiKita - haha - thank-you, if you were near by, I'd pop over and borrow a black pen!  Funnily enough I found every other colour under the sun and even thrown out a handful, but a working black one is still elusive!  Too bad I can't use purple, I have a dozen of those!  Arm is doing much better thank-you - I've been doing my phsyio exercises & using the ice/heat as instructed!