All sorry I haven't been on much. I got back from holiday 13th March and checked work emails to make sure there were no nasty surprises and there were. Too much to go into but with the "interesting" things that were happening for work and Time to Shine coming up (Monday), I have not stopped working even at the weekends and feel like the holiday is a long distant memory. It was not the best holiday to be honest apart from the fact that we spent some good time with each other.
I did my "Building sites are not playgrounds" video and that was full of angst. Freezing cold day, power off on site so could not make hot drinks, someone went to Waitrose down the road and by the time they had waited for a box to bring the eight drinks back a) they were merely tepid and b) the power had come back on! The children were delightful and despite the cold and the many times they had to repeat the same scene there was not a whimper of complaint. They both got goodie bags and Ben (my Ben) got a £10 games voucher and the little girl (who was nine and about three inches taller than me!) got. £10 Claire's Accessories voucher.
Apart from that I took last Thursday off in lieu for the Sunday filming and spent the whole day working on T2S, took Tuesday and Wednesday on a "use it or lose it" basis. Both of those days were, yep, T2S. Thursday and Friday I was working on "Open Doors", a project which allows construction sites to open up to the general public. I am Co-ordinating my company's involvement. If there is a construction site of any interest near you give me a shout and I will send you the website details to book a place if they are taking part, lots are.
Today has been .......... Time to Shine...........
We shall be going there tomorrow and all the other volunteers and children arrive on Monday.
The storm on Sunday night last weekend blew our neighbour's fence down which damaged some things in our garden (tomato pots, mirror, bench) but we told the old man not to worry we will take the cost, the Monday night I realised that the coving in the sitting room had a water stain on it. Insurance surveyor came around and after investigation told us that it was our neighbour (upstairs next door) whose pointing is destroyed completely and is letting the water ingress to our property. Husband went to see the neighbour and he was extremely unpleasant. He even said that the surveyor must have dug the mortar out of the bricks in order to avoid paying a claim. As the surveyor took pictures with a big long handle thing he wasn't in a position to interfere with the wall! It was during this conversation that husband told nasty neighbour that we know he stalled the freehold purchase for a year without telling the other owners. He denied it but finally admitted it when told that I have it in writing from the solicitor. Husband came in and said "blimey that was nearly a punch up" THAT is how bad it was! Later neighbour sent an email apologising for the problem, clearly he had gone inside and a sensible family member (wife) had made him realise that we wouldn't kick up a fuss if it wasn't necessary and anyway it wasn't a fuss!
I had my own email punch up with British Gas who wanted to double my direct debit to £68 because of a perceived £89 shortfall in a years time. I wrote to them and said that as they hold my credit balance, often more than £200, and suggesting that we should have a bit of fairness and as they wait for my bill to catch up with my credit balance maybe we could reverse it and I pay £10 a month more (which would still be more than £89 at the end of the year) and they could wait for my payments to catch up with their bills. They came back with a revised sum of £8 a month increase BUT have now sent me an email stating that it will be reviewed in June. Well I have made my position clear, if they increase my DD any further I will change suppliers.
So whilst I have been quiet on here it has been all go at my house. I have packed all my boxes up, done all the printing, sitting room is full of medals, trophies, paperwork, bar supplies and nibbles waiting plus a bag full of ribbons, staples, glue etc., for our disco night costumes which is a tradition. That night we have fizz and fish away from the children, by this time we are quite exhausted so need a bit of down time.
My last residential T2S, feeling sad but ten years is a long time and it is time to step down.
Apologies for the length of this, thought I would get it out if the way in one hit, let us see if I am human this time!
I did my "Building sites are not playgrounds" video and that was full of angst. Freezing cold day, power off on site so could not make hot drinks, someone went to Waitrose down the road and by the time they had waited for a box to bring the eight drinks back a) they were merely tepid and b) the power had come back on! The children were delightful and despite the cold and the many times they had to repeat the same scene there was not a whimper of complaint. They both got goodie bags and Ben (my Ben) got a £10 games voucher and the little girl (who was nine and about three inches taller than me!) got. £10 Claire's Accessories voucher.
Apart from that I took last Thursday off in lieu for the Sunday filming and spent the whole day working on T2S, took Tuesday and Wednesday on a "use it or lose it" basis. Both of those days were, yep, T2S. Thursday and Friday I was working on "Open Doors", a project which allows construction sites to open up to the general public. I am Co-ordinating my company's involvement. If there is a construction site of any interest near you give me a shout and I will send you the website details to book a place if they are taking part, lots are.
Today has been .......... Time to Shine...........
We shall be going there tomorrow and all the other volunteers and children arrive on Monday.
The storm on Sunday night last weekend blew our neighbour's fence down which damaged some things in our garden (tomato pots, mirror, bench) but we told the old man not to worry we will take the cost, the Monday night I realised that the coving in the sitting room had a water stain on it. Insurance surveyor came around and after investigation told us that it was our neighbour (upstairs next door) whose pointing is destroyed completely and is letting the water ingress to our property. Husband went to see the neighbour and he was extremely unpleasant. He even said that the surveyor must have dug the mortar out of the bricks in order to avoid paying a claim. As the surveyor took pictures with a big long handle thing he wasn't in a position to interfere with the wall! It was during this conversation that husband told nasty neighbour that we know he stalled the freehold purchase for a year without telling the other owners. He denied it but finally admitted it when told that I have it in writing from the solicitor. Husband came in and said "blimey that was nearly a punch up" THAT is how bad it was! Later neighbour sent an email apologising for the problem, clearly he had gone inside and a sensible family member (wife) had made him realise that we wouldn't kick up a fuss if it wasn't necessary and anyway it wasn't a fuss!
I had my own email punch up with British Gas who wanted to double my direct debit to £68 because of a perceived £89 shortfall in a years time. I wrote to them and said that as they hold my credit balance, often more than £200, and suggesting that we should have a bit of fairness and as they wait for my bill to catch up with my credit balance maybe we could reverse it and I pay £10 a month more (which would still be more than £89 at the end of the year) and they could wait for my payments to catch up with their bills. They came back with a revised sum of £8 a month increase BUT have now sent me an email stating that it will be reviewed in June. Well I have made my position clear, if they increase my DD any further I will change suppliers.
So whilst I have been quiet on here it has been all go at my house. I have packed all my boxes up, done all the printing, sitting room is full of medals, trophies, paperwork, bar supplies and nibbles waiting plus a bag full of ribbons, staples, glue etc., for our disco night costumes which is a tradition. That night we have fizz and fish away from the children, by this time we are quite exhausted so need a bit of down time.
My last residential T2S, feeling sad but ten years is a long time and it is time to step down.
Apologies for the length of this, thought I would get it out if the way in one hit, let us see if I am human this time!
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