Dear All
After much consideration, whilst in a sound frame of mind (honestly!), I have decided that my daily ramblings would best be stored in my PC diary. Therefore (oh dear), wef midnight (BST) 19th October 2008, the blog will be closed down. Please be advised that this is absolute and I will be unable to respond to any correspondence. Thank you for your support & encouragement.
Sincerely
SEH
Quite an interesting day … Hello! Many thanks to VofT for your comments – I appreciate the feedback and your views.
In no particular order – the weather is turning, oh dear, in my new, smaller, room, the temp is down to about 55’F and that’s cold. Everyone is going to bed, it’s so uncomfortable otherwise; even The Dog has climbed on to my bed and is cuddled up to a special blanket (about three square feet) – a sort of ‘dog blanket’ made from a very soft and fluffy material. Me? I am sat at my desk with a little oil heater warming my nether regions. The heater is only 700w, thermostatically controlled and is a cracking piece of kit – just as well.
Hurrah! The cost of petrol / diesel is coming down. Diesel is costing about £5 a (imperial – 8 pints) gallon (that’s 4.55 litres) – that’s about $8.8 US – some of you are having it lucky! Hard to believe at one time it was nearly $13 US. I have a few shares – previously they have been worth about $25 US and now they are worth about $6 US. It’s absolutely frightening what the economy of the world is coming to.
The Elder in a moment of kindness has purchased a packet of bagels for me – all covered in some form of large seed (sesame?). The damn seeds keep lodging in the cavity formed by the recent tooth extraction – driving me crazy!
Out to The Organisation this evening. A very poor turnout – it will survive but I recognise the stress being experienced by the resident ‘Chair’. Tonight’s meeting was to discuss next Wednesday’s (monthly) meeting and was not too successful. It will come and go.
Hello and welcome back! So we managed to get through Thursday – yeah!
A most interesting couple of days – the ‘old’ room upstairs is now ready for The Elder to commence transferring ‘stuff’ from the storage facility back here. The room I now occupy reminds me of a cabin on a ship – everything is where it should be but space is at a premium. At least the room doesn’t become untidy – there’s nowhere for the clutter to settle!
I have deleted the vote thingy – I had forgotten how to access the data (if any) and I just thought ‘bin it’. On the subject of ‘binning’ I have spent the last couple of days savagely sorting out various papers and the like (e.g. old letters and more). This has led to a serious shredding period (several actually). It is useful to get rid of old clutter – I mean do I really want receipts and the like from five years ago?
Now, now … who asked ‘Is The Elder old clutter?’
The Senior signs up for her new house (rented accommodation, up t’north) tomorrow – OK, I am sure she is excited but, honestly!, she is telling me what she told me yesterday (and the day before) as if I have never heard … It’s doing my head in … Coincidentally I visited the doc, principally for my repeat prescription and a bit of a chat (he didn’t check my BP – I suspect it’s been fluctuating lately … Sorting, sorting – more of the same tomorrow.
That’s about your lot – other than in 8 weeks I will be ‘there' … looking forward to it.
Good morning! Another good night made all the more enjoyable by The Elder having to be up for 0500 – she starts work early though will be home early :( (1400).
A busy morning as I get stuck in to my old room (with considerable enthusiasm) – bang, crash and wallop – hope it doesn’t disturb #3 (as she sleeps (and as the time approaches midday)). Do you like the little widget thingy showing the countdown timer? I won’t use it on every post. I could have pasted over on the right but it takes up quite a bit of room. I wonder if it will continue to show time counting down on previous post?
Anyhoo, how are you today? Hope the weather is good and the sun shows signs of shining (try saying that quickly!!). The weekend approaches and, this afternoon, I will be putting the finishing touches to my ‘letter’. The same is to be discussed with The Elder, tomorrow, and then it (the letter) will be given to her. She hasn’t a leg to stand to on. She either accepts my terms or seeks alternative accommodation (wef from the spring next year). Her moving out, if that occurs (always remember The Dog fits in the equation), whilst helpful will cause other problems. After the spring I expect to back here pending a move elsewhere – I guess, if she moves out then it would be a good time (if I am here for an unspecified period (paperwork being processed…)) for me to improve the house somewhat. The problem is that the economy is worsening by the day – UK house prices fell, latest figures, by nearly 14% over the last year – it’s not just a question of getting your money back (well, as much as poss), but hoping that you find a buyer that is, hopefully, not ‘in a chain’ and is able to get the finance to purchase – sadly, I fear we are in a period of depression and I might be ‘stuck’ with the house for some time. There again it might be more cost effective to get rid of the house while I am able – cut my losses – easy to say, a bitter pill to swallow. Clearly a matter for further reflection.
Right, no time for messing around – back to the old room to make a bit more progress. In the meantime there is a gentle, though cold, breeze outside. The air temperature is hovering around 60’ – I wish I was warm.
More later.
What day is it? OK, it’s Thursday (I think).
A good day. I am struggling to recall what I did this morning … sigh … Remembered – I spent quite some time paying various bills and adjusting (all this online), various bank accounts – it’s been rather a heavy month, so far. We all have money problems … I see that approx 100 councils (‘local authorities’) have their money invested in Icelandic banks – pity the poor local tax payers that has a local authority acting in this way … any loss of the money will mean that local taxes will rise, services will be cut and employees face redundancy – very worrying. More worrying because the local authority, ‘managing’ the area in which I live, has invested millions …. can you believe it? The only comfort s that my previous employer, near here, has invested even more. Watch this space….
The Senior has, up t’north, been to view a house, provided by the local authority (not the same as ‘mine’), and has fallen in love with the house. So, that’s good news and we hope it all happens smoothly. More good news, #3 was up and out at about 1315 for nearly half an hour … much good use was made of the time during her absence – but then she returned. You may be wondering what is happening with ‘the meeting’ (‘twixt The Elder, #3 & myself)? I have written a brief letter to The Elder (just needs tidying up), and it will be delivered on Saturday when she is not at work. Watch this space … #2.
No dental after effects (hurrah!) & another good night last night. Problems with my PC – I decided, as you do, to sign up for a new e-mail account – honestly my existing account is being plagued with Spam - 120+ messages a day. The comfort is that the account provider (Google) auto deletes Spam (and very effective it is too). I could simply ignore the growing Spam (after 30 days it is deleted anyway), but it bugs me that it is able to be seen (as a folder). Anyhoo, I set up another Google mail account with the idea that all ‘clean’ mail delivered to my existing account would be forwarded to my new Google mail account. Oh dear, it all went smelly. Switching between accounts simply went nowhere and the connection did not occur. What to do? Luckily VofT provided a solution (thank you!) and once I had cleared my cache I was a happy little SEH again.
Out with The Dog this evening. We both needed to get out – we are both starting to look squashy, in an attractive sort of way ….
More later.
2245 BST – serious stress levels …
#3 has been in bed all day, well until about 1600 when she suddenly appeared and rushed to the nearby town (as I later found out). No problemo – just chill! The problem developed on her return. The Elder had returned, from work / the shops carrying a new microwave cooker … what? We already have 2 mw cookers in the kitchen. Then the penny dropped … #3 doesn’t like anything remotely reminding her of any animal product / by-product (either looking at it or even smelling it) – this means The Elder has gone out to buy her a microwave of her own (though, of course, she wouldn’t say that). The mw is still unpacked and #3 made her evening meal – well, a week’s worth of something or other – she has only just finished. Silly fool, that I am, I agreed she could extend her cooking beyond the agreed 2100 ‘watershed’ – but you just get taken for a ride. The whole house is now stinking of the whatever it is she has cooked. I wouldn’t mind, as I tried (unsuccessfully) to explain to The Elder (who, promptly, flared up and demanded to know ‘why she had to sit in the middle?’), that #3 could have done this during the day - instead of spending the whole day, as every day, in bed. You start to feel guilty for putting up with this sort of stuff and you (me) should not do so. More on this later …
Otherwise, whilst #3 has been in bed, today has been a good day. Busy morning sorting out my laundry – managed to get the stuff out on the washing line – not many days left this year to do that. Lovely chat with someone (special) at 1315 and then it was a case of preparing the dinner (the smell, later, of which #3, telling me ‘you’re pathetic’, apparently caused great offence). Then, oh dear, I fed The Dog (1700) sat on a settee in the ‘lounge’ and promptly fell asleep – waking, with The Dog on my lap, just as The Elder walked in (from work) @ 1845. Most disconcerting – I must be getting old!
I have determined that tomorrow I will finish the bedroom upstairs (my ‘old’ room). It’s the second largest room in the house and the state that it’s in gives #3 good opportunity to compare it to her room (previously) – at least there are no black bags strewn all over.
Roll on my two months away … BTW, I have edited the blog format, slightly, for the time being the list of ‘links’ is off pending re-development. More later.
Good morning! Many thanks to VofT for your kind comments.
Yesterday – where to begin? Slept reasonably well and up at the usual early (0600 or so) time. The weather has improved slightly, no wind / rain but it’s still cold. Reasonably busy morning, doing nothing, and a good chat at 1315, with a special person. Nothing heard from the garage and the dental appointment approaches …
Later, the garage confirmed the car is ready to collect – cost £150 so my guesstimate was ‘spot on’ The car failed the annual test, as you will have already read, on a defective bulb and a couple of other items. The bulb is about £0.80 (maybe $1) and they charged me £2 for it. After I had driven away I stopped, switched on the lights and the number plate light (the one that failed) didn’t light up. (As usual) I tapped it and it came on – fancy that. Another issue is the indicator – unless you hold the lever down then one of the lights doesn’t flash (move / hold the lever and all is OK) – in truth this is a defect and should have resulted in a failure – what happened? Zilch! The test fee is nearly £50 (a lot of $ and you have to pay again unless you leave the vehicle with them for repair for which, thankfully, there is no re-test fee). All this fades into insignificance …
Prior to collecting the car I had attended the dentist – the dentist is brilliant, it’s almost a pleasure having an extraction (or more …). Won’t bore you with the finer points but as the old saying goes ‘… they came and went …’. I lurched out hoping The Elder would collect me but she was otherwise engaged, so it was a short walk back here. The weather had brightened up and I was feeling light headed – I thought I was going to pass out! On my return I had a couple of matters to which I had to attend and then the bliss of going to bed (alone again, naturally). Waking up (always a good sign) I was famished and managed to slurp down a soft meal.
Today? Much better (thank you), a brighter day, the washing, including the new underpants (I have gone off them) is hanging on the line and lunchtime approaches – yeah!!
More later.
Tuesday morning – a good night, slept well and woke, alone, at about 0530 – always a good time to wake up. The day began badly.
For a start the weather is cold, windy and it’s raining – the forecast is for an improvement over the next few days – huh! Early start to composing important mail, the dawn was breaking and I had opened the curtains / turned off the lights. Sat, with my tea, at the keyboard I became aware of a vehicle cruising up the road and then turning round. So what? It was obviously a builder (or similar). in his van and the bloody radio was thumping away! I went outside to eyeball the guy and he turned the thing off. Feeling better I stomped back to my room to see that The Dog had jumped up on my bed, paws on my desk (to look through the window) and had knocked over my tea. Tea everywhere especially in my keyboard. Hair dryer job and I am hoping it it’s all OK (seems to be). Mmmmmm .. there is a car parked right outside my house, across the drive and I don’t know who has left it there. It’s going to be fun when The Elder returns (oh! it’s just gone!). Back on the subject of money, I tried to transfer a small amount from my savings to my ISA (Individual Savings Account) account but it was blocked – you are only able to transfer so much each year. It’s all getting very worrying.
The Elder is at the docs having a blood test. I have to ‘phone the garage at about 1700 to find out how much it will all cost- I am guessing £160 – maybe $300 anything less will be a bonus. Sheeesh I have just looked up the parts and a pair of brake discs is anywhere between £80 ($150) upwards. The test fee is about £40 ($70) so I am guessing my price of £150 is being optimistic – I bet I am spun a yarn that the goods had to be ordered from a main dealer (rather than a trade discount outlet). Brace yourself baby … this might hurt …
Many thanks to VofT for your comment / feedback – hey! don’t compliment me I might create / publish more of the rubbish!
More later.
Hi and greetings – many thanks to VofT for your comments and congratulations on your special day.
Events – as you read (I hope!), I have ‘given up’ with #3 – it’s simply too stressful. As if by magic the toothache has disappeared, most likely the antibiotics but it’s most noticeable. Dentist tomorrow, one extraction, I fear and possibly more – who knows?
The big news is that the car has been in for test and, predictably, failed. I was a bit annoyed as one item (of only three) was a defective rear light – hey, switch on, tap the light – hey presto it comes on. OK, I guess there’s a minor electrical fault. Thing is when ‘they’ replace the bulb (on the assumption it’s defective / blown), it probably won’t come on. They will, looking over their shoulder, tap it (as I do) and hey presto! Repair completed. The other issue is the brakes. Initially I thought he said ‘renew brake pads’ – looking good so far, new bulb, new pads – not a lot to spend but no I had misheard and they had gone for the usual, you can’t do this but we can (with the special tools we have) and that is the disc brakes = $$ – bugger. The only other ‘failure’ was ‘emissions’ (expected) and this will be resolved by tipping some flushing stuff into the air intake whilst the engine is running. I guess the cost will be the top of my budget - £150 (apprx $275). I suppose it could have been worse. BTW, the $20 referred to earlier was, in fact, $200 – who said motoring was cheap?
What else? The house is fast becoming a tip, again. I have gone off ‘trunks’ (the bloody things that I purchased are too big – I should have got the next size down – if you must know they hang off me and the ‘gusset’ is about 2” below whatever. You live and learn – sadly there was no try before you buy, no returns (obviously) – maybe next time someone could come with me?
Playing – I have wasted heaps of time and looked for dodgy software to create a flash movie, of my pics, and in the end found I had all I needed on PowerPoint (2007). I had a plug in that converts PPT files to swf and an example is below. It relates to when I fractured my skull, I think I was about eight years old – hey! It was in all the local newspapers!! The pics are from a site where a vast number of pics, over the years, are available for viewing (and copying!). Some of the pics are from before I was born – honestly!
Tomorrow – I will find something to do and I have my dental appointment in the mid afternoon. I guess I will be going out at about 1400. The Elder has to attend the doctor’s to have ‘her bloods taken’ – all part of the aftercare following her cancer treatment.
Finally, these are worrying times for the world’s economy – as I have asked before – where will it all end?
More later.
Sunday (2300 or so) ... at last it's over. The bad news? (Not really bad) ... I forgot to take my meds and have just taken them all at once. Not sure what, if any, effects might arise - we shall see. A much milder day. My car is parked up at the garage waiting its annual test tomorrow. I know it will fail. The garage has just had $20 out of me for a repair and I wonder if they will be less zealous on the test? Probably not. If the inevitable repairs are going to cost me a bundle then I will probably run the car in to the ground and scrap it when the current roadworthy certificate expires (mid Nov).
I have 'given up' with #3 - that's not to say that I do not endeavour to keep the ship going in the correct direction , but, simply, I cannot change her and I am looking forward to my 'holiday', at the end of the year. Busy day tomorrow, have to be up early - The Elder is day off and #3 - your guess is as good as mine. On reflection I will spell out various issues to #3 tomorrow - I have already spoken to The Elder.
Much reduced toothache (dentist on Tuesday), I wonder if it's stress related or maybe the antibiotics have kicked in?
More later.
So, here we are together once again - hello! The weather remains horrible - very cold.blustery and showers - happy birthday to #2, The Elder has gone to meet her - somewhere. #3? Now really, you should know by now - I means, it's 1328, approx, UK time and need, at this time, you ask where is she?
Big investment - new underpants! Hang the expense! On the subject of 'hanging', I chose 'trunks' -v- other options and very comfortable they are! I won't go in to details but, suffice to say, I am now able to appreciate, in a fashion, the benefits (women experience), of a good fitting bra - oh yes! Once again I have had to switch on the central heating (gas fired). I do so with trepidation - the gas bill arrived this morning - with only a pilot light, serving the gas boiler, being lit throughout the summer, the bill asks for nearly $40 - mainly due to standing charges - frightening. I am falling asleep here ... another late night on the PC but well worth it - a really positive 'session'.
Anyhoo, more later. Soon be Tuesday when I meet the 'tooth' fairy (sort of).
Hi y'all and welcome back. Friday evening and dearie me... this poor old thing is in a lot of pain. No point going on about it - dentist on Tuesday. Many thanks to VofT for your comments - it really is kind of you. OK, what to tell you?
The meeting of The Organisation (a 'sister' branch), went well. I didn't have anything to do - I am a member, what we call a 'joining member'. and I keep my involvement limited. There was a meal. following the meeting, and a draw / raffle for various purposes. I won a bottle of whisky! Hurrah - hardly ever drink the stuff so I gave it back to be used again next month = polite round of clapping / appreciation. To compensate I subsequently won a bottle of wine, which I did not return.
Thursday? The Elder was at work and my goodness the weather was so cold. I spent most of the day wrapped up before, late PM, getting under the duvet in an effort to keep warm - hey! Don't forget I am in pain (no dear, not 'I am a pain' ... ha ha ha - ouch). Very late night last night, I was up quite late, not like me to be up that late and I didn't know whether I was coming or going. The outcome of this was that I fell asleep at about 0200 and woke at about 0715. Today has been another very cold day and, gasp!, I had to switch on the central heating! I am glad it's the weekend though, apart from the TV, which I rarely watch and The Elder being off work (until next Wednesday), there's not much difference between the days. Still, the days (and evenings) are now much brighter - oh yes.
More later (btw ... #3? Need you ask - big meeting with her & The Elder this weekend - watch this space...)
Welcome back and, as ever, thanks to VofT for your comment. Apologies, to all, for being cryptic - but it makes for a more exciting life. Late, last night, more problems. My room, now on the ground floor (where it, the room, has always been) I walked out of my room in to the kitchen (thru' the hall - a matter of 3 or 4 paces). I didn't turn on the light- the kitchen was so near (door closed) and the kitchen light was on. As I approached the kitchen door it opened and out came #3.
'Jesus f******g Christ', she says (to me).
I don't like this. I object and say (as if it was necessary) 'pardon'. #3, no doubt embarrassed, simply repeats what she said and brushes past me. I ask her to come back (she ignores me) and I shout after her 'I don't like being spoken to like that' and she answers 'you are pathetic'. Am I worried / upset? Of course I am but her actions all go on the 'list' of why I will be leaving home, to their detriment, very shortly. Watch this space.
Mouth still aches but not as bad - I have been using a prescribed mouthwash and the pain is reduced. Good sleep last night - from about midnight to 0630 this morning. The car seems to be OK (fingers crossed) and I arranged to go out this afternoon. The old lady (forgive me, that sounds so rude of me), the elderly lady next door has moved out / new people moved in. Early this morning a huge truck arrived and two strapping men spent hours loading up her furniture etc (she had her family with her). Towards the end I went, neighbour like, to say goodbye. She burst in to tears (I wasn't far behind). She told me that I had been a good neighbour and that she and her late husband had always been able to depend on me - sorry, I guess I sound like I am blowing my own trumpet, but it was a highly charged meeting and then her daughter (about my age - phwoar!), came up, tears in her eyes and, with a big (though not a squashy) hug, thanked me for looking after her Mother. I couldn't wait to get out.
The Elder - out to the shops - again. #3? Need you ask? Do I care? Meeting them both tomorrow though I guess The Elder will ask for the meeting to occur at the weekend when she is off work.
Well, as I sum up this rubbish, it's October - plan to start a diet! Oh yes!
More later.
