Saturday 14 March 2020

Nearly Halfway Through March

It's been a very windy week here and I've stood up the olive tree in it's pot about half a dozen times. I think I need to re-pot into a heavier ceramic one as soon as I can. At least there's been some sunny days at last.

No swimming this week  - the changing rooms are having a big refurbishment and everyone will have to use the 'dry-side' gym changing room - no cubicles - I may be trying to lose weight but not enough to reveal all while getting dried and dressed!

I've had the  quotes for doing the new sewer system - The first was  over £8,000! His idea of where to site the tank thing was completely different to the man from the second company,  Man 1 hadn't taken into account the overhead electric cables (danger to diggers). Man 2 said they wouldn't start it until the water table had dropped. Man 1 vaguely mentioned problems with the water table in the quote. Man 2 was surprised at how much I knew about using and renewing septic tanks as I didn't tell him I'd already had Man1 round, although I did explain that I'd lived with 'private drainage' and all it's problems for half my life. Man 2 wasn't so condescending and his quote was £500 less and not payable until the work is done - so that's what I'll be going for. Then when the time comes to sell my house it will all be "proper" and no worries for the buyer.

Last week I covered part of one of the veg beds with a plastic tunnel cloche to dry it out a little so this week I was able to plant out my 10 early potatoes. I've put the tunnel cloche back - just for a week or two. I've got 10 Charlotte second early spuds to go in later.

I hadn't realised the Mysupermarket price comparison website had closed down - what a shame - it was handy to compare prices. There doesn't seem to be anything now that does the same job.

It was difficult to think of reasons to be grateful this week............ too many things to worry about...............the sewer problems, a possible health issue of someone close, the big dentist bill next month, council tax has gone up a lot - a big chunk from my small monthly income and what is the truth about the virus - how will it affect my family, am I more at risk having had pneumonia once?
That's the trouble with being alone - no one to discuss problems with.

BUT
  • I have a lovely heap of library books
  • Some fine weather for gardening
  • I'll have no problem with staying at home if we have to, it doesn't bother me.
Hopefully fine weather for looking round a car boot sale this weekend, not sure what else is happening - maybe I'll go panic-buying at all the supermarkets!

Back Monday
Sue




42 comments:

  1. There are downsides to living in private rented accommodation - being at the landlord's mercy for one thing - but an advantage is that we don't have to bear the cost of expensive works. Unless he puts the rent up!

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    1. I seem to have spent a fortune on this place. Hope it's worth it in the long run

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  2. Living alone might be a good thing. I lived alone for nearly two years but then my daughter, her husband and two teenage grandchildren moved in with m e while they knock their house down and build a new one. I now have 4 people coming in each day possibly bringing the germs in to me. I guess we just have to hope for the best and see what happens. Us 'old birds' are sometimes tougher than today's youngsters. ��

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    1. Yes, it's a day by day thing and hope for the best

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  3. At least we have family and friends around, it just means we should keep in touch more. We have a pump sewage connection to the main one, find it a bit scary.

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    1. I'm so bad at keeping in touch with friends and family - must try harder

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  4. That sounds like a lot of money to sort the sewerage problems out. Ideally we could do with a new septic tank, but no point in spending money on that just before moving. I wouldn't be averse to mains drainage in the next house!

    I don't blame you for not going swimming if you have to change in the open - I wouldn't be happy about that either.

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    1. It will be a proper up to date sewer thingy rather than just a couple of pits and a soakaway -quite a lot of work needed.

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  5. That's the trouble with being alone - no one to discuss problems with.
    I think a lot of people will empathise with that. A positive thing to come out of this crisis is the great sense of support going around the blogs I read. We're all in this together and if we have to stick at home, there are people to chat to online.

    I'd always go for the less condescending chap!

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    1. Two men doing the same job but completely different attitude!

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  6. supermarkets aren't too bad, though pasta and rice have been wiped out in Morrisons.

    I wouldn't get changed in open cubicles either. Not enough money in the world to get me to do that!!

    Look after yourself and take care.

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    1. Thankyou

      Hope the changing rooms are not out of use for too long, I miss swimming

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  7. And no problems for you as the seller when you are asked to produce the certificate to say you comply with the new British Standard septic tank regulations dated 1/1/20.

    I don't find living alone and this coronavirus thing bothers me not having anyone to talk to about it, there is so much talk going on it is difficult to avoid although I make every effort to do so! I take emergency water and sustenance supplies up to bed each night because I know that if I get flu of any type I won't be able to walk and get down to the kitchen and this time there will be nobody there to bring it to me.

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    1. It was more all the other things that are worrying me at the moment - I'm not worried about corona - only a few people in Suffolk so far so probably still safe to go out! Then I shall just stay in.

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  8. I know it's the normal procedure now, but I don't like having to pay for goods or work to be done before you receive either. That means that if the goods are faulty or the work far from satisfactory it takes a great deal of effort getting your money back. A deposit fair enough, but the whole amount?

    I'm staying away from public places at the moment ie supermarkets and other big shopping places as I'm in the vulnerable category of old with health issues. As for looking after our youngest grand-daughter two days a week, my daughter has said that she'll be happy to work from home if and when the need should arise. I told her that the minute they get sniffles we'll be pulling up the drawbridge as we always, without fail, manage to catch their colds and I end up with a chest infection.

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    1. The first company wanted 50% up front - quiet a lot I thought.

      Hope your family stay well

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  9. We're on the other side of the world but the general conavirus reaction seems pretty similar,I can understand how you must miss someone to voice your niggles too, feel free to muse here, we can at least give emotional support.

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  10. It must be so much harder to sort things out on your own but you are doing amazingly well. The sewerage system is very expensive :/ but, at least, you will know it's been done and it will be one less thing to worry you. Enjoy your weekend and stay safe x

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    1. Most of the time I'm fine, just missing having someone at home to talk to now and again

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  11. It looks as thou it's a nice day here I shall have a walk and see the flowers and get a pint of milk from the only little shop in the village, I found some lovely big cones from a big tree yesterday. I might be lucky to chat to someone going by if not I might do a little bit in the garden or do some more on my crochet blanket.
    Have a nice weekend Sue plus others.
    Hazel c uk

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    1. I arrived at the Boot -sale just at the same time as the rain! I'll try again tomorrow

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  12. Septic tanks - what a bind - thank goodness I am now on mains drainage - my farmer was such a wizard with septic tanks and had all the right equipment. Stay well.

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  13. One benefit of blogging is writing down questions and thoughts, and just that alone helps clarify them, and then receiving input from others. Man 2 sounds the more clued up and sensible.

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  14. Hopefully you find the answers to your questions. Man 2 sounds more reasonable.

    God bless.

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    1. The first man talked to me like I was just an ignorant woman!

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  15. No question about it, Sue. You must go round all the supermarkets for loo rolls, beans, hand wash, pasta and rice. Failing that, you could clear the shelves of some obscure item and set off a new panic - could be more fun that way.

    On a more serious note, I wish you and your family members well.

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    1. Thank you

      I think I'd like to stock up on Easter Eggs!! Might not be any good for the weight loss thing

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  16. Sounds like Man 1 was trying it on a bit. It is a lot to shell out, but as you say, at least everything will be done and dusted when the time does come to sell. You’ve reminded me that I’ve got some earlier potatoes chatting in the garage. I’m growing them in sacks, as my raised beds are earmarked for other crops.

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    1. It's good to get some things started outside - hopefully means spring is on the way

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    2. My OH left 30 potatoes to chit in the garage and a rat made off with all except 4! OH cleared out the garage and retrieved most of them and found the rat entry hole. He’s chatting them indoors now!

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  17. Sounds like man 1 thought you might be a bit of an easy mark being a woman alone.

    Shopping is crazy! There are some shops here that have absolutely nothing on the shelves and there aren't that many people diagnosed with the virus. I think it's a shame. I always keep a bit extra on hand. It might not be stuff that we really 'want' but it would keep our stomachs full. I think we're all a bit too used to having or being able to get anything we want. In a way I think it might remind some people what is important.

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    1. The empty spaces on shelves look so strange for this country when there's rarely a shortage of anything

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  18. I think most of our generation are just getting on with it and doing what has to be done. It's not hard to find things to do when you enjoy gardening and inside hobbies like crafting and reading wen enforced to stay home. DH and I are both at risk so taking things one day at a time and making decisions based on how we feel, although we have no need to go anywhere, our cupboards have plenty in them.
    Take care x

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    1. Always lots to keep me busy here too and plenty in the cupboards ..........and LOTS of books!

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  19. I get so mad when any kind of salesman is condescending to a female potential customer! I've heard too many stories like that and it is hard to believe that it still happens in 2020 but I know it does! The second man you spoke with sounds much more reasonable. Good luck with it all. Hopefully you will get back the cost whenever in the future you do sell.

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    1. It's something that really needs doing here - like the kitchen needed doing - big expenses but good in the long run

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  20. I'm picturing that your pool will close due to the c Virus.

    Oddly it feels fine to stay home by choice but when one must---to survive?--and we cannot see friends or family indefinitely, staying home becomes rather frightening and very lonely. As is the prospect of not having food to eat etc. I remember the days, the cold dark days, after H Sandy all too well to just shrug and say, ''oh I'll stay home and quilt.''

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  21. I hate when workmen try to baffle you with their science … and love it when we can talk back knowledgeably to them and make them realise their HUGE mistake. I never use with any workman that talks down to me on his initial visit.

    Perhaps your swimming baths will close for a while soon anyway. If businesses have any sense they will do this and get any refurbishments done while they are shut.

    I'm really sad that mysupermarket.com has shut down, they should have put it out as a pay-for site, I for one would willingly have paid a fiver a year for their service. Now the only one left is Comparasauarus, Miguel Barclays free phone app. It compares prices but you have to look up individual things and can't make shopping lists of them.

    https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/comparasaurus/id1270207819

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