Panic panic

Ten days into the month and CHS'S colleague has run out of money!

He's gradually taken out more loans and credit cards over time, he believes it's sheer necessity, I beg to differ! He spent £3000 on Christmas, not the £2000 he thought they'd spent.

CHS and the other team member have already agreed that their skint colleague can have all available overtime, they did warn him that there would be months when there wasn't much overtime but this was ignored.

In January there was very little overtime available and he's realised that he cannot pay his bills on a standard months wage.

Mental health care

We all know that mental health care is underfunded but this is ridiculous.

My DD has been diagnosed as bipolar she is not helped by having a husband who suffers from a chronic illness and that to keep the family afloat she works too many hours at three different jobs.

I'm looking after her youngest on Tuesdays for the next 9 weeks as DD's mental health team are insisting she attends a course entitled Getting Back into Work when you have Mental Health Problems.

She is being paid to attend and if she uses a babysitter she can claim back the babysitter's pay!

Crocodile Dundee

Do you remember the bit in the film where Mick Dundee climbs a tree and swings something over his head to call to his friends?

It made a thrumming noise, well that's the noise my car is making, the bearings are going on my back wheels, it's going to the garage on Tuesday.

Last Tuesday DD1's car went on the fritz, there was a problem with the brakes, she took it to the garage Friday morning, I collected her, we had an early mother's day lunch at Henry & Joe's in Newbury and then I took her home. Her car should be ready sometime today.

Also last Tuesday DD2'S car developed a stutter, it's going in to the garage on Monday.

The garage owner, George couldn't believe he was seeing all three of our cars in one week.

I spent hours with DD2 last week, sometimes helping with child care, sometimes just because I was in the area and I would drop in a 4 pinter of milk or some fruit.

Managed agreement

I have appointed a managing agent for my tenant, the agreement started on the 1st March. Unfortunately as the tenant decided to phone on Sunday evening she assumed that the agent wouldn't be available, I assumed she had been unable to contact my agent.
We both assumed wrong, from now on I shall refer her to the agent whatever time she calls.
Yesterday the problem was solved by the agent and my sleepless night was unnecessary.

Has anyone got a wall?

I'd like one to bang my head against.

My tenant has just phoned at 6:15 on Sunday evening.

There is a leak in the kitchen and there has been for 3 days!

Three bloody days of water pissing into the kitchen units!

It seems she's been too busy to phone!

I've left a message for my plumber but obviously he won't see the message until tomorrow morning.

I've double checked the lease it requires any damage to be reported as soon as possible and definitely within 24 hours of discovery.

I'm composing a letter to the tenant explaining that she is now liable to pay for all and any damage that has been caused by her not reporting the leak within the appropriate time.

Aaarrgh!!!

Thaw

So we are thawing out, the jetty is clear and what snow is left on the marina is slushy.
We had arranged to meet up with a friend of CHS'S and his wife, the roads are clear so we will set off soon.
When we were talking about meeting up my beloved said that it would be nice if I could go out looking a little less like a water gypsy and more like a normal person.
I'm not sure where he thinks I am going to magic up a new outfit from.
I have two drawers and a triple hook on the bedroom wall.
These contain my entire wardrobe, I don't have an assortment of different clothes stashed away somewhere.
I have the dress I wore to the family wedding in December but I would be a tad overdressed I feel.
Hey ho, CHS is doomed to disappointment yet again.

Ice breaker

Some poor soul needed a pump out yesterday, their black water ( poo ) tank was full. They were breaking the ice as they manoeuvred their way across the marina to the pump out point. Fortunately most of the other boats were unoccupied, ice breaking like that can damage the blacking on the boats and the owners might get a bit miffed.

I took CHS to work this morning at 7am, he phoned at 9 to tell me that school will close at 1 and that he has a lift part way home so I don't have to negotiate the entire journey, just a couple of miles to get him.

I've filled the coal bucket up, but the jetty taps are still frozen so I can't fill the water tank yet.

We will hunker down with some good books and some hot soup. It is supposed to be milder Monday or Tuesday.