New windows...

The last 2 weeks have been a nightmare. The estate I live on has been taken over by a housing association and is being refurbished. My house is due for modernization in 2009. The work is taking some time, but the company which fits the new UPVC doors are ahead. That meant a new front door..but no back door. When I queried this I was told it was because the layout of the new kitchens might mean an alteration in the floor level..hence the reason for no back door. No problem..I can understand that. Last week I had new UPVC double glazed windows fitted. BIG problem!!!! The old windows were taken out and the new windows fitted with cladding partially covering the original internal window frames!!! Why????? The old frames will be removed and the walls re plastered when the house is refurbished. What a waste of time and financial resources. The kitchen window was 3 inches too short and they've put cladding over my newly plastered and tiled window sill, even though a surveyor was supposed to have measured each window. What surveyor? I haven't seen a surveyor..unless it was the woman seen walking round the estate with a clipboard. The outside tiled bedroom windowsills have been damaged and loose broken tiles wedged in under the new frames, positively dangerous in my view, and one of the windows has a lovely big crack. To top it all the workmen plonked their heavy tool boxes on my front garden and proceeded to trample all over my plants. When I pointed this out to them I was told not to worry about it..plants die at this time of year anyway. Unbelievable!!!! These are just a few of the complaints I have about the work. I have been seething and cleaning up the whole house. The results of that saw me in bed the best part of 2 days..I was exhausted. A stern letter has been written to the window company and also the housing association. Window co. has been in touch and taken photos of the work. I'm still waiting for a response from housing....but I'm not holding my breath.
To console myself I bought some new stamps for my card making. shouldn't have really..but what the heck.....and I found a wonderful craft blog. "Fred, she said"..Tracy Miller..her designs are wonderful and she puts some lovely stuff on there for downloading. Any crafters out there.... check it out.

I'm drowning...in paper

Well the weather has definitely turned. Although we get quite a bit of sunshine the cold winds are here and it makes it seem even colder. It's been a topsy-turvey couple of weeks. I've been feeling very low and I've not had many good days lately....probably has something to do with the clocks going back one hour. It is dark by tea time now.

Last week I received a cheque from the DWP for the princely sum of £14. This was for income support that they owed me from the date I claimed, which was the end of September. It turns out that I have been entitled to this benefit for the last 2 years...but they don't tell you what you are entitled to unless you specifically ask them and make a claim!!! I'm not complaining though; an extra £3 a week is not to be sneezed at. This extra benefit has meant filling in a long tedious form for housing and council tax benefit. I already receive these benefits as I am in receipt of IB.....so why the heck do I have to fill in the whole form again??...they already have all my details!!!! Talk about saving the planet....how many trees have been used to manufacture these extra forms??? My application to the local council for a mobility buss pass was returned saying I did not meet the criteria and I would need a supporting letter from my GP, which will cost me £5, and non refundable if they still reject my application. This week has been spent mostly trying to complete my claim for DLA. I'm sure I will be turned down again...but this time I probably will appeal. I didn't last time as I was so exhausted and had a lot of personal worries.

I returned to my doctor to review my medication. I have been having some quite scary side effects with the new medication. Sharp stabbing pains in my chest and shortness of breath. At first I thought just a bit of indigestion...but the doctor doesn't agree. She wanted to send me for an ECG..until I reminded her that I had already had one a few weeks ago. She then asked if there was any history of heart disease or stroke in my family. There isn't as far as I know. Now she has prescribed more medication which hopefully will counteract the possible side effects of my other medication. If it doesn't I will have to have more investigations to find out what is happening. Now I don't normally worry too much about my health, never had any real reason to, and nowadays I tend to put any new symptoms down to the M.E....but I'm starting to get a bit worried now. Are these new symptoms to do with the M.E.....or something entirely separate? I see the doctor again in 3 weeks time..so in the meantime I will try and stay calm.