Saturday 15 December 2007

Murphy's law

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning and perhaps I shouldn't have. What could go wrong today has gone wrong. It started with the Christmas tree lights. They were working fine Thursday night when I put the tree up. Annoying..but easily fixed. Checked the fuse in the plug then the fuse bulb..that was the problem. Had a spare one, so easily fixed. Then the heating, or rather the hot water. The weather has turned very cold so I have had the heating on today. The hot water isn't working though when the heating is on. Probably a faulty valve. Rang the repair department at the housing association and was told that someone would contact me to make an appointment for this. Will be Monday now as repairs are not done at weekends except in an emergency. I can cope with that. What I can't cope with is the incessant phone calls I have been getting today...every 10 minutes or so. They have been from an automated service with no dialogue, just an annoying beep, beep, beep, beep,beep, Aaaarrgghhhh!!!!! The phone has been unplugged until the morning.
On a more positive note I have managed to get all my Christmas cards finished. Just got to address and post them. I am tempted to pack away my Christmas craft goodies, but if I do that you can guarantee that someone will get in touch wanting a card made.
Just got a couple of pressies to buy and then that will be my shopping finished...except the food of course. Not too much of that to do....the freezer is fairly well stocked and it will only be me and my 2 youngest boys for Christmas day. They are both working Christmas eve and boxing day.

Wednesday 12 December 2007

The saga continues....

My health continues to get worse. Some of it is probably due to the cold weather. My muscle and joint pains seem to be increasing, and my fingers and feet are swelling more often. I went to see the doctor again...not the one I have been seeing.....she wasn't available. I have now had to stop the latest medication in order to be tested for a stomach bug, which apparently is very common, most people don't know they have it as it doesn't usually cause any problems. This bug could be causing excess acid which might account for the chest pains, so the doctor says. I go for a breath test at my local chemist at 9.30 next Monday..... 9.30!!!!!...I don't do mornings! It's not too bad though and might solve the problem. I can't have anything to eat and can only have water to drink for 6 hours before...hence the time. The test seems quite simple.....I tablet....then breathe into 2 tubes....wait 15 minutes then breathe into tubes again. If it showing that I have the bug...... a course of 2 types of antibiotics....problem solved. Now I don't mean to sound pessimistic but......the doctor has has given me more of the medication and put them on repeat for me to be taken if and when I need them. Another case of wait and see.
The saga of the replacement windows continues. The manager has been out to see me and replaced the broken one, and given an apology for the damage done to my garden. The housing association have not been so forthcoming. After a few missed calls and left messages i finally managed to talk to the refurbishment manager. She is sending a surveyor to look at the work. The thing that has really got me spitting feathers is the fact that the window company told me that the cladding over the old wooden cladding was a temporary measure as they would be removed and the walls re plastered round the windows when the refurbishment takes place. The housing association has today said that this is not the case..the windows are staying as they are!!! I am totally gobsmacked by this. It sounds as though it is a case of passing the buck. as you can probably imagine..I AM NOT A HAPPY BUNNY!!!!! I am going to contact the window company and get.... in writing.....why the windows have been done as they are. If I get no satisfaction from housing association on the matter then I will be kicking up an almighty fuss...local papers and all!!!! OK... rant over for now, and I make no apologies for becoming a grumpy old woman!