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message 1251: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Alicia wrote: "As I expected, our facility's deciding NOT to replace our heat exchanger this summer, but to refill the coolant - EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LEAK - was ill-advised.

Exactly as I predicted, we have los..."


The problem is that people have short term budgets, not long term budgets.
One advantage we had with farming was that our budget was effectively over a decade or more


message 1252: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening all, woke up with a headache which hasn't shifted all day. Was my first day doing our new stuff, of vourse my first two weren't straightforward! Enjoyed ot though, its basically completing ..."

Hope your headache shifts, mind you this weather would give anybody a headache
Glad you're enjoying the new stuff


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, slept through till 5.30, felt fine initially but headache kicked in about 6, though improved after breakfast. Colleague was on leave in the afternoon so we were on our own, another stressful day not helped by struggling to count, so something i hoped would be quick took longer than planned which put me out for a while. Then something urgent came in just after lunch, so didn't get done what I wanted. Nipped to Lidl after work, didnt get a basket as only wanted 3 things, obviously got more but balanced things well, got to the till and woman who came behind me said i was very talented, said the challenges would be putting them down safely which I also managed! However i did forget something!


message 1254: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Bit windy here, gusting up to 76mph at the moment
Not as bad as some


Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) (nosemanny) | 8590 comments I am NOT enjoying this weather. The house is shaking - two feet thick stone walls! - and there are some new noises on the roof.
We got to experience the mobile phone siren alert from the government yesterday evening, warning about the Red Alert for the weather - made us jump out of ourselves! The wind is supposed to tail away over the evening


Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) (nosemanny) | 8590 comments And apparently people were panic buying in the town's Tesco last night because they announced they were shut today!!


message 1257: by Jay-me (Janet) (new)

Jay-me (Janet)  | 3784 comments I don’t think it was very windy here, I went out a couple of errands and to the next town for Zumba . It seemed windier there, particularly when I was walking across a side street and a very strong gust of wind came up the hill.

There was a list of train services that recommended not traveling, one of them was Bradford to Blackpool via Preston. Our branch line uses most of the same route apart from the last 3 stations and it wasn’t on the list. But maybe they figured that half the trains are usually cancelled, (or are so late that they stop further up the line because it’s single track for the last bit) so it didn’t need to be included.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, got woken up at 5.30 by the storm, have been quite stiff all day. Been quite wild, have got what thankfully looks like a dead cable hanging from the roof, no idea who to find to remove that next week! Did have to leave the house to get my prescription, at least it was just windy! Sat with the girls earlier, Chanel tandomly decided to scale the wicker bookcase then couldn't figure out how to get back down! Me standing up and stepping towards her solved it!

Glad to hear from you R, did wonder about you with some of the tales I've heard from Scotland


message 1259: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Jim wrote: "The problem is that people have short term budgets, not long term budgets.
One advantage we had with farming was that our budget was effectively over a decade or more.."


We think management is greedy - paying themselves (and the executives they turned into contractors so salary reporting
would no longer happen) - while continuing to raise monthly fees.

So if they push a major purchase into the next fiscal year, it improves their bottom line (and bonuses), even though, as homeowners, we would never have done the same thing because of the time, technician visits, discomfort for the inhabitants, etc., etc.

It's shortsighted - because it is convenient for them, and wasted so far an enormous number of days when we've waited, too hot or too cold, for the repairperson.

They promised us a new unit LAST (very hot) SUMMER, reneged, filled it then, did nothing in between, and now refilled again, and we haven't seen them do the assessment and get us a new unit (assuming that's the best solution). So we'll have to go through the time-wasting discomfort for the THIRD time.

And these things ALWAYS fail at the hottest or coldest parts of the year, and then is a bad time to replace them (which takes days, during which every other customer also has the same problems). Short-sighted, because they should have checked BETWEEN summer and winter, been proactive in refilling THEN or replacing.


message 1260: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "I am NOT enjoying this weather. The house is shaking - two feet thick stone walls! - and there are some new noises on the roof.
We got to experience the mobile phone siren alert from the governmen..."


My daughter was lucky in that her house is very sheltered from that wind direction. But it was pretty rough down here because we are within spitting distance of the coast


message 1261: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Alicia wrote: "And these things ALWAYS fail at the hottest or coldest parts of the year, and then is a bad time to replace them (which takes days, during which every other customer also has the same problems)...."

It's inevitable, they're the times of greatest stress which is why you do maintenance in the quiet periods!
It's cheaper because at the very least it means you spread your labour demand out across the year


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, woke up to a slight covering of snow but didnt last. Took nephew to Manchester today for his birthday treat, we had lunch at food court, so i could have Subway and he could have McDonald's, then took him to the National Football Museum, which was more interesting than i thought, didnt realise that the FA banned women's football for 50 years! Then i foolishly decided to pop in Primark, got some leggings and pjs, but queue was horrendous, felt like we were there for 30 mins. Remembered to get my Zooplus parcel on the way back, the valerian pillows have gone down well, Chanel was really enjoying herself. Done over 9.6k steps, hoping i won't suffer for that tomorrow, back and feet have been painful today.

Glad your daughter wasn't affected by thr storm Jim


message 1263: by Alicia (last edited Jan 25, 2025 10:07PM) (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Jim wrote: "It's cheaper because at the very least it means you spread your labour demand out across the year..."

Exactly what we would do - you do your extended maintenance when it will affect the smallest number of residents. Duh!


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, woke up not feeling too bad. I'd asked for a day off next month with the intention of sorting house out so i could get a cleaner, decided this morning to ask my sis to come over for a couple of hours that day to help, which she agreed to. Feel better now there is a plan, so have just pottered today,


message 1265: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Having been outside, today is a day to potter :-)


Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) (nosemanny) | 8590 comments Yes, it's raining. A lot.


message 1267: by Jay-me (Janet) (new)

Jay-me (Janet)  | 3784 comments We seem to have escaped the worst of the last storm, and today although the forecast does say wind it is sunny and only a slight breeze at the moment.
We have a water leak on the road just above home which started on Wednesday, A man from the meter reading service was wandering round with one of the metal sticks that they use to listen for water leaks. It was coming up through a crack in the tarmac on the opposite side and just above my neighbours house. During wednesday it got worse with the traffic driving over it and was becoming a small pothole. Thursday morning a work van arrived and put cones to stop the houses across from parking in front of their houses. That side of the road don't have off street parking.
On Friday I left to do my errands and gym class just before lunch, and got home about 3 o'clock. While I was out the pothole has been roughly filled and traffic lights put up for work outside further up the hill. No sign of any workmen then or since. Traffic is driving over the repaired pothole. Which looks to be loose again.

I've been looking for new authors/series to read as ones I have been reading are either finished or the next book not due for a while. I looked at a couple of recommendations, the first was boom three of a series and the first ones not available to borrow from the library for a while. The second didn't say it was part of a series but only a couple of chapters in and it seems to be referring to events in previous books. So that one will be returned. I read a lot so prefer to borrow unless i know it is something I might re-read and these books were all £8 to £10 which is a lot for something I would read in an evening.

Hope everyone is well and not having too many weather problems.


message 1268: by Desley (Cat fosterer) (last edited Jan 27, 2025 01:13PM) (new)

Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, felt like an odd day as WFH, which i don't like to do on a Mon. Started off well, then went a bit mad just before lunch, was glad for hometime, even got called Sophie today! Looks like I'm going to have more training than i thought for my permanent role. Had to go and pick something up from library at lunch, park has some very waterlogged areas.

Good luck finding new authors/series Janet


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, had my 1 month probation review, was fine, but a bit disappointed at a couple of comments. Got an eye screening app, this is the I'm supposed to have had annually for the last 8 years, this will be the 3rd! Nipped in m and s after work and got a little treat.


message 1270: by Tui (new)

Tui Allen (tuibird) | 112 comments Gosh, just reading some of the comments here about the weather you're getting over there in the UK. Sounds very scary. I hope the worst is over for you now. Keep safe. I am in Aotearoa, (New Zealand) where the weather is quite blissful right now though we've sure had our own weather issues at times recently. My husband is from Hull in Yorkshire. Would you believe he wears full body-covering warm clothing even right now at the height of summer. It's as though he's never accepted that January is not midwinter here. But then, he's only been here since 1973! He's out working in the garden right now wearing long fleece pants and a hooded fleece sweatshirt. At least I know he won't get sunburnt.
In our too-hot weather, I often envy the other side of the world and in very cold weather. I also envy you having lovely weather when we have winter rain and chill.


message 1271: by Tui (new)

Tui Allen (tuibird) | 112 comments Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "I am NOT enjoying this weather. The house is shaking - two feet thick stone walls! ..."
Two feet thick stone walls! Fascinating. Nobody lives in a house like that in this country. There is almost no such thing. Is your house very old?


Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) (nosemanny) | 8590 comments It's a Victorian villa Tui, dating from 1870ish and divided into flats in the 1950s. It was built for a Reverend Valentine, the second son of the family. We live in the attic! It would have been a huge house when it was all one, but very standard construction of the time. They certainly aren't built like that anymore.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, had a rubbish night sleep. Had a meeting 9-10, then one 12 - 1.15, so feels like i didn't do wnough work. Had a bit of a technical issue too which took up a lot of time, so was drained by 4pm. Walked back to car with new colleague and she wanted something from m and s, no complaints from me! Then popped to Sainsbury's and bumped into colleague from old team, that was nice.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, slept through till 5.30 but been quite headachy. Day started off well, then went downhill! Nipped to shops after work, did well today, there was a reduced pizza in coop, wasn't sure about it as it was £3.44, but its a nice pizza, then it scanned through at £1.99! Got a reduced egg sandwich in Sainsbury's for 44p, so nice cheap tea and lunch. Found out after work that candle shop is closing, really sad about that, they are doing a closing down sale so will pop round on Sat.


message 1275: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "I've been looking for new authors/series to read..."

Let me know if you're interested in an ARC of Pride's Children: PURGATORY - no obligation, but if you read mainstream fiction and like Jane Eyre, it may suit you.

PS I could NOT identify your picture even though I'm human. Rather small.


message 1276: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "...candle shop is closing..."

Always sad to see a business close. So much work goes into trying to make a go of them.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, had a really rubbish night sleep, tracker says 6 hours and got a busy weekend. Luckily not too bad a day at work, did make colleagues laugh this afternoon when i accidentally announced out loud i was going for a wee! Ended up finishing late as wanted to get the emails down to 150, then went to Lidl as they have a dupe of my favourite Molten Brown scent in candle and a discount for having Lidl plus, obviously didn't just come home with just that!


message 1278: by Jay-me (Janet) (new)

Jay-me (Janet)  | 3784 comments Alicia wrote: "Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "I've been looking for new authors/series to read..."

Let me know if you're interested in an ARC of Pride's Children: PURGATORY - no obligation, but if you read mainstream fi..."


Thank you! I read a wide range of books -Terry Pratchett and Georgette Heyer being ones that I often re-read, or listen to Audiobook versions.

The profile picture is a sloth. 😊


message 1279: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "The profile picture is a sloth. ..."

Thanks. I knew it was SOMETHING in the treetops, but couldn't make out what, and neither nest nor bird worked. Clever.

I shall try again.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, slept from about 10.40 to 1.20, awake til 3.20, then woke up at 8.30, don't feel too bad though. Had a lazy start, then put a washload on, went to candle shop, they have keys for a new place that will be a cafe, but couldn't say where, just got a few wax melts that nowhere else sells. Came home, had lunch, then set a 30 min alarm and tidied some of the upstairs, had a 10 min break, then did another 30 min alarm and tidied some of the downstairs, then some washing up, feel like im getting somewhere. We had a work's do, they were running a Boogie Bingo at the town hall, 12 from my wider team went, we met in Wetherspoons first for tea, then went there. It was quite good fun, but my asthma was playing up and hips killing me, so agreed to go home early as colleague wanted to go and we were parked next to each other, so neither of us had to walk back alone.


message 1281: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Sounds productive and fun :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, took ages to get to sleep last night, was really cold (prob why asthma was playing up), and had to be up at 6.30 for first craft fair of the year, woke up before alarm so about 6 hours sleep again. Let A pick me up, was lovely to see crafter friends and dogs, bought a birthday present, some earmuffs and a blondie, so quite a good day, even though we only took £11 (same as last year and the last £6 was in the last 20 mins). A dropped me off at coop, and bumped into G, as we were walking home, saw candle shop owners in a building i hadn't noticed was closing/up for let, will be interesting to see what they do, it hasn't been a cafe before but does change hands frequently. Still quite stiff, hot bath hasnt helped much.


message 1283: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Doesn't sound like enough sleep, Desley. I got about the same, had breakfast, crashed for another hour+ - and then felt more human.

I think I need about 7.5 hours, but it can have some short gaps. Or I drag the rest of the day.

Talked to a friend in Australia - love having Facetime on my iPhone.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Morning, tracker said i got over 7 hours sleep, but still felt tired. Had dentist app at 9.30, got there, was called in for him to tell me they didnt have a nurse so had to rearrange my app! Luckily i was also collecting skme equipment on the way home so at least would have been leaving house anyway. Got a new app for next Tue, will be ringing that day to check. Got the email's down to 250 before I left, they got up to 266, but got them back to 250 before i left, on time! Went back out at lunch as needed milk, then did trays after work.

It certainly hasn't been feeling like enough sleep Alicia. If i do have a nap, or sleep after 7am, i pretty much always wake up after 1 hour


message 1285: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments As the days get longer, Desley, even though it's cold and wintery, you may find yourself rebounding.

I always do better when the shadows lengthen later.

In fact, it may be the exact same low feeling I'm fighting every day - hard to get going. Let's check back with each other on this in a couple of weeks.


message 1286: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments It could be that we're all getting ready for Spring :-)


message 1287: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Lying fallow seems to be what I'm doing.


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, apparently had more than 7 hours sleep biut don't feel it, been tired and headachy all day. Was a struggle at work as things seemed harder than they should. Went to Boots at lunch for a prescription my chemist said they couldn't get, Boots have ordered it and will be in tomorrow, luckily I'm in the office. Nipped to B and M for cat litter, cashier asked how i was as have barely been in. Then went to Iceland to get something for tea, then car asked for petrol on the way home, got a reduced cake and sandwich filling, so that's tomorrow's lunch sorted.

Certainly been harder to get going where housework is concerned Alicia, and finding it harder to stop scrolling on my phone in the evening


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, slept through till 5.30, best I've felt for a bit. Frustrating day at work, got my prescription after work, got 2 nasal sprays, sure i normally only get one! Then popped to Sainsbury's and got reduced stuff.


message 1290: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Reading about your weather makes me remember fondly the thousands of British mysteries I read in my youth - weather was almost always a feature.


message 1291: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Yes weather is always a feature, because it is always so changeable, and so localised. A friend who lives ten miles away as the crow flies asked me if I could settle a discussion between her and her partner over the colour of the sun rise.
We hadn't had a visible sun rise, we'd complete cloud cover and drizzle


message 1292: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Evening all, slept through till 5.30, best I've felt for a bit. Frustrating day at work, got my prescription after work, got 2 nasal sprays, sure i normally only get one! Then popped to Sainsbury's..."

I've had other people tell me that prescriptions can vary at times, not the wrong stuff but different amounts.
Is this nasal spray the same capacity as you usual, or have they given you, for example two 150ml as opposed to one 200ml?
(Figures entirely made up :-) )


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, woke up at 5.23, been quite sinusy today. Rubbish day at work, 2 meetings, both over run (and second should have finished at 1, normally have lunch at 12.30), then in-between so many people wanted to speak to me (and during both meetings!), have got some part completed things as people kept ringing. Got 2 new things to show colleague tomorrow. Went to shops after work, got a reduced quiches for lunch.

At my previous job, I'm sure there was a weird weather vortex over the building, you could look out on the left side to blue skies, and it would be raining if you looked put the right! No, its an identical bottle Jim, even same brand!


message 1294: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments We had enough rain and wind that my window had big drops on it - the more rain, to a point, the better - California needs water for the crops.


message 1295: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "At my previous job, I'm sure there was a weird weather vortex over the building, you could look out on the left side to blue skies, and it would be raining if you looked put the right! No, its an identical bottle Jim, even same brand!..."

Strange world :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, for a change the clock said 4 something when I woke up this morning, started feeling drowsy about 10 mins before the alarm went off! Another full on day at work, this week has felt like it's been 10 days long! Finished late and had to leave something half finished, have got a 4 day weekend to look forward to.. At least we had some nice homemade cheesecake. Got a nice compliment from someone in another team, she left me a voicemail saying I was the best person to speak to, I couldn't help her but got someone who could to ring her, she replied with 'your just too good at your job, we've all decided' got a one to one next week, so will be using that! Popped to Lidl on way home to get something from USA week, accidentally came home with another candle!


message 1297: by Alicia (new)

Alicia Ehrhardt (aliciabutcherehrhardt) | 4834 comments Feels good to be appreciated after you put in all that effort.


message 1298: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "accidentally came home with another candle!..."

Well with compliments like that I think you deserve the occasional accidental candle :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 12593 comments Evening all, rubbish night sleep again, had to get up at 8.45 as back was complaining, made a pot of tea and we chilled in bed for a bit. Snow didnt materialise, so went for breakfast at cafe in local market town that candle shop people own, had the vegan breakfast, which included tofu scramble rather than eggs, it was spicy which was odd on breakfast, and a latte with macadamia nut syrup and takeaway lemon meringue pie (wasn't what i thought, but was talked into it and its really good). Then went and got the car valeted, they asked for extra as it was quite dirty, couldn't complain. The aldi there is quite good, so popped in, was surprised at how much frozen party food they had. While driving past market, noticed that bread stall appeared to have stoodleys left, so popped over for one. Decided as i don't often go to morrisons I'd pop in, their vegi selection has really reduced, which is a shame. Did a couple of chores when I got home, then checked online banking which had more than it should, hot a random payment from agency, which just said 'underpayment', popped that in my savings account, and treated myself to those nail varnishes.

Yes, it was really nice to get a compliment after a hard week.


message 1300: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21809 comments Nice to get random underpayments as well :-)


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