Tuesday 7th June 2016

0435hrs: Sprung awake, knew I had two workmen coming today, but had no idea of at what time they would arrive. Kevin on his last day and I think, an electrician. Remembered the laundry needed doing, so decided to get out of the utterly refusing to work £300 second-hand recliner chair, that for some reason was in the halfway position?

First, though, I had to collect the things needed for the kitchen sink stand-up bath and take them to the kitchen. More scars and bruises amassed with banging my elbows, wrists and shoulders on the surrounding hard surfaces as did my make-do ablutions.

After about 35 minutes, I’d rushed through the process and took all the things back to the other room ready to fetch out and use again tonight. (Fed up already, hehe!)

Got the coins, powders fresheners and softeners already in the bag with the washing.

Out to the lift, nub ends found there. To the foyer to get to the laundry room, and the main door was out of order!

A scribbled hand-written note on the door informed us: “Door broke – Do not force to try and shut door – Reported.”

So, the flats have been totally open and no security overnight again.

I got the washing in the machine on the ‘Quick Cycle’ and nipped back up to the flat and got the pots filled ready for the next trip to do the washing.

Started this off at the same time, then returned down to get the clothes into the dryer.

Back up to the flat, kettle on took the medications and did more work on WordPress and emails and got all the Electricity bills and paperwork in the folder ready for when I go out in search of Deana. She helped me so much last time, hope I don’t become regarded as a bit of an old nuisance.

Got yesterday’s Inchcock Today done and sent off to Facebook. Then did a bit of posting and reading.

Some kind comments on TFZ today.

I had a hobble to the hut and found Deana in. She had sent me an email telling me to go see her in the afternoon as she was busy in the morning, of course, dim-wit here hadn’t seen it. After giving me a good scolding (Ouch!), she about sorting it for me with British Gas.It took ages and ages, she stuck at it though thankfully bless her.

It took ages and ages, she stuck at it though happily bless her. Finally, it turned out they said I had two electricity meters? No way, says Deana. After repeatedly being put on hold and transferred to other departments, they said they would ring back. Deana hung onto the paperwork for when they did and told me she would get back to me with any details. My Angel!

Back to the apartment and made a cuppa and onto CorelDraw to do some graphics.

Deana called, the British Gas people had called her to say they will disconnect the second Electricity meter that we do not even have? I am to ignore the bill. Phew!

Trev checked where I would like the grab bars on the walls (tiles) of the shower. He then nipped off for his dinner, after letting me take his photo to use on a funny idea I’ve had.

I’ll add other people to the picture above and hopefully come up with a funny slogan for it. Worked away at it and finally got it finished.

Just in need of a witty comment to go on it now?

Hey-ho!

A maintenance bloke turned up, spoke with Trevor, helped him clear up after a day of grafting and a banging and drilling in the shower room.

Got a lovely headache now, that’ll teach me not to put my hearing aids in while resident at the flat with workmen working. Hehehe!

Oh dear, they’ve both started drilling now, I thought they were packing up.

Two electricians in the hallway now.

When Trevor left, the shower room was clean and tidy – the electricians soon put paid to that. The bare wood panels at floor level worried me a bit.

They (The electricians) are currently creating pretty patterns of wire end cut- offs, and little dainty lumps of plaster and removed paint with great artistry as the fly up and away into the air and cascade down for them to walk over and spread further over any lucky piece of the carpet without any on them yet, and crushing them in amongst any area previous not suffering attack.

And, skilfully from up a ladder carefully positioned to take chunks out of the corner of the hallway paint and plaster.

Methinks a hell of a problem will remain when they do finish the job – and I’ve got to go for the INR blood tests tomorrow and must leave at 0830hrs to get to the surgery for 0930hrs appointment. So that will mean leaving them on their own to it, but only if they arrive before 0830hrs.

Confusion reigns! I’ll try to have a word with them before they go. Not easy, because the haven’t introduced themselves or spoke to me yet? Just turned up and started  working.

I had to take their photo before one of them spoke a few minutes ago, I think it was ‘Ug’ that he said. I’ll see what a mess they leave, and find out if they are coming back tomorrow, for sure or not… I hope.Eventually, the man came to see me: “We’re off now, come here and I’ll show yer the new switches…” I followed him nd he pointed out the light switch is now outside with the hall light. The switch for the shower power is further down the corridor at the same height. I later found it stuck out enough for me to confirm that it is indeed level with my nose and glasses. He gave me a ten-second instruction lesson on how the shower worked. Told me the power motor will not work yet, I looked at it with its plastic corner hanging off of it and asked if this would be repaired tomorrow. He looked at it, twisted his lips, sneered in a muttering voice and said We’ll look at it tomorrow. Of course, I won’t know, because I’ll be out at the clinic and INT blood test. He asked for a key to use tomorrow, then waded through the cut wires, bits of broken off plastic from I don’t know what, and wire coverings and made his way home.

Eventually, the older man came to see me: “We’re off now, come here and I’ll show yer the new switches…” I followed him and he pointed out the light switch is now outside with the hall light. The switch for the shower power is further down the corridor at the same height. I later found it stuck out enough for me to confirm that it is indeed level with my nose and glasses. He gave me a ten-second instruction lesson on how the shower worked. Told me the power motor will not work yet, I looked at it with its plastic corner hanging off of it and asked if this would be repaired tomorrow. He looked at it, twisted his lips, sneered in a muttering voice and said We’ll look at it tomorrow. Of course, I won’t know, because I’ll be out at the clinic and INT blood test. He asked for a key to use tomorrow, then waded through the cut wires, bits of broken off plastic from I don’t know what, and wire coverings and made his way home.

He gave me a ten-second instruction lesson on how the shower worked. Told me the power motor will not work yet, I looked at it with its plastic corner hanging off of it and asked if this would be repaired tomorrow. He looked at it, twisted his lips, sneered in a muttering voice and said: “We’ll look at it tomorrow, right!” Of course, I won’t know, because I’ll be out at the clinic and INR blood test. He asked for a key to use tomorrow, then waded through the cut wires, bits of broken off plastic from I don’t know what, and wire coverings and made his way home.

They’d left me more mess in three hours than Trevor made in eight days drilling and sawing wood! 

Now very weary and it was almost my settling down time, but I couldn’t leave the pace in such a state. It’s bad enough having stuff all over that I’d had to temporarily move and can’t find when I need it to have a Kitchen sink stand-up bath.

Pee’d off now, grumpy, weary, frustrated and tired, I did some hoovering, but it was a painful job having to bend down all the time to pick out big bits of broken off of something plastic.

More hassle, I found when I cleaned that area that someone had dumped some mail that had come behind the radiator!

This made me even angrier with life.

And I have to suffer with them blokes tomorrow, and then at least two days of the flooring people to follow… oh, Woe is Me!

I’ve had Trevor doing the other work, a sociable reliable clean working man I appreciated. Then Deana, although terribly busy went out of her way to help me this morning… and then this. The house is dirtier now than it ever has been.

The double light switch fitted, is so dirty it looks like a second-hand one?

Various chips, and scratches were noticed in the wall near the fitted sockets etc. I wasn’t surprised, just worried about what they will destroy, incapacitate or break tomorrow as they make the place a tip again? I cleaned what I could of around the fitting, not looking so bad now.

I opened the mail to see if anything nasty was in one…

Two were from unsolicited money seekers and sellers, the other from Age UK informing me the flat contents insurance is due for renewal at a slightly increased rate and it included several pages of changes to your policy A4 sheets. Oh dear, my heads spinning with the hassle I have at the moment… Grump and gruff!

I got the vegetables in the tray, coated them with sunflower or and popped them in the oven.

Updated this drivel, then a quick blast on Facebook and turned off the laptop, and knowing full well I might not be able, due to falling asleep, I looked to see if owt was on the Gogglebox I might fancy. Mind you, last night I was so tired I couldn’t get to sleep. I need some.

Crossed fingers for later then. Searched for something to have with the roast vegetables, a tin of pulled pork was found and so it was, pulled pork and roast vegetables.

Sat down in the £300 second-hand recliner… and that was it!