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Sometimes there's a story that you want to wait for the end of before you tell - so here is my New Year story, ready to tell (I hope).
But it really starts in the week before Christmas, and it even more really starts about two years before that - ok, and I acknowledge centuries of story before that, none of which I know - so starting about two years ago:
About two years ago I moved myself and my family into a new accommodation for various reasons, it has its plusses and its minuses like any, but some of the minuses we only found out after we settled in and I won't list all of them. Two of the minuses were a downstairs closet that cannot flush a tissue paper and was therefore useless, and a kitchen sink faucet which leaks perpetually in a trickle down the side.. one clearly more an issue than the other - but which one? actually both but it hardly matters why as it doesn't pertain to the story except that these two items got fixed together - you guessed it, less than a week before Christmas.
It wasn't that convenient to have it done just then, but as it had been mentioned when first noticed, and at every inspection afterwards, then when the landlord wanted more rent with the repairs still unattended I had said with genuine sadness that I'll accept I need to pay more rent since rents are rising but it seems very unfair that I'm still without a basic facility functional that the property had claimed to possess and I'd like to know if the landlord ever intends to fix it now that she is expecting more rent, and it is very embarrassing to have to tell guests that it is unusable and leave them wondering why. Anyway they said they'd get it done, and they did.
Happy days - as more than one of my dear friends says - but (now this is the New Year part of the story - arriving this year) on New Years day at midday I get a knock at my door - actually quite a few - it is a gentleman from the council repairs team on behalf of our downstairs neighbour who has been experiencing leaks in her bathroom (due to our flat, or why would I be telling you about her leaks - so, not that sort of leak) 'It's been coming from your flat - get it looked at - get it sorted' 'I'm the tenant but I'll inform the landlord as soon as I can' 'get it sorted' 'err.. happy new year?'
Anyway, I have to visit the neighbour to confirm which side of the property was leaking, its our sink area not our closet - I tell her that I can't call out an emergency about it because once we discussed the times it had happened it was apparent it only happens if I use the sink or washing machine and its bank holiday for two days so all I can do is not use the sink or washing machine and then inform my landlord when the letting agency is open. I explain that I do have an out of hours number but they are bound to charge me for the call out claiming it wasn't an emergency - and I don't want my money spent that way when simply not using the sink/machine until I can contact them on an ordinary day is much more likely to cost us all nothing. She accepts this, I've given my word - so then begins operation tissue paper - wipe off all food items from used plates or pans so that they can't become disgusting, set them to the side so they won't be re-used - plan meals as carefully as possible to avoid excess use of plates pans and cutlery - this is easy this is peasy - this is me being a nice person. I'll be the only one that can be guaranteed not to benefit while I prevent both homes being further affected so my glorious landlord doesn't get landed a bill for their own shoddy repair works.
Anyway - unpaid for hassle aside, the short end of the story is that I contacted the letting agency yesterday, they got in touch with landlord and repair serviceman, they at least accepted I'm only going to agree to be available at the flat if given a half hour notice to be there as that would let me get some important shopping done too. (I didn't tell them what I'm shopping for but I'll tell you in another story time). So I go into town, I get my shopping done, I head back, no contact yet - they guy arrives with ten minutes notice rather than half an hour as agreed but he afterward says that he was prepared to wait but had finished the other job earlier than expected. And the repair is found and fixed... He confirms that due to the position of the leak and the surroundings it would not have been possible for me to realise it had been happening until the neighbours advice.
This morning I've brought my dishes and cutlery situation back to more normal levels - I said I was ready for the New Year, but I really do hope it isn't true that it stays as it begins.
View Diet Calendar, 04 January 2017:
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1446 kcal
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Fat: 58.16g | Prot: 84.20g | Carbs: 144.38g.
Breakfast: Bananas, Waitrose Essential Fat Free Natural Yogurt, Options Belgian Choc Hot Chocolate. Lunch: Mushrooms, Waitrose Reduced Fat Brussels Pate, Nespresso Capsule, Waitrose Semi-Skimmed Milk, Livlife Bread. Dinner: Green Giant Original Sweetcorn, Waitrose Love Life Spelt, Quinoa, Red Rice & Wild Rice, Princes Minced Beef with Onions in Gravy, Cooked Spinach (from Fresh), Poppadoms. Snacks/Other: Tesco Healthy Living Thai Style Chicken Soup in A Mug, Nespresso Capsule, Waitrose Semi-Skimmed Milk, 9Bar Original (40g). more...
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