Sick As A Parrot

If there is one thing i hate..it is being unwell!!!!....which is what I am....poo!! This is the first time since I have been in Aberdeen I have been really unwell and have had to take a sick day..how embarrassing!!....and it looks like I will be off tomorrow...even more so...aiming to get back for Wednesday with a volunteer task on the Saturday..Simon and I are leading it so no lazing about!!...and plenty of bloomin driving..pah!

Simon also tells me he has had some feedback for his Forest School essays so I expect I will have that as well..so there goes my annual leave...and I will also have to put together a pack for the Citizens Advice Bureau..the Association fella in Edinburgh is being remiss in sending me my money for the maintenance work carried out on the guttering...fair enough...he sent the original cheque to the contractor AND Littlejohns cocked up by paying them as well...but I sent him his original cheque a month go with proof LJ had paid the contractor and that I had paid LJ..so he has no excuse to not pay. I have done this before...sent a number of letters and e mails and organisations/individuals think they can mess me around...it all comes to the same in the end...a good case file, plenty of evidence I have been fairly patient with no replies from the person who owes me money...the money comes to me in the end...we shall see...£188.00 is a fair amount of money to be waiting on for a month!!

Anyway, so whoever gave me this cold is not my favourite person!!!..I hate being unwell and unable to do things..luckily I only had to cancel one activity today...I guess I shouldn't have gone out on that 3 mile NHS Health Walk (wait a mo...I can see the irony now!!!) in 0.5 C with a high wind on Friday..that really did me in..idiot...but then...it needs to be completed on time..hey ho.

I even drove the van back to Doonies this am..when ide rather have been in bed!!!...just to swap back to the car..had to be done but it wasn't very pleasant.

So, my flat in Ed has been rented out..very good considering the market at the moment and the fact they have about 13 other 1 beds sitting on their books...the fella is a chef at Mal Maison on the shore..so just a wee stagger back for him...and he has signed a 12 month contract..hussah!!!..and at the price we put it on the market for as well...this is a great relief to me as there was no way I would have been able to repay the overdraft which will come from the new boiler in Glasgow AND cover mortgage/endowment.council tax from Edinburgh..I expect to be put 2 to 3 thousand in overdraft and pay off over the coming months...remember...I estimated savings of £500 per month just by moving from Gourdon..if I can get shot of the car..after MOT/6 month tax/insurance...that will be money coming in..AND have this money returned..then that will be just shy of 1 thousand...so it can be done.

BUT...had Edinburgh not been rented I would have been back in the same position I was in in March this year..poo!!! Let's just hope he looks after it after all that hullabaloo!

So, the coming annual leave will be filled with Forest School re work and NHS health walk recce'ing...as long as my health returns..which I hope it will..sooner rather than later.

Later

Apologies

Hey,

Apologies for the delay in writing this one..I am sure you have been on the edge of your seats!!...not...but it has been quite hectic...when is it not?...but it seems to have settled down.

Well, I guess the biggest thing is that I took annual leave and visited the usual haunts..Strathyre and Strathaven..and a few others besides. It was so nice to see Jill, Steve and the boys...and i got the family room...woohoo...very optimistic, as I said to Jill! What an evening...cut my 1st Halloween pumpkins for the party in the Inn...with great sill and dexterity...oh..and a pen!!!...I made 3 for the bar...they looked good..if I say so masel! was good to chat to o many folks as well..circulated like a social butterfly..this time I took it nice and easy and paced myself..getting older you see!!...but I ended up going to my kip at 2.30 am on Saturday am...just as a game of Killer on the pool table started..seems it went on until 4 am!!!..non merci! I spent the next morning chatting to Steve as he prepped the kitchen,,so...very nice indeed..and a leisurely drive to Strathaven to check up on Jamesey boy.

The man is all loved up and domesticated...made a steak pie for me and him and his son who was visiting...a friendly chap for a 16 year old...cheeky wee bas though!!! I am happy for him as, when I met him on my 1st season he had just split from his missus...wasn't going near women ever again...and now...after 2 years...he has found someone....a Celtic supporter as well....which is bad considering he is a Hun...I told him he had been turned by the Lord....his response cannot be reprinted here! Anyhoo..we went down the Buck's Heid for the Halloween panto and disco...good grief...maybe I am out of sync with the world..but I like to converse with someone without the need to shout right in their ear!!!...never mind...it was good...and some of the ladies costumes were very nice. XX..and then James cooked me a full Scottish the next day...yum yum..well done that man...and he gave me 2 bags of strong coffee to take away...what a fella.

Was just about to hit the road to dad's when I received a call from my old boss..thought we were going to miss each other for this visit...met up for coffee in Strathaven..he was looking good and chirpy...even he has a wummin...the git...at 61 he is seeing a 41 year old ladee...bless...about time for him...they seem fine and i would have met her but she was visiting some sick friends...but we had a good chat...3 hours at the cafe....we got our moneys worth I tell thee...not sure when I am going to be able to visit that far south as well.

In total I travelled 400 miles...not a lot for some but enough for me.

Work has finished on Edinburgh and the flat is back on the market...in November!!!...not the best really as the market slows down at this time...I need it rented....cover the mortgage and remove my liability for Council Tax. The insurance company is coming through with the money..but no word from the Association regarding my £200.00...swine...keep on top of that as I have been advised the boiler in the Glasgae flat is on it's way out...goodness knows how much that will cost...but it has to be done...so money in money out as always...my goal is to not have any overdraft and save for the Capital gains tax coming up next year..as well as saving for any more repairs...such as storage heaters..doesn't seem to be happening though so we shall proceed as normal...as well I live where I am...otherwise I wouldn't be able to even think about it..hey ho.

I feel settled here...Joyce and I get on...and the place is nice enough for me...and I am saving money...well...until I need to cover invoices, etc!!!..I have to go into work tomorrow and look at where I could have input on the Heritage Lottery Fund we are applying for..time spent now to keep the job after March...so...worth it...I think i will stay here for a while if i get the funding...Joyce will be off to Turkey if I do..so I will have the house to myself..woohoo..anyway..we shall see.

Right...hopefully update within less time next time.

Tara

ps..what happened to this tree at Hazelhead Park...the force of nature..or the kids from the local Academy..we shall never know!!