Tuesday 6 September 2016

The Good, the Bad and the downright rude













Life on Chickpeas farm continues to be busy, exhausting and wonderful.  We have been here a whole month, I can't believe it!  We still have bedrooms full of boxes that haven't been touched, the third bedroom where the grandchildren will sleep and the box room which will be my craft room.  Our son is having an operation on Friday so will be coming over to stay for a few days while he recovers. We are not exactly ready for guests, the room he will be staying in has peeling paint and a channel dug out of the wall, (not sure the purpose of it) but is reasonably clear of boxes. The main bathroom had a cracked cistern which leaked all over the grotty carpet on the floor and through the ceiling downstairs, and a cracked seat (as did the downstairs loo).  The first thing I did was change all the loo seats, I'm a bit fussy like that :)



I bet you're so glad I shared this with you



The whole bathroom will be ripped out and replaced in the future but other jobs take priority now so we have tracked down a replacement cistern which should have turned up today but hasn't.  So he may have to stay in our room with the working toilet but shower cubicle with the door hanging off.  I did say we had taken on 'a project' didn't I?

The gas boiler should have been serviced today but he didn't turn up, not even a phone call and after ringing several tree surgeons none have got back to me.  I have had to chase the council about our recycling twice now as they don't bother to come out here.  We are still waiting to hear back from several other 'services' as well......are you starting to get the picture?  What is wrong with people, they could at least ring to say they can't make it or are too busy to take on more work.  Even the doctor in the surgery was downright rude, we were discussing my blood pressure and I said that I knew I needed to lose weight, she said well it's not difficult just eat less.  No shit Sherlock as the youngsters say, I would never have guessed that.  True, but not very helpful.



The good things this week have been getting my books out of boxes, thank goodness for cheap and cheerful Billy Bookcases.  Yes I should have waited until I painted the lounge but I missed having my books around me, is it just me or do other people love looking at their books on the shelves.  I really enjoyed getting them out and arranging them on the shelves.....yes I am sad like that.

I rang Home Farmer magazine to update my address and Paul the editor answered the phone and was absolutely lovely. Wishing me well in our new home and discussing the magazine.  Now that's what I call good service.

I also went to see an exhibition in a container called The Aftermath Dislocation Principle which has been touring the country.  I loved it, brilliant idea and very cleverly done.  Passersby were wondering what the hell was going on as they saw people peering into a graffiti covered shipping container.  It's Art darlings :)

Post riot landscape




I also shook my booty to an amazing band called the Broken Brass Ensemble who had the whole audience at one stage crouched on the floor ready to leap into the air (yes I did have a momentary panic thinking I'll never get up again)  I really really needed a night out to let my hair down!

Anyway, more news soon on all things jam and grapes, I'll leave you with a little clip of Saturdays shenanigans.




Chickpea xx

33 comments:

  1. Getting my books out and arranged on Billy's was almost first on my list, Paul is a lovely man so helpful and a very interesting person to speak too, hope all goes well with your son :-)

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  2. Books are always the first thing that I unpack when moving house, however we still have a spare bedroom full of boxes not unpacked, whatever is in them we haven't missed, we've been here five years now.

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  3. I had to re hang all the shelves (built in) in two rooms sometimes using a hammer to unhook them.
    But once done the books came out.
    Hope all goes well with the operation.

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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  4. It does seem that common courtesy and professionalism have taken a backseat these days. Fortunately, there are still some, like Paul, who remind you that there are people who care about what they do and how they can help you. Good luck with everything and all the best for your son with his surgery.

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    1. Sadly yes, makes you appreciate good service even more

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  5. You are going to have a craft room? I am so envious! I think it was Cicero who said that "a room without books is like a body without a soul" - they would be one of my first priorities too. I hope all goes well with your son's operation and fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. xx

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    1. Well it's a box room that I've claimed as it's too small for a bed :)

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  6. Paul sounds like a nice chap to talk to after the dissatisfaction you received elsewhere. The books would be a priority of mine too! Hope all goes well for your son x

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  7. Dear lord I cannot believe that any GP these days would make a comment like that. There are so many more factors involved in losing weight than eating less not least hormones and eating too little has a massive effect on the pesky blighters. However GP's are expected to be the font of all knowledge and its up to us to realise that most of them are seriously behind the times and outdated as they are too busy to keep up with current research. Even so there is no excuse for rudeness and a shitty bedside manner. Books I love my books and whilst I'm happy to get rid of clothes and household items I just can't seem to lose my books, I need to tho I have hundreds. Your house will be so fab such fun to have a craft room and a lovely project to do up your home. Enjoy and have fun.

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    1. She sadly lacked social skills which I would have thought essential for a G.P

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  8. Books are a priority here as well. Got to have the books littered around so that can just go to it when needed. you are making progress Rome wasn't built in a day but at least you have good fabric to work with. I take it the new GP does not have much of a bedside manner then. Bit Doc Martin then or Bodmin. Sorry could not resist. hope your son's surgery goes well. pattypan

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    1. I have actually never watched Doc Martin, I think it's the 'Cornish' accents that put me off :)

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    2. Ah but I love accents. however I knew port Isaac before it became known as port wenn. Fell in love with the swimming and pottering in the rocks and watching the fisherman putting the crabs in the holding pond to the side. It was the first time I had been to Cornwall and it is still firmly wedged in my heart. you are very blessed living in such a beautiful spot and part of the world. Enjoy pattypan x

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  9. I sympathise with you... We've been trying to get a couple of windows replaced and the first chap who came out to give a quote just never followed up or returned calls. When we eventually tracked him down after about four weeks he said he didn't want the job. We are now waiting on a second quote but this chap is also not returning calls. What is wrong with people? As for your doctor... I'm speechless! We all know that if we eat less we lose weight but if it was that easy none of us would be over weight. Pah!

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    1. If it's not mega money they don't seem to want to know!

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  10. I was told to lose weight by a female doctor who was much larger than me. I was quite shocked and wanted to point this out, but I was brought up on the adage 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'. I can't stand rudeness and bad manners, courtesy costs nothing. I love my books too and they would be the first thing out on the shelves if I moved house. My daughter is the same. When she moved into her own place, the first thing she wanted was a book case for her books.

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    1. That's such a good saying isn't it, I was brought up on that as well

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  11. I think favourite books in a bookcase add a bit of comfort amongst the chaos so I can well understand why you and others have done this :)

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    1. They do, something familiar and that brings such enjoyment

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  12. I totally get the books thing! I like looking at mine too! Sorry to hear you are having trades troubles. I have experienced similar difficulties with people and then other helpful lovely ones from unexpected sources, why is it such a shock when someone is nice and helpful, it shouldn't really be like that should it. Hope your son is OK after his operation. Tell the doctor not to worry, all of the fixing up you need to do should keep you well exercised! xx

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  13. Oh dear,like everybody else I say WHAT THE ******* IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE.I do not like bad manners and rudeness.Gobsmacked that your doctor would speak to you like that.Love the pics.Do hope your son will be ok.How is Ziggy love her.Take care hun,sending Huge Huggles.xx

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    1. Ziggy rarely even bothers to go out in the lovely big garden, just chills indoors :)

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  14. totally with you on the book thing, i have even been known to open my kindle just to look at my electronic book ! get the dr thing to, I have going to my GP as that's the first thing that always comes up..

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    1. Just been looking at my sons Kindle, I am tempted.....

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  15. I can't stand rude people. Not many people do it to my face admittedly because hairy bikers tend to be intimidating if you don't know they're really a big softy. Still get the rudeness from so called customer service people on the phone though, makes me grind my teeth!

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    1. The bearded one was a hairy biker, now he's just hairy......well not that much these now. :)

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  16. Chickpea, can I ask did you find your new home on a small holding website? or just on the general rightmove. Even though we arent quite finished here, I have mentally moved to the next and hopefully final place. If you dont want to say in the comments here, please feel free to comment on my blog and I wont publish the comment. I am looking your way! whooo ppppeeeee! Am getting excited about the idea of it all now.

    Hope you are well.

    P.s I saw on a cooking show in Australia, that you can use kiwi fruit to tenderise meat and squid/octopus so it is never tough. Got to be at least tried once I think! And then I also thought about this

    http://littlekindred.com/homemade-cordial/

    I love dried fruit, I wonder if this could also get through your glut

    http://thrivingonpaleo.com/dehydrated-kiwi-chips/

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  17. Hello! I hope your son recovers quickly. I am just getting round to catching up on blogs and its lovely to see things starting to take shape around you, the books look lovely, a room without books has no soul as someone once said. I went through a phase of donating lots when I moved but it wasn't the same without them around so they built back up again. xx

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I love reading your comments and will try to reply to all you lovely people xx Spam will be deleted so don't even bother!