Morning all, been to gym this morning and worked hard! It was really good, and fairly quiet in the gym. One of my acquaintances from my old gym has joined my new one, she's really nice, and I'm hoping to cultivate her into an exercise buddy!

The cute but annoying plumber came yesterday to fix the shower screen that he ballsed up when he installed it. I tried to give him praise and verbal pats on the head, but its hard work. He's only about 24, and very nice looking, but he wants you to tell him he's wonderful all the time. And he nearly let the cat out! What a doofus.

The decorator who is meant to be working on the bathroom to make it look inhabitable didn't turn up today, that's the fourth Wednesday when he has been expected that he hasn't bothered to put in an appearance.

Annoying.

All I want is a plasterer and I'll do the darn painting myself!

Never mind. Ommmmm Worst thing about renting, not being able to sort stuff out yourself, the best thing though, is not having to pay for it!

I having people doing lots of work when we're not paying!!! Can your landlord wait in for the plasterer if he is the one that's paying? Then he'll see that he's useless and will maybe get another guy?

Ky - why not submit a bill for the time that you are wasting by having to stay in waiting for the painter. I've done that with the gas people, Sky TV and the bloke who was supposed to do a service check on the central heating - each time I got loads of apologies and compensation

Well, this morning I'm going to have another two teeth removed and DH said that on the next appointment I've got to have another four taken out. After that there will be a gap while we wait for my mouth to settle down and then more tests, X-rays and stuff.

Frus, I think you're doing the right thing. What actually did DF do to your Mum? Was it a bruised wrist or something more?

Not bruised at all, she's just a bit shocked and he was just a bit rough. I think they were both surprised and that's kinda made everything worse. I'd be more worried if he wasn't sorry - he's been moping around for days!!! But just in the back of my mind, people who are "physical" are always full of remorse after the event... But I know it was very out of character for him.

Are you making some nice soups for your poor leetle gums?

We don't wait in! We told the decorator 8am and we waited til 8.10. He didn't want to drive to the back of beyond to get the key at the real estate agent, but if he's turned up late, that's what he'll have to do.

It's just annoying, the decorating should have been done before I went to Australia in June, it's now late August! I have a hole the size of a watermelon in the wall near the bath, a pipe going to a toilet cistern that no longer exists, six colours of paint and wall paper on various surfaces, it's horrid.

We're going to wait it out til the end of September, if no action by then we'll threaten to hand in our notice. They'll never rent out the house with the bathroom in that state!

Blimey! How bonkers! We had a landlord try to move us out for two weeks and back again IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR FINALS while he decorated! We said - give us a month and we'll be gone for good! We know about his 2 weeks - it's usually 6 months! He also did some stuff in the bathroom and it wasn't finished and was going to drag on over Christmas. We really had to chase them and finally got them to finish it on christmas eve. Of course, these guys didn't do Christmas! We could go for a walk on Christmas day and buy most things...

Woo hoo! I actually managed to go to the dentist WITHOUT fainting this time! Major step forward. Anyway, two teeth out - he said its easier than it should be because of this problem with the gums - but then, if I didn't have the problem with the gums I wouldn't be having the teeth out! I just wish he'd STOP TALKING ALL THE TIME! The way he rabbits on you'd think he was a hairdresser.

I'm lucky, I've never rented except for one six month period immediately after I left the first Mr Sarah, so I can only imagine how miserable it must be to have to wait on someone else to do the arranging of repairs and decoration. I'd hate for someone else to have the keys to my house, though.

Oh dear.... DH had the morning off to take me to the dentist. Sods law that he had to still be here when all my eBay purchases arrived....

Frus, I know what you're saying about repentant abusers and you're right, they do - but generally it is only lip service and their body language doesn't match the words.

That's ok then! I do think he's genuinely sorry, but I just have a conviction that I would never stand a violent/abusive person, and now I feel a little uncomfortable. Like he's brushed the edges of my tolerance...

How much stuff did you get off ebay? I'm still waiting for some Levis and some cycling stuff from cyclexpress!!

I got too much stuff off eBay. Nine parcels today Couple of pairs of good quality jeans and the rest was cool weather top half stuff. I had a re-think about cool weather clothes - I wasn't going to get any in a size 16 but decided that if this 'summer' is going to carry on like it has been the past week or two then I'll need a few warmer bits in this size - and it doesn't matter if jumpers and sweat tops are a bit baggy.

I got the jeans in size 14 but they are stretch ones and if I breathe in and lie flat on the bed I can get them on .... just.... but as soon as I move around they spontaneously unzip themselves - hopefully I'll be in them by Christmas.

I completely agree with you that violence is never acceptable. If I were you I'd wait a few days until everyone is calmer then I'd tell him that the whole thing has worried you a lot and then say exactly what you just said about his action brushing the edges of your tolerance. He needs to know that.

D'you think he was not feeling well? Perhaps he had low blood sugar - something like that? It seems strange from him to act out of character like that.

Yes he does get a bit low-blood sugary but he'd just had most of a Mars bar, maybe 30 minutes to an hour before hand. Maybe that crashed him, who knows?

Wow Moo!

Enjoy the Festival!!!

Some of my faves there! Slayer, Feeder and the very wonderful Fall!!!

Let us know how you got on and whether you get foot rot or not!!


2 Frus - I guess it is harder for you because you say your Dad was violent with your mum. Hopefully this was out of character for your DF though. He needs to know your worries though.

Sarah Ann - I hope that doesn't mean you will be a flasher if those jeans come undone!!

I wore my new dress for the do in Leics. I thought it looked ok and did not expose anythng it shouldn't but halfway through the evening I was exposing part of my bra! Ok for younger slimmer girls, but not the look I was hoping for!

Ah well......

nonononononononono! Mum's Dad hit her when she was a child.

Do we get pictures of the frock?

Sorry yes I realised my mistake when I had already sent it!

No pic - unless my friend sends me one from his camera.

However if you go into a Debenhams and look for Kaliko - it is a cream dress with red and green floral things on it (good description, eh?). It has a bit of a wrap around at the bust (I got in such a pickle trying to dress myself!!!). They have skirts in the same material. I just thought I would get away from black for a while!

Yes, it could have crashed him - it certainly would crash me.

Peacock - you are going to have to tell us your proper name - its weird to think of someone as Peacock all the time Nowt wrong with a bit of bra exposure - if Madonna can do it then so can you.

About Madonna.... In 1985 (Live Aid year) - I can clearly remember reading a biog about her and thinking that she and I were the same age. Well - last year when I turned 50 she miraculously turned 48 - she was suddenly two years younger than me .... and then this year, when I turned 51 - she turned 48 AGAIN - three years younger than me! Hmmmm.... something wrong with her maths I think!

that's ok - my Dad's an apart from his indiscretion during his midlife crisis. Perhaps we are all allowed one mistake?