Yeah, never ever use any stranger posing as a tradesman, that knocks on your door and offers to fix things. I worked in trades for years, and any tradesman that needs to knock on doors isn't obviously getting work through word of mouth as no legit company tends to look around for jobs. They're usually having to knock on doors because their work is terrible or non-existent.

My wife's 90 year old dad allowed one of those guys into his house to do a job, and he then noticed some gold sovereigns were missing. The job the guy approached her dad for was needing done, but it was also done poorly.

Hi dear Christine hope you have plenty of painting material about i just said to Brenda buy time the baby painting is done it'll be a teenager Brenda laughed so much she wet herself so I've got to change her now. Sorry about your neighbour hope things go well. 

Hope you builders do a good job. 

Take care keep smiling  . .\{°♤°}/

Love Billy xxxx 

Hiya Billy,

The workmen did a great job, except for cleaning up after themselves, I spent two hours hosing down and sweeping up.

I am thinking of changing my avatar to the baby picture, just to prove I finished it!

Love

C x

Hiya!

That's terrible. I never employ anyone to do a job if they have to knock on doors.  That's why I didn't really mind waiting for my job to be done. I know a lot of their satisfied customers. Even so, I locked my doors when I took the dog out!

Cx

Dear all, a busy week so sorry for the lack of communication!  Monday was my hospital visit inspection, got up, had a shower, toast and ccoffe as it was going to be a long day until I was fed.  I promptly knocked it off the resting place, the plate landed right side up, the coffee floated over it, down the cream sofa, all over the cream cushions, I just stood and looked at the mess, why me?  So I had very little time to clean up which meant I had to leave it all  soaked in coffee until I arrived home.  I arrived at the hospital in plenty of time, booked in at reception, ten minutes later I enquired as to where my meeting was, apparently in a building three blocks away!  So by the time I managed to find everyone they'd had the meeting, did you find the signage OK I'm asked, not really because having driven around in a circle to find a parking space I was lost, there's a sign pointing to the main reception I'm told, no there isn't I say!!  Let's just say signage was a fail.  So by 5pm I'd had a ham sandwich all day, but I was getting fed, or so I thought.  The probe to check the food temperature had broken and by the time another one was found the food had been reheated twice and had to be thrown away, never mind I say I've kept the apple you gave me for my snack!  So this visit is now rescheduled.  Before I'd left the post came and it was the reply to my complaint but I left it until I gut home, had a stiff gin and tonic and sat down to have a look at what had been said.  Anyway, it would seem that Norman was at fault for most of it as he was Independent, stubborn and didn't want any help.  A few things would be discussed at the next Huddle meetings, however much of what I had wanted investigating was ignored.  The following day I sent an email to patients experience, not at all happy that my stoic husband was left to rot in his own skin because he was independent and stubborn, those qualities helped him survive five years of cancer treatment, it's pitiful to treat a patient as he was in his last few weeks.  I am now seeing a solicitor next week and taking this further.  They called me yesterday (patient experience) and I kept my cool until I mentioned the state he was sent home in, it's like picking the scab off a healing wound but my wonderful husband deserved better and if one other person is treated better because of this I will at least have achieved something in his memory.  Billy, Christine and Rose I hope all is not too bad in your worlds.  Much love, Carol x 

Hi Carol, I finally caught up with all the posts... So sorry a lot of what you complained about has been ignored. It's a deliberate strategy, and makes me angry on both your and Norman's behalf. I totally get why you taking this further. Norman's independent nature and stubbornness had nothing to do with so much that you complained about! The system we are both up against is like one of those lawyer's letters when they either mis-state or sidestep lots of issues deliberately to make it really hard work to unpick anything and thus take the fight right out of you. It's so hard to keep on going in the face of that. You do need to be careful in pursuing this because of the impact it will have on your own health. But, the world needs brave people like you. I wish you luck with it all. It won't be easy. It sounds like you are just the right person to be doing those hospital inspections, and the place definitely needs inspecting! It's brilliant you have been able to take this on, though a pity about the cream sofa and cushions. I guess that's just one of those things ... What a day for it to happen! You dealt with it very calmly. So glad you didn't let it put you off doing the inspection. Hope the follow-up visit is a lot better in terms of the food. (There should never be reliance on a single thermometer...)  On the home front, my friend finally managed to get GP to do a colorectal referral as life, this week especially, is getting so difficult and there might be something that can be done (under local rather than general anaesthetic). So, if  cancer is again adding into the mix we will know hopefully. I kind of gave up a few weeks ago, but then coming back on here I felt inspired to do more plus what has happened this week has given my friend the will to fight more too. Honestly, tell me about stubborn, independent men who don't make things easy by the way they "tell" things to the doctors. My friend has a tendency to adopt different personas depending on context. Also, he'll get so far down a road, take fright, and have to backtrack, whilst not wanting to admit it. So, we're going down another path with ?chance of an up rather than depressingly straight down. I haven't the energy to write much at present and hope this isn't an awful garbled mess. It's been a very stressful week. Love Rose xx

Hi Christine - I only saw your post after replying to Carol! What a week you too have had. Your friend is lucky to have you visiting. Hope your visit goes well. We're past the stage of being able to preserve modesty. It's been a week of accidents – and not just at home. Xx

Hi Rose,

The afternoon visit was great, his son arrived just as we did, and my friend was in good form.  I stayed after the son left. We have both got a wicked sense of humour, so we spent most of the time joking about everything and nothing. He had a cuddle with Bobbin,  and stroked Archie's ears. I was able to sort out his Sky box for him. He fell over the last time he tried to do it. I've got Bobbin again tomorrow so we will do it all again. I hope.

I am concerned about him and really I am just a neighbour, I hope his family would think to let me know if anything happened to him, but I couldn't guarantee it.  It must be much harder for you when you are so close to the person and going through everything with them. I'm glad you are sounding more positive in yourself, this forum is a great place for letting feelings out without being judged.

Take care,

Christine xx

Dear Carol and friends. 

Just had a toasted ham sandwich for breakfast looking out windows seems like we have rain nearly every day here, still getting plenty of sun but icy cold in shade might do a scooter run later on bits for Brenda. 

Brenda admitted she's nervous about using scooter and having accident as I've been trying to get her out on it for ages, so I've sold it to someone who'll use it. We've still got 2, im definitely keeping big black one for shopping on dry days saving fuel and parking costs. 

Carol such a shame hospital ar messing you about and your first hospital check went so wrong. 

Really hope you can get all things sorted about hospital and your sofa comes up without stains. 

Christine really glad your friend is managing better now and you're popping round, i know what it's like for us we have each other, but always nice when carer comes to help and chat. 

Rose what can i say your friend is having big problems and your sticking with it helping him nomater what. That shows devotion and care. 

Love to all Billy xxxx