Builders
Fall
Plumbers
Car Crash
Tilers
Floor layers
Builders
and throughout, from beginning to end, dealing with insurance companies
Except for one lot of tiles which are nothing to do with the leak, all the dirty work is done. It's been a nightmare. Having a serious fall in the kitchen and crashing the car were optional extras I could have done without. The fall was worse than the crash, I was black and blue for many weeks and am still not able to to walk easily. The crash was minor but, because my car is old, the insurance company wrote it off. I consulted my wonderful mechanic who said the only damage was to the bodywork and he'd be able to fix it within the financial limits of the claim. The car is finally back, it took ages for the materials to arrive from Europe. I probably will give up driving when the next tax, insurance, MOT etc. fall due but until then I have the car I am used to. It looks better than it did, all the incidental scratches and scars I caused it over the years have been ironed out. We also found a mouse nest under the bonnet and several pounds of bird peanuts which the rodent tenant must have squirrelled away since the previous service. Mice don't bother me, you can't live deep in the country and fear mice.
The building repairs were far more serious than thought at first, a whole wall was damp and mouldy inside and out and had to be taken down. It turned out that there was a second leak which was only discovered when the builders removed the wall. Before the fall, stupidly over the Sketchers on my feet, I worked very happily in the garden but that came to an abrupt end, of course.
I really could have done with some assistance throughout, but it is what it is. When I consider the things some of you who are my age do I can only hang my head in shame. I no longer need to look after aged parents, grandchildren or work for a living. I don't need to move house and pack the household into dozens of boxes. I don't have to get used to a whole new regime unless I want to. I can afford to pay people to do the jobs that are now beyond me. As I would probably have bored everyone rigid with tales of woe I felt blogging should take a back seat until progress was on the horizon. It now is.
There is still Covid, of course. Three vaccinations later I dare stick my head above the parapet and hope for the best. Sadly, there are still people of my acquaintance who refuse vaccinations.
I'm sorry to hear about your fall and the other problems. Glad you are doing better now.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the wall repair may have been a blessing in disguise. What damage would have been done if they hadn't discovered the second leak?
You have had a difficult few months, Friko. Actually I'm finding a lot of people have been having a difficult few months recently. I don't have any advice except 'keep on keeping on'. We do what we can and give the rest to God ("Let go and let God"). One of my dear friends just lost her husband of 50+ years, another is dealing with the loss of her home after a hurricane, etc. I will add you to my prayer list. Both are in their late 70's. I'm glad you have gotten your 3 vacs. We have too. We get vaccinated, wear our masks, and hope for the best...
ReplyDeleteHi Friko, I hope your sore body is healing. You mentioned wearing sketchers and I can't help telling you about Allbirds. They're a sneaker but quite nice looking and secure and comfortable to the max. You may know of them already--they're very popular--but if not, I think you'll benefit from checking Allbirds out.
ReplyDeleteOh the repairs and renovations. You've had too much coming at you! I hope you are now able to be calm and cozy as the holiday approaches.
love
kj
I'm glad you're on the mend, and have resumed blogging.
ReplyDeleteYour 'persona' is more important than the car and building repairs. Take extra care to avoid any falls and other misfortunes, as far as possible!
Thank you sincerely for looking in and letting us know that you are soldiering on. Your resilience, capability and good nature come through this post and are appreciated. We have come to care about you, and to look to you. Aloha my friend
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your chapter of accidents. Things never seem to come at handy intervals so we can handle them. These were all pretty big things, too. I'm hoping you recover from the fall completely. It really shakes you up.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see you come up for air, Friko, after what has obviously been a very trying time. One calamity after another it seems. I think you should have shared the misery with us all while it was going on. It might have been therapeutic and we have open ears and broad shoulders. Be that as it may, you are back with us now and we all appreciate your company once again.
ReplyDeleteIt really is good to "see" you again - Your perseverance is commendable. Let's hope that bunch of trials will suffice for a while, to build character or whatever!!! I mean, what is there to do but be patient? Wishing you good strength for all that you must do.
ReplyDeleteThank you for poking your head above the parapet and letting us know how you are. I was worrying.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about all the misfortunes that you have been forced to face and hope that they are firmly in the rear view mirror.
Gosh you've had a hard time of it. You are sounding very positive and it seems like things are on the up.
ReplyDeletePhew - you really had it rough there! Sorry to hear your fall was so serious it is still making your former level of activity difficult.
ReplyDeleteIt will be at least February before the booster jab will be available for me, but I will have it, as soon as possible.
It’s good to see you back. Hopefully now it’s “mending” time: car, walls, and you!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear from you, even tho' you've had a tough time. Yeah, I know, those bruises take a long time to heal, esp. as we get older. But please, don't get me started on the selfish, short-sighted people who won't get vaccinated ... and then hide behind "personal choice" and won't even reveal their status.
ReplyDeleteGood to read a post from you again, Friko. Would that the news of late could have been better for you. Grosse Umarmung aus SF.x
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your fall and car crash. I wondered what happened to you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the fall. Another blog friend of mine recently fell and broke her tibia. So far I'm steady on my feet. And what a nightmare, having to have a whole wall down. After having to restore half my house after the flood and an unexpected remodel of the other bathroom last year, I can sympathise. Hope I never have to go through that again. Glad to hear it's about done.
ReplyDeleteHow good it is to see you post again. I am sorry for the fall and the car crash, and all the resultant dealings. I hope the house project will soon be ended and you can settle in for the winter without builders coming and going.
ReplyDeleteHi Friko – so good to find the post up – and yes … you have been busy – perhaps not all in the ways you wanted … but it sounds like you're near the end …
ReplyDeleteThe car with its mouse nest and then the mid-night feast of peanuts always at the ready … great fun to read about. I'm pleased to read it's back in working order and at least you can have time to think about giving up driving … not easy being in 'rural-land' …
The building challenges sound 'horrid' – but thank goodness they've been done. Shoes – I bought some walking shoes and they've got large perimeters … so I am in 'constant fear' of tripping while wearing them – and thus feel for you … I'm glad it seems it was only bash and bruise after the fall – and that you're well on the mend now.
Yup – Covid keeps us in check … however – so good to hear from you again and to know that life is sorting itself out. Take care and with thoughts from down south – cheers Hilary
Troubles came for you in battalions. I am glad you are now peeping over the fence and testing the blogging waters so to speak.
ReplyDeleteI came through 2 years of hell myself so can relate. Keeping one foot in front of the other is sometimes the only thing we can do in a day without collapsing.
I'm so glad you're back.
XO
WWW
It is okay to complain! I've been doing a lot of it ever since my hip replacement in August. I should be back to normal by now! My doc says, "No, you aren't going to get back to normal as fast as others, because YOU'RE 73 and YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT. So, here in Arizona for the winter, I'm out in the sun, hoping to walk off some of the overage.
ReplyDeleteBuilding issues aside, you've certainly been through the wringer..onwards and upwards as they say but so good to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteYour experience is a prime example of what I've recently observed -- all sorts of unexpected events that never seemed to occur when my husband was still living began to crop up after he died. I've fallen twice but not had the severity recovering as you apparently had. My frustration was in not being able to get up easily and quickly, but I was more experienced by the second time and will be an expert should there be another time which I hope there is not -- or that nothing is broken either as it wasn't before. As I've told my concerned children, this "living in place", remaining in my home, is a grand experiment and a learning experience to me -- learning to adapt, learning from mistakes, etc. In my youth, I lived alone in an efficiency apartment before I met my husband, then wed, but living in my own home with an outdoor yard is quite a different matter -- complicated, too, by my somewhat(?) different age physical limitations by comparison.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your car crash proved to be non-injurious to you and even your car survived. I recently had some distressing car issues with my moon roof that can't be fixed so I'm jealous.
I surely don't envy you all the building repairs and am glad you have that over and done with. I won't have to worry about mould in the walls here (just termites) -- we can't even get any rain.
I'm with you on the three Covid shots but I see so few people I'm not encountering any unvaccinated ones -- I don't think?
I'm desperately in need of help here and have been for some time but one I hired quit after her first 2 hour session when Covid arrived in our county. I haven't wanted to bring in some other person who would be a stranger. Of course, I had to take my chances on some other workers when I had to replace a commode, then my furnace/AC, but the workers did all mask as did I.
I hope for your sake you don't encounter any more "unexpecteds", but if this widow's experience is any indication -- don't hold your breath!
I am so glad to see a post from you. And I’m so sorry for all your troubles. You seem so self sufficient and strong. I envy you. Owning a home is fraught with problems, but it’s the price we pay to live somewhere we love. My best to you.
ReplyDeleteDon't sell your challenges short or compare them with others. They are yours and they affecting your life in a really genuine, rugged way and those feelings should be honored. I know sometimes it helps to say, "Well, I don't have it NEARLY as bad as ___," but the fact is, you're black and blue, living in the chaos of home repair, unable to enjoy the passion you enjoy most. You are allowed to feel. I'm just very glad to see your post -- I recently was thinking of you, wondering if it was garden cleaning time, what happened with the neighbors next to you and so many things.
ReplyDeleteDon't start me on the unvaccinated...
Think of the alternative. All boxed up, nothing to worry about.
ReplyDeleteU
Dear Friko,
ReplyDeleteI am very glad that you took the time to write in the blog about your successes and difficulties. This is normal - we all have difficulties and successes in something. I hope that your bruises after the fall are gone and that your car will serve you for a while.
Renovation is always a problem, and now your house will be dry and warm. Thank you for not forgetting your readers and friends!
I'm so glad to see your post, even though I've been a bit slow in getting here. I've had some of the same problems -- two cars were murdered, for example, and both totaled -- but I've never had so many issues in such a short span of time. I understand not wanting to chronicle the events here, but know that even those of us who aren't good at getting beyond "I wonder what Friko's up to?" in any concrete way have been thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteI've been a little 'off' myself, even absent any real problems. Part of it is being so far behind at work, due to weather and an assortment of complications beyond my ability to deal with: discovering rotting wood on one boat, having another sink in its slip. It's always something. Anyway, we're still having fine, if much cooler, weather, and I'm intending to settle down and work this weekend and next, despite our holidays. Sometimes, just getting caught up is the est thing in the world.
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about the fall and hope you heal up quickly.
ReplyDeleteI too am glad to see you posting; I stop by regularly hoping you will
ReplyDeleteI too am sorry to hear your woes; I am glad you are surrounded by Love here.
❤️ cat and her cat Theo Thunderbutt :)
ReplyDeleteunfortunately, some people reject covid 19 vaccine, but they accept previous vaccines....
ReplyDeletetake care
I am sorry you have had such a rotten run, but happy to hear you are on the mend. Sadly, there are people on our family too who resist the vaccination. Happy you could get your car repaired. it's good to see youback on line. My blog is not working and I pop in now and again. Glad I did.
ReplyDeleteComing Up For Air - the title of one of George Orwell's novels - and a good one too. It is good to see you breathing in the blog world again.
ReplyDeleteI'm finally catching up on all my Blog reading and I can see you will be glad 2021 is behind you, what a LOT you have been through my Dear Friko... and yet you Soldier on. Blogging can be very much a Welcome Release when Life becomes Much.
ReplyDelete