A Week of Confusion

Hello Friends!

It has been a week of upsets and confusion, stressful situations and all could have been avoided.

The first of these issues was with Welsh Water.  I did say I wouldn't bore you with details, but oh! what a load of time and money wasters they are!  We all agree on one thing: they don't know what they are doing, there's a criminal amount of water wasting while they take years to do repairs, and we are the ones footing the bill. okay, that's three things!

On Tuesday I received a vague message from Welsh Water telling me they would be here the following day.  I phoned to find out what it was about.  

Apparently, there is a leak which needs fixing but they couldn't provide anything specific as to where it is, or exactly what access would be needed. I told them it was too short notice and that I needed more information.  Their answer was not helpful.  I called again and the help was much better.  It was explained to me that a leak had been detected in August of last year and that I had been notified in September of said leak and told to get it repaired.  I have received no such notification.  So, now they are coming to fix it and I will be billed.  I asked where the leak was.  They don't know, so they will be all over my garden and house trying to find it and then digging up the spot where it is located. This has the potential to be under my drive, or in my kitchen.  It could even be in a neighbouring property as my supply goes under the garden in front and they have since built a big extension over it. They have no legal obligation to put right what they dig up.

I said I needed more information; they can't just barge in and dig up my floor! Tuesday was not a good day as I had several appointments and that blocking my drive would not be acceptable.  The lady was very helpful, told me she had passed on my concerns, cancelled the appointment and requested a rebooking to be discussed with me so as not to clash with appointments and to give me 48 hours notice. Fine. Or so I thought!

Tuesday morning, my a.m. care call helper left around 8:40 and within three minutes was phoning me to ask did I know Welsh Water was blocking my access and digging up my drive!!!  So much for the helpful lady the day before.

More stressful calls followed, but apparently the leak was detected just on my side of the stop tap, no further disruption, so I just let it go, it was done. 

Until Wednesday.

I got a phone call from the lady I spoke to on Monday about rescheduling the appointment she'd cancelled and to set up the replacement.  I explained they'd been, it was done, and that was it.  Oh, no, she said, this is the next one as they now suspect more leaks!!! 

I shared this on Facebook, and all I am hearing is that nearly everyone in the area seems to be having the same problems with Welsh Water as I am.  Some have been waiting for their repairs to be done for over two years!  Some say as soon as one leak is fixed another is found.  It goes on.

It certainly sounds as if there is a massive issue with the infrastructure, and our water rates just keep going up but the leaks that are causing all the issues are not being fixed in a timely fashion.

On Thursday I heard back from one of the OT's who came to see me in December last year {remember when I hurt my back?} who has finally heard back with the information required for some special equipment to help me.  They will be bringing it out for me to test in June and then it will be ordered.  I wonder how long that will take?  Good job it wasn't urgent, or was it?

Every month I get a treat by way of a subscription for several frozen ready to cook meals from COOK, for the days I don't feel much like cooking. A few days before hand I receive an email to remind me to make any changes to my order which will arrive the following weekend. Except this month, they had a blip in their system, and the nudge emails didn't make it to everyone.  My order was incomplete and on it's way and I could do nothing to add in what I wanted {particularly the Sticky Toffee Pudding and Lemon Tart}  They were very good about it, offering to refund me in full, but regardless I am now sitting with empty space in my freezer until next month. These things happen, but I was looking forward to my puds!

So between the drama and the bad weather, walking has been reduced to a minimum.  It has been annoying that it's been good while my hands were tied and I could not leave as the Cook parcel has to be signed for and put in the freezer immediately, and then the rain came!  So, I have been doing exercises and such to make up for missing the walking, and I've made a note of what I need to catch up on, which I will do by way of doing two consecutive walks joined in the middle.  The good news is I am well on target and might well be looking at extending my original goal.

I do so very much enjoy observing the changes in the hedgerows, sometimes almost overnight, the new things popping up, and how quickly other things are growing, what is doing well, what isn't doing as well, so on and so forth.

The Elderflowers seem to be having a very good year

Goosegrass living up to an alternate name, Cleavers, climbing the wall

Possibly Common Ragwort starting to flourish in the lane

Plantain a plenty Ribwort Plantain

Cats Ear or False Dandelion

{uncertain} possibly Wood Avens, aka Herb Bennett

Keeping an eye on the changing landscape, the large Sycamore is starting to fill out with leaf, and the 

Hawthorn now looks like a puffy white snowball 

Looking at tomorrow's weather, it seems I will be out early for my walk, as there is possibly heavy rain on the way.

Until next time 

💙🌷💙