Journal Entries
Tan-tara!
Posted Sep 14, 2006
I've booked myself trumpet lessons.
They start on Monday - the day after my birthday.
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Latest reply: Sep 14, 2006
Superglued together
Posted Sep 3, 2006
I'm coming up to a birthday. I was considering my relationship and if it was going anywhere or had the potential to go somewhere in the future. I have decided to take a good look at myself and what I want. Little told the man that he wanted him to come to live with us yesterday. It's not going to happen. Certainly not in the foreseeable future. He is unemployed, trying to build a business (that I wish I believed in more than I do) and living in a shared house. So his lack of financial stability holds him back from making any commitment. So far, that's suited me too.
Whilst I was thinking about these issues and the steps I can take to get clarity on how I feel about the issue, I decided to mend a peg bag with superglue - and in the process superglued my right thumb and forefinger together. I was horrified. They were firmly stuck and the more I tried to force them apart, the more they stuck together. Trying to use a knife didn't work. I remembered that the best way was to prize them apart gradually - put them underwater and used one of my fingernails to work at the glue. Then suddently - pop - they came apart and it was such a relief.
Was it a co-incidence that this happened at the time I was thinking about the relationship issue?
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Latest reply: Sep 3, 2006
Plumbers - a cautionary tale
Posted Sep 2, 2006
I had a new washing machine delivered a few days ago. I'd arranged for the company who delivered it to fit it and for the old machine to be taken away. Before the mcahine arrived, I was pleased that the delivery company phoned ahead (twice) to confirm that it was coming that particular day and once on the day to say they were half an hour away.
I was less impressed when the delivery man said he couldn't fit it as he didn't have the right connection part and wouldn't take the old machine away as it wasn't on his ticket, and no amount of phoning the company I bought it throough would change that. I was not happy.
I phoned a local plumber, who quoted me £65 plus parts to fit it. When the plumber he arrived, he said £90 all in. That meant that the part - a small ridged piece of plastic - cost £25. I reluctantly agreed to this. Then it appeared that the old hose connector was blocked and needed to be replaced. The plumber said that he didn't have a piece of hose in his van and would have to go to a plumbers supply shop (about 10 minutes away) and get one and because of the extra time, the cost would now be £150. I felt trapped and agreed to it. He also said I didn't need the connector pipe that came with the machine and took it away.
I was a very unhappy person. I felt I'd been taken advantage of and ripped off. I phoned the next day to ask for a justification of the charge and to ask for my connector hose back. I didn't get a reduction in price - or a good explanation - but I did get the connector hose back.
In retrospect, I realised that I hadn't challenged the price hike at the time because I was feeling very off balance because of what had happened with the delivery. What I should have done is said, "I was quoted £65 plus parts - how much is the part?"
I don't know if the plumber had the part in his van or not. It was about one and half metres. As the whole job took about 3/4 hour, including getting the part, I reckon he was charging about £180 an hour. Nice work if you can get it.
Again, I should have challenged the quote of £150. However, if I need work done again, I won't just roll over. As they say, once bitten, twice shy.
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Latest reply: Sep 2, 2006
Fully braced
Posted Aug 28, 2006
I've now had my top brace put on. It was nowhere near as traumatic as the bottom brace. None of the soreness or irritation to tongue and inside of the lip. It does make it a bit difficult to smile properly or (especially) to laugh. The brace catches and gets in the way. Still, it will be worth it in a couple of years time when I have a Hollywood smile.
The bottom teeth are already straight - it only needs the gap closing and it will be fine!
Still a bit difficult to eat. I can't bite properly and can still only chew on one side. Still, it's getting a bit easier now.
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Latest reply: Aug 28, 2006
Is Mercury retrograde?
Posted Aug 22, 2006
I've had a couple of things go wrong in the last two days. My washing machine has more or less packed up - I think the pump has gone - last time that happened it cost £185 and that was in 2000. And today, my computer printer appears to have packed up too! 
I've spent a couple of hours (and the rest) trying to sort it out as I have some urgent things to print for a Toastmasters meeting tomorrow. I'm the Toastmaster, so I'm supposed to be organised! 
It's w-a-a-y past my bedtime now. 
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Latest reply: Aug 22, 2006
Zarquon's Singing Fish!
Researcher U182827
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