h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The kitchen is almost finished. We worked on the floor until fairly late yesterday. It's now complete. Now all that needs to be done is:

a) putting all the stuff back in the units (and throwing stuff away as well!)
b) filling the cracks in the plastering
c) fixing the leak on the sink waste
d) painting the walls
e) fitting skirting boards
f) buying some pots and pans that work on the induction hob

The boiler has sprung a leak, which means I've had to turn the hot water off. A British Gas engineer is on his/her way tomorrow.

I'm expecting to get BT broadband tomorrow, so I won't be restricted to dial-up.

The gas man arrived. He did not have the right part. Someone else will come tomorrow, so I've had to arrange for someone to be in, as I need to be at work.

The broadband router arrived. It doesn't work.

I had an appointment at the orthodontist after work today. It took me over 2 hours to do a 30 minute journey and 2 1/2 hours to get back. Luckily the dentist was still there when I arrived over an hour late. Gridlock.

Someday, my life will flow smoothly or so I hope. At present, it sucks.

Why am I reminded of Flanders and Swan?

Commiserations, ZSF - you'll enjoy it all the more when it's finished after this ordeal. It certainly seems to have been going on for a long time.

This is the first time I've been able to use my broadband - it's been difficult. It should have gone live on Wednesday. When I phoned (and I was on the phone two hours to them yesterday) they told me there was a 10 day 'optimisation period', which seems to mean that the broadband may not work properly for 10 days after it goes live. Not what I expected at all. I was looking for an improved service.

Oh, I should have said that the gas man did come yesterday and replaced the faulty valve, TC, and I now have hot water.

I've just had the final bill for the kitchen work - 1/4 above the price quoted.

I do hate it when quotes don't reflect the final bill Is there anyway you can challenge it ZSF?

Who was after the Gasman? The glazier????

It was an extra 2,500GDP, which I don't really have. Well I have some of it, but it means that I won't have enough to pay for the kitchen in October. I'll have to be *very* frugal and we won't have money to go on holiday and paying for little 's school uniform will be a struggle too.

Is there any way to challenge it? I don't think so. He didn't give a firm quote and it was a very difficult kitchen to fit. The room isn't rectangular and the walls are all at angles. The house was built at an angle (the whole row was). Plus I had a bit of extra work - fitting a new fireplace - and the builder had to fit a bit of extra wall to fit the kitchen in.

Having no internet meant that I wasn't as able to keep on top of my finances too, which was a bit of a blow.

I just about have internet at the moment, but no e-mail. I've had to put the router in the front room where the main telephone socket is. Unfortunately, there isn't a three pin socket close and the computer is in a different room, so the router is on a table in the middle of the room with wires coming out to three different corners of the room. Not idea.

Not ideal! Another thing is that my computer keyboard doesn't seem to work as well - it keeps missing letters.

Oh, Dear ZSF, I do feel for you Why is it that for some of us nothing seems to go right first time?

Anyway, I suppose once things are right we appreciate them even more?

Good luck with sorting out your computer problems and getting all your other jobs done.

Even if you can't have a holiday perhaps you will be able to relax once everything is finished, and find some nice things to do that don't cost the . I am afraid that has been the story of my life until very recent years.

Even now when things are better, I still get a kick out of buying a bar or something equally silly without having to look in the first to see if I have enough of the to pay for it! Using the card without having to really think first is a real novelty .

I am sure things will soon get better for you too.



Websailor

Thank you, Websailor . I've been feeling a bit glum. I suppose it's because there's a lot of change across a range of things, both at home and work. I really do appreciate the support I'm getting here.