Can I just say that I hate tradesmen???? I have had the WORST time trying to get this leak in the roof sorted. First of all, it's been like pulling teeth to even get roofers out here to look at it. Then the few who do come out don't even bother with mailing me a quote (people here only mail written quotes, they never tell you a price right there on the spot). I waited a month for one, and then after giving up and calling two more roofers I managed to get one more written quote, to have the magic three required so the rest of my building could decide. The unfortunate thing was that all three quotes were for wildly different things... So it's a bit hard to compare apples to oranges. Anyhow, long story short - there is no consensus in the building about what to do. So, I called the Council (that's just what we call city government here) to have them put a statutory notice on the building. That means they'll call in a city building specialist to look at the roof and determine what needs to be done. Then they'll hire a roofer and bill the other tenants separately. The extra cost of having the city manage the work is 15% and their contractors always seem to cost twice as much an anyone else, which is incentive for flat owners to work together and avoid this type of situation. But for me, I'm just tired of staying home on my days off to wait for roofers and trying to get a hold of my neighbors who are never home. It's been 6 months and we still have a stain on my bedroom ceiling! Hopefully the council can get this resolved soon, although I hear they have lots of work and may take a year.... Oh well, perhaps we'll just pay for a half-ass job to try for a quick fix instead of the full blown council work.
That's the roof story, then we also tried to get quotes for reopening up a skylight in our hallway. I called in a builder from what I thought was a reputable firm (http://www.brucecollie.co.uk/), only to have the dishonest idiot either drop something heavy or step on our plaster ceiling. I heard a big crack while he was up there and immediately got scared. But he took forever before coming down and then didn't say anything and I sort of forgot about it. Then after he left I noticed that there was a round caved in portion of our plaster ceiling next to the skylight opening(which is currently covered with plywood). Our ceiling is wall papered, so nothing actually fell down, which makes the repair all that much more expensive, as we'll now need to stripe wallpaper off of our entire 30 foot ceiling, patch the hole/crack and then repaper and paint the thing! I have no clue what the cost will be, but I image it'll be at least £1,000. I called the company and spoke to the secretary. She called the boss and the boss told her to call me back and tell me to talk directly to the kid that came out to do the work! Can you believe that? He didn't' even try to talk to me directly. Well, needless to say this kid said that he didn't step off of the loft joists and crack the plaster - DUH! If he didn't tell me right after he did it, do you think he'd fess up a day later? But he's coming out on Tuesday morning to have a second look at his damage after I told him to. Needless-to-say, I am not letting him up in our loft again. And will have to find out (or ask one of my many techno-genius friends!) how to google slam this builder's website with my poor reviews of his business if he doesn't at least pay my home insurance deductible. Hell hath no furry like a woman scorned!!! Oh, it's all just such a pain in the butt! I wish I had a list of great tradesmen without having to learn the hard way!
Well, enough about my flat bitching... Here's a great video of Marius having a blast with his friend Francis. And some photos of our wonderful day today at Campbell Castle.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Sunday, 2 November 2008
A very beachy weekend
This weekend has been great!!! I'm not sure I have ever seen such a dry weekend in the year and some months I've lived here. So, we decided to go to the beach yesterday and today. Yesterday we went on a bit of a drive out to Gullane, where we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately it was at 3:30 in the afternoon.... But we get more than our fair share of sunshine in the summer, so it really does even out. Marius was a little scared of the ocean at first though, which made us feel bad for not going out there more often. He just started shaking and staring out at the water. I thought he was just cold, but after putting on his mittens, we realized it wasn't the cold wind, but the water that was scaring him. Perhaps watching a video of killer whales coming up to shore and eating baby seals the night before walking along the beach wasn't the best of ideas! But after a half hour or so, he got more excited about it and forgot his fear.
As we were walking along the beach I told him that we'd go to another beach in California, where Nana and Paka live next month. And, mom you will be VERY happy to know that for the first time he said "nana" and "paka." But I think my may think you are the ocean, because he kept saying it after I mentioned the word beach! Oh well, he'll get to spend about 3 weeks with you in December, so it'll sink in who you are then!
We went to another beach today too. But this one was much closer to the house and not quite as scenic. The tide was really far out, exposing lots of sand with little ripple ridges and pools of water. Marius really enjoys splashing in the puddles, so next time we'll have to make sure he's wearing his rain suit and has his wellington boots. That being said, he didn't seem to mind it being cold and his trousers (I have to remember to keep saying trousers as opposed to pants, because pants mean underwear here!) being wet.
Here are some pics from the weekend.
As we were walking along the beach I told him that we'd go to another beach in California, where Nana and Paka live next month. And, mom you will be VERY happy to know that for the first time he said "nana" and "paka." But I think my may think you are the ocean, because he kept saying it after I mentioned the word beach! Oh well, he'll get to spend about 3 weeks with you in December, so it'll sink in who you are then!
We went to another beach today too. But this one was much closer to the house and not quite as scenic. The tide was really far out, exposing lots of sand with little ripple ridges and pools of water. Marius really enjoys splashing in the puddles, so next time we'll have to make sure he's wearing his rain suit and has his wellington boots. That being said, he didn't seem to mind it being cold and his trousers (I have to remember to keep saying trousers as opposed to pants, because pants mean underwear here!) being wet.
Here are some pics from the weekend.
Friday, 31 October 2008
Happy Halloween
Another year, another pumpkin outfit. Perhaps next year we'll spice it up a bit, but this day always seems to sneek up on my like an invisible ghost. Ghosts get my every time too...
We sadly had no trick or treaters this year. :( I heard lots in the houses behind us, but I think most people don't think of our building as residential, plus it's on a busy street. Oh well, more chocolate for me!!
Marius dressed up for nursery today. He was totally the cutest one there! They had party events all day so the kids had a particularly fun time.
This weekend is supposed to be fairly sunny. Cold, but sunny. I'm going to take Marius to meet some friends at the soft play by our old flat, then perhaps we'll try to get out of town for a little hike or something. Hopefully we'll have some good photos out and about.
Well, enjoy the pics!
We sadly had no trick or treaters this year. :( I heard lots in the houses behind us, but I think most people don't think of our building as residential, plus it's on a busy street. Oh well, more chocolate for me!!
Marius dressed up for nursery today. He was totally the cutest one there! They had party events all day so the kids had a particularly fun time.
This weekend is supposed to be fairly sunny. Cold, but sunny. I'm going to take Marius to meet some friends at the soft play by our old flat, then perhaps we'll try to get out of town for a little hike or something. Hopefully we'll have some good photos out and about.
Well, enjoy the pics!
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Another cold, rainy and windy weekend
Oh boy I'm sick and tired of horrible weekends! I didn't want to leave the house yesterday because it was to rainy and windy all day. And today I can't leave the house because I'm prepping for my colonoscopy tomorrow. For anyone who has been through the process, you'll understand. For those unfamiliar with the process, trust me, you'd rather not know the details.
I wish the weather would perk up so we could spend more time outside. I think we're just going to have to get used to being wet outside. It's either that or we never go outside... Oh well, it's not all bad. I was going through my videos today and I did manage to get the family out in our garden for some yard work and playing. I planted tons of bulbs and some poppy seeds, so come springtime it should be pretty out there.
Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow goes well for me. There are some ways that the medical system here is better than the states. But for major stuff, I think I'd still go back home... that is if I had insurance. (which I wouldn't unless I had a good job) I'm a bit scared about the whole process here and not getting enough drugs to knock me out. Ah well, I will survive.
I wish the weather would perk up so we could spend more time outside. I think we're just going to have to get used to being wet outside. It's either that or we never go outside... Oh well, it's not all bad. I was going through my videos today and I did manage to get the family out in our garden for some yard work and playing. I planted tons of bulbs and some poppy seeds, so come springtime it should be pretty out there.
Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow goes well for me. There are some ways that the medical system here is better than the states. But for major stuff, I think I'd still go back home... that is if I had insurance. (which I wouldn't unless I had a good job) I'm a bit scared about the whole process here and not getting enough drugs to knock me out. Ah well, I will survive.
Friday, 24 October 2008
I'm cold!
Yup, that's about all. I am really cold, but refuse to turn on the heater when it's right before bedtime... Perhaps I ought to just get in bed.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Who can blog when there's driving to be done?
Yes, that's right... I am now officially legal to drive forever in the UK!!!!! Well, I'm not sure about the forever part of it, but I did manage to pass my driving test the first time. Now, all of you Americans will think that's no major feat, but let me tell you the driving test here is rediculously stringent and the fail rate is like 60% in most places. Simon failed his first test, so I was nervous. But after hundreds of pounds worth of driving lessons, it paid off and I passes straight away. I totally could have been failed, but the guy was really nice and turned a blind eye to a few things and scored them as minor faults instad of major faults which mean you fail.
We haven't really been able to take full advantage of my new driving situation because I was sick two weeks ago and this past weekend we had a nursery fiasco.... The fiasco was that it was closed on Friday for staff training. Ordinarily this wouldn't have been a problem, but neither Simon nor I knew about it, so he went to drop Marius off - right before he was due at the train station to take a trian up to St. Andrews where his friend would pick him up and drive another hour and a half up into the woods to conduct a weekend field trip. Ugh, Simon called me and I had no clue why the nursery had its light off and doors locked. After many frantic calls to my nursery and their corporate office, I was finally informed of this training... I guess they had fliers up on the walls, but they also have about 10,000 other pieces of paper and crap all over the walls, so how was I supposed to know which ones I should read? Anyhow, they credited me with a day, so I saved about $100. But the end result was that I had to drive Simon up to this woodsy lodge after work on Friday. So we took a 2.5 hour drive in the dark and rain. If the motorways here were as well lit as in the US, it wouldn't have been any trouble, but it's really hard to see at night on the roads here so by the time we go up to the lodge, I didn't want to do any more driving. But, of course there were no extra rooms, so I shared a twin room with Simon, our friend Mike who works at St. Andrew's University, and Marius. It was a closet of a room, so needless to say it was quite cramped. Then I drove back home Sat and had the rest of the weekend to myself as Simon was still up in the woods. Oh well, perhaps this weekend we'll get out and take a hike somewhere. I'm dying to start roaming in the countryside again. Although the days are getting really short now and it's totally cold, but better that than staying inside for the rest of my life I suppose.
That's about all. There is no resolution on the roof... I think I will have to pay 50% of the cost with my downstairs neighbor, and he thinks the whole building will have to share the cost... How to resolve that, I'm not sure, but I've been ingnoring the issue. I need to invite him up here with his wife so we can site down with a glass of wine and look at the deeds to see what's what. But, the house is a mess so I've put it off. The house is always a mess though... so I should just go down and have a chat anyhow. Oh well, I'm tired of thinking about it. I just wish I could get it done myself and not organize some sort of communal payment. What a pain in the backside!
We haven't really been able to take full advantage of my new driving situation because I was sick two weeks ago and this past weekend we had a nursery fiasco.... The fiasco was that it was closed on Friday for staff training. Ordinarily this wouldn't have been a problem, but neither Simon nor I knew about it, so he went to drop Marius off - right before he was due at the train station to take a trian up to St. Andrews where his friend would pick him up and drive another hour and a half up into the woods to conduct a weekend field trip. Ugh, Simon called me and I had no clue why the nursery had its light off and doors locked. After many frantic calls to my nursery and their corporate office, I was finally informed of this training... I guess they had fliers up on the walls, but they also have about 10,000 other pieces of paper and crap all over the walls, so how was I supposed to know which ones I should read? Anyhow, they credited me with a day, so I saved about $100. But the end result was that I had to drive Simon up to this woodsy lodge after work on Friday. So we took a 2.5 hour drive in the dark and rain. If the motorways here were as well lit as in the US, it wouldn't have been any trouble, but it's really hard to see at night on the roads here so by the time we go up to the lodge, I didn't want to do any more driving. But, of course there were no extra rooms, so I shared a twin room with Simon, our friend Mike who works at St. Andrew's University, and Marius. It was a closet of a room, so needless to say it was quite cramped. Then I drove back home Sat and had the rest of the weekend to myself as Simon was still up in the woods. Oh well, perhaps this weekend we'll get out and take a hike somewhere. I'm dying to start roaming in the countryside again. Although the days are getting really short now and it's totally cold, but better that than staying inside for the rest of my life I suppose.
That's about all. There is no resolution on the roof... I think I will have to pay 50% of the cost with my downstairs neighbor, and he thinks the whole building will have to share the cost... How to resolve that, I'm not sure, but I've been ingnoring the issue. I need to invite him up here with his wife so we can site down with a glass of wine and look at the deeds to see what's what. But, the house is a mess so I've put it off. The house is always a mess though... so I should just go down and have a chat anyhow. Oh well, I'm tired of thinking about it. I just wish I could get it done myself and not organize some sort of communal payment. What a pain in the backside!
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Busting out the jackets and blankets
It's official, the temperature has dropped into the single digits (Celsius) and there's no going back I'm afraid. The days are really short now and getting shorter with each passing of the sun. I've succumbed to turning the radiators on daily and have packed up my clothes drying rack as a result. My slippers have come out of the closet and the trees are turning yellow. I'm still half hoping for a Santa Ana to blow its way across the hemisphere so I can finally wear some sandals. But alas, this is Scotland. I just need to suck it up, buy a pair of fancy wellies (wellington boots - aka rubber boots) and lots of trendy tights to spice up my wardrobe. I think I'll get the boots here, but other than that, I'm waiting until we go home for Christmas to go on a minor shopping spree. I figure I've literally only bought two pairs of jeans since moving out here a year and a half ago, so I deserve the spree. Plus, I guess it's my American duty to throw my IRS check down the drain at the mall. Credit crunch be gone! I'll pump up the economy myself by buying lots of stuff!
But before we head over to Lala land, I've got lots of things to tidy up here. Like our roof and fireplace situation. I noticed a water damage spot growing on my bedroom ceiling in late August, so called several roofers to get a quote to fix the problem. But, I've gotten different responses from each roofer. Varying from the need to replace our entire roof (two of them actually said that!) to repointing (that's british for regrouting the stones/bricks) the chimney (all of them have said that) to just punching a hole in the fireplace myself to vent it. I am going to get one more roofer's opinion, and this one was a strong recommendation from an architect friend before making any decisions. But it's been over a month now, and I'd like to get some resolution, as I've already had chats with my neighbors in the building since they'd all pay a share of the cost... What a pain. But I hope it'll all be over soon. Then I can focus on getting a fireplace put into our front room, as I've given up the hope that I'd actually sledge out the bricks myself and install one. I really think this work can be done in the next 2 months so we can go away and not have to worry so much. Then when we come back it'll be time to focus on the bathroom remodel. I really want that done before my parents come out in May. I don't think my dad would be too happy with taking a bath! But I suppose he'd manage somehow!!!
Other than that, work is going really well. My contract was extended to the end of November, and I'm really starting to enjoy it and feel confident about my performance there. Hopefully something more permanent will pop up in the new year, but for now I'm just happy to have gotten back into a work routine and settled Marius into nursery. Simon's work is going really well too. He's working on a paper that will be submitted to Nature, and he's the third of about 5 or 6 authors! Keep your fingers crossed that it'll be accepted! The other authors are famous and have tons of Nature papers already, and the work is rather sexy, as science goes, so that will for sure help the chances.
Here's another gratuitous pic of the boys!
But before we head over to Lala land, I've got lots of things to tidy up here. Like our roof and fireplace situation. I noticed a water damage spot growing on my bedroom ceiling in late August, so called several roofers to get a quote to fix the problem. But, I've gotten different responses from each roofer. Varying from the need to replace our entire roof (two of them actually said that!) to repointing (that's british for regrouting the stones/bricks) the chimney (all of them have said that) to just punching a hole in the fireplace myself to vent it. I am going to get one more roofer's opinion, and this one was a strong recommendation from an architect friend before making any decisions. But it's been over a month now, and I'd like to get some resolution, as I've already had chats with my neighbors in the building since they'd all pay a share of the cost... What a pain. But I hope it'll all be over soon. Then I can focus on getting a fireplace put into our front room, as I've given up the hope that I'd actually sledge out the bricks myself and install one. I really think this work can be done in the next 2 months so we can go away and not have to worry so much. Then when we come back it'll be time to focus on the bathroom remodel. I really want that done before my parents come out in May. I don't think my dad would be too happy with taking a bath! But I suppose he'd manage somehow!!!
Other than that, work is going really well. My contract was extended to the end of November, and I'm really starting to enjoy it and feel confident about my performance there. Hopefully something more permanent will pop up in the new year, but for now I'm just happy to have gotten back into a work routine and settled Marius into nursery. Simon's work is going really well too. He's working on a paper that will be submitted to Nature, and he's the third of about 5 or 6 authors! Keep your fingers crossed that it'll be accepted! The other authors are famous and have tons of Nature papers already, and the work is rather sexy, as science goes, so that will for sure help the chances.
Here's another gratuitous pic of the boys!
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