The Random Thread

[tonicha]

Bente is really peeing me off.

She rang last night - to say that she didn't know when she could come over and see us, as she's visiting her neighbour in hospital - every day.

This, from the lady who told me, not once, but twice, that she couldn't visit me in hospital (when I had Gladys and then when I broke my leg) as, although she's a nurse, she didn't feel right, visiting a hospital in Portugal

So, for the second time in a few months, we're having to wait for weeks before we get paid

I'm happy to tell her to stuff the work, but as Grumpy said, the odd 60 - 100 euros is very nice.

So when/if we sell, we're going to give her about a weeks notice

[Kaz]

I agree with you - tell her to stuff it and try her Norwegian version of Lady Muck on somebody else

[Diflower]

Ton you're going to have extra dosh soon.
You need to get a bit assertive with her.
I honestly think you should phone her and say, so since you can't come here then, we''ll pop by so we can collect the money you owe us.

And while you're there, if she suggests when you should be going again - once you have her money - you say, no Bente we can't do that, we've decided it's too much hassle
Go on, be brave xx

[tonicha]

Di, you know that track - it's not nice and it's almost an hour round trip up there and back, so we'll wait.

She's going back to Norway in February - maybe we'll be gone by then and forget to tell her

[Kaz]

[tonicha]

I have a cold - I'm going to bed

[Ally]

Aaaaw Ton - hope you feel better soon. xx

[Diflower]

Nooooooo Ton colds not allowed

[JoM]

Hope you feel better soon Ton xx

[JoM]

That's answered that question then!

We have old friends, M and his wife C (M is one of Tom's Godfathers, that's how close a friend of John's he was at one time). We don't see much of them now, they moved about an hour away some years ago. Anyway, Christmas and birthdays we've always either taken or posted gifts for their three children and they've done the same for Tom and Joe. Though they're seriously rich and spend loads more on our two than we spend on their children and I think this may be the root of what's happened, because M is quite materialistic and I get the feeling he'd think we don't spend enough on his kids. Kids who we never see and who I could walk past in the street and not recognise.

Anyway, the last time John saw M was last Christmas when he went over to swap gifts. When it came to Tom's birthday in February there wasn't even so much as a card from M&C. I just assumed that they'd forgotten. It was their daughter's birthday in March and I sent a voucher and card. In May, Joe didn't get anything either. I sent their other daughter a voucher for her birthday in July but when it came to their 14 year old son's birthday in November I just thought b****r it.

We were wondering what would happen about Christmas, because it's the only time that M and John seem to see each other now. I sent a card and thought that would put the ball into their court. Either M would arrange to meet up with John (in which case it'd be easy enough to pick up some gifts for their kids), they'd send a card or they'd just ignore us. Today a card has arrived.

I'm glad in a way that we've now got three less Christmas presents to buy, that John hasn't got to do the annual last minute Christmas Eve dash to meet M near his home and that there are three less birthdays to remember during the year...but I'm annoyed that he didn't bother saying that they fancied knocking giving presents on the head and have been happy to let us carry on sending things for their children.