The title is meant to be a play on ‘my day on a plate’ but meh. The last few weeks have had their fair share of ups and downs. I realise I have much to be grateful for and – compared to most – little to complain about. Nonetheless, hang onto your seat as I’m going to have a little whinge.
My oven stopped working
Initially I was fairly zen about it, but as I’m hosting Christmas… a working oven is generally a requirement. I’d done some detailed research into the problem (ie. googled it) and it seemed the issue was not fixable. I have a gas cooktop I don’t use so decided I’d replace it at the same time as the oven. And having just been able to use a saucepan for the first time in years this past weekend, the decision was inspired!
However… not only did replacing the cooktop add to the cost of pick-up and installation, but it required an extra electrical circuit to be installed and several hours work. Then it didn’t fit into the kitchen bench so we made an urgent call to someone to cut the stone counter. Added to that, the electricians discovered all of the screws in my house switchboard have corroded. So that all needs replacing. They’ve done a temporary fix but due to come back this week to give me the opportunity to spend more of my money on boring (but necessary) stuff.
My internet blew up
We had some storms lately. I was out in one last Monday morning and got home to discover my internet was down. That was fine… I assumed repairs were underway somewhere, though I did have an assignment due the next day and a significant amount of work still to do. (I’d had some trouble getting interviews so was still chasing up two interviewees at the time.)
Several hours later my internet provider advised the outage wasn’t theirs and they’d have to schedule a visit from the telco later that week. Sadly my phone’s hotspot isn’t a backup option at my place as we don’t get any / good reception, which also meant I couldn’t make the calls I needed to finish my interviews.
I was slightly stressed but in problem-solving-mode so headed into the town’s library to work from there.
I *possibly* lost it at this point. However, I conducted an interview from my car in the library carpark (where my phone worked). I then headed to my mother’s where I camped out for two days to get my assignment done and submitted.
The lecturer would have given me an extension she said, but I’d already gotten an extra week after rejoining the class two weeks’ late and figured in real life, we don’t get free-passes so I needed to work out how to get shit done.
People letting you down
I’m hosting Christmas for relatives though won’t actually have anyone staying. There are things I’ve meant to do for ages (like clean my decks and patio and get into the corners of rooms and scoop up dead insects or ants and clean my windows and glass doors). So I scheduled in someone to pressure-clean the decks and a house cleaner. And locked in the guy who does my lawn.
And that’s when the fun started. Though the mowing guy gave me two specific days (two weeks after I made contact), he then said he hadn’t and he’d come ‘some time’ before Christmas. Thankfully he’s now been.
I messaged the person coming to clean my house on the weekend to confirm a time for Tuesday (ie. tomorrow). She’s messaged today (Monday) to say maybe she won’t be able to come because a real estate agent she works for wants her to do a job. WTAF? I’ve moved sofas and beds away from walls, lifted rugs. She’s not responded to my message suggesting I need to know asap if she’s coming. Stay tuned for my head to possibly explode.
I should admit I’m conscious my problems pale in comparison to others’. And at least here in Queensland we’re not in lockdown at all and get to spend the festive season with friends and family. But still… sometimes I wonder why NOTHING is easy.
How are things with you?
December 21, 2020
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to book a service and then expect the service to happen though. In fact, it’s a pretty basic part of functioning.
December 21, 2020
I know! The fact that the cleaner has (now) cancelled the clean with less than a day’s notice is infuriating. Plus the electrician – coming day to fix the dodgy fuse box – is too busy and will come in the new year.
December 21, 2020
I think you’re more than entitled to whinge, just one of those things would make one’s nerves jangle, let alone all 3 of them. Kudos to you for getting your interview/assignment done and hope that the cleaning lady comes through! Now kick back, relax and enjoy a safe and happy Christmas!
December 21, 2020
Nope. Cleaner not coming. Got real estate cleaning gig instead so she’s ditched me. (And I booked over 2wks ago!) I’m currently in denial and don’t think I even own a mop so….
December 21, 2020
I don’t blame you for being a bit cranky Deb. I’m sure I’d be feeling the same with all the obstacles you’ve faced. I hope it all works out for you. Best wishes from me for a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. Looking forward to catching up again in 2021 #lifethisweek
December 21, 2020
Well Jennifer, I’ve started the cleaning so I guess that’s a good thing. A friend commented (as did my mother) that it’s probably fine. But… I’ve been looking at spots around for a while thinking they need a clean so I’m wiping surfaces I’ve ignored for months and months. (And I think the cleaner I had come for a mid-year clean skipped them too!)
December 21, 2020
Everything seems to happen one after the other, for some reason. Hope your Christmas celebration goes without a hitch
December 21, 2020
It’s always the way isn’t it?! If it doesn’t rain, it pours. (Or whatever that saying is…) And thanks, you too.
December 21, 2020
Hi Deb, nothing is easy when you want things done! I do hope your cleaner finally came. Enjoy your Christmas celebrations. #lifethisweek
December 22, 2020
Nope Deb, she pulled the plug. THE DAY BEFORE. I was so looking forward to an incredibly spotless place, which is always such a treat. Instead I’m trying to get bits and pieces done….
December 22, 2020
Oh no! That’s so unfair.
December 21, 2020
Tradespeople can suck at times. I’ve been doing battle with a realestate agent recently and was just about ready to get in my car and go around to her office and do my lolly. And I hate that we have nowhere to go when we’re on the receiving end of rubbish – it now seems like service is something you’re lucky to get and you’re supposed to be grateful. Oh well – at least you have a stove, a mown lawn, and hopefully the cleaner eventually turned up. Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2020
Nope, no cleaner as she cancelled. I’ve started doing stuff myself but won’t get to skirting boards and tracks of sliding doors etc… I am telling myself though that I get to spend that $200 she was supposed to get on something frivolous for myself!
December 22, 2020
I wonder whether it was our flat she got called in to do – that hadn’t been cleaned and had to be done…But, a new stove and oven…bliss!
December 22, 2020
She said the unit she had to do had people arriving Wednesday. And the cooktop is very exciting. I’ve had to dig out old saucepans and frypans. No more boiling pasta in the microwave or my electric wok!
December 22, 2020
Kudos to you for getting your interview and assignment done. Getting good customer service seems to be less of a guarantee these days. Your guests would understand. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and a happy New Year.
December 22, 2020
Yes Natalie and I got 96% for it so am really happy about that.
My guests will definitely be fine and they’re not here long or much. It was more that I was looking forward to this sparkly clean place and wouldn’t have to look in corners I knew were dusty etc… I had a clean done mid year but it was only a couple of hours. This was a 4-5hr clean so she could get to windows, tracks of sliding doors etc…
December 22, 2020
That’s frustrating that they all occurred around the same time. The cleaner and mower though – wtf?!
December 22, 2020
And then the electrician called to say he wouldn’t be here as planned. I think I mention in the post he found an issue with my circuit board and needed to replace a heap of screws but when he rang to say he was busy he said it should be fine… *shrugs*
Am tempted to get a quote from someone else for it. (Also he implied he did something slightly dodgy to keep it working in the interim so…)
December 23, 2020
Sorry, but thanks!
December 23, 2020
You know there was far more positivity in this than you may have known as you were writing…lol. I loved that you eventually did clean the house, your NBN got sorted, you can cook again how you want to, submitted your assignment and ….yay $200 in your pocket!!
Thank you so much for your blogging friendship, linking up as you have in 2020 and looking forward to more in 2021 when Life This Week begins…the link up I mean on 4 Jan 2021 with “Word of the Year” as an optional prompt. Stay safe and well, and see you soon…Denyse.
December 24, 2020
Thanks Denyse and yes it was meant to be a rant I guess. I realise I always ‘solve’ issues (well mostly) but get frustrated by them nonetheless.