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Good morning, Rusty!
Fell dreich here!
Our roads are gridlocked again as the spillage clean up supposedly continues.....
The affected (very large ) portion of road and pavements is still blockaded, so the park cannot be approached on foot from our side.
This morning my husband came out with me and we drove in the opposite direction and took the dog to a park further away.
We had trouble getting home and have only just arrived back!
It is impossible now to get in/ out of our road by car.....and the local buses are on diversion.........
Our local Council appears singularly ill- equipped to deal with any "emergency!!
I had intended meeting my daughter for lunch, but have cancelled!
I am "in" now and staying here !
I do, though, have the crosswords today!

Good day, Elle!
Fine morning here.
No so good about the gridlock.
You shall have to be patient!
Hope you enjoy your crosswords.
I have not looked at mine yet.
Been busy emptying a room.
I have a joiner coming tomorrow to do one or two things and that should help him.
Kinghorn was in the News yesterday.
There is a large whale doing back-flips etc in the Forth opposite Kinghorn!
Three of my neighbours drove down to see it.
Right, back to my task of clearing stuff!

Hi, Rusty!
Still raining, although not as heavily.......
I had a friend ring up earlier, and ask me over for coffee this morning.
I am afraid that I declined........I couldn't face the rain (if I walked ) or the road block if I asked my husband to drive me there.
And as for a bus....I am not sure if one is just supposed to "whistle"........?
Enough is enough for one day!
However do you manage to empty a room? We have nowhere to move anything to, if you follow me?
I am still wondering how to manage to get a new carpet fitted in our lounge?
We have bookshelves lining two walls; a large piano and stool; the television; two coffee tables; the sofa and three armchairs (all quite large and hefty)
Even if we were physically able to move them , there is nowhere to put them!
Time was when the carpet fitters would shift furniture from one end of the room to the other, whilst laying carpet......now one is expected to "empty" the room!
What is your joiner going to do?
Right, I must finish the hoovering......

Hello, Elle!
Pity about your weather!
I have unused bed rooms here, so I have plenty space to move stuff.
I just get stuck in, and I use sliders under the heavy stuff.
I had a big clear out around a year ago and it is much better now.
The joiner is building a cupboard and storage shelving etc.
He has a fair idea of what I want and I shall just stay out of his way and make the coffee!
He loves coffee!
I am just heading out now, for a walk, it has got showery here.
Then I'll see what the Budget is all about when I return.

Hi, Rusty!
Did you have a good walk?
Goodness me!
I have spent all morning/ afternoon trying to find someone to speak to about this wretched Capital Gains Tax.......
The powers- that -be are still chasing me in an attempt to fine me for Self Assessment Tax forms that were not only "not late", but weren't even required in the first instance!
Yet could I find anyone willing to tell me how much CGT I owe....?
I have been trying to pay this for ages now!
I finally got to talk to a very nice Scottish lad (called Mohammed) who was in Glasgow.......press 99 and speak to a human!
So I have finally sorted that out and paid it over the phone.
However, the S/A battle still rages on........
I am wearying of the fight......it is becoming boring.......
You are lucky to know a good joiner.
We need some one reliable to build a wall cupboard to fit over the fridge and freezer.
We have been to B & Q and Homebase but cannot find anything to meet our requirements.
Crosswords? I haven't even had time to print them out!

Hello, Elle!
You are making progress!
Well done you and Mohammed!
I thought his name was Hector!
The Capital Gains Tax can be tricky!.
I spoke to a very helpful lady at HMRC Capital Gains dept and we sorted it out very quickly over the phone.
Speak to your neighbours about a joiner to see if any have had one recently who did a good job.
A "built to fit" one is better than anything B&Q or Homebase sell.
Do you have a Howdens near you?
That's where a lot of joiners go.
They only sell to tradesmen and could probably recommend a good joiner.
Worth a try?

Hi, Rusty!
Progress indeed........after all, it has only taken over twelve months to pay this!
However, do not take this matter lightly.......I am still being held accountable - as too is my husband - for these mysterious Self Assessment tax fines......which I am refusing to pay.
(I have visions of being frogmarched away at dawn!
You may yet have to visit me in prison.........)
Now I'm hesitating about going down this road.....but I'll buy it ....who is Hector?
Yes, I do agree , the word of mouth recommendation is a great way to go to find tradesmen!
And we and the neighbours do have a combined list of such - but no decent joiner!
We don't have a Howdens?
Seemingly there were several branches in the area once upon a time, but they have all closed down now (so Google tells me).
But your theory is sound.......we have a Jewsons - I wonder if staff there could be of any help?
Is it a similar firm to Howdens?

Good evening, Elle!
Google "Hector the taxman"!
A fine lad!
Keep at HMRC about the Self Assessment.
I am sure you will find common ground if you get to speak to the right folk.
Could Mohammed help you there?
Elle, think this way.
Many folk go to B&Q, jewsons etc and have no joiner.
But quite a few joiners will have trade accounts at these places and it would be worth asking, (best at the trade counter) for a good local joiner's name.
These shops employ these same joiners for fitting kitchens etc.
Or, do you have "Trusted Traders" down there?
That can be a good way of finding a good tradesman.
Best go for one with a home 'phone number, rather than only a mobile number.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, a bit like Sid", who was involved in the British Gas Shares?
Rusty, you would not credit the stupidity I have come up against over this tax business.........you would think a little "talking" and sensible discussion might work wonders, but no.........
I have put all in writing now and we shall just see where it goes.........but I do not have much faith in the system and am "not holding my breath"........
Yes , we did something similar to what you are recommending, over the fitting of our bathroom.
We went to a good plumbing shop and showroom and asked for recommendations of bathroom planners/ fitters.
The person whom we chose from those recommended did a great job!
A very good point about the home telephone number rather than a mobile one!
Right, back to watching "15 to 1"......I'm doing quite well this evening!

Hello, Elle!
I was wondering, have you thought of contacting Citizens Advice Bureau about hitting the wall with Hector and co?
I have never used them, but they may have in inkling of how to resolve this?
Or possibly put you in touch with someone who can help.
I would imagine there could be many like you trying to find a way through the system?
Yes, do what you did regarding your bathroom.
Go to Homebase etc and if they have a trade counter, ask for joiners they would recommend, then see what you can find out on Google about them.
The mobile number is fine, as long as there is a home 'phone number, too.
Avoid those who only have a mobile number.