The wind was really fierce yesterday evening, and was hurling rain at the windows very noisily, Betty didn't like it at all. It was still fierce when I went to bed, but didn't keep me awake for long and when I woke up for a wee around 3 am, it had died down - in fact I couldn't hear anything. On looking out of the windows this morning, I expected to see pots etc blown around in the garden, and perhaps some of the shrubs, roses and tree branches battered.....nothing though seemed out of place, we seem to have escaped any damage. No tiles off the roof, the electricity didn't go off, no flooding or anything, all seems well. To be fair, we are quite sheltered here, unlike our last house which was very exposed, especially at the rear, we often lost roof tiles there, had chimney damage one year, frequent power cuts and the front garden used to flood, although it went away quite quickly. I hope all you lot are ok? We have a mixture of sunshine and showers this morning, with short gusts of strong wind, although nowhere near as strong as last night.
I put a wash load on when I got up, so I could get it on the clothes airer in the car port asap, hopefully it'll dry - or nearly dry at any rate. I had some carrot and swede mash left over from yesterday's dinner...as I had a roll of puff pastry in the fridge I decided to make some pies. I mixed the mash with half a pack of crumbled feta cheese and 3 rashers of bacon left from husband's brunch yesterday - I diced and lightly cooked it in the microwave first. It's made 4 pies, 2 we'll have tonight and the others, which I've partly cooked in the air fryer, will be frozen.
A couple of our neighbours, plus the housing support lady, have expressed surprise that we're not getting Council Tax benefit (old people do like to ask personal questions, I've noticed!). I had done a cursory check a while ago and had got the impression we weren't eligible for it - so yesterday I decided to apply on the Council's online application form. You know I said the other day that forms seem to be getting more and more complicated - or I'm finding them more difficult as I age - well, this Council form is a nightmare. Umpteen pages long, and asking the most intrusive questions, and wanting attachments of no end of proof to back up answers. I was getting more and more confused and irritated with each page, it felt like my brain was exploding. So I gave up when I was about 8 or 9 pages in - I've no idea how many more pages there were. I've decided the best thing to do will be to actually go to the Council offices - there's a major one not too far away, which is open for walk-ins every weekday - and get someone there to do it for us. So this morning I'm gathering together all paper evidence that I think they might need - everything I can think of, including some that might not be necessary but my thinking is it's better to have it there than be asked for it and we haven't taken it with us. Another problem is that a lot of us do everything online nowadays, so we don't always have paper evidence. I am quite sure that nowadays official bodies employ people whose sole job is to make these forms as difficult as possible, so that we will give up! Same goes for ringing companies - we either have to press umpteen buttons after listening to several different menu options, or are held in a queue for an hour or more, and then when we do finally get through, are quite often mysteriously just cut off.
We'll go to the Council offices tomorrow - a Monday is bound to be busy, I'd have thought - especially after the storm yesterday, people will no doubt be wanting to report damage or their refuse bins having disappeared in the wind.
Betty spent the best part of last night stretched out on her side in the middle of the bed, her entire back length pressed right up against my side, from my boobs down to my knees (she was on top of the duvet, I was underneath it, I hasten to add) - she certainly kept me warm (too warm), but left me only a narrow strip of bed to lie on. She was clearly so comfortable, (she was snoring gently and having woofy dreams), so I didn't have the heart to move her over. She did move when I got up to go to the loo, but came back to the same position once I got back in bed. Bless her!
No damage here, either. I did remember that my plastic watering can was left out (I use it to top up the bird baths, so don't put it away), but as it was dark and raining heavily I decided if it blows around the garden, so be it! Surprisingly, it was still in the same place today. I think you're right about forms getting more complicated. Like you, I do wonder if it's done on purpose so people give up! A furry hot water bottle - bliss, even if you end up lying in the most uncomfortable position! xx
ReplyDeleteI too find forms difficult to fill in. I have no proof of I.D. as I don't have a passport or a photo driving license. I tried applying for carers allowance online but gave up. The Citizens Advice Bureau can help with form filling but they are so busy that it is hard to get an appointment.
ReplyDeleteWe've just completed the form for a blue badge for our 90 year old uncle who lives next door and you would have thought we were applying to MI5. I know they have to be thorough but I would think being his age with a letter from his doctor and chiropodist detailing his difficulty walking and his age would be enough.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that there was no damage at your place. Some forms are just too complicated for me.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
How different it is on the other side of the world! We have had 41C today and that is really hot, even for us. I put some washing on the line at 9 am and it was dry by 10am!! It's really too hot to even step outside, so we have been in the air conditioning but even that is struggling but we might need to get it checked as our neighbour's is working better than ours today. Good that the storm didn't do any damage and sounds like you are in a better place for that than your other house.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising the difference a bit of shelter makes, isn't it? I'm glad things were OK for you.
ReplyDeleteA good idea to get 'them' to do the form for or with you. Fingers crossed. xx