Inconvenient Annoyances

Big hugs C!!!!! 

This isn't exactly an IA, but something I saw today that really bothered me.
  As I was leaving the post office today, I witnessed an elderly man screaming at a young boy (he couldn't have been more than 7) for riding his bike on the sidewalk rather than the street. The boy just looked at him completely horrified as the man yelled, "It's illegal! You can only ride bikes in the street!"
  The boy's father then smiled and said "It's illegal to be so grumpy, too."
  As I was silently giving kudos points to this dad, the old man went into a complete tantrum, going on about how he grew up in the war and there were Germans dropping bombs.
  How he related the Second Word War to a small child riding his bike on the sidewalk is beyond me, particularly when this child was nowhere near old enough to be confidently riding on a street. I'm hoping he gets a broken hip for Christmas.

As usual, my landlord is being evil. She texted my flatmate around noon, asking if she could come by tomorrow at 10 (he forwarded this info on to me as he's gone all day tomorrow). Around 3:30, she texted me to ask me directly. I told her I have plans tomorrow and next weekend, so how about after Christmas? She sends back

As your landlord I am not satisfied it is being kept in accordance with the lease. Please supply me with dates you can do otherwise I will need to inspect it without you present.

I don't know if she's being equally bitchy with my flatmate, but seriously, wtf?! I don't know where this attitude came from, but 2 weeks before Christmas it doesn't seem completely out of line that I'd want to put off an "inspection" until after the holidays. (Plus, hello, "how about after xmas?" sounds a bit like "supplying her with dates I can do", so again, wtf?!)

Going to see a flat tomorrow, so fingers crossed it would work out and I can tell her where to shove it.

oy.  I hate your landlord Equestrainerd.

My IA (not sure if it is one or if it should be worse than an IA) A very good friend buried her husband today. He was quite young and they have 2 little boys.  She lives in Canada, so we weren't able to be there for her.

I am sick of doctors and hospital appointments for my son.  He has an umbilical hernia that isn't healing right.  Went on Friday and they did something to dry it out, but it's not worked. He has really bad wind and reflux and I keep getting brushed off - 'oh babies are like that...' I know babies, and this isn't 'normal' baby wind / reflux. I'd just at least like someone to actually listen to my concerns.  We have to go back for another hip scan and the appointment person made the appointment for the wrong date.  the doctor wanted to see him again at 7 weeks and she made the appointment for 7 weeks from previous appointment.  I've only just realized this so I will have to call on Monday.

and

My stupid bakeware set hasn't arrived and I ordered it 2 weeks ago. I want is to make banana bread before I eat all my chocolate chips.

oy.  I hate your landlord Equestrainerd.

She seemed nice for the first 6 months! I honestly don't know why she doesn't just hand me a 30 days' notice, which seems like it would be easier (for her) and less angst (for me)...aside from needing to find a new place to live, of course, which is a giant PITA (I've been looking for 2 months now ).

My IA (not sure if it is one or if it should be worse than an IA) A very good friend buried her husband today. He was quite young and they have 2 little boys.  She lives in Canada, so we weren't able to be there for her.

Oh, how sad.

Good luck getting the doctor's appointments sorted out, and your bakeware! I'm still waiting on packages that haven't arrived, too.

This isn't exactly an IA, but something I saw today that really bothered me.
  As I was leaving the post office today, I witnessed an elderly man screaming at a young boy (he couldn't have been more than 7) for riding his bike on the sidewalk rather than the street. The boy just looked at him completely horrified as the man yelled, "It's illegal! You can only ride bikes in the street!"
  The boy's father then smiled and said "It's illegal to be so grumpy, too."
  As I was silently giving kudos points to this dad, the old man went into a complete tantrum, going on about how he grew up in the war and there were Germans dropping bombs.
  How he related the Second Word War to a small child riding his bike on the sidewalk is beyond me, particularly when this child was nowhere near old enough to be confidently riding on a street. I'm hoping he gets a broken hip for Christmas.

Wow. Maybe screaming at a little kid for riding his bike on the pavement isn't right. To be honest, his father should know better. But, really? You're wishing a broken hip on an elderly person who despite being "grumpy" was actually right.

Wow. Maybe screaming at a little kid for riding his bike on the pavement isn't right. To be honest, his father should know better. But, really? You're wishing a broken hip on an elderly person who despite being "grumpy" was actually right.

I think she was being a bit sarcastic.  That's allowed me thinks.

I think she was being a bit sarcastic.  That's allowed me thinks.

Sorry, but I just don't think that comment was appropriate, sarcastic or not. 

To be honest, his father should know better. But, really? You're wishing a broken hip on an elderly person who despite being "grumpy" was actually right.

Technically, he was. However, while it is true that it is illegal to cycle on the pavement, the definition of pavement is confusing. Regardless, children under the age of 16 can't even be prosecuted for this and you'd be hard pressed to find a police officer who would make an issue of a father helping his son learn to ride confidently on the pavement so he could then abide by the law.

http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php

I'll accept inappropriateness, if that statement is such, because I don't think a child deserves that sort of treatment from such a curmudgeon. Yes, I was being sarcastic about a broken hip, but I do hope Mr Scrooge has a bit of sense and kindness knocked into him soon (and I don't mean that as a physical injury).

As for the legalities of it all, I'm not quite sure how it would be classified. While the child was riding his bike at times, by that point he was just walking it alongside him, which no one would do in the street anyway.

(((hugs))) C! Hopefully some walking in fresh air will help 

I'm sorry you've had a tough day C. 

You will get braver with your driving, and when you're ready you'll push yourself further and further.  I had to get really mad at myself and just do it.  You'll get there!   

Big hugs C!!!!! 

Thanks everyone!  Yes, we are going to go walk around here in town this afternoon, after lunch = fresh air good (some sunshine would be nice if it isn't too much to ask)!

I am hoping the weather doesn't get too bad as we get closer to Christmas, because I want to get the practice driving to/from my in-laws in Norfolk - I'm a little more comfortable doing that, as it's a familiar route by now, and some of it on the rural side with not quite as much traffic depending on when we go (which is hopefully going to be an off-peak time, not right at Christmas Eve etc).  I'm sure DH will do some of the driving, but if we split it up - I hope to do the majority of it. 

Thanks for letting me have a moan!  Only 9 more days until the winter solstice, which means the beginning of days starting to get more daylight again - I know, still a lonnnng way to go, but I'll take what I can get at this point! 

I've been moody all morning and yesterday too if I'm honest and feels like it's never going to end.

 My son and daughter are clearing out their toy chests to give away to charity and also any broken toys to the rubbish bin and I have come to the conclusion the 6 year old girl is a hoarder.   She can give me at least five different reasons why she needs to keep her toys and throw away her older brother's toys. Now I know how my mother felt with all of us growing up.

Day Nine of My Swine Flu Hell.

I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do tomorrow. I can't really afford to stay away from work any longer, but I have no idea how I could physically get there without fainting (walk the 35min vs wait 20min to stand on a crowded bus then walk 15min?), plus with this death rattle cough, I don't even know how much they want me there. And if I do decide to turn up at hospital again, are they even going to be able to give me anything to help? I finish the extra-long Tamiflu course tomorrow, but I've still got another week of the antibiotics they gave me.

I am very thankful that two friends insisted on coming over yesterday to cook for us. They made: a) veggie lasagna, b) Moroccan chicken, c) veggie pasta bake, and d) garlic chicken soup so that we can portion them off to feed ourselves this week, because I can't stand up long enough to make anything more than a sandwich, and my husband is exhausted after working all day and lacks dinner inspiration. So having them cook was really, really helpful, and as they've cooked in our kitchen before, they just got on with it and even cleaned up after themselves.

I was also really glad to have some social interaction after staring at the bedroom walls for a week with only my husband to occasionally talk to. It's very lonely when no one wants to come near you for fear of getting sick.

I was also really glad to have some social interaction after staring at the bedroom walls for a week with only my husband to occasionally talk to. It's very lonely when no one wants to come near you for fear of getting sick.

I'd come chat with you SP, as DD, DH & I all had it last year...and I had it twice! So I don't think that we'd have a chance of getting it again...I do remember that it took a good month before I could walk at all without wheezing and about 2 months before I could walk without breathing like I was a 2 pack a day smoker...you'll feel better just take it easy and rest.