Snug As A Bug

It has been a while since I wrote in this journal.  Had a few health problems which seem to be improving now but I still have a very painful neck and left shoulder so I am still trying to keep my computer time down because typing hurts.

Well, the cavity wall insulation was done last Thursday.  I need not have worried.  I was absolutely amazed at the speed.  From the time they arrived until they time they left was forty minutes and around ten minutes of that was taken up with drinking the tea and eating the biscuits we provided for them and then getting us to sign all the paperwork when it was done.

As for taking all the ornaments down, it proved unneccessary.  No vibrations at all.  In fact the noise I had dreaded was not much greater than my washing machine on spin cycle!  So we were well pleased.  We have noticed a difference and are keeping our heating thermostat down low.  Just as well we had it done.  British Gas, without any warning or notification to us, have raised our gas bill by £9 per month and our electricity by £7 per month.  Absolutely scandalous. We only found out when we saw it had been taken from the bank.  We shall certainly be changing our energy supplier in the very near future. 

The community charge will be going up again in April.  It amazes me that they think pensioners can pay these sort of prices when the pension never increases to cover them.  It is a worry but I know there are thousands in our position.  The government do not give a hoot about it, why should they?  They all sit there earning enormous salaries and getting perks and when they retire they write their memoirs and get paid heftily and then they often take up a position on the board of some big company and continue to rake in the cash.  None of them ever have to struggle like the rest of us, none of them will have to live on just a state pension and have to wonder whether they can afford to heat their home.

The schools around here are all closed due to the "winter vomiting bug" that seems a regular thing every year now.  What causes all this sickness?  We never used to have all this years ago?  Is it pollution in the air, is it the additivies and chemicals in the food, is our resistance getting lower? It does seem that there is more illness around these days than we ever had.  What are your views about it?

Mike is finally over his cold, my friend's funeral went off very well - her husband told me the other day.  Apart from that, not much news.  All very quiet here.  The weather is awful, strong winds, just started raining and it is so dark you would think it was evening.  Roll on Spring.

I will try and visit a few of you if I can but please understand that because I am in pain right now I might not be able to make it to you all.  Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Hope you are all having a good week.