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... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
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gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 19 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well snap-sort of-MR. I too went for the eye test for diabetes yesterday. I had an appointment in November, but they wrote and cancelled, giving another date-yesterday-but they never turned up, so I lost pay for 2.5 hours, still who cares about my diabetes-clearly not them! I was clear last time I went for testing, but you don't know what is going on inside, regardless as to how well I look! The eye drops are the worst part of the test. I am planning a stiff note, even though I don't pay NI anymore!

Our food bank does a roaring trade I am told, but abused by some I know. On Mondays they get the free bus to town, collect dole/disability allowance, go to the pub, spend all, and then go on to the food bank for a week's supply of grub, get free bus home, sleep it off and next day go to work for cash. It appears the drinking has declined as one wants a new car! This as I was told the story-true or not? I am well past pension and working part time and paying a lot of tax-guess I am keeping someone out of a job, but helping those less fortunate, who can't/won't work?

It is wild and windy, and wet here today now, since 1pm when I left work otherwise, ok for the morning. One of my fastest home comings-1 hour from leaving work, to shopping, fuelling and drive home in under an hour; for some reason a clear road or I met them on good straights!

The fire wood is still selling too fast almost for me to be able to go away for Christmas and I am not getting the stock in place at a rate to build up enough. I don't know whether I said but the biggest competition retired from their shop and closed it, but continued to live there so depriving someone of, what was a good business. At least I am going at capacity at the rate of 4-5 nets a day in the afternoons. I think I should be there now!

I am pretty ignorant when it comes to artesian wells, please tell me exactly what they are? I guess they are naturally occurring wells that gush up in the weak points of the ground-but it is a guess.

This pancake parlour sounds good, Cassandra. Round our way every thing is "and chips"!

The rain has stopped and blue sky with billowing clouds appears as if by magic!

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8576
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 19 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Two things about food banks.
You can't just rock up, you have to be okayed by the authorities to get a handout.
Also you can't do it on a regular basis, you are allowed only a limited number of visits.

Whether some may get round those specifications I don't know

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 19 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Gregotyn, artesian water is subterranean water. It is sometimes under pressure and comes up automatically if you drill into it, but mainly it is an underground lake or river from which you have to pump. Some is hot, some is cold, some is so salty it's useless, others are potable by stock but not people, etc. depends on the country you are in. Basically everything beneath us contains water making its way from one place to another whether by soakage or stream. The Great Artesian Basin, for example, harvests much of its water from the rainforests of New Guinea. Here in my part of Tassie a large proportion of houses have a pump of some sort (not me - at $1000 per meter drilling fee for pot luck I wasn't prepared to take the risk even though I'm pretty sure it's fairly close to the surface.

I would suggest that the tall tales of your mates are just that, in regards to beneficiaries. There is a very small number of recipients who provide the model for these 'everyone does it' tales, and many of them are probably long dead. Food banks, as GZ says, have selection criteria for eligibility and limits on how many times you can dip into their limited reserves (all of which are provided by donation and managed by volunteers).

I have had a windy afternoon sitting at the laptop making records of the ins and outs of Floats in anticipation of tomorrow, drafting an idiots guide to the Articles (which, as I have been reading them piecemeal in response to questions, turn out to be a bit more subtle than I thought, but in a good way), and making the necessary drafting alterations to the Model Rules. I am about to draft up nomination forms for new members and candidates for election at General Meetings. Such fun.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 19 3:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

GZ - the fires 70km away aren't the problem, it's the ones whistling up behind the back fence that make you panic. I am rather hoping our galeforce winds drop soon because tomorrow and the next day are going to be high 20s. Such joy.

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8576
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 19 4:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stay Safe.
We have just had a thunderstorm...another worry with tinderdry Eucalyptus about.
However the downpour did miss the Mistletoe Fair..the centre of Blenheim was packed with stalls, people, a silver band playing...and the shops and cafes were busy too. Santa's parade was soaked through

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 19 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

As far as food banks are concerned, everyone has to have a referral from someone like CAB, housing authority, Job Centre, school, church etc. That way they have to persuade someone that they need the food before they come to us. We do have 'regulars', but they are needy people who just need one extra bill to break the bank. Our rule, as with most, is 3 weeks at a time only, unless they have a good reason for needing to continue. Some social workers ask us to support people longer than that as they will have a problem for many weeks. With Universal Credit taking at least 5 weeks, if people have no savings, they come to us until it comes through for instance. If we think someone is abusing the system we speak to whoever referred them and explain the situation, and sometimes their referee will give us some background, so they may only get a very basic parcel.

I think I would get a bit worried about a fire if it got nearer than about 1/2 mile Cassandra, but then we aren't used to fires round here. I still vividly remember a fire that happened when I was 4. We were in no danger, but it went on for weeks, and I have a photo my father took of it which is quite spectacular, even though in black and white. Anyway, keep safe.

You seem to be working hard on this Hall committee. It certainly needs someone who understands what it is all about to bring things together, and you seem to fit the bill well. I hope you get things on a sound footing and that 'madam' retires to her usual abode and get out of your hair.

Glad to say that husband had his eye test without incident, so now just to wait for the result.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 19 10:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I guess the chap I know of has the right qualifications-registered disabled? The job centre got very stroppy with me when I couldn't find another job for 12 months. I only got money from the dole to as far as entitlement, but at 59 you are not wanted by most of industry-too old; but I just dropped lucky via a chap I knew and am still there in my 70's. The plus is it makes me get out of bed in the morning, however cold it is now, and gives me the afternoons to do my own thing, win-win. At the time I had a mortgage and my redundancy covered that.

Indeed, Cassandra keep safe. Don't do any hospital trips unless you can get back as well as there! Thank you for the artesian well description. The words I had heard of, the understanding of them I didn't know. I assume that if you dig the well, then it is not artesian? Thank you for reminding me to go look for some mistletoe in the fields. Someone asked if I had any and I don't know, as I am only a only a "summer" farmer, and my graziers look after themselves after hay making, though I did collect a lot of hazel nuts this year-hard winter?

I am a great loser of things and misplaced my wallet last night. after a chase round to where I had been a neighbour lent me £30 "in case", but the wallet turned up on my bed. The hard part to take in is that I don't remember going upstairs! My forgetfulness is also becoming a problem. Tonight is the company dinner in Welshpool and although I knew yesterday, this morning it only came to my thoughts when I remembered I should have asked a friend for a lift, well at least I won't be drinking now! I would normally go with someone else, but they stay to the bitter end and I can't cope with the after dinner noise and drinking, I am a bit on the quiet side!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 19 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My DIL is registered disabled and works full time. He is probably one of those people who, whatever his position, would be a scrounger. You get them from 'on the dole' to Parliament.

Hope you enjoy your dinner tonight. Drive safe.

Went to a book shop we had heard of yesterday, and got some quite interesting books on local subjects. On the way back on the bus we were talking to a man who is a bit older than us, but went to the junior school I attended and the senior school husband went to. Had an interesting chat about the difference time had made, but we knew the teachers he knew, and various other things. He has written a book and is looking for a publisher at the moment. His family used to run a drapers just down the road from us, so an interesting journey home.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 19 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

No, a dug well is not classed as Artesian. You have to drill for artesian water and it may be under pressure (which saves pumping) and it may not (in which case you pump). Definitely not the sort of well which just accesses ground water near the surface.

Today was hell on earth if it were not for friends. I had been 'instructed' by the horror to be present at the Hall for the duration of the market. So I dropped in with the float before the Market commenced, gave it to the President, and headed out for the day, with assurances I would be back by 12:30 to balance the money.

Then I headed into town and spent time with friends and eating cake and coffee. Headed home at 12, only to spot the entire contingent outside the hall clearly lying in wait. So I continued on, waving cheerily, and drove via back roads to the home of the Public Officer who was off in his plane. But I spoke to his wife and she talked me down from my state of anxiety, so I headed to the Hall where, as I expected, I was hijacked by various belligerent people demanding explanations. So I turned to the President and asked her to take charge of the revenue, and walked out once again. A further trip into town and I returned to count the funds with the President who has been heavily influenced by the daughter ('we're not really a business' - well yes we are and we have legal obligations). Then back into town to discover the bottle shop was closed, so continued on to a friend who I know to be well stocked, and scabbed a can (which I will replace tomorrow), then returned home.

In the middle of all this I was also pursuing a friend who knows the owner of the house up the road, to let her know I was concerned the three sheep in the back yard had run out of food, did not appear to be being hand-fed, and did not have any visible water source. Various phone calls ensued, and when I turned up, the owner of the sheep was just driving off with them in a trailer, so I will be interested to hear the story behind that one.

After a few days of chilly weather, home fires and so forth, but tomorrow will be 27. There is a big fire over on the coast (while Indian tourists are being rescued from snow in the central highlands), and the smoke is starting to settle around here. And of course, with all this drama my own fire preparations are behind the times. So I will be up early to cut as much as I can before it gets too hot. Since strong winds are also forecast, that distant fire would be looking alarmingly close except the winds are favourable (for me).

Have now finished my can of beer, but am wishing I had accepted the offer of a second one, but you can't help bad luck.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 19 11:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

well done re the hall stuff, such things need doing properly to make them work and to protect those involved from fraud and or the consequences of incompetence.

i just had a couple of thoughts re the hall and it's management

what is the insurance position for the hall, it's facilities etc, and for those who volunteer, the groups who use it and for those members of the public who may interact with it in any way?

ditto safeguarding?

both need to be done well.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 19 2:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The Insurance situation at present is abysmal (and unaffordable), so I have engaged Council's General Manager to look into a meaningful package, of which they will contribute 50% (phew) which means our power and insurance in January is now safe and will meet acceptable standards.

Not sure what 'safeguarding' is, but we are an incorporated body which limits individual liability assuming we are not operating fraudulently or illegally (both of which points are moot at present) and are observing the provisions of the Articles (we aren't). I am protecting myself by introducing discussion on these matters and minuting them carefully (what with being Secretary and all), and I have retained a copy of the 'agenda and minutes' of the attempted coup for future reference if required.

It was something of a Pyrrhic victory to discover the Market only generated $18.00, after all the boasting of 'it usually brings in at last $70 a month except when *you're* in charge. I think I will work out how to graph things on Excel and use the bank statements to produce a graph of income drop off over the last three years for the next meeting.

Meanwhile we were supposed to experience extreme fire conditions today, and while there's still time for that to happen, it is presently overcast, not as windy as they said, and fairly coolish. Good thing too as I am not in the mood to be out cutting grass in the wind.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 19 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The definition in the UK of an artesian well is one that has some natural pressure, which may or may not be enough to bring it to the surface. It is under impermeable rock but whether it is drilled or dug is of no consequence. I don't think the ones round here are artesian because the chalk aquifer extends to the surface or pretty close, so sometimes it comes out as springs or winterbournes, while on the hills the wells have to be pretty deep. Some, such as the village well near us must have been dug as they are too old to have been drilled.

Glad you at least appeared to deal with the hostile contingent on the hall committee. I wonder what it will take to make them understand their responsibilities. Don't make yourself ill over it, so if you find you can't manage it all, just let them sink, but make sure minutes etc. are held (by you and ideally the council) to show that you tried to put them right.

Safeguarding in the UK is the term used to have a policy to deal with vulnerable people, particularly children, but also older people and the disabled who may not be able to cope with pressure exerted by people who may with to harm them. It is generally required of any organisation in the UK these days. I have one for our volunteer group which fulfills pretty well all the UK requirements if you need a copy.

Had a gentle day working yesterday, although it was Sunday. Delivered some log sacks, had tea and a really nice scone at the farm shop we delivered to, and made up a couple of besom heads for a potential order. Hoping the man gets back to us today, as the pick up for the other one has been delayed until tomorrow, and it would help if I only had to stay in one day.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 19 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My next strategy is to prepare a graph of our bank statements for the last 3 years to support my point that three years ago we had surplus funds for restoration activities and now we don't have enough to cover our bills. If that doesn't work, I think I will just give up. I have also sought another appt with the GM to see if we can raise a levy of 10 a household in Parattah to support restoration activity. It's not going to raise much but might remind people they have a role in its survival too.

Yesterday afternoon I had a nana nap and woke at 4:45 which left me lying there wondering which end of the day it was as it was daylight (and is in the morning too).

Have been watching the coverage of the White Island disaster which will have some interesting outcomes I suspect.

Hoping your election brings you what you hope for. You've been in limbo so long now...

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 19 7:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If that is the case there has been gross mismanagement for the last 3 years. Good luck with it.

I have just read up on the White Island disaster as it seems to have happened overnight here. As you say, there will be some interesting outcomes. It is unlikely they will find the missing people, but hope they are safe somewhere; odd things do happen, and hope those injured recover quickly. Sounds nasty.

Managed to do a bit more in the woods yesterday, and spent some time sitting in the sunlight, which I think did me good. Too much going on at the moment one way and another. Today is a paperwork day as I have besoms to send on their way to two different places, so hope the carrier isn't too late. Weather forecast for this afternoon is very wet and windy anyway.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 19 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The beef dinner at a local hotel was fantastic, with beef which melted in the mouth. The pudding I had was 2 mouthfuls and not exactly sure what it was, but I made it into 4 to not appear to be gobbling it down. I didn't know it was a collection of different companies, there were 4 at least, and some knew some from all of them. I am afraid I sat down for the whole time-my raving days are over, there being a disco as part of it. I got home around midnight and I had put hot water bottles in before I went, so into bed and chop wood the next day-all day. The wood being of importance now-it is selling like mad and I am worried that I won't have enough for the Christmas period when I go away. It looks like a 3 day holiday and back to it! I have 2 weeks off all told so should be able to catch up I will try! Sometimes I just wish some folks would switch the heating on and save my arm and not keep weighing my pocket down! I am thinking the time is getting there when I need to give it up.

It would seem that your strategy, Cassandra, to show what was happening, and therefore can be achieved again, is good. You may get opposition to raising a levy on all who are in the catchment area of the hall-but worth a try anyway. I would like to have the afternoon nap, but then I wouldn't get up till tomorrow.

Our weather is wet and windy now, but although cold this am., not freezing, and it has picked up this afternoon so not as bad a day as I expected.

Look after yourself MR.; sitting in sunlight is good as long as you don't get cold too! For me back to the chopping block!

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