Wallpaper

Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting :(

I have never been so patient in my life. The rapid progress in our renovation came to an abrupt stop, because the wallpaper we ordered is OUT OF STOCK :( and we have been waiting ever since for new stock to come in :( Rats, it is simple work and ends up taking such a long time after all. Grrrr.....I just knew that it couldn't be so easy.

A true story

I decided to end my membership at Fitness First since I wasn’t exercising there anymore. So I called the gym, and was informed that I couldn’t quit on the phone. I have to make a trip to the gym to sign the papers. It seemed a fair enough request to me, and so we agreed that I would go down to the gym on Friday, 8.30pm. Then this was what happened when I arrived at the appointed time:

ME – masterofboots
FF – F First reception staff

ME: Hi, I would like to end my membership
FF: Our manager has left for the day. Can I make you an appointment to meet him?
ME: I have an appointment. It is now. I called yesterday.
FF: But our manager has left for the day. He is the only one who can process this.
ME: Then why arrange to let me come now?
FF: We don’t accept appointments by phone.
ME: Why do I have to make an appointment just to quit?
FF: Our manager would like to talk to you
ME: I don’t want to talk to anyone!

It transpired that to quit the gym, I have to:

1. Go to the gym personally to make an appointment with the manager
2. Go and see the manager
3. Give one month’s notice and pay one more month’s fees.

I didn’t lose my temper. I deliberately threw it away. I refused to sit down, and stood by the reception, scowling and with folded arms. I decided that I would stand there until the next morning if I had to. Sure enough, in a little while, the ‘departure form’ emerged, I was allowed to sign it, though there is no getting away from the extra month's fees.

I would like to say on the record that these terms and behavior are unreasonable, and greatly lowers my opinion of the company. Of course I can’t fight the bullying behavior of Big Business, but I would hesitate to put myself under such a yoke again.

Work in Progress

Ah, the happy sight of work in progress :) I must learn to give instructions more clearly. At first I told the contractor to remove some window grilles, then I changed my mind. Ahhhhhh, he removed them anyway! Oh no, now I know that not all men can react as quickly to my ficklemindness. The window is now utterly unprotected, and I am wondering whose fault it really is :(



This is not an ordinary lamp. It probably has to pass through the generations in our new family because:

1. It is made in Portugal
2. It is made of brass
3. most of all, the cautious one is so very proud of it and
4. It is blo*dy expensive (see, the price tag is still on it)

It hangs over the dining table area, but masterofboots still thinks that it looks more congruent in a canteen, so there :P Never mind, even the cautious one is allowed his moments of impulsiveness.

*** ***

I am very curious about our neighbours. There are 4 flats on our floor. They are

1. Family with lots of shoes

2. Catholic family (could tell from the crucifix on the wall)

3. Next door unknown entity.

Nothing is known about our next door neighbours so far. I hear the gentle clinking of cutlery during meal times, and know that they use white lights at home. Their living room walls are lilac, I know because I peeked in their flat. But I have not seen them once. They could be phantoms for all I know. I wonder very much what they are like, and hope that they are nice people.

BUT nothing is going to make this misanthrope knock on their door to introduce myself :P