I've been busy mornings and evenings with H.I.'s Summer School again, as I am every year. For the first time ever, people have dropped out without warning for a number of reasons - mostly illness, but one NHS worker who has been hit hard in the finance department. This year, the model has made more money than H.I.
In September I am supposed to be doing a big and simple job which is so specialised that there are only a handful of people in the area who could do it. Sometimes I am gratified that most general builders are scared of using proper lime mortar and pretend to look down on it when trying to disguise their fear of it. This means I can undercut all the conservation companies by 200% and still make good money. I have a feeling I am going to need good money in the coming months.
OFGEN have just helped out all the energy companies by lifting the price cap every three months rather than six, and use the excuse that it would be the consumers who will end up paying for it if more companies go bust in the future, but they don't care how many individuals go bust in the process. All the decision-makers have gone on lavish holidays rather than stay in town to try to find ways of mitigating the disaster they have seen coming since Russia invaded Ukraine. I despised them ages ago (in case you didn't know) but I think they are unspeakable now. All the surviving cabinet members are hedging their bets about siding with one or the other of two power-hungry schoolchildren to increase the chances of backing the winning dog and thereby increase their chances of getting a top job.
The job I am about to do will take between one and two months. After that I would really like to take a proper holiday. If the airport situation stays the same or gets any worse (most likely) then we might drive somewhere. We usually go West, but this time we may go East.
There are a number of attractions to this option. Green-Eyes has just bought a lovely little house in Colchester and her brother's ex girlfriend (and good friend of both) now runs a beautiful vineyard in Suffolk with her father and boyfriend. I have tasted their wine (Ark Wines) and it is absolutely wonderful. Also, the Dickens country East of London is the traditional homeland of my paternal ancestors. They didn't walk over across Doggerland, but almost. Ark Wines here we come.
There are so many wonderful places to visit all over this Isle.
ReplyDeleteYes, but some of them are buried in the middle of not so wonderful places.
DeleteArk Wines sounds like the perfect choice for a little holiday ..... English countryside and a copious amount of wine ..... what could be nicer ? XXXX
ReplyDeleteBeing paid to drink it.
DeleteThat sounds a good decision.
ReplyDeleteWe always enjoy visiting the Pirate's rellies in East Kent. Although some bits can be uncomfortably crowded.
What are the Pirate's rellies?
DeleteRelatives...he being a Man of Kent
DeleteOh, I thought it was a local feature, like Pirate's wellies.
DeleteIt appears you've found a great niche. Highly skilled custom work equals good profitability. The wine venture sounds excellent too. Congratulations to Green-Eyes on her lovely new home. This calls for a housewarming celebration/gift for Green-Eyes.
ReplyDeleteYou need to be my PA.
DeleteBetween Rachel and I, you'd be in good hands! Rachel, what do you say? Are we up to the challenge?
DeleteCount me out Susan.
DeleteCount me out too.
DeleteOkay, no PA's for Tom.
DeleteWatch you don't stray over the border to where the weirdos are with the webbed feet and six fingers.
ReplyDeleteYou must be joking...
DeleteLife is looking up for you and the family - enjoy wine, holiday (when it comes) and forget politics for awhile....
ReplyDeleteI wonder how we are supposed to forget politics at the moment. I wish we could.
DeleteConsidering this job a done deal, contract wise, perhaps next time you will undercut the conservation companies even more. Money is money!
ReplyDeleteI am not known for my avarice.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful holiday to me! I try not to think to far ahead. The world is a mess, and I wish we would keep our fingers out of it.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the way it is all going, but nobody does. it is coming down to survival.
DeleteForget politics? Why not - all the "politicians" seem to have.
ReplyDeleteSouth and East Kent have many attractions and are sufficiently away from the metropolis not to have become too crowded. (But keep away from the A2 and M20 roads which feed the Channel ferries/Tunnel). You could tour the little lanes of Romney Marsh all day with little traffic and little village pubs and cafes.
Yes, they are all on holiday. I briefly lived in Canterbury once.
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