Stress - I live here too!!!

Another week nearly ended - was supposed to be my quiet week - no chance to rest - unreasonable noise on a daily basis is doing my head in - feel like screaming out the window at times, I live here too.

Didn't receive any post for 3 days - not sure when the London postal strikes are planned but they seem to be ongoing - so irritating when one is expecting important mail.

Last weekend booked a mini break away - was told as it was an advance rail ticket they have a special deal - £10 return. Was flabbergasted - instead of the £27 single - who wouldn't take such a deal. Expected the tickets Monday but they only arrived this afternoon and a late post at that. Was getting myself unnecessarily stressed that they wouldn't arrive in time.

Tuesday one of my impulse buys arrived by courier delivery - a garden vac cum shredder. The trees at the back look lovely but I'm getting too old to keep raking up the thousand of falling Autumn leaves. Wasn't cheap and not easy to put together either - was also sceptical it would work the way advertised. Just had to try it out so it was a day in the garden. The gizmo is marvelous - it gobbled up all the dried grass cuttings (even with a mover that's supposed to collect the grass there are always some lumps left behind), the paper, leaves and other rubbish.

Was able also do a bit more pressure hose washing down - can only use it gradually nowadays the vibration hurts my hands. Bit surprised at the detergents suds and yucky smell which formed in the water hitting the brick step - had to scoop up the water rather than let it drain away so it wouldn't kill the grass. The whole back is on a slope and any water drainage seeps into the garden section - some days it floods. Now the pathway doesn't smell and looks lovely with all the green stuff gone - won't be slippy in the winter.

Seem to be spending a fortune on snail and slug killer. If they didn't eat the plants wouldn't bother but they seem to be out in force this year. Likewise bug killer spray - Many of the shrubs and mini tree are being infected by the two small apple trees that have been left to grow all straggly not pruned or sprayed. The owner won't listen to me but it's so sad to see them going brown with the leaves all holely - no lush fruit only a few struggling apples on one tree that just fall off all brown and yucky. Any that fall on my side - more food for the worms in the composter.

Still have to cut the overhanging branches - a job for next week. I know legally I don't have to ask but it's called being polite. Have nice neighbours on both sides of the property. The creeper growing along the left wall they don't want cutting. It has completely covered their side - they say it covers up the ugly wall and the squirrels don't like running along it. On the other side the lady says I can cut anything back that is overhanging so there is light on my own plants, same for the residents living in the properties at the bottom of the garden. Why can't everybody be just a nice.

Wednesday my stuff in storage finally arrived. Been a bit of a stress getting it back - people who organise it have been away. Least my flat looks better with the rest of the furniture in it - have a table to eat on not - not easy managing with trays. My mini office cupboard also - at long last somewhere to put all the files and papers. Didn't realise how many boxes the packers used. Stuck high in the hallway have only managed to unpack 12 so far. Finding so many things I don't really need anymore - the answer the local Freecycle - everything goes. Specially the brown boxes and white packing paper there is a queue of people waiting for them. Loads of stuff went today.

Wednesday also went outside to collect my recycle food box - I'd forgotten about the collect on Tuesday. As usual - only 4 boxes were very neatly stacked with the others 5 just left scattered as the collectors had left them. How that's for spite - being territorial about green boxes - it absolutely ludicrous - I always sort them out for everybody if I've got time. Who cares about what goes in the boxes or whose they are. In a nice world they should be just filled up one by one. Not this is my box and that is yours, it's all so petty. The same on collection night I put everything together. If I forget my green stuff and food box is just left behind - so very sad that adults can behave in this way.

Thursday more unpacking - seems never ending - my brain briefly evaporated - was so tired fell asleep on the sofa.

Friday was just a nothing day was quite determined I wasn't going to stress myself by unpacking anymore boxes - They'll have to wait until next week. To relax is working on my family tree. Post arrived with 2 more death certs and 1 marriage - working on the Penny/Lamb family 1700-1800's - direct ancestors. So difficult to get it right when names are common - was so chuffed when they turned out to be correct. There are over 20 family trees on the web with some of the same names but nobody has the details on the certs I received - am chuffed with my investigative skills. Also a whole batch on London records have been put on the web - found 3 of my grandfather half brothers marriages. I'm one of those that like to know what happened to people.