Contractors ... again!

And the saga with the contractors continues! My private phone number is being passed around – regardless of my privacy – and I got a call from the contractor. When I asked whether the locked gate did not indicate to him that access had not been permitted ... No. He had permission from the Body Corporate – and the way he stated that, he seemed to imply that ‘Body Corporate’ is some sort of higher authority I ought to fear!? When I explained that the Body Corporate does not have the authority to grant permission to access my property and furthermore, that the work was not being done on my side, but next door – whether it was standard practice to climb over walls to gain access ... he started blustering, and like a typical chauvinist-intimidated-by-a-mere-woman began to shout.

I arranged that he meet with my neighbour (with her permission, of course!) this afternoon to clean up his mess – and hopefully without any further trampling in my flower beds! But I also wrote a mail to the Estate Agent, that it was unacceptable to a) pass-the-buck to me and b) hand out my private number without permission and requested that at least a modicum of common sense be applied in future. Futile, I know – can’t use what they haven’t got; but it made me feel better! Well, the first draft was rather longer and included a list of all their what-the-ef-are-you-thinking’s – like when they opened up for the plumber to fix the leak under my bath, but somehow didn’t bother to lock up after they finished (leaving my flat open the whole day!) or the bedroom ceiling where the water had leaked through when the geyser burst last year (which they inspected, noted as ‘needs painting’ but haven’t bothered to fix, yet), etc. etc. And in case you’re wondering why I haven’t complained about all this? I tried that … once … it was unbelievable! With the best of intentions and taking time to read slowly and thoroughly – I could find no logical connection between my questions and the replies I received. She even contradicted herself from one sentence to the next! So … there’s no point even trying!

Enough of that, now, let’s hope this is the end of that.

I checked all my plants – indoors and out – and I seem to be winning against the mass-parasite invasion! It's really strange, fortunately my neighbour’s garden is not affected! I’d feel really guilty – even though, rationally, I know it’s not my fault. She did get a touch of whitefly on one of her plants once, but one treatment & relocation and her plant is fine! And the powdery mildew seems to attack only vegetables – like my Brussel sprouts, melons, gem squash and tomatoes (only the tomatoes survived) – none of the flowers seem affected. I’m an optimist, though, so I’ve re-planted some gem squash and some melons. Also some beans and peas. I had some room in one of my indoor pots, so I planted some peas there as well. I’ve still got an empty pot, he he, and some sachets of seeds. Anything can happen! Or maybe I just re-pot some of my thyme, give it some room to grow. Oh, the possibilities – delicious anticipation!

It’s been raining most of last night and this morning – mostly just drizzling, so not much help with the drought, but at least good for the garden! Not good for my head, though, as the migraine made a re-appearance, albeit a mild and short one. Dinner dissolved it.

No new photo’s today, so here’s some of the flowers and plants my neighbour gave me. Aren’t they just too adorable?