040720 Amazon book delivery/donated to Emmaeus/called builder in to give estimate/phoned Sharon

VISITED THE TIP HALF WAY DOWN THE ROAD/THEN, EMMAEUS

Just as I was going down the road...; first, I saw the next door neighbour...a 'black' guy called, Ken; who was strapping his son in the back of a car; there was just a stony 'silence' that passed between us; not even one single word of 'hello'. I just pretended to completely ignore him; and, he me; and, basically, that was that.

It's not that I didn't wish to talk and apologise for having ignored his child when he tried saying, 'hello', to me through the back garden fence, yesterday. I don't know how to explain that so many other things were going on through my mind; that I found it really difficult to talk. 

But, my personal interactions with other people doesn't tend to be as 'smooth' like so many other people; nor am I particularly self-confident about what the other persons reaction might be...will he get really mad; and,  then, maybe, want to hit me...will things escalate...which is the very last thing I wish to happen...?! 

Like some people when you try and talk to them...instead, of them winding down; they just go up and up. So, I guess, I decided to leave the situation to cool down over time...; as opposed to, quite deliberately, 'forcing' anything. 

SAW POSTMAN

At the same time, I saw the postman arrive who delivered to me a Hutchinson's encyclopedia that I'd brought fairly cheaply from off eBay. £1.56 + £2.80 P&P = £4.36.

I opened the door back up, again; and, left the encyclopedia at the foot of the door, inside; then, I continued off on my journey down the road.

VISITED TIP

I went down the road to go dump some rubbish which I had collected from the garden into the public tip that lies half way down the road.

VISITED EMMAEUS

From there I walked down to visit the first Emmaeus charity shop; to find they were, now, open...an assistant lady sprayed my hands before I walked in. I looked around for a bit; and, seeing nothing I desperately 'wanted'...; therefore, I left. 

VISITED GROCERY/NEWSAGENT

I went and visited the local grocery/newsagent shop where they also sell some cat food; in there I brought 4 x boxes of dry cat food @ £1.15 each. I used a 'cash' fiver to pay for everything.

After I came out of the grocery shop/newsagent...I walked across the road to go visit the 2nd Emmaeus charity shop which is across the road from the grocery shop/newsagent. When I went in there a lady sprayed my hands, again; and, I checked out both what they had upstairs/downstairs. Didn't buy anything; just left.

RETURNED HOME/OPENED PARCEL/GAVE PARCEL AWAY TO EMMAEUS

Next, I came back up the road; and, when I arrived back inside the home; I opened up the book parcel that came from Worldbooks. When I looked at the really 'thick' Hutchinson encyclopedia I brought...it must have been over 500+ pages; I wasn't too pleased that the writing looked to be really 'small'; as time progresses on...my eyesight certainly isn't the same as it used to be before. Furthermore, I seem to enjoy reading on the internet/where not only is the writing far larger in size; but, also, there are many more articles that it's possible to search for.

Anyway, my own conclusion was...that I really don't need this book version of the Hutchinson Encyclopedia; and, thus, I decided to get rid of it...by going down the road and visiting  the first Emmaeus charity shop, again; and, leaving it with them as a donation. When I arrived at the first Charity shop...they said they would not accept taking donations, anymore; and, therefore, I must go across the road...and, deposit it with their other Charity shop, instead. This is exactly what I did.

INVITED THE BUILDERS IN

When I walked back up the road, I saw a van marked builders:

S J Painting Building Services

0208 485 8069

074 7347 2377

Repeatedly, I tried calling the first number: 0208...but, that seemed to be, constantly, 'engaged'; so, instead, I tried calling the 'mobile' phone, instead; and, sure enough it was answered, immediately, right away. I gave the man who answered my details stating that I lived a few houses up across the road; and, I need some work to be done on the house...the roofing plaster downstairs collapsed; and, there are huge gaps in the bathroom walls above it.  The guy said he would come an look in around 5 minutes time.

So, I waited...in around 10 or so minutes an ageing builder man appeared. I showed him the damage to the roof below...where the ceiling plaster had collapsed; the said it looks like you've had a serious leak...; and, I told him there is a bathroom up above; which I next proceeded to show him, as well. He said, the gaps in the walls are not necessarily about subsidence...and, therefore, I must not get confused; instead, he thinks it's all due to the roof rafters below...being too weak...which has caused the bathroom walls to collapsed by inches. He also explained that this situation was extremely 'dangerous'...and, that the bathroom wall could, in fact, collapse completely at almost any time...he also said the weight is really heavy weighing, quite literally, 'tons'...!

So, finally, I asked him the bottom line; which is how much would it cost to fix?

He answered, that for safety...one should completely demolish the current wall; and, instead, put a new wall up; that would cost £4,000.00.

Next, I requested is there any 'cheaper' way to deal with it?

He replied...that I should do this/and, do that...and, then, of course, I explained to him that I myself am not a builder; so, how much would it cost for him to put in place the 'temporary' measures'...to try and hold the roof up...when as he himself had said, 'nothing is holding it up'.

He told me £250.00; and, that he's currently working across the road; if I come and see him on Monday...he will try.

After say this, he left.

PHONED MY COUSIN SHARON TO HEAR WHAT IS HER OPINION

Basically, she said I need to 'sell the house'; otherwise, it will totally demolish itself. You've inherited a 'run down' property; and, fixing up a bit here...a bit there...isn't really going to work; you need to sell it off, instead; and, buy a 'new' property that's much smaller to be able to live in.

Frankly, none of that advice exactly pleases me to be able to hear; but, I can fully understand why she might say that...because it's true this property is, seriously, 'run down'...and, therefore, needs a whole lot of money to fix...money which I've not even got...because, I'm not working...and, can't find any suitable job...so,...?!