Fenced In!

I thought the work to install fibre broadband which has been going on around Milton Keynes for the past few weeks had finished in this area, but was surprised this morning when one of he workmen knocked on my front door to say that I ought to move my car because they were going to start work along the front of the house. They put in the orange fence and then began to dig up the paving blocks and had a small digger in to take out the sand and then the mauve plastic pipe went in. It would appear that the telephone line has been suspended meanwhile so that the work can continue, but it is somewhat inconvenient.

It would appear the landline telephone won't work. I think the workmen have cut this off because of the installation of fibre broadband. Phil and Robert Shepherd were coming this morning, I'm sure it was after 10 o'clock, but it's now midday and still no sign of them. If they did come, they'd find it difficult to get to the house. Currently a workmen is knocking the paving blocks back ito the trench they dug, so I trust the work will be completed soon.

Shelly, my neighbour, has come in and suggested how I should pack and how to sort out what to keep and what to take and later, her husband, Garry, came to give me some tough black bags, far better than the one's you use in a bin, some tape and some flat-pack boxes which I have started to construct and have already started clearing the books on the book unit.

The sound of a machine for cutting the blocks outside can be here. Not a nice noise. They are gradually replacing the blocks.

Philip Shepherd rang. He said that they had packed up the lawnmower and other equipment in one car and set off and the car had a problem and they had to return and packed it all in Robert's car and got as far as Eaglestone and saw the workmen and the fact that my drive was inaccessible so they didn't go any further and returned home. He apologised and said he'd ring in the week and fix another time to cut the grass.

I have written a letter on the MacBook, which is initially handing in  my notice on this house and I have made a list of the problems which have never been resolved so at least it's in wiring. I have now been to the post office in the Eaglestone store and posted the letter off. I had to drive around the estate to get there, only one way, because it's virtually impossible to get through with the workmen putting in the fibre cable.

Garry tells me that Joe and Jas are definitely going to take over the tenancy on this house and it's clear they intend doing a lot of refurbishment before taking over. The landlord accepts this, and they are meeting again on Tuesday.

I  feel that things are moving steadily forward and can see that it will be better all round for me (as well as Alfie, of course.), not having to pay so much rent and being in a new environment which is smaller but more appropriate for a single man. It's just going to take time to get everything sorted and packed.

John from church was supposed to come after 2 o'clock with his trailer to help clear out the small bedroom. He hadn't arrived by 2.45 so I rang on my mobile and he said that he though we were doing the work next week. He said he'd come on Thursday and if necessary we can carry on on Saturday afternoon (very likely as there is so much. Shelly came round and helped me start to organise how to clear the house, because to be honest, I feel like a rabbit in the headlights because I don't really know where to start. Then, later, Garry came round to give me some flat cardboard boxes and tape to put them together, as well as some really tough black bags, far better and stronger than the average black bin bags. I had made up some of the boxes and I have already started clearing some of the book unit in the lounge, putting books I want to keep in one and another box for books which will go to a charity shop.

The workmen has now left. You would never know that they'd dug up the road, put the fibre cable in and refill it, they've done a good job clearing up after themselves. I have to say I'm impressed. I just hope the road can now be free to vehicles and I can get out tomorrow to get to church.