IWLTS

[Disco]

My house is colder than that. The heating is off.

So is my bank balance.

[Luna]

Haha. I mean fair enough, if you need to save money, but she certainly doesn’t.

[sally maclennane]

IWLTS: please get that bloody fence fixed, I don't want to feel like I'm sitting in a goldfish bowl.

The fence between my house and my neighbour came down during that massive storm in January. My neighbour asked if she could sort the repairs as she knew a joiner that she trusted. I was happy for her to sort it, as it saved me a task, and I was sure she'd be honest about the cost. However, 3 months in, and it's still not fixed. She's told me a couple of times that he's been out to measure up, and given her a quote for materials. I've said that I have family coming to visit at the start of May so I'd really like it fixed by then.

The other problem is that she and her son are out in the garden all the time just now, since the good weather started and it makes me feel very overlooked. My kitchen has big sliding glass doors so I feel like I'm sitting in a shop window if I'm in there!

[Marth]

Can you go and take over Sal? Tell her that family and dogs will be in the garden and you won't be able to contain them (both the family and the dogs)

I had similar during lockdown down and I hung a sheet up as a last resort then got the stuff and fixed it myself. It was really annoying waiting for them to not get around to it.

[FiveO'Clock]

There's also some stuff you can rub on windows that clouds them up temporarily until you clean them. I don't remember what it's called but it would let in the light and give you some privacy.

[Lily]

I would definitely mention you are very concerned about their over-energetic diarrhoea-prone dog getting into their garden, so how is she getting on with that quote?

[Kleio]

I'd really hate to live like that too Sal. Our fence was down for a couple of days and it left the back garden open to the outside world. I hated it.

IWLTS: Please don't buy a house in my road.

[Wiggle]

IWLTS - thank you to your lunch companion who made you swap seats. We had just been seated and ordering drinks when the person leaned over and I got a full view of his butt crack. I may have looked rather disgusted.

[Lola]

Eww, Wiggle!

IWLT ask - where do you super enthusiastic outgoing happy people get your energy from? Do you live on a different planet to the rest of us?

And related of course - fuck off with your fucking breakout rooms (insert usual rant about breakout rooms here)

Also related - it’s funny how people like you never last long at a company

[Dutchie]

IWLTS I know my son thinks you are the dog's bollocks but I find you downright creepy. You're officially an adult at 18 but please stop acting like that puts you on a par with my friends. Telling me you spotted me driving my car "because beauty always catches my eye" does nothing to lower your creepiness level.

[Demelza]

Ewww Dutchie, that sounds awful.

IWLTS: you are quite, quite mad. There is absolutely no point in asking for another meeting when it's very obvious you didn't listen at the last one (two days ago). Stop slagging off other volunteers to staff members too – they know full well who the issue is and it's not us.

(Another volunteer at the community centre I volunteer at - has done the exact opposite of everything agreed at our most recent meeting – including doings things that she had diagreed with so much we decided not to do!)

[Morganna]

IWLTS: You might have had the decency to tell me that you aren't employing me this year!

As some may remember I have been working part-time since I left my FT role, and supervising MA dissertations over the summer, then marking them in the autumn. It suits me, as the students are Chinese and I can do most of it online, so can be at home or in the Lakes, and choose my hours, so long as everyone gets the required number of hours of contact and the paperwork gets done. The pay is dire, but it is better than nothing, lasts for six months, and has supplemented my pension, which is low, as I wasn't allowed to contribute until the age of 37 - that would be illegal now, but wasn't 'in my day' :granny:

I knew that the university is struggling, and there have been cutbacks, so I didn't know for sure whether I would get work this year, but thought that if not I would have been told by now. I have plugged gaps for eight fucking years, and have always stepped in to take on extra work when needed. I only know about this as I realised that by now I usually have names and numbers, and am setting up folders and arranging Zoom meetings, so queried it. It's made me feel so dispensable, and irrelevant. It would have cost nothing to send an email to say that it's not been possible to offer work this year, thanks for your efforts, yada yada. But nothing. Also, I have worked and earned my own money every year since I was 16, and suddenly I am no longer contributing to society, which stings.

I won't be on the payday threads for the foreseeable future, which is also a consideration :verm:. I know I won't starve, as M will give me the crusts off his bread, but that's not the point, is it?

[FiveO'Clock]

That's so rude of them, Morganna, I'm sorry

[Morganna]

Thanks, Five.

It's the disrespect that has upset me more than the rest, really. Obviously, the FT staff have problems of their own, and I'm not minimising that, but I didn't treat people so badly when I was in that position. I already feel marginalised by ageism, and this has really hurt. It's like I just don't matter.

[baargain]

Wow, that is shitty of them. The ignoring would hurt me too, I'm not surprised it's upsetting.

[Smunder Woman]

Oh Morgs, that is so shitty. Academia is a total bin fire at the moment, but it doesn't excuse the thoughtlessness.

[Wiggle]

Morgs, what a complete lack of respect and decency.

[rosy]

That’s so disrespectful of them, Morgs.

[Dutchie]

That is just rude Morgs! I'm really offended on your behalf.

[Morganna]

Thanks everyone.