I'm afraid all my nervous and writing energy in the past few weeks has gone into my endess pauseless battle with a building firm who are building on a site immediately adjoining my house. They are members of an industry self-regulation scheme called the Considerate Constructors Scheme. My numerous complaints sent to the CCS have shown to me that they are nothing more than a ineffectual, self-congratulatory PR Fluff scheme with less impact as a regulator than the discredited and derided Press Complaints Commission (PCC).
My house has been smashed up; our water was cut off for several hours one Saturday night/Sunday morning/Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. Our electricity was cut off from 11pm on Friday night to 3pm yesterday, Saturday. Everything that has happened is dismissed by The Builders as 'minor issues' as they remind us of their generosity in repairing their burst water pipes and being obliged by law to put right the damage to my house and my neighbour's, which looks to be even worse.
I am assured that this firm are 'Considerate Constructors' and have worked hard to maintain good relations with their neighbours. To me, it feels like bullying and harrassment. But if you try reporting to that to the police, or reporting obstructions that prevent access by emergency vehicles - or electric generators - it's a 'civil matter'. Apparently, if I get my car scratched, that's a criminal matter, but my life and my neighbour's life being endangered - a civil matter.
It's been a struggle to survive from day-to-day, coping with this on top of the usual everyday stresses that come from work, travel, personal admin, health and so on. Bloggings's a great escape. But sometimes, the emotional energy has to be directed elsewhere.
Here's some pictures I took in the garden just about six months ago.
