Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 10 November 2013

Sunday Selections #145

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.

Like River, I generally run with a theme.  This week has been a bit fraught, so it isn't a theme so much, as snippets from the week.  Clicking will as usual embiggen.

This King Parrot having a 'bad feather day' made me smile.


As did the Eastern Rosella pigging out on green apple.



The plumbing/toilet debacle didn't make me smile.  Sadly the toilet blocked again.  And I was forced to call a plumber (a different company needless to say).  In a very short time he came back with bad news.  The problem was major and our driveway would have to be pulled up and the excavators brought in - at huge expense.
Sadly we agreed.
Tuesday morning the team arrived - when they said they would.  And started work.





Shortly afterwards we got some (sort of) good news.  The problem wasn't with our plumbing.  The local council's sewer pipe had collapsed.  Mind you, the digger in these photos is parked on one of my bulb beds and the holes on either side of the wall were deep enough for the workman to be concealed when they stood up in them.  Many, many bulbs are irises were squashed and dug up (and are currently in the garage waiting to be replanted).  The council was called - and seven hours later replaced the sewer pipe.  They will meet some of the obscene cost - amount yet to be determined.  They won't meet the cost of putting the driveway back.
These plumbers were efficient, courteous and did as little damage as they could.
The previous plumbers have not replied to my letter - or responded to phone calls.  A mistake.  I have written to them again saying that since the work they billed me for did not and could not rectify the problem I thought they they should give me at least a partial refund.  I added that if I had not heard from them in seven days I would take the issue to the Department of Fair Trading.  So far they have been silent.  They will be sorry.
I will write to the current plumbers as well - to say thank you.

And to finish on a high note - the bottle brush (Callistemon) in our top garden is flowering most beautifully - a treat for the birds, the bees and me...




101 comments:

  1. Well, this was a mixed bag. Beautiful flowers and birds and the plumbing is not working. What's worse, to fixi it you have to be screwed by one plumber and half way by the city (who in reality should be paying for everything) ... Oh happy day EC. It seems there is always something or someone after the little bit of money we have , right? I am sorry that you couldn't get a better resolution and that you had to go through the consternation of it all. But, your Bottle Brush flowers are gorgeous ... and that is awesome :)

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea: The birds and the garden helped. Looking at the chaos doesn't. Having a toilet which flushes reliably is a win though. And the bad tempered part of me is looking forward to continuing the fight with the first plumbers.

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  2. Impressed that your callistemon is flowering so well in such dry conditions.
    Not impressed by plumber the first. Very impressed that you wrote a nice letter to plumber the second. Things like this are important.(on both sides)

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    1. dinahmow: The white callistemon is not flowering well. Better luck next year. Some years back I made a decision (and have kept to it) that I will write letters of complaint AND letters of commendation. Which has had a funny side. When I wrote to the ambulance service to thank them I received a thank you for thanking us reply. Tempted as I was, I didn't send a thank you for thanking me for thanking you letter.

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  3. What gorgeous birds!!

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  4. Glad to hear the whole financial burden won't be handled by you and your family, but I am sure you will be delighted once this whole experience is behind you.

    I pity the other plumbing company.

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    1. Mark Koopmans: I will be very, very glad when this whole experience is behind (freudian choice of words there) us. And the other plumbing company deserves no pity.

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  5. "our driveway would have to be pulled up and the excavators brought in - at huge expense." - arrrghhh...double arrgghhhh and the bulbs! And the stupid first lot of plumbers!! You are like me, I get results when a firm doesn't play fair, I'll dog them to the ends of the earth and if necessary write to the local papers too. You can do without it tsk. Fools. They don't know who they're messing with. Love the bottle brush. Stunning.

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    1. All Consuming: The first plumbers WILL realise that a prompt response would have saved them a heap of trouble. I might even have gone away quietly if they had apologised. Perhaps. But not now...
      And the bottle brush is a treat - and they are blooming up and down the street. Like fire.

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  6. Breathtaking shots. Best wishes with your flushing issues, Dear


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    =^..^=

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    1. Cloudia: Thank you. A non-issue on the world scale - but irritating on the home front.

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  7. What a pain in the proverbial ...

    Tradesmen are a law unto themselves.

    Love the Rosella's :)

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    1. Wendy: Tradesmen are an expensive law unto themselves. And yes it has been a pain in the nether regions.

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  8. Beautiful birds, even with a bad feather day he's gorgeous. Sorry to hear of your awful experience with the 1st and good one with the 2nd. What an awful, awful mess! Thank goodness that at least part of the astronomical cost will be dealt with by someone other than you. Sending you lots of empathy! :-)

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    1. DJan: Thank you. We don't know how much we will have to pay yet - the council is being a bit quiet. I suspect we will have to pay the astronomical bill and seek re-imbursement. Sigh.
      And yes, the King Parrot looked a better than I do on a bad feather day. A lot better.

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  9. Loving your colourful birds and gorgeous bottle brush! Boo on the plumbing woess, been in a similar circumstance, and it stinks! Pun intended ;)

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    1. Karen: It did indeed stink both literally and metaphorically.- but the birds and the bottle brush helped.

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  10. I am so glad to see that your plumbing problem is working again!! Just think of your driveway as something you won't have to worry about for awhile now. At least part of it. Is there anything about your bulb gardens you weren't happy about? Now is your second chance to change it. Listen to me...cup 1/2 full today. But just some thoughts. But then again you seem to be taking it all well. The birds and flowers are beautiful! You live in a very colorful place! Even the birds are dressed in happy colors. I just saw a special on parrots, etc the other night. It was so interesting. I didn't know that about toxic seed from plants and how there is special clay onn cliffs and rivers to neutralize it in their bodies. So cool. Mother nature is wonderful! Have a great weekend/week. Hugs, Teresa

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    1. Teresa: There is always something to change/add to in the garden. I just don't like having my hand forced. And it will be a little while before they have finished completely - so I have time to think and plan.
      I did know about parrots eating clay to neutralise toxins. Clever - but convoluted. It would probably have been easier to make the seed non toxic or the bird immune...
      And a great weekend to you too.

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  11. Plumbers and driveways are expensive. Rats.

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    1. Delores: Very expensive. And while they only dug up part of the drive, we are going to have to replace it all. Sigh.

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  12. Money, don't talk me about money. I mean it. Nice flowers you parked there.

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  13. Too bad the problem couldn't be traced to the source for starters. It is what it is, I guess, but don't take your eye off the first plumbers. Or off Council, either.

    Birds, another matter. They are lovely! And the flowers!

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I am going to be continuing to remind both the first plumbers and the council of my existence. And the plumbers at least would rather I went away quietly. How sad for them.
      And revelling in the birds and the garden.

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  14. Plumbers some of them are a problem.
    Merle............

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    1. Merlesworld: There are good and bad in every profession. But I resent being overcharged for incomplete work and I resent even more being ignored.
      The second set of plumbers were a whole different story. Courteous, prompt and helpful.

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  15. Golly gosh, what a plumbing saga. I thank the Lord fasting that we have a septic tank and are self sufficient in that department as well as our water supply. I am so sorry for your garden and all the extra work involved replanting it again. The council stuffing up and you paying for it seems very harsh to me.
    My Callistemon is doing the same splendour bit as yours. Happy Days . . .

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    1. Arija: Callistemon is a joy isn't it? And today we have rain - more joy. The garden work will have to wait. Sad, but it could have been worse.

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  16. EC ~ so glad you got to the bottom of the problem ~ council should be footing a bit more of the bill I think, but that is probably not a fight you would win. As for the first plumber ~ absolutely take him to Fair Trading. On the plus side ~ you get to plant all those bulbs again and watch them return to life.

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    1. Carol in Cairns: I agree that the council should pay more - and knowing that we cannot win I will let that go. The first plumber is a different story...

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  17. Isn't life messy! Glad you got the plumbing fixed and hope the more scruffy issues are sorted and settled with peace and good will all around.
    Beautiful birds....you live in such a bright and brilliant world!
    -Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: The birds are a treat. A daily treat,. Sadly, the first plumber is doing his best to ignore me, so I think good will is gone. I will see.

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  18. Oh my gosh, EC! What a mess....*pun intended*!
    You have the most beautiful birds in your part of the world...and flowers, too!

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    1. BECKY: A big, big mess. Which has not been entirely cleared up yet. But the birds make up for a lot of anxt and bad feeling.

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  19. I love when you post pictures of the beautiful birds you have in your country.

    That is terrible that you end up with having to pay for the new driveway. At least, EC, you will again have the joy of the flush.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: The joy of the flush is very real. I think it will be paid for with money I had ear marked for a water tank, but the toilet has taken prededence.
      I am very glad to hear that you enjoy our birds. Thank you.

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  20. http://youtu.be/LHjnVRVFqyg LOL!

    enjoy your sunday little 1 provided for.

    :0)

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    1. Beatrix: Off topic - but I do love Maurice Sendak, and didn't know that one - thank you.

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  21. So much hassle over the plumbing even the birds got their feathers ruffled! Well at least it wasn't all your fault and the council, in my opinion, should pay quite a large amount as compensation for your inconvenience. It was their pipe that collapsed after all. I hope the irises and other bulbs recover.

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  22. PS; if you're going as far as Fair Trading, I think you should fight for a complete refund from the first plumbers, they didn't fix anything at all did they?

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    1. River: If I do have to take it to Fair Trading I am going to ask for quite a lot back. The first plumbers did come out on a weekend, so probably deserve a call-out fee, but not a lot more. We will see. I hope the council does pay most of it. I really hope they do - though I understand it will be up to us to pay the plumber and then get re-imbursement. Sigh.

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  23. So sorry that you've had such a rotten time with your loo. The Council should re-imburse you for all of it, since it was their sewer that failed, and your plumbers did the exploratory work.

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    1. lynners: It would be nice if it worked like that.

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  24. HI What a terrrible time you have had but then the good things are - you have a geat flush toilet, great 2nd plumbers fixing your probelm, The counsil going to pay for at least some of the cost, your beautifful bottle brush giving you wonderful pleasure when you see the colour and bees and birds feeding on it, and finally the fantastic birds that visit your garden bringing joy to our heart.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: The plumbing problems were a blight - but looking at the big picture a very minor issue. And the birds and the garden are always balm to my soul.

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  25. Oh my- how frustrating! I am glad it is being fixed. I think the Council should have to pay for all of that work.

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    1. Terri Buster: Welcome and thank you. It would be nice if the council did pay for it all - but I don't think it is going to happen. I will come to visit you shortly.

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  26. The birds are so beautiful and I so envy you having them visit you. We don't seem to have the very colourful parrots over here in the West.
    I can't believe the Council won't cover the cost of your driveway considering it is their 'plumbing' that was at fault. I nearly cried when I saw your garden being desecrated.
    I'd definitely be on to Consumer Protection (or whatever it is called where you are) about the first firm. I'm not surprised they've not replied. They are the type of firm that should be dealt with very firmly. I believe here that if the words Comsumer Protection are used firms quite suddenly change their minds and co-operate with their customers so good luck with all of it and thoughts with you.
    That Callistemon is a delight. Do you know the species as I love the colour.
    P.S. I wonder if you can also go official about the Council not meeting all the costs of the work involved. Just a thought.

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    1. Mimsie: We are having a very wet day here - when it dries out a little I will go and see if the Callistemon has a tag - I don't remember what species it is.
      I will see how I go on the pament issues. A work in progress.

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    2. Could you please send some rain out way....it is extremely hot in Perth. Summer has begun very early. Not to worry too much about the bottlebrush; I just really loved the bright colour of it.
      Good luck with all the hassle which you just do not need right now or at any time for that matter. Stress factor not goo.

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    3. Mimsie: Summer had begun early here too. Out top temperature today was less than half what it was on Friday. And the rain is very, very welcome.

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  27. I'm still chuckling at the "bad feather day". Many thanks, loved that.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: The bad feather day made me smile too.

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  28. I suppose if the council's sewer line is not under your driveway then they wouldn't have to pay for it - sadly. However, if it is, then they should be liable for all costs!
    Knowing you, I'm sure you physically felt every crushing blow to those bulbs! I hope they'll come back after replanting.
    At least the birds made you smile. They make me smile too, each time you share such wondrous photos! I continue to be in awe that such beauty is common in your back yard. I'm thinking of showing up and pitching a tent...after you solve your plumbing woes, of course. ;)

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    1. River Fairchild: The sewer line which runs under the driveway is ours - which had to be dug up to discover that the problem was further away - in their part of the line. So they got us coming and going. But at least going is no longer quite so fraught...

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  29. oh my word that second bird is spectacular

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    1. Linda Starr: Eastern rosellas are truly beautiful birds. They brighten any day in which they appear.

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  30. Gidday Sue,

    And I reckon you'd be spitting feathers after such a debacle. A plumber and a bummer. At least you were treated with respect by the second plumbing company. You should be getting some serious compensation.

    Gary

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    1. klahanie: Hiss and spit hasn't begun to cover it. However, my threatening letter did have some effect. Today I got a cheque from plumber the first - about half the money they charged. Not perfect, but much better.

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  31. Oh dear, what a dreadful thing for you to have to deal with. I'm glad your second set of plumbers did a good job and hope you hear from the other lot as regards to their bill. I also hope the council come through with a decent amount of money. Your photos of the birds are a delight and also your flowers are the tops.

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    1. DeniseinVA: The second set of plumbers were professional and did a good job. Council is very slow, so we will see. As I said to Gary (above) me second letter had some effect. A win.

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  32. Well, drat, you could both have done without all that carry on. Hope you get some recompense from the first lot. Such gorgeous birds as is the bottlebrush.

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    1. Gillie: I did get a cheque today - for about half their bill. And will now let it go. The birds and the bottlebrush were, and are, a help.

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  33. That is much sweeter plumage than we get on anything around here. As winter settles into New York, we're getting a few blackbirds, and nothing of particular color. Very pretty.

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    1. John Wiswell: We have birds of colour for most of the year - and they are very welcome.

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  34. It is a shame if the council will not pay for digging up the driveway and for the plumber, seeing as the broken place was the problem all along. There really should be a better answer than the homeowner paying it all.

    I am impressed, like another commenter, that you wrote a letter commending the second plumbing company. That's classy.

    Beautiful birds!

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    1. sorry, typo: "...seeing as the broken place was THEIR problem all along..."

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    2. jenny_o: I am a truly rotten proof reader - so don't worry about the typo. It makes me feel a little better about mine. It will be interesting to see just how far the council will go in meeting the bill. And hopefully not infuriating.

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  35. A little Brylcreem should do it! For the king parrot, that is. I think of something else more worthy for the council!

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    1. Lee: The king parrot seemed to either find the Brylcreem or tweezers. In any event she is all smooth again now.

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    2. Someone just ruffled her feathers, EC...similar happens to me very often! ;)

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  36. Holy shit! No pun intended...if it's a council pipe that caused the problem, they need to pay your costs. Period.

    Here, we have something called the Better Business Bureau that reputable businesses belong to. You can't belong if you get a certain number of complaints. So Mr. RK and I have made that threat on a number of occasions...generally gets pretty good results.

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    1. Riot Kitty: The Better Business Bureau sounds like a wonderful idea. The promise to go to the Department of Fair Trading did make the first lot of plumbers come to the party. Now I am waiting to get the final bill and hear from the council.

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  37. "Eastern Rosella" PIGGING OUT -- loved that :)

    I wonder why it's an EASTERN Rosella. You're amazing knowing all these animals and shrubbery!

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    1. wordsfallfrommyeyes: Two of my obsessions on display. Which is the only reason I know what to call them.

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  38. I don't know whether anyone else pointed this out as I cannot and will not slosh through 76 comments, but any post that shows us not just one but two photographs of a plumber's bum definitely has a Freudian side.

    However, the birdies and flowers are very nice.

    I suppose if I were gay I would say the birdies and flowers are very nice too.

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    1. rhymeswithplague: What probably is Freudian is that I hadn't noticed the plumber's bum. And am very glad that he was sufficiently covered so that it wasn't a case of plumber's crack.

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  39. I love seeing the king parrot...plumbing problems is never pretty

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: The parrots are always a joy.

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  40. Plumbing issues are truly the pits. I'm glad yours is rectified. And that at least you have some help with the cost. Good luck with the previous plumbers.

    I love those vivid birds! I hope you're able to save your iris bulbs. We have bottle brushes here. I love when they bloom :)

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    1. Carol Kilgore: Not only iris but also daffodils, jonquils, ranunculas, and more. Sigh.
      But the previous plumbers have refunded nearly half of their bill. Which pleases me.

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  41. Love that bottle brush plant! And the plumber's bum (twice.) :)

    Golly - I'm glad that problem was solved, but sorry you have to through all the hassle of "fighting city hall" - as they say.

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    1. Lynn: That it is now two of you who noticed something I hadn't. I suppose because having the toilet repaired was more important than the plumbers' scenery.

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  42. Oh, hope all works out with your plumbing stuff! How frustrating.
    Loved that Eastern Rosella shot.

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    1. Kathleen Cassen Mickelson: So far, so good on the plumbing front. And the Eastern Rosellas are a delight each and every time they honour us with their presence.

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  43. i commented here, i swear i did!
    oh well.

    major works like that are such a pain

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    1. kylie: Blogger ate your earlier comment - or perhaps it got caught up in one of the plumbing pits. Always nice to see you.

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  44. Amazing colors in your bird and flowers pics! What a mess and disaster with the plumbing. Good you don't get stuck with all the expense, but still it seems it had nothing to do with you.I should think the council should replace your driveway, not to mention your bulbs! But what do we know in the face of bureaucracy?

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    1. Molly: I thought that they should pay it all as well - but was told firmly that it is not a happening thing. And I still don't know how much they will contribute. Sigh.
      But the birds and the garden make up for a lot.

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  45. Sorry to hear about the toilet debacle!

    I enjoyed your colourful shots.

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  46. It is pleasing to know you have so many friends with whom you are able to share the beautiful things in your life.

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    1. Vest: Welcome and thankyou. It is truly WONDERFUL how many people I have found here in the blogosphere who I am proud to claim as friends.

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  47. I am so glad to hear that at least some of your expenses will be covered, That time of expense is heart-breaking. And don't let the problem with the other plumber go. You deserve a refund!

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    1. Birdie: The other plumbers have finally acknowledged my letter(s). I suspect the promise of going to Fair Trading had something to do with that, and have refunded about half of their bill. Not perfect, but I am going to accept it and move on.

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  48. As always, your birds are beautiful. The rosella looks like a parakeet (budgie?) who's been playing in a can of paint.

    Ouch on having your driveway ripped up to fix the plumbing. At least some of the cost will be absorbed by the council. (They should send someone to your house to replant your bulbs, too!)

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    1. Susan: We have often said that the Eastern Rosellas look like budgies on steroids. And perhaps a psychedelic drug too. Amazingly, if they have their heads down they are very difficult to see in the grass.

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