polybear

Cash withdrawal, anyone? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68883799

Bear here....again.....just when you thought it was safe..... My last post was from The Pitstop, this one's from Bear Towers.....Hilly Wander wandered, including two ascents of The Killer Hill; it seems that Bear's Great Big D Adventure has somehow become stuck in Customs at the moment on the dreaded Big Seven-O. I won't be beaten..... Bear gone....

On money….. P&O were on the news last night - it seems they have been expecting some of their Channel Ferry staff to work 12 hour days, 7 days a week for up to 17 weeks. Without a day off. B’sterds. And for as little as a fiver an hour 🤬 Well the French have just sorted that - now it’ll be 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off or face the long arm of the Law. Pity our own spineless tw@ts in The Big House weren’t up to the job. Yep, Big Rant

When Bear refurbished the kitchen, lounge and H, S & L of Bear Towers it was the last one that I enjoyed least. Bear volunteers in the Warehouse at the Hospice; whilst the work couldn’t be described as Rocket Science I still find it interesting - what’s more I’m working with interesting, “real” people rather than those so far up their own ar5eholes they’re practically inside out. Bear will also investigate the private option - thanks for the heads-up.

There are some countries Bear wouldn’t go due to common sense for self preservation - and Colombia is one of them.

Bear here.... A productive-ish morning; I *think* I've finally got my "Lifebook" (see here for a free download: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/end-of-life-planning/lifebook/ - finished at long last. That's a Tick. Right, was the next bit of the snuffed-it paperwork puzzle? BG

That's it, go on......rub it in.......😒 Bear is more than happy to pay the going rate for properly skilled and experienced tradespersons; however when they're little more than cash-in-paw odd-jobbers who couldn't even spell College/Apprenticeship/Training etc. (let alone having received any) charging over the odds for basically straightforward tasks (many of which the householder can no longer do due to age and/or ill health) then I get the 'ump, especially when they do a mediocre job.

Bear here..... Up at disgracefullylateo'clock (0720) today; it could've been 04-something but I fought my way kickin' & screaming back to snoozybearland again. The weather isn't great over Bear Towers, so further work on Harry isn't looking promising (some of us don't have a comfy Garage to work in - unlike others I could mention whilst fettlin' with their mo'sickles.....have I mentioned that?). It seems DPD are promising to bring Bear his 4L of Oil at midday, so that'll be a Tick. I sent a message to the accommodation I've booked in Lisbon a few days ago (last Friday) regarding options for luggage storage and still haven't had a response - notta good sign; it's a place rated with a 9/10 review score (from 190 reviews) - but all from external travel sites rather than Booking.com (presumably they are new to the site). Cautious Bear will give them until the end of the day and if still no response I may well bin 'em as I can cancel without loss - fortunately I haven't booked flights yet. Right, today I think I'll finally attempt to finish off the notes that'll accompany a (certified) copy of my Beary Will before handing over a pack to my Buddy over the road (he's an Executor) as well as keeping another pack at Bear Towers; hopefully the notes will assist those who may need to be assisted when I snuff it. BG edit: Jeez, it's 0845 - Bear had swum a Km by this time yesterday and was back home.....and I'm not even dressed yet. Disgraceful.

Sadly those LMWDIFY often seem to think they're more highly qualified than a Brain Surgeon and want paying accordingly. That'll explain why, whilst Bear was at The Great Empire for 39 years I was fed on a constant diet of nothing but Bullsh1t from the grown-ups. The info came from the BBC - maybe the two things happened together? Perhaps they would've moved onto the second witness had the Juror not got a note from his mum?

Bear recalls an interview with Ron Haslam: "Why did you crash?" Ron: "The girl in the red dress f****d off...." Apparently he'd been using her as his braking point marker.

The company that does it normally appears at Exhibitions - not sure of their next one though, or what they're called. edit: They're called Modelu, based in Bristol; it seems they'll be at the NEC at the weekend, or Bristol in May. HTH Brian

And in the very rare event that you do get caught....and you do get hauled up in front of The Beak.....utter that cast-iron fool-proof defence..... "iD told me to"

At a time when the UK is desperately short of Docs. this F. nonsense is just plain Nutz: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0x0zzey7lpo

Bear here..... Back from the Hilly Wander and Tea all scoffed 😢. Whilst walking away from the P.O. earlier I spotted a couple of Traffic Wardens nickin' a bluddy great stretch Limo parked in what is known as "the Service Road" very close to the Co-op, despite it being marked with double yellows. Soooo many drivers take the p1ss by parking there (usually those driving expensive cars) whilst diving in the Co-op; basically they're all lazy 'sterds who can't be ar5sed to walk 100 yards (or often less) from a legal parking space As Bear walked past I uttered those immortal words "Well Done" to one of them; I think I caught them off guard by not hurling the usual abuse that they no doubt get every day. ION..... I see the Trial of The Orange One has finally kicked off.....only to be adjurned until tomorrow after just 30 minutes......cos' one of the Jurors had a Dental Appointment. Hope he had a note from his mum. BG.

Bear here…. Unwanted strides returned to The Big River using their “easy returns” via the Post Office; sadly the software they give to the P.O. to scan Bear’s barcode on my phone is totally F. Useless - it must’ve taken him ten attempts, including a restart in the middle to get it to play ball. When I asked if this happens often he replied “All the time”. I got the feeling he would’ve liked to add a descriptive word in the middle of that sentence but there were ladies in the queue…. Now in the Pits during the Hilly Wander; the killer hill is next, followed by the Tess & Co dash then the long drag uphill to Bear Towers. BG