Take Things Philosophically?

Did I say our windows and doors were coming on Friday? More than a week ago? We're still waiting.

The builder disappeared for a week, as did the contact we have at the window workshop. We thought they'd done a runner, especially when the architect said he had no idea what was going on. Finally today we've had something of an explanation -- not that it's very good or explains everything. But at least we are talking to these people again...

Meantime, the stone exterior steps arrived and have been fitted. They do look nice. We are quite happy with them.

The latest? It's a long story, as most poor excuses are. The window workshop is short of one aluminium profile. The supplier won't deliver it without money upfront. The window man, and our builder also, think this is ridiculous -- but having seen what a bad payer our man is I can quite understand the attitude. (We went into a local shop to order something on his account last week. The word from the accounts department? Don't let him have a thing until you see the colour of his money! As soon as we said we were paying ourselves, everything was OK -- except for the slight black mark we now have for being associated with him...) So our builder's brother calls the brother of the window man. Brother of the window man says he may have to lend the window man some money to get things moving. All of which may be a precursor to us being asked to stump up some more cash -- which is not going to happen. The best we might do is promise some more when the windows and doors are actually fitted. Meanwhile, wife of the window man is in hospital in Coimbra having a baby. Or so we are told. And our builder was off in Lisbon most of last week -- which is why he didn't call us. We suspect he was there rustling up some money in some way or another; we went around a few suppliers with him today (well, we forced him to take us) and his credit rating seems to have improved since last week...

"Take it philosophically" is what my dad used to say. Difficult, but we are trying. And on a lighter, more pleasing note, here's a shot of the house with cherry blossoms looking distinctly like a Japanese castle..... Don't you think?