Still running around...

What a busy day - again! The development project is taking up huge swathes of time at the moment, mainly because the bathroom suppliers have been truly appalling! Anyway, to cut a long story short, after many phone calls and visits to the showroom, I have sacked them. I will, of course, be writing a detailed letter to them outlining the problems I have experienced and demanding compensation for my time, telephone bills and the cost of the petrol I have used travelling to their premises.

Fortunately, I have found another supplier who will provide the equipment I need within a week - perhaps even on Monday, if all goes smoothly. So, let's hope all does go smoothly.

I would never have imagined, last year, that by this time in 2007 I would be managing a development project (though I do have an excellent project manager on site who has expedited everything at the property) and have the confidence to sack a poorly performing supplier. In fact, a year ago, I couldn't have imagined still being alive at this time in 2007.

Not only have I dealt with the non-delivery of promised goods - my suspicion is that the company thought I'd be prepared to wait and, possibly, that I wouldn't have the courage to dismiss them. And a year ago, they'd have been right. It amazes me how a serious illness changes your view on life! Now, if I receive poor service, I give one chance to correct the problem. If the service doesn't improve, that's it. No more chances. Life's too short to suffer in silence.

I found the experience of announcing that I wanted a) to cancel and b) a complete refund to be very liberating, particularly as I was able to announce that I would be taking my custom elsewhere to a company that keeps its promises (I hope...). So liberating, that since my trip to the suppliers' showroom this morning, I've been to the development site, travelled north to buy some warm sweaters for the winter (I only seemed to have one sweater until today) and then, to my amazement, I had sufficient stamina left to brave a supermarket the week before Christmas!

My life is so different from twelve months ago before surgery [b.s.] I can scarcely believe I'm the same person - and nor can many people who know me! The whole experience has been traumatic, but I have emerged more confident, more optimistic and, I think, generally a nicer person all round. Good things can happen as a result of dreadful events.