We seem to have pressed pause, however briefly, on the saga of the trees at the edge of our garden and the neighboring apartment complex.
No limbs have been removed yet, so whatever was supposed to happen yesterday apparently didn't. It was raining in the morning, so maybe they delayed the work. I called the apartments' caretaker and reiterated in no uncertain terms that we didn't want brush or cuttings dumped in our garden. He said he would speak to their tree guy and get back to me.
But when I checked up on the trees after work yesterday evening, I saw that one of the branches -- the one most prominently sticking out over the garden wall -- has been moved and/or broken and is now in a different position. So although it's still there, someone's definitely been messing with it. Who knows what's happening?
I wrote the landlords and apprised them of the situation, and as far as is possible, I am passing this buck. The joys of renting!
This is our street as seen on my walk home from work yesterday, after the rain had passed. It's looking very autumnal out there! I love that combination of yellow leaves and blue sky. Autumn is perhaps my favorite season.
Dave and I did manage to see a notary public yesterday to get our financial document notarized. I'm praying that the recipients accept this notary, given that he's based in London and his notary stamps and seals look slightly different. You know how notaries always have to say when their commission expires? Well, his stamp says, "My commission expires with life." Which I thought was pretty funny.
Dave was fuming that we had to spend £70 to have someone stamp a piece of paper. "It's such a scam!" he kept saying.
Anyway, I'm very relieved to have that done. That's one item off my mental to-do list.
A 7th Grade boy dropped this into the book return at work yesterday morning. I think it used to be a library book. Seriously, what the heck?! It looks like he got it wet -- because it's water-stained -- and then wedged it into a book bag/locker/drawer for about three weeks, so it could dry in this impossibly contorted position. I very rarely charge a kid for a damaged book, but I'm afraid he's going to get docked for this one.
I love how he quietly returned it, like maybe we wouldn't notice.
I thought paying $10 for a notary was a lot--holy cow! I'm glad that you're on top of the tree situation and am curious about where this will end up.
ReplyDeleteWe pay the American consulate €50 to notarize something. Unbelievable. Still, I’m glad you got it done. I wonder what the backstory is with the building manager and the Russians. Maybe the Russians were slow to follow up and that’s why he was so unreasonable with you. Oh, why am I stewing about this? Never mind. There ARE benefits to renting.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I do think the Russians have somehow muddied these waters.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think the kid would have at least tried to fix the book?! Maybe he did and that was the best he could do.
I just can't remember ever using a notary nor what they actually do? But we do have them.
ReplyDeleteIt took me four reads of 'Literally' to get it, but I agree with sentiment. I well placed comma would have helped.
I can't ever say I've seen you make a typo, grammar or spelling error in your posts. "I wrote the landlords..." hit me hard. You didn't write 'to the landlords'? Is this a UK/US English difference? If I really thought it was a typo, I would not have mentioned it. I think it must be a US difference and a rather strange one.
Autumn can be a lovely time of the year, but it is a harbinger of what is to come. Does your boiler need a good servicing?
I think you should run the intended fine past the new library boss. Such punishment of innocent adolescents may not be in her master plan for the library. Effectively it might traumatise the accused and put him off libraries forever. Also he might have ADHD.
ReplyDeleteI am with Yorkshire Pudding on the book issue. I think if you reach out with warmth and kindness to the boy you might encourage a library user. There may also be a story behind the books state, I am thinking of my grandson who just had the contents of his backpack dumped in a mess on the ground, and my childhood where other kids sometimes grabbed and tossed my possessions. Jean in Winnipeg
ReplyDeleteWell, at least he returned the book. That's something, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteThe branch saga does continue. Keep us updated.
In the US attorneys don't have expiration dates for their notary commissions, so maybe that's something similar. I on the other hand am rapidly approaching my 5 year anniversary, so I had to get mine renewed.
ReplyDeleteThat street photo gives me all the happy vibes. Even though fall isn't really my favorite, fall light definitely is!
You should talk to the student before you decide to fine him. Find out how the book got that way.
ReplyDeleteGlad you can let the landlord handle the tree situation. Things have a way of working out so now you don't have to worry about it.
Do you think historians will be able to pinpoint the trees in the back of your garden as the ignition point for World War III?
ReplyDeleteI'm with Dave on the notary business. It should be a service provided by the powers that be. We don't pay for it here.
ReplyDeleteI like the comments about talking with the boy about the book and finding out what might have made it look that way.
ReplyDeleteHope things work out with that tree and the cuttings.
£70 for a notary? strikes me as exorbitant. it didn't cost me anything to get my will notarized, just went to the courthouse.
ReplyDeletewhat was the book I wonder.
I've never paid for notarizing, didn't know there was ever a charge. I get it done at the local library, so I suppose my taxes pick up the cost.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made it clear there was to be no throwing of debris in your yard. What next? Old mattresses? It's good to be a renter sometimes, when your landlord gets to take over.
I spent a couple of years working at a bookstore. After about 6 months I quit bothering to be surprised at the condition of the books people would try to return. I've actually seen worse than that.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens, that book is a mess. I can't imagine what happened to it besides being in the possession of a teenage boy. Your street is indeed looking very nice. It reminds me so much of where I grew up. Fall was a very special time of year back there. I agree with Dave, that's a lot of money to sign and stamp a piece of paper.
ReplyDeleteSteve, You were so right about the my favorite fountain down on Shad Thames. Much to my delight it is still there. When I looked on streetwise, I must have been in the wrong spot. I see they did build some sort of glass structure near it and they put some nice seats around the outside of the fountain. Hopefully, that means it's going to stay.
I love the photo of your street. It looks like autumn and feels very cool.
ReplyDeleteSounds like being a notary in one's retirement years would be an excellent way to supplement one's pension.
ReplyDeleteThe Youth Excel At The Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Motto - Mr Dave Is So Right , What A Phuc-N Scam - I Do Believe That Olga Girl Would Love To Find A Just Because Treat Under Her Pink Blanket
ReplyDeleteStay Strong Brother Man ,
Cheers
I was a notary 40 years ago, but I think the process to become one is more complicated now. I know I sure didn't make any money from being one! Fortunately we have a friend who notarizes what we need taken care of for free.
ReplyDeleteA sad state for a book.
ReplyDeleteYes, talk to him first, in an enquiring manner...not heavy handed. He does need to learn to treat books better.. especially those he doesn't own
That book - wow - just ... wow. Yet I think others have the right idea, to try to find out what happened. It might not have been his doing. I had to throw away a few books once upon a time because we had a toilet overflow and leak under a wall into the next room. Our daughter's belongings were sitting on the floor in that room, as she had just moved home from university for the summer. A stranger to the situation might wonder who was so careless they'd allow books to get wet! I love books and treat them well, but that was out of my control.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the tree situation has been put on hold. Hopefully that will give time to resolve it to everyone's satisfaction. Time pressure can lead to poor results in so many situations.
The notary fee is the correct fee and the going rate for one document in Britain. That's why in my previous comment re. notaries some days ago I said to make sure you had established the expected way of payment beforehand. There was a time when only cash was accepted by notaries although it is some years since I had to use one. (More than one document and you will be adding roughly a half again for each).
ReplyDeleteThe blue skies, sunshine and yellow trees on your street are very scenic. US notary services are free of charge at the bank if you have an account. I hope the tree situation resolves. My tree guy chips trees and branches and then takes everything away.
ReplyDeleteIt is all part of the removal service. The same should happen for you.
I agree stamp duty is a scam and a pretty big one in real estate. South Australia has the highest stamp duty rate in the country. Thousands of $$$
ReplyDeleteI just don't see how it can cost 70pounds for someone to stamp a bit of paper.
That poor book will never be the same, I think the student should have to pay for a replacement copy.
Margaret: Oh, I WISH it was only $10! Even at the embassy I had to pay $50.
ReplyDeleteMitchell: Who knows what set that guy off. If he'd left Mrs. Russia a phone number I would have called him earlier!
Caro: Who knows. It IS pretty much beyond repair.
Andrew: That is such an interesting question. I often say "I wrote so-and-so," and I've always believed it to be correct. In doing some online research I've found that it's only correct if there's also an object being written, as in, "I wrote so-and-so a letter." To simply say "I wrote so-and-so" is apparently wrong, at least in proper English, but I believe this may well be an American vs. British/Australian thing.
YP: He probably DOES have ADHD, since almost everybody does these days, but my boss was cool with the book charge. (As it turns out I didn't charge him anyway because I was able to get a free replacement copy.)
Jean: Well, you'll be glad to know I did talk to him (kindly, I think!) and didn't charge him. He just said he thought his computer damaged it in his bag and he insisted it never got wet -- which is simply untrue, but whatever!
Ms Moon: Ha! Yeah, I guess that's true. Better than never bringing it back and making me chase him down for the next six weeks.
Bug: I think in the UK, notaries generally ARE attorneys. I'm not sure about this guy, though. LOL
Ellen D: I did talk to him after I wrote this post. His explanation was somewhat implausible and muddled (see above) but at any rate I didn't charge him.
Ed: My God, it feels that way sometimes, doesn't it? Everything is a flashpoint for nuclear anger.
Red: It really is a ridiculous requirement. I don't know why he couldn't just Zoom with someone to verify that he signed the document.
Robin: Well, I did have a talk with him, as you will see above. Hopefully the message penetrated the 7th Grade brain!
Ellen: Yeah, notaries here are quite expensive. I think it's because as Bug said, a lot of them are lawyers. The book was "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander.
Boud: Well, as it turned out, the landlords didn't need to get involved. I think it's all been sorted to everyone's satisfaction, at least until our tree crew arrives next February.
Amanda: Wow! It's especially bad when someone BUYS a book and then returns it in bad condition! At least in a library it's understood there's going to be some wear-and-tear.
Sharon: Oh, good! I thought I'd been down there not too long ago and seen it!
Bob: It is literally quite cool at the moment, but still not freezing, which is nice.
Allison: Especially here! It sounds like notaries in the states don't make as much.
Padre: Olga has had three treats so far this morning and it's only 9 a.m.! LOL
Kelly: I would think it's not really a money-making venture, at least in the states. Here, maybe!
GZ: Yeah, that's what I did, and exactly the message I delivered!
Jenny-O: Well, yes. Sometimes things just happen. I did charge a co-worker once for a book that had become wet when she knocked over a glass of water on her nightstand. I mean, we had to throw it out and it was brand new, so...
Rachel: Yes, they're much more here than in the states. I think (as I believe you said) it's because many if not all of them are solicitors.
Susan: I wonder if I can become a notary? I should look into it!
River: Well, stamp duty -- like for a real-estate transaction -- is something different. Is that what you mean? Here I think it's called Stamp Tax or something like that.
Your street is beautiful. Sending all good wishes for tree stuff!
ReplyDelete