Pi$$ed off – but alas, not pi$$ed…
Forgive me for the vulgarity, but it just tickled me… I’m stone-cold sober when I shouldn’t be, while I’m in urgent need to vent my anger – which need probably wouldn’t have arisen, had I managed to drown it!
The motivation to blog today came straight from the hand of some pencil-pusher inside the Inland Revenue Department, asking me to pay 233 EUR tax due for 2008. That includes 11 EUR late payment fee and interest… WTF? In 2008 I ended up with two FS3’s because I’d quit one job and started another – albeit with the same employer. The IRD took into account my earnings from the second FS3 – but conveniently overlooked the tax that was deducted. Is the country in such dire straits that they need to resort to robbing us “little ones” of a few euro, in order to boost the economy? I have no doubt that there could be people who would pay up out of ignorance.
But the real reason why this makes me so mad is that of course it’s me who’s forced to waste my time and energy to prove my case. And believe me, I don’t have time to waste. Nor energy, coming to think of it.
Then there’s the little matter of our washing machine that conked out a few days before our holiday. It still was in not too intensive care by the time we returned, and was finally delivered back to us yesterday – only to break down once more during the first of 6 wash-loads that have been gracing our bedroom floor for the past week!
Now it seems to be fixed… and we’re drowning in washed clothes that can’t be hung outside because of constant rain. (Yes, rain!) Let me rephrase that: washed clothes that shouldn’t have been hung outside. Because that’s what hubby did when he thought it had rained enough for the day. Then he scurried off to Malta for a dinner with friends, while I arrived from work in a particularly mesmerizing downpour – mesmerizing because I was sort of willing it to not be true, which seemed to cause it only to pour harder. I think I actually had my mouth open in wonder, while sitting in the car in our drive way…
I’ve been back to work for just one week, and it feels a little as though I’ve never been away. Now I’m sitting here, trying to make metaphorical lemonade – and I can almost – almost! - laugh at the lemons life is throwing me. The last one (well, hopefully!) for today: I chucked a glass of mulled wine into the microwave and obviously pressed the ‘hot drink’ button three times instead of twice. Judging by the lack of fog around my head, that not only left a dire mess in the oven but effectively destroyed the alcohol content. So I’m even too stupid to get plastered on a Friday night. If that isn’t depressing, what is?!
Oh well. If you’re still with me, I’m honestly impressed. Oh yes, I know what a yawner of a post this is. But I do already feel slightly better for it. So bite me, as my dear friend Kathy would say. Speaking of Kathy… the garden gate gang is going to meet for the Tollwood Summer Festival in Munich on July 21st – and yes, I already booked my leave – and my flight! I have a feeling that knowing that will be going a looong way to keep me sane in the coming months…
And now, folks, I’m going to attempt another boost of my blood booze level. Watch this space…
Commiserations! I hate it when mechanical things break down. Good luck contesting the tax demand – or do you have the rule they have here, that you have to pay it before you can contest it?!