Cheaper power bills

were  one of the many things the present government promised us would happen if we elected them. Like most election promises this has not happened. 

Did anyone really believe them? I suppose some people must have done. They may even believe that "subsidy" myth - that somehow we were all given money towards our power bills. I know I was not "given" anything. This is taxpayer money, money we have put into government coffers, being returned to us. Shh...you do not dare mention that our power bills are still some of the highest in the world. They will remain that way too. Our small population spread over vast distances is always going to be an issue.

We just need to face facts. Our standard of living is too high. 

Yesterday this house, about to go on the market, was "styled". It meant people coming in and moving most of our comfortable furniture out and putting in other furniture. They took down our pictures and put up blobs of brown. They "artistically" placed more cushions than this house has ever seen. I have strict instructions on how to recover my sleeping mat with a white spread, two very large pillows and two cushions. 

The girl who designed the layout told me, "You'll hate it." I loathe it. I can see where she is coming from but yes, I hate it. The only thing to be said is that it was a great deal cheaper than it might have been to have this done.

The company which did the job consists of just four people. The was G... "the stylist". Then there was her boss, his very shy wife, and his brother. They come from India and they are obviously workers. The house was transformed in two hours. There was no standing around.

It is heavy physical work moving furniture, making up beds and making sure that everything they have brought in is immaculate. No, it is not the way any house really looks but this is about "presentation". We have compromised a little. I am after all still living in the house. G... actually said, "It actually looks better this way but I don't know what the agent will say."

I don't either but he knows I am still here. I can get several things out of the way in a few days but not just yet. That does not bother me and I do not think it will bother him. What bothered me was how hard those four people worked. I know it would not have been so fast with any local people I know. I know it is the way they simply just "got on with the job" that allows them to make a living out of this. They are really working for what they get. I am also sure they go home at night and relax at least for long enough to recharge their inner "battery" for the next day. It is the only way they could continue to work at that pace.

We need more people to work like that, a lot more.   Our power bills might not be cheaper but we might be able to pay them if we all worked like that.