Erieversible

I’ve probably mentioned it before, but as it is such a pain I’ll mention it again.  Tax forms!!!!

For the last few years the tax form I’ve had to complete has been two sides of a single sheet of paper.  That was it.  The whole tax return for the family, all income, was done in 10 minutes.  No ambiguity.  No conditional elements that made hieroglyphics look simple.  Just some basic facts and figures.

How many people are employed by the IRS?  How many taxmen per head of population are there?  I think it would be very interesting to see comparative per capita figures for nations.  I think I know where the ratio would be the worst!

The weekend saw another lot of changes in the house, specifically existing, non-funtional window ‘treatments’ were removed in the living and dining rooms and new hardware and functional curtains installed.  The whole feel of those rooms has now changed - for the better, of course.

We’ve used two different brands of window hardware so far in the house, and the stuff I had to battle with at the weekend came with flat head screws.  The question I asked, repeatedly, loudly, with various swear words interspersed, was “Why?”.

Why would any manufacturer market window hardware with flat head screws?  They do not allow as much torque to be applied, and when working at ceiling height the advantages of a Phillips head should be obvious.  Rather than battle on with the inadequate fittings provided with the hardware I nipped out to Lowes and bought some equivalent Phillips head screws.  Job done.

So, why do they sell such items with flat head screws?  The only advantage I’m aware of for flat head screws is that, in an emergency, various other devices other than a screwdriver can be used.  However, I cannot envisage a situation when the installation or removal of curtain hardware would constitute an emergency.  Are flat head screws measurably cheaper in that using 4 of those rather than 4 Phillips reduces costs noticeably?

The other brand of window hardware we have used comes with Phillips screws.  As we work through the house and need more fittings, I know which we’ll use.

So today the temperature hit 60F.  At least, that’s what my car showed at one stage today.  With the rain pouring down too I’m surprised there’s any snow left around, but there is.  Down in the basement the sump pump is working away.  Touch wood.  I can honestly say I’ve never known of a UK house having such an arrangement, so this is another fairly fundamental difference between the two countries.  I understand the concept of why such things exist (I think I do, anyway) but then a whole country, and one that is arguably just as wet as this part of the US, manages without the concept.  We’re back in the territory of why does the same car need servicing 2-4 times as often when it runs in the US compared to the UK.  Must be something in the air.  Or the water.

Meanwhile on the roof the startling news from yesterday is that, and I quote from the roofer’s paperwork, “House was roofed with absolutely no underlayment”.  At first that meant nothing, but I’ve very quickly come up to speed with the terminology and the technology involved.  I am busy gathering information before deciding what course of action (if any) to take.  Not something I wanted or expected to be dealing with at the moment

Never mind, the British are reknowned for their ability to talk about the weather, and there’s certainly plenty of scope there!