Trials and Tribulations

Last October - the 3rd to be precise, I visited my local comune and asked the 'Technical Officer' if it would be possible to have a little bit of rubber under the manhole and the 'flood grill' in the road at the back of the house. The resulting THUMP every time a vehicle passed over them was, to put it mildly, bl**dy annoying - not to say 'dream shattering' in the middle of the night. (they're right behind where my bedroom is).....
While I was there I also asked if it would be possible (at MY expense) for them to erect a 'road viewing mirror' opposite my driveway entrance. There is a blind spot as anyone approaches my entrance from one direction over the slight brow of a hill. They can't see me until the last minute - nor I them. But I usually reverse into the driveway, so am looking elsewhere!!!
Well to return to the 'trials and tribulations'.... 'The' Poliziotto Locale - there's only one, (Sig. Natale) spoke to me in the village Bar, on the 16th October and assured me that 'the workman' (probably only one of 'them' too), would do the noisy grills shortly. HA - well that's a laugh!
I see Sig. Natale frequently, and the Mayor, and the Technical officer, it is after all only a small village.... The odd 'hint' from me over the last 3 months seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. So on 4th January I sent them an E-Mail....Oh why did I ever try that? Sent it and it was turned back - twice.... Telephoned to ask why they had an official e-mail address and the public couldn't use it because of their 'spam guard'? Denied at first, but after two more attempts and another phone call - admitted! But they still didn't/wouldn't turn it off!
Well I wanted my complaint to be recorded in writing, so I printed it out, along with copies with 'time lines', of all the 'failed to deliver' notices from Yahoo....popped them in an envelope and delivered them to their post box. It was 3.00pm so they were already closed.....
Then I waited - and waited - another 10 days, and so this morning it was off to the Comune....

It went somehing like this with Sig. Natale - his first name, not surname...

"Did you get my printed E-Mail"?
"Oh yes, I think the Mayor showed me that."
"So what about the 'noisy' manhole and grill at the back of the house"?
"Well you only asked just before Christmas...These things do take time."
"So 3 month's is normal to wait for someone to lift the edge of the manhole/grill 5cm and pop a bit of rubber under the edge"?
"Well they are very busy..."

At this point I am trying very hard to maintain a 'good' relationship with my local policeman.....

"OK - so they're very busy - so when do you think they 'may' have time to do this job"?

A slight 'whistle' from his lips - a small shake of the head and...
"Probably they'll get round to it in spring".

At that point 'good relations' got buried pretty damn quick...
"Could you be more precise and tell me 'which' spring -2006, 2007? When"?

A sheepish grin ensued, and he just shrugged!
To which I responded -
"Well tell the Mayor, that when he asks me for my taxes, I'll deal with them in the same manner that his officials have dealt with my request"
I reckon I've really burned my bridges now... But 'Oh Boy'! , did that make me feel good!!!!

posted by Carole B @ 4:38 PM