Tuesday, 13-01-26

Good morning, everyone!  How are you all?  It's not that cold again this morning although I have to admit it was hard getting out of my cosy, warm bed!

Yesterday went pretty well with just one hiccup.

Matt rolled up bang on eight o'clock, unloaded everything, told me I could go out and about as much as I wanted and set to while I drove off the circuits.

Matt is a very tidy worker - this was as bad as it got in terms of big stuff although there's a bit of a mess around the now defunct boiler (still on the wall in the kitchen) and the landing was a bit of a no-go for much of the day.

For me, the worst thing was having no water - just just two flushes-worth, one upstairs and one down - so I whizzed off to Morrisons to get some bottled water (not for the loos, I hasten to add)!
However, by early afternoon Matt had the water on again so I now have a fair bit of bottled water to use up.  Not to worry, I'm sure it will come in useful at some point!

The hiccup was some very dodgy pipework/non existent welding under the landing floorboard that dated right back to when the house was built.  So Matt had the carpet and boards up, sorted out the dodgy stuff (I think I was lucky there!), replaced everything and you would never know he'd done anything at all except that I think he also sorted out a certain 'springiness' in the boards and they now feel nice and firm to walk over.

That's put him back a few hours but I'm so glad he was able to sort it.  And it was simple, unlike a recent job, Matt was telling me, when he found unsuspected asbestos and the job had to be halted while it was checked and properly dealt with, adding considerably to the cost of the work.
Thank goodness it wasn't complicated like that!

He's left me with some alternative heating.  I have the oil filled radiator on right now and it's certainly making a difference but yesterday evening I didn't need any heating, triple layered as I was with double socks and an electric fleece over my knees, just like an oldie (no rude comments, thank you!!).

The worst thing now is no hot water.  I am not a fan of top to toe sink washing but at least it's only for a few days.

I've just remembered - I had a bit of a panic yesterday.  On Sunday I had the garden room and garage unlocked as I was putting all the festive stuff away and yesterday morning I couldn't find the keys (which are on the same ring).  I hunted high and low and was getting a bit worried.  I have spares but that's not the point really.  

Thankfully, I found them eventually - I had put them on a dining chair and then pushed the chair under the table.  That'll teach me to put them away properly where they should go, won't it?

Today starts with Groove although whether we walk there and back depends on the weather.  Then it is another day of doing not very much - it's hard when key areas are in use and there's certainly no point in dusting, etc, at the moment.  I had to empty a few cupboards in the kitchen (for pipe access) so I can go through the contents and deal with anything I haven't used recently and as for what I had under the sink - words fail me!  I can certainly get rid of some of that, for sure.

So it is all go for today and now I need to boil a kettle and have a nice warm wash at the sink (better than nothing!!) and get dressed ready for Groove.
Have a lovely day, everyone - see you tomorrow when, fingers crossed, I will be nearer to having hot water!  xx