Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

Good morning all !!

Rainy this morning but not really rain - just wet. I think, the ride this morning will be a walk. Too many pot holes.

I thought I would include this photo of the beach near us at sunset, as a 'good morning'. You can see the Pyrenees in the background. I didn't take this photo!!

I hope everyone has a safe day.

 

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Good morning all. Well what a day I had yesterday! I started out getting a load of washing done and pegged out and then baked a tea loaf for coffee morning next Sunday. All was going relatively smoothly then at lunch time - soup warming in the microwave - the power suddenly went off. It was actually 12:10. After initial annoyance I got in touch through the emergency number I had to report the outage. I am regarded as a vulnerable customer. I was given this status after they discovered through a questionnaire I had to fill that I suffer from UC. I do have to say that I don't feel in the least vulnerable but am happy to drift along as it means this excellent service constantly sends me texts advising me of progress in situations such as this. It turns out that 'a third party' had cut through one of their cables and 93 homes were affected. As it got colder and colder I knitted until it got too dark to see. Originally the time for the job to be sorted was 18:14 - don't you just love these precise times?? I was very concerned about my ex cat sitter Jack who lives across the Lane from me. He doesn't have a mobile phone so he was completely cut off. I rang his daughter - she was out shopping and was completely unaware of what was going on - her home would have been affected too -so I told her I would nip over and see that he knew what was happening and not to panic. A further message advised that a second cable had been severed and the repair time was given as 00:23. I retired to bed as the duvet was a blessing and kept me warm. I read my Kindle and spoke to a few friends so I could have a moan. Eventually Cricket joined me - instant hot water bottle - and when I woke up at four minutes to midnight the power was back on. I went to turn on the heating - it was 13°C in my living room but the boiler wasn't working! Luckily it only needed re-pressurising which I know how to do so now the radiators are toasty and I've had my first hot drink since yesterday morning. Sorry to be so long winded and I do apologise for not being able to say goodnight to you all. I'll catch up with all your posts later on after I've corrected all my time switches and had another cuppa!

The End.​

 

Good morning @Tui34. That is a gorgeous picture - whoever took it also managed to capture a UFO! It is so serene that just looking at it brings a feeling of tranquility.

 

Good morning all.

Glad your electricity is back, @Ladybird4. what an unpleasant day you had. It would happen on the coldest day so far this winter. OH switched the boiler onto off instead of timed by mistake so it's only 14C downstairs. Frost outside.

I thought @Tui34's photo looked as though there was a flying saucer in it, too.

 

Goodness me @Busy-Lizzie, you will know how I was feeling first thing this morning. I've just discovered that my landline is not working so I've contacted my sister to get her to report it for me as, despite combing through the VM website, I cannot find out how to get in touch with them and those who have known me from GW will know the endless hassle I have with that provider.

 

I didn't achieve all of my targets yesterday because when I called in at club I couldn't undo the padlock on the gates so I gave up and came home.

The hot water tap in my kitchen sink has finally broken so I will have to boil kettles for hot water. It has progressively been on the blink for months. I need a new kitchen really but the idea of emptying my kitchen, living without it, and the mess for several weeks has put me off doing anything about it. I have a nasty suspicion it will be a much bigger job than just replacing units as there is a damp corner where the water goes through the outside wall into the drain outside. Lots of mildew and spiders etc. in the cupboards. It could potentially mean digging out a small flower bed and the front steps and path, as well as the chaos indoors. As well as the cost.

My plan for today is a dog bath day for Rob. It is such a manoeuvre, assembling the required towels, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer etc. apart from controlling him and preventing him from running around the house dripping wet. I usually strip off and join him in the shower, hoping there will be no callers! Not a pretty sight!
I wonder if the Jehovah's Witnesses would strike me off their calling list if I answered the door to them wet through, "au natural" Enough to put the fear of God into anyone. It might be worth a try! Just a thought.

 

Glad to hear your power is back @Ladybird4 , that was a day and a half for you Hope the landline is sorted soon.

 

What a horrid day for you, @Ladybird4. Thankful you have the power back on. We got rid of our gas cooker a few years ago, so my old standby of heating a pot of water on the hob is no longer an option. I must check if our gas stove in the living room needs electricity to operate? I don’t think it does, so if we did have a problem, at least we could decamp into there and keep warm.
We have snow this morning! Really pretty, but causing a lot of disruption across the county. The local schools are closed and several main roads blocked. Thankfully we have food in, and it’s warm in the house. Hope all stay safe and well.

 

@Goldenlily26 if you can afford a new kitchen it will be worth it. I had one fitted in our Norfolk cottage about 5 years ago. OH was groping about under a cupboard so see if it would be possible to plumb in a dishwasher next to the washing machine and the cupboard collapsed on him. The tap didn't work properly and the oven was in the wrong place. The wooden work surface was worn, damaged and black around the sink. I had some money that my mother left me so I had a new kitchen installed. I did the tiling and painting. I love it, it was really worth the mess and the wait.

 

Hello everyone. We have survived being blown to bits whilst out doing the weekly shop. Loads of rain too and 2 blackouts in Leclerc but they have back up systems and half a covered car park of solar panels. 2 whole lamb's kidneys on th ebutcher's counter which we'll have with cooked brunch on Saturday. More bargain lamb legs in LIDL where we shop for wine and I snaffled the last two.

Sunny and 13C at the mo but set to get nasty again with winds from the north and -2C (feeling like -10C) so I'll have to go and rescue a few more plants this pm and get them into shelter.

Interesting cloud formation @Tui34 and great view of the mountains.

Sorry you had such a difficult day @Ladybird4 and hope all is well now.

@Goldenlily26 new kitchen better sooner than later and, in winter, you'll have more time for all the sorting and cleaning needed to empty it and paint it ready for the new one. Maybe get a bargain in the January sales?

@Ergates Love your snowy photo. I still have a Rangemaster with gas hob in the annex and a log fire in the dining room plus loads of candles in case all the leccy goes off.

Stay safe and warm everyone during this period of interesting weather.

 

Good afternoon all,

We’ve been away for a few days to Stratford to see a production at The Swan theatre last night. It was very good. (The Red Shoes). It was bitterly cold, but not as snowy as further north.

Sorry to read that you were without power for so long @Ladybird4 and especially during this very cold snap.

Will be calling in on my SiL tomorrow to see how she is. Her husband's funeral can’t take place until after the PM (which is going to be a scan one, so not as invasive, thankfully).

I’m glad to see that the snow we left behind on Tuesday has almost disappeared. We live in a sheltered spot, so although places quite close by get heavy snow fall being more elevated, we tend not to get it quite as severely as a rule.

 

Afternoon all.

What a day to have no power @Ladybird4 - I hope you’ve defrosted today and the phone line is now sorted. It’s less than 10 degrees in my unheated lounge !

My gas hob has saved me a few times when the leccy goes out as can boil water and make hob food at least. Reminds me to charge the head torches…

How did the doggy bath time go @Goldenlily26 ?! I’m always soaked if I bath my MIL’s cavapoo!

Ok I’m going to make some herby scones to go with the leftover stew and I will put a cake in this time - just a simple tray sponge, but cake is cake!

Have a cosy evening everyone.

 

Asking for help please, some time ago I think one of the forum members mentioned they had bought some very good noise cancelling ear buds for around £62?

I had thought of getting my OH some of these as a Xmas presie, he hates the noise of our neighbour tinkering with his motor cycle and continually revving it up.

Can anybody recommend a good make please?

 

Good evening all. Landline finally sorted by lunchtime but not before I had such a bullying and almost incomprehensible conversation with the telephone responder who having taken all the details of the problem, spotted on my account that my contract ia almost up and he was determined to get me signed up for another. As he didn't seem to understand the word 'no' I just hung up. The persistent beggar tried ringing me again but I ignored it, then I discovered he had sent me some pre contractual papers by email. I deleted the email and then, dipping my pen in vitriol I wrote a scathing letter to the Complaints dept. in Sunderland. They got both barrels and more. I will await the result of that letter.

 

@lizzie27, there are some on Amazon called 'Nothing Ear' that fall roughly within that price range.