This week was busy yet again. Monday, the car was booked for an MOT – road worthiness test. It failed. Though only due to the handbrake; it seemed fine to me, though the garage stated it needed adjusting. They did that, then had to re-test the car. All in all, they had the car for 3 hours! Man, it was stressful, though thankfully they’re within walking distance of the house so I didn’t have to stay.

Once home, I did some tidying in the garden. We’d seen a large mouse/small rat in the back garden, so I set to tidying up a pile of old plant pots and saucers. We have large recycling crates that we’re no longer allowed to use, so I checked each pot, and then stored them tidily in a crate. No sign of any vermin, so that’s a relief. Saucers were placed under each plant in the garden, and the remainder stored too. I then carried out 4 fold-up chairs to the front of the house. They’re made of metal so I figured the scrap metal people might want them. I’ve never liked them, never felt safe on them, so out they went. Well, within an hour a white van had pulled up and they were taken away. Sorted. I’ve yet to decide if I want to dispose of the patio table. Besides, I’d done enough that day. The rodent was quite possibly living in the sofa or mattress that some git had dumped in the alley by my garden. I reported this as fly-tipping on Tuesday, and by Friday, most of the cr*p had been taken away. Very impressed. Hopefully the rodents will move on now.

Wednesday, we had 2 electricians over to do a safety check on the house. This was arranged by the agent and is done every 5 years, I think. All seemed to be going well and they were very quick. I was cheeky and asked them to replace 2 bulbs in my son’s room. They’re spotlights fitted into the ceiling, and we don’t have a step ladder. They did it, and quicker than I would have done. After checking things, they left. Later, we were cooking dinner and the electricity went off. Marvellous! The main RCD had tripped, and when I tried to flip it up, it wouldn’t stay on. The only thing we were doing was cooking, so I turned off the cooker at the mains, tried again, to no avail so I called the agent who would send back the electricians. Meanwhile, my son decided to play detective and started turning off trip switches one by one to determine what blew the whole house. When did he get so clever? Lol. He determined it was the boiler in the bathroom. I went to switch it off and noted that both switches in the airing cupboard were in the on position; this was after I’d already told the electricians that the one switch blows the whole house. Rolls eyes… I switched off the offending switch, reset the breaker, and all was well. They then turned up and I explained what I’d done. They’ll report this and possibly later will disconnect the switch or repair it – the casing is cracked. Apparently, it heats the water using gas, which is cheaper, whilst the other uses electricity. Not bothered either way so long as we have hot water and power.

Friday, I had to visit the optician, again, to collect my glasses, again. The first set of lenses into my old frames had been scratched by them. You’d think they’d check they hadn’t damaged them, or maybe hoped I wouldn’t notice? They let me in to ensure the frames fit properly, and to check that I was happy with the new lenses. After a short wait I left with my new lenses, unscathed.

Here we’ve had some sunny blustery days which have been great for laundry on the rigging, but once the sun goes down it’s so cold.

Finally, don’t forget in the UK the clocks ‘spring’ forward an hour on Saturday night/Sunday morning. In the past I’ve never worked on a Sunday, though now I work most Sundays so will lose an hour’s sleep. I really do wish they’d leave it alone now. Why do they do this every year, twice a year? Seems illogical to me…

Take care, be safe.