Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

VintageHistorian said:

Oh what a shame about not fixing the pressure And the road runoff does sound worrying. Would it be possible to dig out a small channel or similar along the side of the drive to at least funnel it away from the side of the house?

But yay for having spring in your house and for having a lovely evening out with Mr FS!

Thanks VH.  It does feel as though the universe is conspiring against me a bit at the moment.  Mr F has been out and made some holes just where the tarmac ends and that seems to be helping the water drain a little.

Fortune_Smiles

Glumster

I've been a complete glumster this weekend    I know I'm well off in the big scheme of things but the little niggles have just got me down.  Very unusual for me as I am really good at counting my blessings.

The boiler continues to lose pressure.  As we need to get someone out to fix the radiator valve anyway, I thought I'd ask a different company in to take a look at it.  The old company have got a new guy and my spidey senses are tingling about him.  The two times he's been here he's been brusque, in a great hurry and, on the last visit, left the cap off the expansion tank and a random piece of boiler on the floor    I had asked for my usual guy to come out but the company say they aren't using him much now they have a full time engineer.

Mr F inflated my dodgy tyre, water checked it and it's held pressure overnight.  I'm going to leave it until the end of the week and check again.  If it goes down I'll take it to a different tyre place as it's been to the old place four or five times now and they are obviously unable to find the problem.

Water was still coming through the back door today but not to the same extent as before so our temporary repair has helped.  I think the wooden water deflecter currently fitted is past it's prime so we'll fit a new one and see how we fare.

Discovered that water had come in around the window in our guest bedroom today.  The seals between it and the brickwork have failed and water has blown in to the plaster inside, taken the paint off the walls and warped the wooden sills.  I'd already spoken to my builder about getting some of the windows repaired so will prioritise this one for when the weather improves enough for the work to be done.  However, I know that some of our windows are past repair and will have to be replaced.  Mr F found a local window company with good reviews so I'll give them a call tomorrow and arrange a quote.  At least then I'll know what the cost is likely to be.

Our Annex guests have checked out.  I was a bit worried that they'd leave the place in a mess as they set off the fire alarm four times with their cooking   I went round once to check they were ok and the place was full of smoke!  However, apart from smelling a little of bacon, all is well inside.

This weekend has been a wash out in more ways than one as I've not had the light or the motivation to do much.  I'm cheering myself up by making rum for the WI Show - one coconut and one spiced, roasted pineapple.  Shame they won't need testing for a couple of weeks   Mr F is off to the barn soon to potter so I'll try and get some writing done while he's out.  I haven't done anything since the last writing group meeting and the next meeting is on Tuesday!  Good job I can type quickly.

So many folks are having a much harder time than I am so I'm doing my best to snap out of it.  We don't have any flooding around the house except for a bit of run off from the road and that is currently below the damp course.  The surrounding fields are full of water though.  I spoke to my elderly neighbour during a lull in the storm earlier.  He's been here since 1953 and he said this is the worst flooding he's seen here since then!

Hope you're all having a dry and cheery time.  And if not... wine may be the answer 

Fortune x

Jessy103

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time fortune, I hope things improve and you feel better soon x

VintageHistorian

Not surprised you're feeling a bit low Fortune, just half that list would put most people down in the dumps

Definitely get a second opinion for the boiler, it does sound like the guy you've had recently isn't that interested in helping. It can be so hard to find someone reliable.

You might feel a bit more certain about things when you get a quote for the windows. Sometimes half the stress is just worrying about how much things will cost. Even if the quote is a bit higher than you hope it's still good to know what it definitely will be.

Chin up, spring is on the way!

Cheery_Daff

Oh Fortune I'm not surprised you're gloomy,  what a lot of things there are to sort out! I'd be feeling under seige by now in your shoes lass xx

Fortune_Smiles

Jessy103 said:

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time fortune, I hope things improve and you feel better soon x

VintageHistorian said:

Not surprised you're feeling a bit low Fortune, just half that list would put most people down in the dumps

Definitely get a second opinion for the boiler, it does sound like the guy you've had recently isn't that interested in helping. It can be so hard to find someone reliable.

You might feel a bit more certain about things when you get a quote for the windows. Sometimes half the stress is just worrying about how much things will cost. Even if the quote is a bit higher than you hope it's still good to know what it definitely will be.

Chin up, spring is on the way!

Cheery_Daff said:

Oh Fortune I'm not surprised you're gloomy,  what a lot of things there are to sort out! I'd be feeling under seige by now in your shoes lass xx

Thank you kind peeps.  On top of that lot we now have a loose ridge tile which is banging around on the roof during the high winds    I've got over myself now though and I'm feeling far less gloomy about it all.  All the really important things in life are in place and intact and that's all that matters.  And it's ok to feel glum from time to time even if you are most fortunate 

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Get up and get on...

was my mantra for today and it did help to get me out of the dumps.  Despite my previous litany of complaints we are feeling very fortunate.  There is extensive flooding in the Shire and, on our little piece of higher ground, we have been protected from the worst of it.  And a little sunshine today really helped to lift the spirits.

I did the online grocery shop this morning and came in a little under budget.  The savings have been added to the Tittervating Pot so I'm inching towards a new washing machine.  I also managed to get some much needed housework done.  And, because I'd got up and got on, there was time left to work on a little writing.  So I have something to take to Writing Group tomorrow.

Lunch was Brussels Sprouts Pad Thai which was surprisingly delicious.  I stir fried the sprouts from raw and used mixed bean sprouts instead of mung bean sprouts which gave the dish a lovely nutty flavour.  Supper was Lentil Ragu with wholewheat spaghetti.  The Ragu was a little bland.  I usually add a teaspoon of ground allspice when frying the onions but I'd run out.  The recipe makes loads so I will have to do something to pep up the leftovers.

Another booking for the Annex came in today.  This one is for the Easter weekend.  This year, I've set bank holidays to 3 night minimum stays so I'm pleased that it's not put people off.

We're still getting short bouts of heavy rain and wind but interspersed with calmer, sunnier weather which makes things bearable.  More rain is on its way and another storm is due to hit at the weekend.  I've been lucky to have Mr F at home these last two weeks and thank goodness he's been here to help batten down the hatches.  However, he's off overseas again on Saturday so I'm gearing up to manage on my own for a few days.

I hope everyone's ok out there.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Write On

My strategy on writing is working!  I have finished one story this year and progressed another by commiting to write at least 500 words before each Writers' Group Meeting.  My current story is getting good feedback too   

I have carried on with my 'Get up and get on' approach and, as a result, have caught up on some housework and ironing.  My time yesterday afternoon disappeared though as I had to go out to my local independent supermarket to pick up a prescription.  When I got to the turning onto the main road it was closed for maintenance so I had to find another way round.  The only other route was much longer and took me through the back lanes.  I encountered lots of flooding and lots of mud so it was slow progress.  It made me realise that the little lanes around our house are not bad at all in comparison.

The Lentil Ragu stretched to another meal and a further three portions for the freezer.  We've also had Jerusalem Artichoke & Golden Mushroom Soup and a Sprout & Blue Cheese Pizza with Sweet Potato Wedges.

Today there are more chores to be done.  I'm hoping to clear everything before the weekend so that I can snuggle up in front of the log burner and ride the storm out.

Batten down the hatches everyone... again

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, loving your get up and get on progress Fortune, well done! Very impressed. Battening down the hatches here today too, brrrr.

PurpleFairy26

I’m loving the get up and get on mantra too. Thanks for sharing. 

Stay safe.