"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

Watty1

The weather is bonkers isn't ? Freezing cold but no rain and everything so dry

greenbee

Completely mad weather. What happened to 'April showers'?

Forgot to get cardboard from the shed so I can move the DW, so need to do that after I've eaten.

About a third of the strawberry bed has been dug out. I've got two buckets of strawberry plants in the greenhouse, and the rest are piled up under some black foam at the end of the bed. I need to get on with the rest in the morning as it then needs digging over thoroughly to get as many nettle roots out as I can, barrow as much mulch over as I can, and then replant as many strawberries I can. And get the irrigation system (which I bought last summer) set up.

greenbee

Waiting for the electrician to finish reinstalling the solar inverter and batteries, after which I can take Stinky for a walk. Have just chased the plumber to call the builder as we're waiting on him to work out floor depths (and timing for the when the heat pump goes in) so we can put the floor down and order the office doors. Also waiting for the external door to be delivered… I've had a "we'll be in touch about your delivery soon" message, but that was two days ago.

I also need to get the builders to have a go at getting the dust off the solar panels, as apparently it wouldn't move with the leaf blower yesterday. I'll be very cross if the panels are damaged. Electrician is getting a price for additional batteries, as given all the supply chain issues, I'm not sure whether prices will come down again - or they will even be available later in the year.

Hopefully the sun will be on the strawberry bed fairly soon and I can get some digging done too. Would be good to get that finished today if I can. So I'd better go and do some work.

greenbee

DW is sulking again, even though I pulled it out AND tipped it back after it's first tantrum. It's hugely frustrating as I struggle enough with cooking in this kitchen, without having to wash up by hand as well.

badmemory

The suggestion of washing up by hand brings out hwols of laughter in this house. It used to be DSs chore. After a few years it finally dawned on him that he could buy "me" a dishwasher. At least it needs no nagging!

rtandon27

@greenbee - perhaps it might be worth donating both the old dishwashers to the local tip & investing in a new one for the kitchen?

We have one stored unused in the boiler cupboard that has not been used since 2021 at our old house - I have a feeling that when/if I get around to shifting it to the kitchen and moving the washing machine to the cupboard it will give me as much grief as possible before I throw in the towel & just get a new one!

greenbee

It's a massive hassle to get rid of them, so the plan is to get them taken away when I buy for the new kitchen. The issue is that with both machines having the same problem, I'm concerned that it's the location and not the machine. However, we're due to start on the utility room in May, so hopefully I'll have somewhere to plumb one in before June!

Have dug up the rest of the strawberries and quite a bit of nettle root. I'm hoping that enough plants survive to replant.

Seedlings have been watered and tucked up, so I just need to water the pots and then get a lot of clearing the kitchen done so that the cleaner can clean tomorrow. And have a bath!

Tomorrow needs to involve digging the nettle roots out, walking Stinky, dropping stuff off at the CS and doing food shopping, filling the strawberry bed with compost and planting as many strawberry plants as possible.

Lots of people here for tea and cake on Saturday, hence the need to tidy, and on Sunday I need to start packing up the office and the utility room as it will take a while and I'm hoping they'll start after the bank holiday weekend. No clue what I'm going to do about the cats as their catflap is in the utility room, and that's where they are fed (and the pet food fridge and freezer are.

Watty1

Do your local council offer a large item removal service? Ours does, it is a set price for up to 5 items and I've used it a couple of times as it saves the hassle.

Although the last time I wanted to get rid of something, got it to pre-arranged site and it just vanished as someone pinched it 😀

greenbee

We can get large items collected, but they need to be moved to the end of the drive on the collection date - and I’m not up to shifting dishwashers over the gravel! And certainly don’t want to leave them decorating the neighbourhood indefinitely.

Plumber and builder have finally communicated about the floor. Both had made assumptions. Hopefully it won’t change costs significantly (although I still have no clue on builders costs which is getting me a bit stressed… worried I’ll end up with walls, floors, doors, but no functioning utility room or kitchen!). Must get hold of the tiler to discuss options so I can start choosing tiles, get an estimate, and know how much notice he needs.

Inverter/battery aren’t working as they should - only 4kWh of battery looks available and it wasn’t powering the house overnight. Have sent screenshots to electrician, but need to reboot the system as well. Need to get out of bed, walk Stinky, and and get the strawberry bed and tidying for the cleaner done. I need to get the utility room clean enough to be able to do laundry in! I’m beginning to wish I’d booked tomorrow off too as the builders aren’t here!

beanielou

I hear you on tidying for the cleaner coming!