Monday 14th January 2019

A few weeks ago we noticed water dripping down from the hot water heater in the downstairs facility. This clear water then turned rusty and began to stain the wood paneling.

We called the plumber back.

And although the other cover was clean and pristine, once that was off, inside it looked like something brought up from the Titanic, all rusty and leaking from many places. It has to be replaced was the obvious judgement.

So, after exchanging mails last week, we heard nothing other than a suggestion that Monday might be OK.

So, I was set for a day working from home, just set up on the dining room table when the doorbell rang. It was Matt, and he had a new boiler.

So, over the course of the day, he turned off the heating and water, took out the old boiler and prepped the pipework for the new one.

An electrician came round to upgrade the power supply and drill holes in the wall to connect new earths.

It took all day, there was drilling, banging and all the other associated nose and mess, and I tried to carry on working through the noise and dust and cold. I as the afternoon wore on and the sun sank, it got bone cold, especially as the back door had been open most of the day to allow for a drain pipe to run into the garden.

By quarter to six it was all plumbed in, all pipes had be cleared of air, electrical tests carried out and passed, so the boiler was lit and we had hearing.

Glorious heating.

Matt has to come back Tuesday to fit a new radiator and some valves, but the back is broken of another biggish job.

It was done in time to prepare and cook carbonara, which I made a huge amount of garlic bread and washed down with three glasses of vino d’box.

The cats had been freaked out by the comings and goings and banging through the day, but they returned to demand to be fed, so bounced well back.

And there was just time to write a blog, pack and have a shower before bedtime at nine, as the alarm was going to go off at half four.

Its all go.