Cleanliness is next to Godliness

 On Saturday, strengthened  by a surge of energy I resolve to tackle the mountain of  catalogues, builders merchants bills, bank statements, empty envelopes, random notes and circulars piled high in a tray on the worktop.
Two hours later, with the help of my trusty shredder, I have produced two stuffed pink recycling sacks.
This gives me smug satisfaction.

With five friends coming for dinner I then decide the house must be cleaned up at least a little.
Vigorous activity with dusters and the vacuum cleaner follows
I empty the ashes from the  wood burner and lay the fire. Next I wipe the surfaces behind the AGA, a daily chore if there has been the slightest breeze.
Into the dining room, I sort out the dishes, polish the table, locate six napkins, six matching wine glasses and lay six places.
I organise food, pans, serving dishes, nibbles.

At approximately 3.0pm I decide to have a leisurely shower, wash my hair and relax.
I step into the shower, the hot water streams onto me and I reach for the shampoo. At this moment the flow of water stops. Abruptly. Without warning.
"Don't do this to me " I shriek.
Pulling a tracksuit onto my wet body I rush down to the boiler room, flick every reset button on the electrical circuits,  and swear very emphatically when nothing happens.
Defeated I ring my son and trot off to his house ,a mere fifteen minutes away, to complete my shower.

On Sunday I decide not complain, no-one really needs hot water on tap especially since 1.5 billion people have no water on tap at all, hot or cold.

On Monday my friendly neighbourhood electrician arrives and we discover that my new,  all singing, high powered pump is so effective it has forced the pipe off the outlet, hence no water in the heating system.
Easily rectified after all and at small expense.  And boy the house looks clean!

My Cup Runneth Over

Although it has not rained in any effective manner for eleven days, my underground rainwater tank is full, actually overflowing down the exit pipe. The sound of running water percolates into my consciousness late at night as I stroll round the garden with the dogs. All is clearly not as it should be. It becomes clear that, for no discernible reason, the emergency top up from the spring is running full tilt into the tank.
I have a choice, no hot water or serious water wastage. I compromise and turn of the power for the night. The gurgling is silenced.

Fortuitously the next day my electrician is already booked to fit a new pump, which he does with his customary efficiency. Come switch, on all is silent. It transpires that the pressure gauge which has been warning that the water level is dangerously low, thus triggering the top up, has now pulled up the drawbridge and expired.
On ringing the makers I am ecstatic to be told that the manufacturer of this vital part has gone out of business and that the replacement part is not compatible with the existing circuitry, and anyway they have none in stock but are expecting a delivery any day from Ireland!
Estimated cost of replacement parts is £700 plus, naturally, VAT.
By some mysterious jiggery poker, a lash up, short circuiting the probe, eventually leads to a resumption of hot water supply. How long will that hold I ask the electrician, "Oh about ten years" comes the reassuring reply. We will see!.