Tuesday and I wake up early after a really bad nights sleep. Once again I retreated to the spare bed just to try and get comfortable. Once awake I go through my routine of checking messages and emails. Then I check my vitals and record them. I dress and go for breakfast and morning meds before borrowing my partners car and going off to the nearest Wickes to get some outdoor wall filler and some appropriate trowels. I take the opportunity to top up my partners car on the way back.
From then on its all drains. It is clear that the drain from the kitchen to the main drain is not draining and is therefore in need of unblocking. This needs to be done before I can do the work I need to do to ensure the water butt overflow is set in at the right height. I set to work trying to unblock the drain at the kitchen end but because of the configuration it is not possible despite my creativity. Only one thing to do and that is to lift the manhole cover on the main drain and rod it. So I unleash my rodding set and get to work. It becomes apparent very quickly that I am doing battle with my very own fatberg. It is disgusting, smelly and repulsive, but I rod away until I get the the blockage dislodged. It takes all morning to rod the damn drain clean till it flows clear and evenly. I have the hose down the kitchen drain end while I rid through, a kind of flush and floss technique. At last enough is enough and I pack up the kit and stop for a well earned rest and lunch. A lunch during which the squirrels sneak p behind me to steal peanuts from the feeder.
Once lunch is over I can get on and cement in the water butt overflow at the right height. The stuff I have bought is good stuff but in this heat I have to work fast and a pretty finish is not going to be possible, maybe I will paint it a bright colour when its set properly. I finish as much as I can and then clean my tools and put all the tools I have used away. Its now gone three o’clock and I am knackered.
Its time for a siesta. I strip off my work clothes which go straight into the washer and I lay nude on the spare bed taking another set of vitals (all good), and then doing the crosswords. The garden guy arrives and is set to chop our laurel back of the grass. After some time I get myself up and start to transcribe my sisters attempt at a family tree onto the one the one I have bought for the purpose. I beaver away until it is all transferred. Now I need to order some pens and family tree labels so call a halt. Phase two will be to add all the birth and death dates along with marriage dates if known. Its time for tea, which is taken on the patio followed by hot chocolate, a treat. I notice that the garden is continuing to bring forth flowers, including some that do not always bloom.
In a burst of energy I put the bins out and get the light weight duvet out of storage. My partner and I change the bed and then finally we retreat to the sofa, me to write the blog and my partner to watch Hotel Portofino. I’m almost totally spoonless and of all the things I need to do it is to shower. So I shall shower and hope that I get a sound nights sleep.
