Saturday 13 March 2021

Another week bites the dust

 Saturdays seem to come round incredibly quickly.   I suppose in one way it is a good thing = at least I can't say that Lockdown has been a drag.   And most days there is some little 'happening' or mini drama to enliven the day.

Today's drama was that after 'playing up' for the last few weeks, the plug in the bathroom washbasin at last  decided that today was the day to finally say 'enough's enough' and stop working altogether.   It is spring-loaded and has to be pushed down to spring up if you understand what I mean.   No amount of pushing by either J or I would result in the water emptying from the bowl.   J left a message for the plumber on Facebook,   I left a message on his answerphone.   A couple of hours later he was here (he only lives about ten doors away) and it took him all of five minutes to put in a new spring-loaded middle piece.   The sound of the water running away was music to my ears.

Our Zoom Coffee Morning went off happily - only four of us this morning but as you can no doubt imagine, we found plenty to chat about.   It is not the same as meeting in the flesh but it is better than nothing.   Then I had to post a letter.   All the office work to do with selling my car needed doing and as is my way - when it needs doing I like to get it done.  So the cancelling of my RAC was popped into the letter box before the postman emptied it.   Now everything is filed away and I can put it out of my mind.   But I must say that when the garage door went up for Priscilla and I to go on our walk to the Post Box it was with a tinge of sadness that there was an empty space where my car had always been.

It is a deceiving sort of day today.   The sun is very bright - 'glishy' as my mother would have called it. But don't be deceived - the wind is bitterly cold.   And when J comes this morning she tells me that the river (the Ure, which flows through Wensleydale) is banking and looks as though it has been over onto the fields overnight.   And Penn Hill is white.  It may only be ten days before it is officially Spring but winter is still having its last little fling with us.   Don't start casting a clout yet.

 

25 comments:

the veg artist said...

Bright and sunny here in West Wales, but with a sharp, cold wind. It will feel odd without your car for a while, but I'm sure you'll be making friends with some locan taxi drivers soon!

Ellen D. said...

You are a go-getter, Weaver! When there is a task to do, you don't waste time over it. That is a good characteristic to have but I do not always have it!
The sun is shining here but I have an injured knee that will slow me down for a bit. There are many signs of Spring starting here but I think we are expecting a bit of snow this week.
Have a good weekend!

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Darling Pat,

It is so very strange about time during these periods of lockdown. As you say, in the main, the days simply fly by and, more often than not, there is little activity to show for the day but it has sped by nonetheless. It seems incredible to us that we have just passed our lockdown anniversary....one whole year of not leaving the apartment except for medical appointments. At first, we counted the days then the weeks but, just recently, we have not counted at all and, lo and behold, an entire year has passed by.

We have read that the decision about your car has been made and the deal has been done. So good, in our view, not to have procrastinated. The car served you well, but it no longer can and best that you can now work out new ways of getting out and about. Is there anyone who can be a regular driver for you? A friend here in Budapest once hired a driver to take him and his cats to London and back and that was accomplished very efficiently and, all things considered, quite reasonably. So, perhaps you can explore up dale and down dale with your own chauffeur. Now, how grand and what fun is that!

The weather here too is fickle. At first glance, it looks like a perfect Spring day but the thermometer shows otherwise. But, the days are lengthening very visibly now and that is always cheerful!

JayCee said...

We had a similar problem with our bathroom plug. Eventually we replaced it with one that just swivels open and closed instead of popping up and down.
Very windy here and forecast to drop to 3C tonight. Brrr...

Debby said...

It is cold here but very sunny. We cleared the dead branches from old apple tree and started clearing the heaps of brush from the two massive trees that fell on the old house on the retirement property. You do not feel the cold so much when you are working.

Barbara Anne said...

I know it couldn't have been easy to part with your car but it occurs to me that one of your neighbors might like to rent your empty garage for their 2nd car. Only if that would suit you, of course. Your son may have a car or things to put in there if you decide to keep it empty.

You are an amazing, wonderful person, Pat, and with all you do (even with technology) you should be proud of yourself!

Hugs!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Barrbara Anne - I have never kept my car in my garage -- few people do on our estate - things like back door steps (the kitchen opens into garage) and gas boilers on the wall tend to make the garage too narrow, Also I hae my freezer, my drier and Priscilla, my Rolator in there.
JayCee - thank you for that advice - I shall remember it in case it happens again.

Jennyff said...

I love those kind of plugs, for an unknown reason I call them clicky clackies, and I insisted we have them in the penthouse. In Italy we have the ones where you lift a lever behind the tap and they pop up , not as satisfactory but better then the old plug and chain arrangement we have at the kitchen sink. A whole world of options just to dispose of our washing water.

Beacee said...

I understand your sadness about parting with your car. Last year I parted with mine after 29 years. We were afraid there was a problem which would make him unsafe to drive, but he went as a 'project' to a retired mechanic who had just been given a cancer diagnosis and needed something to lift his spirits. The problem turned out to be minor, so we're hoping to see them both at one of the local car shows - if they're ever able to run again. I still miss him though. x

Bonnie said...

Thank goodness that was not a serious plumbing problem. It's good you could so quickly get it taken care of too. As much as I welcome Spring I do agree with you that you can not safely expect it too soon. We have had many years with snow in March so we don't count on it until April. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Heather said...

I'm not casting any clouts yet! Very strong gusts this morning made walking back from my trip to the paper shop really hard work, but at least it stayed dry.
I sometimes wonder if there a fewer days in the week than there used to be! We all seem to be coping quite well with the current situation but what will we do when it is all over?
Hope you have some sunshine tomorrow to warm you up and allow Priscilla to take you for a walk.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for your lovely cheery answers everyone.

Joanne Noragon said...

Not much better way over here, Weaver. Getting colder by the hour.

Penny said...

While here in sth Oz we we warming up again. Lovely beach walk this morning.

Cro Magnon said...

We never had those sink problems with a black rubber plug on the end of a chain!

Hildred said...

I am not driving any more....I still have my car and my youngest son is insured to drive it, so I am fairly mobile when it is really a necessity. And there is always the cart Charles used (and did wheelies on) - I am much more careful about driving it and in an emergency it can get my to where I need to go - when he got it he chose a good sturdy one with wheels that would be capable of orchard trips, so I feel quite safe on it (but I don't do wheelies!!!!)

Hildred said...

I am not driving any more....I still have my car and my youngest son is insured to drive it, so I am fairly mobile when it is really a necessity. And there is always the cart Charles used (and did wheelies on) - I am much more careful about driving it and in an emergency it can get my to where I need to go - when he got it he chose a good sturdy one with wheels that would be capable of orchard trips, so I feel quite safe on it (but I don't do wheelies!!!!)

Hildred said...

Oh I didn't mean to send a copy, and I can't figure out how to delete it, so please, just ignore!!!

CharlotteP said...

Glisy is a great word! Really conjures up squinting at the bright sunlight and wiping cold tears from your eyes.

Tom Stephenson said...

Isn't it strange how time can race past during the seemingly interminable wait for the end of lockdown.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I never ignore anything you write Hildred - I always enjoy it.
All your comments are much appreciated as usual.

Rosie said...

I like the way you describe things in your everyday life or rather the 'happenings' as you call them!
I so empathise with you over your giving up your car as I had to face this when I had a stroke at 62 it made me feel like a child having to rely on other people. I live in beautiful countryside too and I really miss being independent and able to drive alone when I want and where I want along the open roads singing to myself!

Rachel Phillips said...

I am pleased to see in your talk of the weather today that you have concluded that we should not cast a clout yet. So true.

Yellow Shoes said...

I had trouble once with a clicky sink plug in Khazakstan.
I'm afraid I headed for the airport, leaving behind a sink full of soapy water; I've always felt sorry for the housekeeper who had to deal with it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Judging from my experiences in Khazakstan some years ago sticking bath plugs were only one of a series of probems Anne.

Thanks every one.