Weekending

Hot soapy water...running down your back and warming chilly bones. We were only without hot water for three days and without any at all for a few hours. We had offers of showers, and kettles to boil, but  it's so much better to feel the heat from the radiators when the fire isn't lit. To turn on a tap for the warm comfort trickling through your finger tips.  

I've thought about water a lot over the last few days. Remembering holidays on our boats as kids. Filling up big plastic carriers at an old brass water tap. Standing them on the tow path and listening to the percussion as it rained in. Four little girls energetically drumming the empty container on our shins then struggling with the dead weight on our return. Thinking about people who may have to walk miles for their daily water. Reading this and planning how to help. 

Things are happening. The boiler is up and running. I was dreading installation day. There were going to be six men working in the kitchen that turned out to be seven, plus one. I imagined the decibels. But no, everyone worked quietly and efficiently like human ants. All we could do was to make their breakfast sandwiches and cups of tea. So in-between my kitchen shifts I secreted myself away. Thankful for foresight having done some early Christmas shopping including wrapping paper and cards. I settled in by the little wooden bench in front of the fire. Scissors, sticky tape, paper and gifts one side, packet of dark chocolate  Lebkuchen hearts and spiced orange tea the other. 

...it didn't matter that they needed a few more days...

Saturday we left the men behind and went to town to buy floor tiles and treated ourselves to Japanese food here . Did a bit more Christmas shopping. Then came home to a newly laid concrete floor (resisting the temptation to walk on it), hot water and one new window installed. That should keep out a few more draughts.

Sunday, decorating day...not the tree yet, we'll have to wait a bit for that, but walls and doors and skirting boards. 

That was a bit of my weekend...How was yours?

debx

joining with karen for weekends...

catch up

Phew...it's hectic here, and beautiful, and fun and hard work; even though most of it's being done by others.

However much I scrub my nails or wash my hands there always seems to be a greyish tinge to them. No matter how many times I shampoo my hair, I can still feel the grit of childhood holidays in the little wooden cabin on the sand-dunes of Talacre, where everything was powdered with a generous dusting of white sand. 

Maybe it's just in my head like Lady McBeth's "dam spot".

The kitchen ceiling is a spaghetti junction of cables dangling overhead, we still have no central heating and it takes a week for washing to dry. But I am in my element here, and bit-by-bit things are coming together. 

We painted the front door F & B Hague Blue. At first, mildly shocked at the turquoise tinge to the liquid in the tin (nothing like on the shade card). Relieved when a second coat mellowed to a more subtle petrol blue and now that it's finally hanged in place sealing all the draughty holes, it's kindled a warm smile to the old stone wall. 

We accepted a Bonfire/Anniversary supper invitation, and had a fun evening with bubbly and amazing food next door. It was good to get to know more neighbours. 

I was rescued again, and taken to this amazing market where we bought delicious Alex Gooch bread and had breakfast here. 

We crossed the borders once more traversing the Brecon Beacons National Park. A coliadascope (whoops) kaleidoscope of changing colours...orange, rust, green, sage...Epic scenery. The photos don't do justice. I was too busy 'oohing' and 'aahing' as we drove through the misty weather to look down and reach for the camera until  the best bits had whizzed by. I wanted to paint it, or knit it and probably will do so at some time. Once in the capital Cardiff, we met up with H and friends. Ate Lebanese food here and then watched her friend perform in this opera here, extremely impressed at the amazing big voice and stage presence that we never imagined belonged to her childhood friend. 

We had an unexpected visit from the man that had sheltered with us. He arrived with his girl friend and father, bearing a scrumptious hamper of local produce that we've been guzzling ever since.

In-between we've visited auctions and bid on bargains, loosing some things, but winning others. Painted and plumped, cooked and eaten more sandwiches than you can imagine and forged more friendships that will hopefully last a long, long time...

How about you...I've missed you...what have you been up to? 
debx