Wednesday 12 December 2012

Floods, bugs and ribstickers


No, this is not a garage sale, it's our rugs drying off in the garage after Jim got up in the night to find the landing radiator had burst, drenching the landing carpet, dripping through the ceiling and flooding out the living/dining room.. The radiator was a write off. We rescued the rugs, but are waiting the insurance assessors to view the landing carpet. Two days later the bathroom radiator went. So now we await the plumber to come and overhaul the system and put in five new radiators.


Just what you need before Christmas, eh? Of course the radiators don't come under the various insurances we hobble ourselves with. Do you ever feel you are being royally ripped off on all sides these days?


The one good thing about it is that it has happened now while we can deal with it, not while we are away. Imagine coming home after a 27 hour flight across the world, to find house contents bobbing about in six inches of water? It'd certainly cure your jet lag, at any rate! And, let's face it, this was an entirely manageable situation, not like the awful floods some folk have been victim of.

While all this was going on I was working my way through a little bug. Or rather a little bug was working its way through me. And it took its time. Just as it appeared to be vacating its host, another little blighter moved in, a simple head cold. Except I don't do simple. So within hours it was setting up a satellite division in my chesterly area, which annoyed the heck out of the resident asthma, causing it to become positively exacerbated. Oh, they were all throwing their rattles out of the pram, were these fiendish little bugs. More excellent timing. Nine days later (gosh is it only 9 days?) the steroids have just kicked in and I can lie down without wheezing - hurrah! I shall sleep tonight! And the head cold has abated to the odd cough and sniffle. Hey hey! We're on our way!

Now I can eat with impunity, I decided to do something with a brace of poussin found on offer at Mr Sainsburys.  I browned them off, removed, and sauteed off the veggies.




Simmered the poussin in stock with the veggies, and voila, a meltingly tender, meaty, veggie, brothy meal - just what we needed to cheer us up! It was a bit hit and miss with the flavouring as my sense of taste was a bit off. (Now there's a great opportunity for a chortle from all my friends who know exactly how much 'off' my sense of taste is!) However, there were no complaints, just lots of little satisfied murmurs from himself, and actually I enjoyed it too. So good to eat and know you were going to hang on to it for the requisite time!

I wouldn't like you to think it has all been doom and gloom here abouts. We had a lovely dash down to Kent for my cousin's 60 th birthday bash, combining it with her daughter's 40th. Lovely to see the fextended family if ony for a short spell. On the way home next day we detoured through Norwich and booked our flights to New Zealand for the New Year! And to round it off, despite not having booked, we bagged a table at Jamies Italian and had a lovely lunch. (Not having had breakfast we pushed the boat out!) So now I've been twice and it did not disappoint. (My friend Sue K, it transpires, has done a sneaky re-visit herself, without telling me!)

Hoping you are well ahead with your festive plans, and enjoying the build-up without getting too stressed. We are very low key these days, most of my stress has come about trying to make sure my mum's life carries on serenely in every aspect despite the floods and bugs - all her cards are written and sent, presents bought and wrapped, her weekly shopping is done, meals planned, pharmacy organised, doctors visits organised and arrangements and plans put in place for when we are away. She of course, has no idea what all this entails, but if her life carries on free from pain, free from fear and free from lonliness that's all I ask. I can't do anything about her general physical and mental infirmities, but we can keep her cheerful and comfortable. And why wouldn't we? Catch you next time!

14 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, what a post..... I do hope your house is drying out. As for the bugs, yuk....The same goes for the dead birds! but then, at least you have a trip to New Zealand to look forward to, lucky you, bring some nice weather back with you,
    Sue Xxx

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    1. Hi Sue, yes, it was a bit doom-laden, wasn't it? House is fine, it was a fairly localised 'flood' thank goodness. Still waiting the insurance assessor, was to have been here today but his car has broken down!

      I will try and smuggle some sunshine aboard with us on the way home!!

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  2. Gosh what a time you've had. Do so hope things will begin to look up now - you've certainly had your share. Your trip to NZ will surely be a wonderful time what with it being summer down there and when you come back we'll be on the way towards spring here too won't we? Won't we?!!

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    1. We are really really looking forward to this - in fact it seems more real than Christmas, to be honest! I'll take your word for it that Spring will have Sprung on our return!! Lx

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  3. Oh Lynne - I do hope the Plumber sorts it all out and things dry quickly. Definitely better before you go to New Zealand though. Hope you have an amazing time!
    Claire

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    1. Hey Claire, plumber actually going to overhaul the whole place while we are in New Zealand, he couldn't fit us in today. But we are warm and dry, and looking forward to our trip. Lx

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  4. Oh I sympathise with you.... our bathroom radiator went one night many years ago, and our son had to wake us to tell us there was water running down the hall wall, bookcases etc. Luckily we hadn't done the conversion so the back room was just a small office and all the books had to be laid out on the floor, worktable etc., as per insurance company instructions, to dry out before the assessor came. He could see they were rubbished totally, and we got full compensation for carpets, radiator,books, bookcases with no problems at all, so no complaints there.
    Well you can't say life is boring can you?

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    1. Certainly never that, Maggie! Actually there is only the landing carpet, we rescued the downstairs rugs and one cushion was the only other casualty. My lap top just missed getting 'rained on' as it was on the dining room table right underneath the leaks!

      Life is never boring - in fact I could do with it slowing down a bit!! Lx

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  5. Enjoy the trip! Never boring? An understatement! Way too much excitement.

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    1. Thanks, Linda, I know we will! I never understand those people who fear retirement because they don't know how they will fill the hours. What kind of lives have they been leading up to now? I loved my job but it wasn't my life, and now there is SO MUCH to do it's difficult to choose sometimes!

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  6. You really have had your share of discombobulation! Hope you and the rugs have fully recovered x

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    1. Rugs fully recovered, Annie, landing carpet to be replaced. Complete radiator overhaul while we are away next year - that's the way to do it!! Still trying to shake this darned head cold but the other bugs seem to have departed! Things are looking up!! Lx

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  7. Yes, I think we are well and truly ripped off by the insurance companies, and banks, and.....don't get me started! Hope it all gets sorted out quickly for you.
    The roles are well and truly reversed when our parents get older! Mum used to say to me'im sorry you have to do this....' I always replied, she did this and more for me when I was little! It's pay back time for all those sleepless nights and vomiting bugs! Your have a great New Year to look forward too! :)

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  8. Ada, I think I was having a little spill over in this post - it all just got a bit much - the huge logistical exercise that will need to be in place while we go away to keep mum ticking over, plus our Xmas preps plus all mums xmas preps, the radiators and feeling ill..........poufffff! But I'm on the mend and things don't seem quite so unsurmountable. I do agree with what you say about 'pay back', in my heart, just sometimes....well, I know you understand about those 'sometimes' too. Lx

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