And more or less, that is what was happening. It hasn't really been the weather for gardening or useful outdoor pursuits so he was passing his time indoors, messing about on the Internet, reading, watching television, playing with the cat.
And so the week progressed.
On Wednesday morning I was in the kitchen, peacefully minding my own business, listening to Today on the radio and washing up Tuesday evening's dishes. The Builder, I assumed, was in the bathroom - probably about to hop in the shower. All of a sudden, he was stood behind me, in his nightshirt, dressing gown and slippers. Couldn't I hear the chickens? Nope. All I could hear was the radio and the running water from the tap. "You can hear them in the bathroom," he said. "Squawking, fit to burst!!!" (window in bathroom open; window in kitchen shut!). And out he ran, in his nightshirt, dressing gown and slippers, dashing down to see what was upsetting the chickens so. I stopped and put my gumboots on (I, you understand, was fully dressed, but was wearing my slippers) and trundled down after him. And indeed two of the chickens were down by the back fence, yelling as loudly as they possibly could and all puffed up to make themselves look ferocious. Another chicken was still in bed (it was only just getting light and ordinarily none of them would have been up yet). The fourth was right at the other end of their garden, out the way, ignoring it all ("By the time whatever it is gets to me, it will have eaten two whole chickens and won't be hungry enough to eat me!!!")
We have no idea what it was all about. We couldn't see anything in their run and in any case it looked as though the two were yelling at something over the back fence. We couldn't see anything in the field to yell at and nor could The Builder see any sign of a disturbance when he went down later to look in proper daylight. I bought a chooky silence with some mealworms (don't want the neighbours complaining about them making a huge racket before the sun has risen!!) and we went back to what we had been doing. We assume a fox had been passing by, but if so it didn't seem to be very interested in getting into our garden.
And so the week went on, back on quiet and peaceful track.
Until Friday morning. When once again I was up and dressed and doing useful things. The Builder was in the bathroom. Minding his own business, in a quiet and peaceful sort of a way. And all of a sudden the bathroom light went BANG, the house was filled with a burning electrical smell and the bathroom was abruptly plunged into darkness. This was all a bit exciting - especially for The Builder! I produced a spare light globe. The bathroom remained obdurately dark. The Builder decided not to shave and shower right at that moment. Maybe later, when it was properly daylight.
And later, when it was properly daylight, he put up a new light fitting that we happened to have, handily, lying about not doing anything very useful. Still no electrical light. This calls for an electrician :-S We were gloomily deciding that the electrician would have to be paid for from the Grand World Tour fund and that we might need to reduce our Grand plans to Mediocre or even Small ones - when suddenly I remembered that we pay a small fortune each month to British Gas for the absolute top range Home Care cover. Which includes lights, wiring and (you may be surprised to hear) repairs to kitchen appliances such as fridges, freezers and washing machines.
I have made an appointment for a British Gas sparky to come and look at the bathroom light. And while he's here, he can look at the kitchen spotlights, two of which have refused to work for months. Could have had someone out ages ago to look at them, if only I had remembered that our Home Care cover includes lights!!! He's coming on Monday morning. We can ablute over the weekend during daylight. And I'll have to shower by torchlight on Monday morning
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| The Builder's bruise, following his collision with the kerb |
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