I Locked Myself Out For The First Time Since 1969

This morning the recyclers turned up, and in the rush to dispose of my green sacks, I managed to lock myself out, as the door slammed behind me.

Luckily, I had my coat on, so I wasn’t too cold and I also had my wallet in the pocket.  But my phone was in the house, so I couldn’t call my son, who has spare keys.

Eventually, I borrowed a phone, but he was in a meeting, so I had to go to Walthamstow to get them from our builder.

The journey didn’t start well, as roadworks round the corner, meant I couldn’t find a 56 bus to get to Leyton for a bus to where my son lives and the builder is working. So I went the other way to get the Victoria line from Highbury and Islington.

it was bitterly cold and I was without my hat and gloves and then the train was delayed.

But eventually, I got the keys  and was able to get back into the house.

The last time, I locked myself out was in 1969 and a very pregnant C and myself called the Police to get us in. They did with a well-aimed boot. I’ve since used the technique a couple of times.

They also said never call the Fire Brigade in this sort of emergency, as they love to use their axes.

Why Have I Gone All Tidy?

It’s strange, but over the last week or so, I’ve started to tidy where I work, cook and sleep.

I was particularly tidy on the Oriana. As this post shows.

I’ve never done this at any other time in my life.

Perhaps, it’s because I’d like a girl-friend and I don’t want to invite them home to a load of chaos and mess.

An Unusual Advantage Of Professional Cleaners

For the last few months, I’ve had a professional company clean my house, as opposed to a lady who comes round.

One advantage I hadn’t thought of, was that as the company, bring all their own equipment and materials, I no longer have to buy them and carry them back from the shops.

I’d never thought of that! But it’s a great advantage and offsets the extra cost of the professional company.

This Is Getting Beyond A Joke

After trying to boil me last year, this house is now trying to freeze me to death. I can just about get the heat up to 18.5°C, by having the boiler on full and controlling the valves manually upstairs.

As to having a bath, that is impossible.  As we decided to take it out last week.  But only on condition, I had a working shower.  Guess what both showers are not working. Now they have done this before, so I suspect that could be down to the cold weather too! I just tried the shower again and took this picture.

My Stone-Cold Leaking Shower

Note how the water is leaking everywhere.  The water was absolutely stone cold.

I suppose the shower isn’t too important, as I know that I can get one at my physio tomorrow.

But what did I do to deserve to be frozen to death? Or am I drowning, as my nose just never stops running with this rhinitis? But then, I had this chronic rhinitis for some years as a child, so I know despite it’s worst intents, it doesn’t appear to be fatal.

In some ways the worst pain I have is in my left humerus, where the school bully broke it.  But that isn’t at all funny.

I suppose I could always move to somewhere like Mali, where I’m told it’s a bit warmer.

My Central Heating

There’s something weird about the central heating in this house.

I haven’t had it switched on upstairs due to its homicidal tendencies for a few weeks. So today, as it’s so cold, I switched in on again.

It must be the first time, anybody has switched the heating on and the temperature has fallen. Despite the fact that the floor is now quite a bit warmer!

A First Proper Bath In Ages

I had a proper bath tonight.

A First Proper Bath In Ages

The bath may not be finished and the whirlpool bits aren’t connected, but it was nice to lie in warm water for half-an-hour or so.

I feel properly clean and refreshed.

Hopefully, it will be tiled in and finished in a couple of weeks.

But at least itb was safe and the plumbing worked as it should.

Yesterday Was Cold Shower Day

It’s not just the central heating that is up the creek in this house, but the hot water as well.

So yesterday, I had to have a cold shower, as for some reason the hot water had gone awol.

It may be de rigeur in the best public schools, but I can’t wait to get my shower system replaced with one like I had in the previous house.

I’ve Now Got A New Ceiling

My hall had terrible lighting, so I decided to put a false one in to hold some decent lights and be able to take out Jerry’s awful wall lights.

You can see the lights in one of the pictures.

All it needs now is to be plastered and have the lights fitted.

It’s Parky, But The Radiant Heater Is On!

It’s very cold, but the sun is out and although, I’ve no heating upstairs in the house, where I live most of the time, it’s warming up with the sun.

The origin of parky is a bit obscure.  Some say it’s northern, but then my parents in North London used it.

I Have A Real Wet Room

The picture shows the floor of my en-suite shower.

I Have A Real Wet Room

It is Jerry at his best and it shows how the water flows from the shower area to the rest of the room. It also shows why I must put shoes on to go to the toilet.