Was It Really Just Another Day?

It's been an odd day. Sunday is usually quiet, and so it was today. I am still decorating the inside of the showman's wagon, which in itself seems an odd thing to do when the weather is so nice.

Today in total I have spoken, albeit very briefly, to maybe seven people. Friends Mark and Tovey, stopped by. But they were on their way somewhere else and used my place as a short cut to their destination. They were walking over the fields from the village. Tovey is going to make me some curtains and took the opportunity to do some measuring of my windows. And then they were gone.

I had to unblock the basin in Tricia's bathroom. I thought it would clear with the plunger, but it wouldn't. So I took off the trap. That was clear, so finally I ended up dismantling the wastepipe entirely. Still it wouldn't clear, so I used caustic soda. Which finally, with the aid of more plunging cleared the blockage. Not however before I had accidentally inhaled a lungful of the boiling caustic. Nasty!

When Paul glossaryking.blogspot.co.uk was here last Wednesday/Thursday I remarked on the strong smell of wild garlic pervading the air. Well it wasn't the smell of wild garlic, it was the smell of propane gas escaping. I only found that out today when I went to turn on my cooker and there was nothing. The gas pipe had split and all the gas had gone! It was a brand new tank of gas too. Flipping expensive way to pollute the environment.

Luckily the place where I get my hens feed, supply propane, and are open on a Sunday. Mind you it was pretty obvious that the young girl who served me would far rather be somewhere else on this fine day. I can't say I blame her either, but please love, make a bit of an effort. The youngster who got the gas for me was a bit more talkative, but only to complain about the heat! We are a grumpy lot us British sometimes.

Next I had to stop for fuel. "Do you have a loyalty card Sir?" This was another person who would obviously rather be somewhere else. Don't ask me how I know, but it may have been her miserable face. Which if she could be bothered to raise a smile, would have been quite attractive.
"No."
"Would you like one?"
Here I attempted to raise a smile from her, "No thank you, but I always get my fuel here, so I am loyal."
"Oh my word," she said sarcastically, "A loyal man. What a rarity."
This response put my back up. "Don't start that nonsense," I said, injecting a somewhat unintended venom into my words. Her face fell even more, and I have to confess to a degree of satisfaction at this. Well, serves her right.

Next person I saw was my neighbour Steve who was working in the vegetable plot. I asked his advice about backing up my computer. I had just read Lea's blog livinglifenowinkiwiland.blogspot.com in which she spoke about her computer crashing. Steve advised a memory stick, which I shall buy tomorrow, and he will sort things out for me.

I saw my other neighbours John and Yola. But just stopped by to say hello. John was barbecuing, and invited me to share, but I declined. Sometimes I worry that I might be too much of a scrounger. Or maybe I wasn't in much of a socialising mood today. Anyway I came back and now that I had propane I could cook, and made myself bacon and eggs and tomatoes. Very nice too it was.

Extremely handsome son George is at his friends house and Tricia has gone to see her Mother in London. I feel kind of down today. Inexplicable, considering how all is well with my world right now.

Maybe the fact that I have had the radio on whilst decorating has depressed me. I was listening to radio 4 mostly. All full of gloomy news. Yes I could have changed to a music channel but wasn't in the mood for music either. What a grumpy old misery guts I really am. Hopefully I shall be more cheerful tomorrow. Might even write more about Paul's visit.

Thanks for listening. I do so much appreciate you being there.