Interesting Times

 …as the old Chinese curse would have it.  There is nothing I can contribute to the commentary on the Ukraine situation that hasn’t been better put by others.  Save to express the hope that Moldova is keeping its powder dry.

Early on Sunday morning I noticed a mark on the hall carpet: water.  On looking up, I could see a dripping bulge in the ceiling.  Our insurers agreed to send an emergency plumber, though it took over six hours to get him here.  It turned out that the nearest available chap was 57 miles away, and it didn’t help that his satnav sent him twice round hell’s half acre.  By the time he got here, we’d found water on the floor of the airing cupboard beside the hot water cylinder.  The plumber found the leak in the pipe work leading to the shower valve, and isolated the supply, so until that’s sorted, we’re left with the feeble shower over the bath.  Our last disaster was on Boxing Day, so our property seems to lack respect for high days and holidays.  Not clear what our next steps are, but I’ll speak to our insurers again in working hours.  Perhaps the only good thing about all this is that, since the ceiling will have to be repaired, we can get rid of the horrible artex.  But goodness knows how long it’ll take to put it all right.  And that’s before we start on the bathroom refit.  Meanwhile, the drip continues at about the same pace, and the insurers’ contractors have not been in touch as promised by close of business.

Fortunately, it has been good gardening weather, so I could keep myself busy.  I planted out a couple of miniature roses by the front door, and some penstemons beside the little greenhouse.  The grass is looking pretty dreadful: when I cut it the other day I started with the mower set too low: when the mower protested, I reset it and carried on.  An ugly scar bears witness to the first few passes.  But elsewhere things are starting to look up.  The hellebores are flowering well, as is the little magnolia stellata at the front.  The pink magnolia Susan is showing some colour, and neighbour Annie’s pink camellia is putting on a fine show above the fence.  The snowdrops are over, and the crocuses are looking pretty tired.  But the various sorts of narcissi come up at different times, so keep the colour going for weeks.  The garden waste bin was emptied today, and is already close to full with penstemon and cistus prunings.

I have also vented a bit of spleen at British Gas, who have (which has?) failed to respond within the promised eight weeks to my 6 January snottygram.  Thank goodness for sunny days and alfresco lunches.