It isn't 10 o'clock yet, I have been on the phone for most of the last hour, and the day has already gone pear-shaped.
Phonecall 1 - Caistor Windows to say that another job has finished unexpectedly early so they can come and fix our new back door. Good, but I'm going out in half-an-hour, so we make arrangements to cover this.
Phonecall 2 - Librarian from the mobile - the van's off the road, so I won't be out in half-an-hour to change my books.
Phonecall 3 - me this time to the garage as Jacob has asked me to take his car in for a new exhaust. No, they haven't got the right one in stock. Yes, it will cost twice as much as he thought it would.
Phonecall 4 - me again to Jacob. His mobile is off.
Phonecall 4a - me to Glen with message for Jacob.
Phonecall 5 - me to electrician. Last night the new hob wouldn't switch off - I turned all the switches to off, but the light stayed on, so I turned it (and the oven) off at the wall switch. Father turned it on again to see if he could see what the problem was and the whole system tripped. (Joe and Jess furious as they are watching the very end of the Simpsons which they now miss). Joe, the only one who can reach the new fuse box without standing on a stool, trips the switch back.
I duly explain all this and she says she'll get a man out to us a.s.a.p.
Phonecall 6 - Someone wants to sell me fascias.
Phonecall 7 - Jacob. Not at that price! He's got a mate who'll do it at cost - it'll just take a bit longer. I am even more not going out.
Caistor Windows man arrives, and starts work at once. Knows what he is doing and doesn't need a cup of tea.
Phonecall 8 - Is Councillor Turner in? No, he's at a meeting. All day, but he will be in this evening. Can I give him a message? No, she will ring back.
Phonecall 9 - Joe is locked in. Everyone went out before he was awake and the last person out locked the door behind them. He has, once again, mislaid his key - probably in the drain of a washing machine here or at grandma's or even at home. I haven't got a key to their house, so I tell him to ring Glen.
Phonecall 10 - Electrician will be here in half-an-hour.
11.00
The electrician has been and gone. He has taken the little light away as there is "water in my neon". Apparently the hob doesn't like people to boil pasta, rice, potatoes etc. on it as it shorts out if water gets in. This would seem to be a design fault, but convinces me even more that kitchens are now a status symbol to be looked at and admired, but never ever to be used. I have reached the conclusion that the fancier the kitchen, the less it is likely to be cooked in just as the more bridesmaids the shorter time the marriage will last. Among my friends and relatives the cut off point for bridesmaids seems to be four. Similarly most of my friends cook in something quite old-fashioned and utilitarian including the two who feel they have done their bit for home cooking if the pasta and the sauce come in different packets and they serve it with a side salad. Among my acquaintances the most complete non-cook has the most expensive kitchen and reminds me of the man on the advert which they were showing a few months back - "You're not going to use it!" On the other hand Issy, who is a fantastic cook, uses a kitchen last updated about the year she was born (she's 40 this month).
I hang out the washing at last. I've only been planning to do it since I got up this morning.
Phonecall 11 - Is Tony in? No, he's at a meeting. All day, but he will be in this evening. Can I give him a message? No, he will ring back.
I can now give the glaziers some coffee.
2.00
The glaziers have gone and we have a nice new back door which we sincerely hope won't stick and will lock and unlock without a fight. We also have a letter box which means that the robin can have the box by the gate to nest in without inconveniencing anyone else.
