I find it easier to concentrate in the morning, even after a short or disturbed sleep. Ideas flow, words arrive in ready made paragraphs and my skills at arranging them are t their peak. Sadly, this is all in my head. It’s a rare morning when, in between struggling with trousers, managing breakfast and doing all the other daily tasks, I can actually find time to sit down and write.
Today, Saturday, is an exception because I don’t have to take Julia to work. It’s still a bit of a rush but it does give me a few minutes to sit and type. I have attended to comments this morning, reflected on a few of the things that came to light (I do think about what you sy, even if my replies are short).
It has rained three times this morning, each shower being a concentrated downpour that has tested our new guttering. It all seems OK at the moment, having been a problem on and off for the 30+ years we have been here. We should just have had it done when we moved in, instead of paying a succession of builders to bodge it. Pay once, do it right. It’s something I should do more often. It’s actually quite pleasant to sit here in the middle of a rainstorm and not hear the sound of escaping water.
It’s the story of my life really – bodging and skrimping when it would be so much easier just to get it done. Imperfections can be very draining, both mentally and in terms of extra damage done to a house (like the green patches that appear in winter where the walls are damp from leaking gutters). I’ve actually seen some buildings where such damp patches allow the growth of buddleias. There is one we see on the way to work each morning. They are very pretty but they can’t be doing the walls any good.
Peacock on White buddleia
I am now remembering I need to clean the gutters here….
It never stops. When we move to a bungalow it will be easier.
You are right about good guttering. It is an essential part of civilised life.
One of those things you don’t appreciate it until it goes wrong.
We have been trying to get our gutters replaced for three years. After many years of bodging, like you we decided to replace with new, larger, better-quality ones. One recommended local man put us on his waiting list and we waited and waited. Apparently he is unwell and not likely to be working again any time soon. Today we are listening to overflowing gutters again.
I feel smug now. 🙂
I hope you manage to get someone because, all joking apart, I didn’t realise how much better it is with good guttering.
It’s my own fault because I bought this house as a short-term measure from a “property developer” when I needed somewhere quickly.
The people who had this house built in the 80’s did everything on the cheap. It is costing us a fortune to have it put right.
Our street always has a builders van (sometimes more) parked from April to October. With clay tiles, rendered fronts and 1920s gerry building techniques we are a goldmine for local tradesmen. 🙁
I was thinking the very same thing about retirement. You will be able to write on your own schedule, which will be such a gift. And, oh, how I love peacock butterflies. Be still my trembling heart. We don’t have them here.
You have hummingbirds, so you don’t do too badly. 🙂
Yes, but greedy thing that I am, I want peacock butterflies, too.
To be fair, we have lots of them, so wouldn’t miss a few. I remember the first time I saw them – we had moved to a house with a buddleia bush and the first summer we were there it was absolutely covered in butterflies – mostly Peacocks. Of course, those were the days before chemicals . . .
Retirement will change your life
🙂 I do hope so. I am looking forward to it.