Amazingly the weather here has been absolutely beautiful for the last week or so. "Amazingly", as the island is a cross between the lake district and ireland (being halfway between the two), thus fairly rainy, but also having the advantages of sea breezes which (normally) cause the wether to change 3 times every hour. "Beautiful" only means temperatures of about 15º at midday, but the sun shines and spring is showing signs apart from all the daffodils (now pretty much over). Good news was a gardener found us and offered to cut the lawns at a very reasonable price, so that takes one load off my mind and body (but now adds the task of selling the mower and strimmer).
We had the Juke serviced yesterday, not just as it is spring, but as we have had it for about a year. Surprisingly, the service was not only free (part of the sales package) but the results included a video of the underside with commentary about (perfect) condition. Oh, and the package also included a courtesy car, which turned out to be an electric Leaf. Much derided in the motoring press, but probably perfect for Island life with a range that would take it around the perimeter twice! ..and it turned out to be fairly capacious too. Awaking early, I had checked to see if B&Q had had a second delivery of special price picnic benches (all sold by time I got there last week) and at 0500 Ihad bought one, applied my £10 spring discount and arranged for it to be collected.. I measured the length of the load compartment of the Leaf and found it (just) longer than the bench, so went to collect it in the micro electric wagon. Luckily it did fit and there was even space for a few plants, pots and compost. WHen I returned the car, I asked the value and they told me it was £10k (for a 2019 car). Could even be tempted if the cheap electricity option extends to plug-ins like that (or, more accuratley, if we had any need for a second car, which we really don´t).
We thus spent the afternoon with G tidying the garden and planting her purchases, while I got out the tool kit and assembled said bench.
Actually a bit naffed-off with B&Q as my regular furniture supplier (Ikea) always gives appropriate tools to effect the assembly - but in this ca B&Q not only don´t supply any tools, but also use very unusual star-headed screws and recessed bolts requiring a socket set! All that and it is pretty heavy - resulting in serious aches and pains in the night and this morning - I actually felt like I had been trampled by a flock of over-weight turtles!
The "old" outdoor table has been repurposed around the side of the house to be used as a potting-up area by G, so all tickety-boo., apart from G now wanting flower beds. Just hope that the gardener is a bed-builder.
Pleased to be able to report that
all the late 19th century technology survived the storage and my resuscitation efforts.
The marble clock is running about half-a-minute fast each day, as is the Hale-hall-wall clock (naked body alongside). G upset I didn´t silence the gong in fixing the Hale clock, but that was a step too far in my burgeoning clock-repair efforts. (I did notice the name McBurnie pencilled in it though, so maybe it actually originated at Rosemary Corner?). Grandad´s barometer survived my cleaning and is now on the wall in the office - alongside the "Ecowitt" panel showing the status as reported by my weather station. (Although it is maybe actually easier to listen to which window or door is whistling to know the direction of the wind!). Apart from the "old technology", we have also mounted a selction of our pictures, so the place is getting quite homely.
But, and lurking in the background on the to-do list, are the odd old bank accounts.
The hassle with opening a new account is nothing compared with trying to close them. The one in Gib couldn´t be closed, but could be emptied - thus was, but the euro account in spain can´t be closed or accessed as they have implemented a two-tier access system using my mobile number (the spanish one which hasn´t worked since we got here). Catch 22 indeed.
Biggest Joke is that the local Barclays here has told me I need to be "re-onboarded" now I have an Island address and am a resident. Are Barclays the worst bank in the world, or just the main one I see out of the many? (well, two other poor ones already mentioned, so maybe not).
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