Tuesday 24 November 2009

Madwoman In The Attic

Thirty six hours of rest and recuperation at Cornerstones - wonderful!

Although there were a few minor hiccups.

Like a very late phone call from Steph was was really quite poorly - and I felt so far away and wanted to be there for her and mother her properly.

Like Bob saying at 4am "Are you awake, darling?" [Well I am now!] "Why is the window flashing?" - it was an ambulance, one of our neighbours was unwell.

DSCF0944 Then the man came to quote for loft insulation. Under 8o square metres, there is a fixed price of £175. Over that the price rocketed - to £470! We went off to check Homebase, and builders' merchants etc to see if DIY was cheaper. Prices for rolls from these various sources varied between £56 and £650.

We ended up buying 14 rolls of this stuff [that meant two trips in a tightly packed car from Homebase to Cornerstones] and have just put the rolls into the loft for now.

Felt like the first Mrs Rochester, being a madwoman in the attic, as Bob passed all the rolls up the ladder. I must re-read Jane Eyre again [and The Wide Sargasso Sea, the very clever prequel by Jean Rhys]

The insulation can be unrolled and fitted properly next time!

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As is usual when we are there, Bob went into full-on chef mode [OK, eggs and bacon isn't a great culinary masterpiece, but it I appreciate the break from cooking, and he really enjoys himself]

I hung the bunting!

 

Then after tea we watched a programme all about loft insulation! Very bizarre - it was from the very factory where our stuff had been made! Spooky!!!

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We got back early this morning and went straight to work - Bob to his Study, me to the sewing machine [more on that later] Then after lunch I took the car for its MOT. I walked up into the City [against the wind - exhausting] and had a somewhat frustrating time trying to purchase the stuff on my list. You would have thought it would have been easy to find a new washing up bowl! Finally I succeeded.

Then I tried to buy a pack of cheap clothes pegs in the Pound Shop - only they had been reduced to 75p and the assistant could not get his till to print a receipt with that price on it!!

Also got all the stuff I wanted for family Christmas gifts. Eventually.

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Leicester is looking wonderfully Christmassy

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...but I did think Santa's Grotto in the Highcross was very poorly lit. I am not sure if I was a parent I would let my little one in there!

All year they tell the children to avoid strange men, then suddenly, mothers are encouraging children to sit on the lap of a strangely dressed bloke with a long cotton wool beard.

I missed the bus I wanted and so was very late getting back. Bob had put jacket potatoes in, which was helpful [I bought some lovely sausages to go with them] - and I have spent the evening preparing Sunday's sermon whilst he went out pastoral visiting.

And now I am going to watch CSI and then sleep!

7 comments:

  1. All that and you had time to blog? Go to bed, woman!

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  2. Ang, have you investigated grants for loft insulation?
    Leicester looks lovely....but you are right about Father Christmas. I thought they were not allowed to even touch children now?!

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  3. I haven't been into town in ages, I must go and have a look at the decorations, though to be honest I'm not keen in going late enough in the day to appreciate the lights.

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  4. Leicester does look pretty. When I lived there (as a very young girl) one of the few things I remember is the Christmas lights looking beautiful one year.

    Oh and your bunting looks fab :) What is it about bunting that is so cheerful? Lovely stuff!

    Sera x

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  5. The pictures of Leicester with the christmas decorations up make me a bit homesick. Although I don't miss the mass commercialisation of Christmas (I was recently told my next dentist appointment would be on December 25th and had to politely ask if it could be a few days later!) I do miss seeing the lights, etc.

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  6. I agree with Floss--my goodness, I'm worn out from just reading this post. But I did enjoy the pictures of Leicester and Bob cooking. I always enjoy pictures of men cooking ...

    frances

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