Friday 9 December 2022
It’s 08:21 and we have already done lifting and moving this morning (about ten very heavy packs of replacement floor and bathroom tiles; oh my, they’re heavy). The fire is still burning but the house is still cold. However, last night, while wrapped up in blankets on the sofa, the plumber, who was due to come round next week to attach the boiler to electricity rather than the multi-fuel stove, rang to say he could come tomorrow, ie today. I am not letting myself get excited about the prospect of not having to bring in more coal, stoke the fire for much longer or be constantly cleaning up black finger prints, smears and general blackness. But if and when the connection is made and the house will finally be warm, there will be celebrations, mainly radiator-hugging.
It’s a bit sad that we were happy to go out yesterday, in a warm car, to warm shops, to sit in a warm café. The cafe, No. 1 Cafe in Innerleithen, was a haven of warmth and we had a great coffee and, oh my giddy aunt, a soft, orangey, figgy cake, which I’d largely eaten before I thought to take a photo. Chris didn’t really warm up for hours after we got back. He ended up wearing two pairs of socks, long johns and cargo trousers, a vest, a t-shirt and two jumpers.
This morning might not be quite as sub zero as yesterday but I haven’t been out for my daily walk around the garden and onto the road yet. There is, however, a light dusting of snow, the kind I’d be giddy about if we were in London. Here, I just know it would barely warrant an acknowledgement of snow as I have a fair idea of what’s to come in January, February, March … Snow. Proper snow. And, hopefully, easy, quick, push-button heating. We are so ludicrously excited about the prospect of hot radiators and a warm house.
We had a furniture delivery last night, two cupboards, both of which were destined for my study, only one of which made it up there. The larger, heavier unit is now in the living room and actually looks really good. I am definitely learning that back-up plans are required to live here.
Today, other than ensuring the plumber is kept happy and able to sort the boiler, I want to clear away some of my piles of ‘stuff that needs a cupboard’, do some work, have a walk and possibly bid for a few things in an auction. We went to Innerleithen and Peebles yesterday, for a charity shop deposit, a tip run and to view the auction room ahead of today. There weren’t any suitable book cases but we did find a few things it’d be good to buy, including a standard lamp, a perfect-for-me spice rack with eighteen intact glass bottles and a free-standing mirror. I’ve only ever bid at auctions in person, I’m not so convinced about live online bidding; surely easier to click ‘bid more’ than raise a paddle at an in-person auction room. Anyway, let’s see what happens. But I really do want that spice rack.
