Today was vaguely sunny in patches, and the first day this year that I’ve managed to spend time in the garden. Last year’s tomato pots were emptied and cleaned, and the spent compost put on the bed that will have beans in it. The “done” side of the rotary composter was emptied – the “compostable” Waitrose bags haven’t really composted at all, and the rest was soggy and squelchy: I think I’ll have to drill better drainage holes in the beast. The compost, such as it was, was trenched in where the runner beans will go.
As the stock of 8-foot bamboos bought about ten years ago are now nearly all broken or otherwise past it, I’ve ordered a metal construction to grow runner beans and climbing French beans up. A bit over £30, so if it does a few years I’ll be happy. Indoors, courgettes and a squash have been sown (tomatoes were potted on last week, though I had to re-sow the “Monkton Wylde” as only one germinated).
The project to get rid of the gas cooker progresses (slowly and expensively). I’ve accepted a quote to run an electrical supply (which will also provide a connection point for a future air-source heat pump when the ten-year-old gas boiler dies). Today, I’ve booked in a “gas safe” (was CORGI) to cap off the gas as soon as the kitchen work is done. I also said goodbye to the hob kettle – I’m now the proud owner of an all-singing, all-dancing electric kettle that boils in less than half the time – photo below! The whole project is going to be around £3,000 by the time I’ve added in the cost of the cooker, redecoration (which I’ll do myself, but materials cost) and suchlike. However, a cooker with a wipe-clean surface (induction rings) and a catalytic self-cleaning oven will remove an enormous housework/cleaning burden that I really haven’t coped well with. It also will mark a stage in getting rid of fossil fuels in this house, which is unlikely to save money but which is very much driven by my Green conscience and awareness of climate change.
Also electrical: the Mayfield Road house electrical inspection came back as “unsatisfactory”. Part of this is non-double-insulated fan/light fittings put up by Clare and Ian, which Ian has agreed to deal with. Sadly, the fuseboard cover is broken, so a new fuseboard is needed, which is going to be a couple of hundred quid (including labour), but I clearly do need a valid electrical inspection test certificate.
Last Saturday was the Rainbow Hill & Fort Royal “Big Day Out”. Based in the old chapel opposite Mayfield Road, about 40 people in total over the day. I was there all day, in a “support” role: opening doors when people were carrying things, helping set furniture, looking after the occasional lost-looking person, and so on. Form 0930 to 1615, on my feet most of the time; nearly 10,400 steps for the day.
Monday was also an active day, at rather over 6,000 steps. A GP appointment in the afternoon, postponed from a fortnight ago. All tests came back negative, and apparently I seem to be in quite good shape for my age. However, I’m still troubled by aches in my arms and struggling to keep weight down – I’m mulling over a private checkup and tests.
