Sorting the Smoke Detector
There was of course no manual for it, but I did find one on the Internet by juidicious use of Google. it told me to switch the power off to the detectors, but I needed a step ladder to get to the consumer unit. And guess what thestep ladder had been left behind, as had several other things. So in frustration, I tried to take the tiop off, but the previous owner had just sealed the whole unit with paint and it came out of the ceiling, still squealing like a demented piglet. So I decided that the only way to put it out of its misery was to cut it from the mains. I should say that I am a qualified electrical engineer and no how to work safely on live wires. But the movers had managed to mix them up, so that my several boxes of tools were all in different cardboard boxes. Eventually, I found my insulated wire cutters and was able to snip the wires so that they can be reconnected easily. But at least I now have silence, although the smoke detector is still squealing in the wheelie bin.
But I’ll get a good night’s sleep!
This is probably what happened to the detector in the kitchen!
The Broken Smoke Dectector
At least though I’ve found someone to fix all the problems.
Sleeping on the Floor
No problems last night except that the central heating is designed for Eskimos and a broken smoke detector keeps beeping.
But interestingly, I’m breathing much better in the clear London air.
I’m Moving Today
Or should I say, that the removers are picking up everything today. Tonight, I’ll be in a sleeping bag in my new house, ready for them to turn up on Wednesday. This may seem a bit silly, but last time we moved here, we were in a hotel and it was a disaster. So perhaps to prove to myself, I’m not a wreck, I’ll sleep on the floor. But it is a heated floor!
The other point is that I’d sooner spent the £100 or so for the hotel room on something nice for the house or a good meal. At least breakfast tomorrow is sorted, as there’s a Carluccio’s in Upper Street.
It’s All So Bare Now!
I’ve packed up a lot of stuff and the house is now looking so bare. I’ve found a few more gems, including a lovely postcard from Barbara Cassani, who started Go. You don’t hear much of her today, I hope she is OK. I’m just probably getting paranoid.
But look at this.
An Almost Bare Office
London Calling
Today, I’m up to london to check out a few things with the house, but mainly to switch on the gas, as otherwise I won’t have any heating or cooking. I’ve not used a gas cooker since 1970, so that will be a learning process.
I’m now starting to plan a few places that I will visit.
- The Wood Green Cultural Quarter. Just up the road from my father’s print works.
- The Wood Green Empire.
- The Royal Iris at Woolwich. She was in Liverpool, when I was at University.
- Fulham Football Ground.
- The New River.
I shall also explore a few walks.
- The Old Railways of North London and especially Seven Sisters to Palace Gates.
- The canals from Dalston to the River Lee and on to Walthamstowe.
It’s going to be fun!
Up With the Morning Star
Venus has very bright these last few days, as I hope this picture shows.
Venus, The Morning Star
The planet is just above the tree in the middle.
I’ve pointed Venus out to several people lately and they haven’t realised what they are seeing. Knowledge of the stars and planets is something that should be properly taught. At my school, Minchenden, there was an observatory that contained a beautiful telescope in both artistic and scientific terms, that had once belonged to Prince Albert. One night, someone broke in, smashed it all and stole the lens. It was no act of wanton vandalism, but a cold calculated crime. I at least hope that the thief dropped the lens, so got no pleasure from his act.
I always look up when I’m in unfamiliar lattitudes. I remember when C and myself were in a hotel in Alice Springs, a kid of about sixteen had set up his telescope and was showing the guests the night sky from an Australian perspective. We had perhaps an hour of his charming and informed company. I hope that somewhere in the world, he is still following his hobby. Perhaps as a career!
Sadly, we were the only people, who that night took advantage of his company. But how many read their horoscopes every day and act on them?
No wonder the world is in the state it is today, if that is the general view of science.
So what am I doing up at this hour?
I slept well as I usually do, but last night, I spent several hours clearing my loffice loft of my past life. So most of it was old magazines, books and software I no longer need, but the only way to clear it, was to drop everything into a wheelie bin and then transfer it to boxes, which I then threw in the skip.
Clearing the Office Loft
It may have been a long-wnded process, but my shoulders aren’t strong enough to carry the boxes down the rather rickety loft ladder.
So perhaps the adrenaline is flowing through my body. I certainly feel pretty well today, although my left arm is tired.
Melanie Reid on Christmas
I always read her column in The Times Saturday magazine as I find her struggles inspiring. I suspect too, that I am not alone in taking courage from this brave woman, who is fighting back from something a lot worse than I have suffered.
I like the last bit of her piece yesterday.
The new year will bring my countdown to eventual discharge, so I must concentrate as hard as I can right now on myself. My wonderful support group of Times readers will understand, I’m sure, and be there for me in January. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and please, if you are swithering over whether to buy a mohair nose-warmer or rose-petal-stuffed underpants for the person who already has everything, then donate the money instead to The Times Spinal Charities Appeal. For if I’ve learnt one thing this year it is this: what matters this Christmas is love and health, not useless material stuff, nor whether your table decorations are fashionable.
In some ways Scrooge had Christmas right, but for the wrong reasons.
Lost Without a Clock
For the last forty years I’ve had a brass-bezelled ship’s clock in the kitchen. Tooday, it’s not there as I’ve packed it!
The clock was bought in Liverpool and was rumoured to have come of the Great Eastern.
I doubt it, but I’m lost!
A Right Pair of Posers
I found a decent sized copy of this picture, stuffed in a drawer.
Charlotte and Daisy
Charlotte is behind the driving seat and her daughter, Daisy, is beside her.
The picture was taken on the drive at Debach probably about 1987 or so. I remember that I’d driven all round the centre of Ipswich with the two dogs sitting like that, but then English setters can be terrible posers. When I got home, I rushed inside and got the camera. Luckily they didn’t move.
The First Thing I Moved In
Despite all my troubles, there is two things I won’t do; let my standards slip and lose my sense of humour and the surreal.
So the first thing I moved into the house is this photograph.
Pride of Place
Sometimes I wish I had my uncle’s talent with drawing, as I’d create a picture, that would do C and our son proud!
As I write this it’s three years to the day since she died. So perhaps today is the first day of my new life, even if I haven’t quite moved yet!
C always said she married me, because she knew life would not be boring. So it’s now up to me to live up to her view of me. If I should get boring, please tell me!
