Igenlode Wordsmith

After an emergency call to the central heating engineer, I finally managed to get the radiators off (having resorted to turning the boiler down to minimum in order to avoid being broiled overnight, which of course meant only lukewarm water for washing-up). The issue, as I'd managed to diagnose by a process of elimination and Internet investigation, was that the electronic receiver for the too-clever-for-its-own-good wireless automatic thermostat system was broken, the result of which was that the radiators were stuck on maximum heat non-stop all the time with no control on them at all whatever commands were being issued, whether automatically or by manual override. I had to pay for a new thermostat (plus VAT, plus call-out, plus labour charges, all of which adds up to a couple of months' worth of food), since they don't sell the receiver units separately -- but it was an issue that was definitely beyond my competence to safely fix.

It's just as well I wasn't relying on those newly-planted tomato seeds to produce plants, since the unfortunate egg-carton was sitting right on top of the radiator when I discovered the problem. ( Tomatoes )

( Chillies )

I was unable to go out in the sunshine because I was waiting for the plumber who said he would ring "on Tuesday".
I waited from 9am to seven pm. He didn't ring.