It has been a strange week somehow! The events of last week started those of this in that last Wednesday we were due our yearly central heating boiler service. The boiler was 16 years old and we had been thinking about replacing it perhaps this summer but when the maintenance man arrived he took one look and condemned it! I think he thought it was one of these.
We got a local firm to look at replacing it but they couldn't come until Monday. Of course the lack of heat had to coincide with a dip in the temperatures over the last very damp weekend. However Monday eventually arrived and we now have a new boiler installed just as the weather has turned warmer again. The gas fitters discovered another problem so the next day we had to have a plumber in before we could reconnect the washing machine but now all is well, the cats are happy and warm again and there is washing blowing on the line in the sunshine. We did manage to get out and about a bit during the week so below are some of the things we have seen and done.
The Tudor Group at Haddon Hall on Saturday 10th May, it was a damp, showery day with far fewer visitors than I remember from last time. The two ladies in the chapel were practising a song from the period - their voices raised together in complete harmony made the hairs stand on the back of my neck.
A walk in the bluebell woods in between the showers. I can never seem to capture the intense blue. You can just see an orange tip butterfly on one of the flowers bottom right.
Out in the garden on Thursday after what seemed like days of rain. The lawns were cut some weeding started and the front drive tidied up and the windows cleaned.
Yesterday, Friday, we went to Biddulph Grange for our friend's special birthday. After lunch at home we spent the afternoon wandering around and enjoyed tea and cake in the cafe. Such a treat and lovely to spend time with special friends.
I just had to add this photo of some runner ducks in the wet car park at Rowsley where we had stopped on our way to Haddon Hall. The car park was full of ducks who all went rushing to each new car as it arrived in the hope of food coming their way.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Every time the boiler an sees our boiler there is a deep intake of breath but he manager to keep it going for us. Sounds like you have had some enjoyable outings. Loving the sunshiny weather we are having at the moment it makes you want to be outside pottering doesn't it. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteOur maintenance man has been sighing for a few years now but this time there was a crack in the back of the boiler which could have lead to the escape of carbon monoxide fumes so too dangerous to save - it had been repaired once a few years ago. It is nice to get out an about pottering in the garden and elsewhere:)
DeleteOur boiler was ancient when we moved into our house and it is even older now, I dread it "going" as it will be major works to put in a new one. Glad that you got yours all sorted - just in time for the warm weather! Hope that you have a good weekend and can enjoy the sunshine! xx
ReplyDeleteHope you boiler holds out, Amy - at least ours will be ready for the autumn and winter. It was a lovely weekend and we spent lots of time in the garden:)
DeleteWe have also had boiler problems and our boiler is only seven years old.We knew we had a leak in the system but it took three different boiler experts to find the fault.We could have opted for a new combi boiler at £1,700 or try a repair at £450.We went for the repair and it seems to have solved the problem.Glad you have sorted yours out and that you and the cats are warm again
ReplyDeleteBiddulph Grange is on our "to do this summer" list.
Glad your boiler was sorted out, we had ours repaired and it lasted quite a few years but this time is was too far gone to be safe. I hope you get to see Biddulph Grange as it is well worth a visit:)
DeleteA busy week, Rosie. But things always break when you need them. The Tudor Group looks interesting, were they performing or only were they singing? I know nothing about the Group. Sorry :')
ReplyDeleteA bit surprised with the ducks in the car park, it is common?
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Thanks, Dolores - the Tudor Group is a group of dedicated people who re-enact Tudor times in one or two of the places around the country from that period. I've put a link in the text over Tudor Group so you can see what they do. The ladies singing were an added bonus as I've never heard them either sing or play music before. The ducks seem to flock to the car park from the river nearby - I expect people feed them:)
DeleteI'm glad your boiler is all sorted now. Sounds like you've had some lovely days out. I always struggle to photograph bluebells too. I love the dinosaur in your first picture! Is it a local-ish one or from further afield?!
ReplyDeleteI had to rack my brains but then realised that the dinosaur is at Dagfields which is an Antiques and Crafts place just beyond Bridgemere Garden World off the Nantwich road so not too far away:)
DeleteLooks like you have had a fraught and busy week Rosie! I love the runner ducks. They always make me smile. x
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a bit fraught as I don't like the house being upset - the cats were worse than me though and didn't like workmen in the house at all. The ducks are amusing aren't they?:)
DeleteGlad you eventually got the needed work to replace your boiler done, including the extra plumbing, and you were still able to get out and about to some lovely events. We decided to go out ourselves whilst we have some sunny days and feel better for it.
ReplyDeleteIt always seems that one job always highlights another which wants doing - but all seems well now - I'm keeping my fingers crossed:)
DeleteIt does seem to upset the whole house when you have jobs done but at least you're ready for autumn now. It will make a difference in your heating bill too.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it does, Amanda even though the two workmen were very good clean and efficient in their work. Our energy providers have already cut our payments so that is good:)
DeleteYou've had some lovely days out Rosie. Your pictures are beautiful and the ducks are just so cute. Glad your boiler has been exchanged. It's always a daunting thought having major work done.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Thanks, Patricia - I'm sort of glad we were forced into having the boiler replaced as we would have kept putting it off - now it is done. The ducks are cute:)
DeleteHi Rosie,
ReplyDeleteIt certainly sounds like an action-packed week. Haddon Hall looks like an interesting place to visit and I love the sight of those bluebell woods. I've been trying to grow English bluebells from seed, but no sign of germination so far. I saw a programme recently where a gardener was gathering seeds and using them to establish new colonies of plants, but it doesn't seem as easy as it sounds.
Enjoy those lovely warm spring days. It is rainy and cool again here and I long for a few days of warm weather.
Marie x
Hello Marie, how lovely to see you here. Yes, Haddon is an amazing place. We have one clump of bluebells which have been in the garden for years but the plants never spread any further by self seeding. I wonder what the trick is? It has gone a bit cooler and rainy again here too:)
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