Wednesday 18th January 2023

Woke to alarm at 0700. Got up and made tea, but got back into bed to drink it! Aki got up and prepared porridge...I followed shortly thereafter. Put down dust sheets in anticipation of the boiler installers' arrival, and took the door off the boiler cupboard. They didn't turn up until about 1000...two lads. They removed the top panel I had tried and failed to remove last night, though they damaged it...signs of erstwhile squirrel invasion. I put the ladder up in the back yard in preparation. They had quite a battle getting the old flue released from the roof membrane, which was worrisome. I got up on the roof and helped as much as I could. Nasty torn finish on the membrane, which hopefully the roofer will be able to tidy up. Aki popped out to visit Helen and Martin and use their loo! In the meantime, one of the roofers turned up. I showed him onto the roof, and despite my suggestion he go find himself some lunch while we waited for the new flue to go in, he said he was happy to wait on the frost-bound roof! The lads eventually got the new boiler in place. The Georgian roofer applied a sort of fibreglass and patched up the roof, and went on his way. Meanwhile, back at the boiler...we discovered they had thrown away our old receiver, so we had to scout round for a new one, though they claimed our old one wouldn't have fitted the front of the new boiler. In the end we had to fork out another £200 for a replacement!!! With the roof works costing £500, we are about £3,750 poorer than we were last week! Anyway, the important thing was to get the hot water and central heating back up and running before hypothermia set in...the lads finished around 1900! They looked exhausted! Anyhow, we have heat and hot water. I’ve got to work out how to put the cupboard doors back on now they’ve slightly reconfigured everything. Tidied up the dust sheets and hung them on the washing line…gave them a good beating. Aki vacuumed. Heated up the fish curry and dahl for dinner then flopped on the sofa to watch a bit of telly! Luxuriated in a hot bath before bed…