According to a survey of Christmas shoppers, 70% of respondents stated that they would be seeing in the New Year at home. This was part of a bigger survey of economic conditions related to interest rates, housing prices and the cost of living and was included as an indication of people’s confidence. Well we weren’t included in the survey, but, saw the New Year in at the May Sum Chinese restaurant with everyone that wanted to coming back to our place to conclude the celebrations. Needless to say everybody was more than a bit merry when we finished some time around 2am.
Having drawn the short straw I had to be up at 8:30 New Years Day and was therefore the first person to realise that the central heating boiler had packed in sometime between 2am and 8:30am. That’s a nice start to the year. Booked and prepaid for a British Gas boiler repair person to call, but due to heavy demand caused by recent advertising on the TV we have to wait until Friday morning. In the meantime we heat water by electric immersion system and the rest of the house by the single gas fire in the lounge so needless to say, it’s a bit cool right now. Snow is forecast for later today so roll on the visit by the repairer tomorrow.
On a brighter note, holidays! Last week in March sees Sue & I celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary and we are planning to go away to Scotland for a few days. Then for early July we have booked a week in Porto del Carmen, Lanzarote (Canary Islands) to celebrate Andy’s 21st birthday so that will see us four and both boys’ girlfriends sunning and otherwise enjoying and entertaining ourselves. As a result of that trip I’m going to miss out on the DmD trip to Luxemburg on the motorbike, but, hopefully I can compensate for that disappointment with a trip to the Millau Viaduct in southern France sometime in September – funds permitting.
To close – last night I popped in on Mum & Dad. Mum was in good spirits and Dad was as comfortable as can be expected. Mum says that since the weekend she and the carers have had to cease using the mobile hoist and use the overhead hoists that are mounted in the bedroom and lounge to move Dad as his legs have finally given up. This is a significant development and explains why Dad appears to be less defiant and less resilient / stubborn than usual. The news from them is that my cousin Susan is bring Alan, Pauline & Katy to see Mum & Dad this coming Sunday. I hate to say it but it’s as if they are preparing for his departure. If it works out that way then it will be a blessed relief for both of them and perhaps Mum will then be free to have a life for herself – by God she deserves it, she’s earned it!
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