Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Getting Ready For Winter

by Russell Turner - 13:37 on 31 July 2017

Day One of The Great Heating Makeover: 10am, and a van containing Mr Plumber and his lad arrived, closely followed by a much bigger van containing the combi boiler which will replace the picturesque but ancient Rayburn that’s occupied the kitchen since the 1970s (we estimate).

In fact, work began yesterday when I cleared the bulk of the outhouse contents, rearranged some of the shelves (a work in progress) and even swept the floor. The boiler will stand outside it but some pipework will go through the wall, around the outhouse, and into the kitchen. Back from her latest training run, Marathon Matchgirl took a look inside and marvelled at the space I’d revealed by removing junk and tidying. Her dream of a garden supershed was swiftly abandoned.

“This could be my place!” she enthused. “It’s already got light and electricity. All it needs is a bigger window and a fridge” – presumably for the chilled champagne she’ll sip in her happy isolation. Except for the spiders, who’ll now be busy replacing the cobwebs I removed, and the mice. She may not have thought this through.

The Pride adjusted to the upheaval with surprising ease. All three members stayed indoors during the morning but Willow and Pandora both left after lunch, choosing to explore well away from Mr Plumber’s activities. Shortly after that, I encouraged Maia to join me outside where we found the formerly Fearless Ones still at a careful distance from the banging, drilling and concrete-mixing intruders.

An archive snap of two hungry cats in front of the Rayburn.

Back inside, I rewarded moggies with a few Dreamies. Willow and Pandora left again soon after; Maia, rarely one for solo expeditions, stayed inside. The big test will come when workmen are inside The Rural Retreat, where new radiators will come and a redundant immersion heater and pipework will go.

A new kitchen and a new bathroom are also to come, if Matchgirl’s pocket is deep enough. Poor cats don’t suspect a thing.

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