20.09
9.10am FBG 5.8
Had a reasonable drive MK to Portsmouth, on 18th, which left me with hours to kill in an unprepossessing town. Better that though than traffic delays causing stress. Yesterday day drive from ferry to home. Not too much distance, but after a nearly sleepless night on the ferry, more difficult than it should be. Sat Nav not helpful at all. After a couple of false starts realised it was insisting I return to the ferry port. Tried and failed to reprogramme the unfamiliar device. Had to use Google maps on my phone. Forty five min journey took well over an hour. Shoulders and hands are aching. Probably been gripping the steering wheel too tightly.
Survey of house and garden. House ok, just dusty. Drifts of cat fur in places Kiki has had access too.
Garden simultaneously soaking and droughted. Tomato plants in pots just about surviving. Grass ankle deep and sopping wet. Greenhouse: some plants have done very well others look sickly.
Plenty of work for me here.
Kiki appears and seems pleased to see me for about the ten minutes it takes to unload the car, but as soon as she has access disappears into the loft to luxuriate in being indoors during the day. While we are away she is shut out doors in daytime, but spends the night indoors.
Watered everywhere that needed it. Picked up apples, three compost sacks full from half the garden and removed a few molehills in the same area then got out the mower. It struggled a bit, the grass is long and in places, still damp, now the top half of the garden looks like a hayfield.
Today will attempt to cut the rest, after preparation (apples, molehills, walnuts)
Then hopefully use the other mower to collect the grass cuttings from yesterday.
Am considering pulling out all the tomato plants in decorative pots and replacing with bulbs. Ready for spring and possible remarketing of house. I can't see how the agent can show people round in winter with the power off. Not leaving it on because if, when, I do go back to UK is likely to be for several months.
My daughters house is in a terrible state. Needs a complete refurb. Roof repairs including some rafters and purlins( don't ask, I don't know) the upstairs is being reconfigured with some walls and the stairs ( which are completely gone) moved. New walls upstairs. Floors and ceilings absolutely everywhere. Total rewire with upgrades. Ethernet. Plumbing too. There will be a new ensuite and family bathroom is being moved. New ground floor cloakroom, desperately needed in a house with family of six. The kitchen did have a useable sink until yesterday when the ceiling was taken down and the tap got broken. Not sure how they are managing now.
Am not sure how useful I would be in the building work, but I can carry stuff to skip. Hand tools to person on ladder and clean the smoke stained walls still standing.
More importantly I will be there to look after MrSlim. Who has a tendency to overdo it and has already had to take a day off because he wasnt fit to work. He appears to be living on something on toast too. Am now nagging him to get the oven fixed as a priority.
The bed in the caravan is not comfortable and neither of us are used to the noise of a busy city, which makes sleeping difficult.
Am feeling a bit guilty for enjoying the luxury of a long hot shower followed by ten hours of sleep. Woke only once, disorientated, had to put my phone on to work out where I was. Have slept in four different places in the last week.
it's so good to be home but feels very strange and quiet without MrSlim here.
Anyhow, I hope there are better moments today for him, me and you all.
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