With a large order
of meat arriving next week and with the prospect of Christmas goodies
to be stored, defrosting the freezer (oh how I hate that job) was
first on the list. Our freezer is a deep one and I am quite short
and this goes a long way to making things difficult. On one occasion
I actually fell in to a large chest freezer head first and was
obliged to call for help.
This was a
considerable time arriving and by the time a rescue was effected I
was perishing cold, soaking wet and very cross indeed!
With the contents
safely packed in insulated boxes I deployed bowls of hot water to
melt the ice and while I waited I prepared a dinner of roast chicken
with stuffing, roast potatoes green beans, carrots and apple sauce.
With everything ready to pop in the oven later in the day I returned
to the to begin phase two.
Now I know that most
chest freezers come with a drain these days, but, have you noticed
how close to the floor the outlet is? It is impossible to position a
bowl under the drain, a tray is about the only thing which will fit
and being shallow any attempt to put it up when full results in as
big a puddle on the utility room floor as if I had just opened the
drain and left it at that!
Th alternative is to
empty the tray more often, which occasions so many trips to the sink
that it is impossible to take ones eyes off the dripping drain!
I did neither of
these things. Once the freezer had defrosted I emptied a laundry
basket full of towels awaiting being laundered and allowed the yukie
water to soak into them, before loading them into the washing,
machine, cunning eh?
Then after cleaning
the inside of the freezer I was soon ale to turn it on and pit back
its contents
Pheeew!
The coal arrived,
delivered by the local shop keeper who is also a family friend, along
with the coal he brought a lovely bunch of late Dahlias, wonderful
large blooms and I think the best in the village. He also bought a
parcel of interesting gossip, a distraction which I welcomed.
Much restored by
this small diversion I set about making up the spare bed and tidying
the guest room, making sure to cover the bed with a throw as it is
The cat Twiggy's favourite roosting place.
Winter curtains
needed hanging, the tea try needed replenishing and a tin of cookies
deployed in case our guest should get the munchies in the middle of
the night.
By four in the
afternoon I was shattered, dishevelled and in urgent need of a large
Scotch and a hot shower before cooking our dinner.
During the course of
this busy day I have hung several pictures, located some missing
Christmas gifts, I bought them months ago and could not remember what
they were or for whom they had been purchased.
I had sorted out my
wardrobe which had become so muddled that it was taking hours to find
things.
Fitted a new ironing
board cover and changed the bathmats.
It is true that I
could have left much of this work to my wonderful cleaning lady but
even working, as she does at breakneck speed she finds it difficult
to get round the house in the time she has. She is in great demand in
the village and we are lucky to have her services at all.
Now it is time for
another Scotch, and then bed. Both my wrists are strapped in neoprene
braces and I suspect that I. shall need an extra dose of pain relief
during the night.
Oh well, I have a
good DVD to watch and plate of shortbread to much if sleep evades me.
I would feel quite virtuous on account of all my hard work, if not
for the fact that I only managed to do half of the tasks had set
myself today.
Just between you and
I, I think I shall let the dust settle for a day or two before
tackling any more chores, As my old granny used to say, “Never put
off till tomorrow, what you can leave till next week!”
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