Swagger Inn 167 - Autumn is here, the days are getting shorter and colder...

[ApricotCrush]

...so the wenches will snuggle down in the Tav with the HBFs maybe.

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better Helen and yay for internet. For now!

I've tried the plumber's snake , a plunger, boiling water and soda crystals, cleaned the u bends. Think the blockage is quite a way down which is why it why it's so stubborn. Hoping some extra muscle may help.

Oh lord, internet is dying again I think... (either that or gmail is playing silly buggers) Quick wave before I vanish into a pit of no access again. Hope the engineer fixes it tomorrow...

How did Fancyman get on with the drains?

Afternoon.

I've been clearing out some cupboards in the kitchen. Some of the stuff goes back to 2008 and I've got some icing colourings which don't even have a date on them.

This has been brought about by some neighbours over the road who are leaving next week. They're the only ones who were here when we moved in, so we'll be the longest-serving, at least in our part of the road. They've got a skip in the drive and she says it's an absolute nightmare and they should have started sooner, so I thought I'd have a chuck out. Trouble is, I look at things and think 'oh I might need that'.

Hope your internet sorts itself out Helen and Fancy's drains have been cleared.

at plumber's snake.

Evening wenches.

Helen can you still hear us?! Post one Athos for yes, and errmmm none for no!

Any success Fancy?

That’s older than anything I’ve found in our kitchen Apricot, although DH did find something that expired in 2011 I think he said when he was moving stuff about to paint. And I totally also have difficulty chucking stuff out because “it might come in useful”

Internet seems to be holding up... DS being off the x-box may help.

Glowing/gushing review of TB in The Crown here - twitter.com/TottenhamStrike/status/1328275337889935362

I'm like that too apricot should really have got rid of lots more in lockdown, nothing much else to do!

Sink is draining better thanks, still not great, so have put some foul smelling stuff down there, will see if that helps.

Now watching On the Town with a ginger beer. Living the dream.....

Morning all, We have internet still, but no phone (still).

Went to bed with a headache, woke up with a headache. FML, etc.

Weather is windy but not too cold. By lunchtime it will be raining, and then bloody freezing. Is hibernation really not a legal right in this country? It should be. With compulsory HBFs of your choice for added warmth.

Wildlife report - two crows overhead when I was feeding chickens, and a bluetit on the feeder. Oh - and a woodpecker decimating the fatball. Robin on the feeder. The smaller birds are coming out now then.

Work today - if the internet exists....

Morning wenches.

Oooo On The Town with a ginger beer sounds a lovely way to spend an evening!

at headache Helen. You shall indeed hibernate with HBFs who will massage anything you want which, if it doesn’t get rid of the headache, it should at least distract you from it.

Our skies appear to getting darker rather than lighter so either it’s bedtime already (hurrah!) or it’s about to chuck it down (booooo!)

Afternoon
Not sure the foul stuff did much really as any problem is quite far down. At least now it is draining better so I shall continue with plenty of hot and/or boiling water & soda crystals over the next few days to see if I can get it better still.

Also had a lightbulb moment over the non-performing towel rail. It is connected to an immersion heater, not the heating or hot water systems. Not sure that helps me though as I don't know how big a job that is to change.

Afternoon. Quite a nice day, lovely crescent moon this evening.

One of DS's GF's boys has been sent home as there are 4 positive Covid cases in his class. Bit of a worry.

About the immersion heater Fancy. When we were saving to get married DH did Saturday overtime which consisted of installing replacement immersion heaters all day. He and his mate used to time themselves and got it down to 20 minutes. He says it's not a big job, depending on the circumstances.

Hope Helen's headache has gone.

Evening. Still no phone, and patchy internet. BT have never appeared, so the problem is clearly not us - they're off at a box somewhere They might update us about 6pm. Stay tuned for more excitement tedium.

The foul stuff must have helped a bit fancy since it has to get past the blockage to drain.

I have spent the day spreadsheet wresting again. Would rather have wrestled HBFs, but there we go. at Real Life.

It's daaaaaaaaaark and DS wants me to print his homework. I can't, because our printer is shagged. FML, again.

Evening wenches.

Ah soda crystals. Flipping love them. Fingers crossed it gets sorted. Completely unsurprisingly I have nothing of any use to offer re towel rails and immersion heaters.

Work was average but at least it was a short day.

Ah yes, the immersion heater, that makes sense have no clue what that is

Took a Covid test today, a person with a visor stuck a test thingy up my nose which wasn't very comfortable Don't think I have Covid but I've been coughing so might as well get tested. A bit difficult getting an appointment though.

That is a bit of a worry Apricot. Love the stories and memories like that one of when you were saving to get married!

at continuing phone/internet issues ChezHelen. Athos will get everything working for you

That doesn’t sound pleasant Wicked. Fingers crossed it’s negative. Rather worryingly, they’re dropping like flies at work. Fortunately most have been working from home anyway, but a few have been in the office recently, but we’re distancing and wearing masks whenever we’re away from our desks as well as other precautions.

I didn't know there was a towel rail with non-functional heating Have you turned the immersion heater on and off again Fancy?

DH is watching football. I just want to go to sleep. Why am I so tired all the time? Maybe I am part tortoise, this could explain the attraction to the hayloft. I just want to be tucked upall winter in a box full of hay.

Oh - covid tests - yes, not the nicest. The tonsil scraping's worse than the nose thing though - guaranteed to make me gag. Finger crossed it's negative Wicked

Yes, fingers crossed we

I think the plunger had the most effect tbh, the foul stuff didn't seem to speed things up much. Tipped a scary amount of soda crystals and boiling water down there tonight, hopefully that made s difference too.

The immersion is still working, I'd prefer not to use it though - cheaper to run the towel rail off the boiler I think?

Well the if boiler is already on, it makes much more sense to use it, yes.

Anyway, morning all. it's cloudy and windy outside and a bit damp. There may have been swans this morning, but by the time I'd got my head out of the chicken coop they'd gone. (Much like the imaginary elusive HBFs)

Fingers crossed for Fancy's drains being better this morning.

Morning wenches.

As a coincidence DH started talking about replacing the radiator in the bathroom with a towel rail so we spent an exciting 15 minutes with me looking them up and him leaning on me.

Haven’t looked outside yet but I’m guessing we don’t have lovely sunshine.

Here’s to unblocked drains, negative tests, no headaches, and some decent weather for a lovely walk.

DS2’s last day of isolation and of schoolwork at home. He’s done so well but it’ll be good for him to be back tomorrow.

Afternoon.

We had a morning of everything going wrong. DH arguing with Virgin Media about the latest bill, me arguing with Depop as they've removed two of my listings for going against their rules. I'm quite appalled, apparently me saying that I'll only accept Paypal payments means I'm trying to by-pass their charges. All my listings for the last two years have stated this and they've never said anything before. They only have to look at my account to see their charges have been paid.

Anyway, we went for a walk this afternoon, which cleared the air a bit, although it was rather chilly.

Oh, hope your Covid test comes back negative WW. Also hope internet/drains/radiator are sorted soon.

Evening. BT have given me the happy news that the problem should be fixed.... by Tuesday. Admittedly that's a worst case scenario, but FFS, etc. In good news, no headaches today though.

That's bloody annoying Apricot at depop

When do you get the result Wicked?

Evening wenches.

I’m joining with Helen in the at that website Apricot. And a to Virgin. Hurrah for walk though!

And a bit of a at BT, but Helen gets a hurrah for no headache!

Any result Wicked? Are you fast flowing again Fancy?

Evening

I wouldn't say fast flowing, but definitely better.

Fingers crossed BT get it fixed before then helen, what a pain

That's crap apricot, what is their problem?

Morning wenches.

It’s dark and Novembery but that’s about all I can tell. Also it’s Friiidddaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!!

DS2 goes back to school today. He’s simply thrilled about that . I’m hoping the fab attitude he showed with his schoolwork and his independent working during isolation will carry forward to his homework. We shall see.

Morning - it's lovely and sunny here (Sorry LetUs) but also proper cold. Frost and everything, the bird bath was frozen over.

Wildlife report: hungry birds waiting for me to top up the feeder.

Yay for DS2's return to school! I'm sure he'll be pleased to see his friends, at least?

We had frost here too helen, although not a heavy one.

DD has mocks this week, so I suspect we are both looking forward to Lucifer & pink night