What a bloody day!

Today I had a days leave. Good you may think. Well let me tell you.

Couldn't have a lay on because the washing machine was going to be delivered between 08.00 and 18.00. Not a problem, lots to do around the house with Val doing the wallpaper stripping.

Val and Al came home and we had a nice breakfast. Val had her feet up time to let pills take effect. Hands a bit sore but wrist support on. Al and I into town, washing machine not yet arrived.

In town got a call from Val. Washing machine man here please speak to him. Moulded plug on machine and he is not allowed to take it off to get the wire through the hole. No problem says I, I will do it when I get home. Chap warns me about taking moulded plug off being used as an excuse by manufacturers to get out of work so he suggests getting a small extension and sorting it that way. Just take the plug off the extension and feed through the hole. Good idea. So I bought an extension and will sort when I get home.

Have a nice time with Al. Couldn't get parked up so ended up driving around for a while but that was a minor inconvenience - should have heeded the warning.

Got home to find that Val had got water in the light switch. Lucky she is still with us. I turned off at the mains. As I type, still not put the circuit on for the tenement lights. Rest seems OK.

So then I went to the kitchen to find the washing machine plugged in but in the middle of the floor. Did the electrical thing then tried to get the machine in the hole specially built for washing machines. I specially measured everything before buying the machine as I noticed that machines appear to have widened by .5 cm. What I didn't realise is that our hole tapers. It is 1mm wider at the top than it is at the bottom. I measured the top as that was the bit I could get at!!!!

I had .5cm spare, or so I thought!!! .5cm spare at the top but .5cm very much not spare at the bottom!!!! I looked at the problem from many angles but no way is our new washing machine going to fit in the hole. I suggested leaving it out and using the top for an extra worktop. Val doesn't appreciate this particular approach. I now have a chisel and am getting .5cm off the bottom tapering up. This promises to be a longish job - on top of all the bloody wallpaper coming off.

You think that's it for the day - nope. My back and foot started playing up whilst I was attacking the kitchen unit. So I took a leaf out of Val's book and stopped before pain really set in and I was out of action for a couple of weeks.

I thought to myself, watch a "Stargate SG1" that always cheers me up. Put on my next Stargate DVD and guess what. The DVD didn't want to play. At this point I was glad everyone had left the house as my sense of humour was wearing thin. Not to be beaten I went into the kitchen to watch Stargate.

The situation this evening is that I think I have fixed the DVD, just unplugged and plugged back in a couple of times to reset it. The washing machine is currently working in the middle of the kitchen floor. The lights in the tenement are not working. The hole is being gouged wider in the kitchen unit - not a pretty sight. Val is not doing any wallpaper stripping as she is knackered after doing an hours worth this afternoon - remember the water in the light switch!!!

And that is how I spent my day off, dread to think what tomorrow will bring!! But you've got to laugh haven't you.

As Val says, lots of people would think this was a good day. Puts me in my place!!