Further ramblings of a self-made pauper

The saga of the gas supply continues.

I am sitting here after discovering (yet again whilst doing laundry) that we have no hot water and that the boiler really, really doesn't want to play, thank you very much.

This time, as recommended by the electric gas plumber last time he stared at the boiler, I have called Transco and they are sending an engineer "within the hour" (they don't like gas explosions; they're bad for business). In the meantime I am not allowed to turn anything on or off and have had to isolate the gas supply and wait.

So I'm waiting.

God, I hope this works, I would like a piping hot shower before I go to bed.

Edited to add: Transco have been and gone; gas pressure back at a lovely 21mB. Water heating as I type. I can smell a rogue radiator warming up; I shall track it down and subdue it.

Ah, today.

Today is the day of the annual office picnic. The sky is grey as grey can be and the BBC weather webpage has disturbing symbols representing pretty much everything short of snow. Again we pay for the inordinately hot and bothersome July of recent woe.

I was talking to the division manager briefly last night; she and I share the opinion that we should decamp to the park (someone said Hyde Park, but normally we go to St James’s), weather be damned. A few tote brollies will protect us from the occasional wash. It seems, however, that we may have been out voted by those of lesser mettle. A conference room has been booked in the building for us to have the picnic in should the heavens open.

We did this once before and it was a dismal failure. People sat together in little groups talking about work and many were back at their desks by three ‘o’clock. When we actually make it to the park, it is rare for anyone to leave before four ‘o’clock and then the action slowly transfers to a local pub. You will see why I am anxious that we should not stay in the building.

That said it’s pretty much a moot point for me. I have to leave relatively early since the electric gas plumber is alleged to be coming back at some point late this afternoon to repair his repairs from Tuesday night.

Still, I have a day at the Oval tomorrow for the second day’s play in the final test against Pakistan.

Fantastic.

Unless it rains, of course.