Where are we now? Well, with the idea in mind that we WILL GO this autumn regardless of obstacles; we have had 2 of our 3 rabies jabs, plus a top-up of hep A, most of our paperwork has now been extended for a year, likewise the tenants at Forest Avenue, and we are getting on with the list of maintenance issues for Reservoir Cottage. Today Barney is installing a new radiator in the hall, to pre-empt leaks etc while we are away. The chimneys have been swept, roofers are coming to give quotes next week and the bathroom and kitchen have been redecorated by yours truly, although certain spots on the kitchen walls are resisting and some sort of additional product may have to be purchased. Barney still has a list of things to do to the unimog, but is getting through them. For those in the know about the mattress, John Lewis, astonishingly, have agreed to replace with firm-firm. I can't sing the praises of JL highly enough. But most astonishingly of all, we have received our visas for Syria! It will be news to some of you, but we have decided to go with our original route, despite the obvious potential for problems. The ferry from Venice to Alexandria is apparently no longer running. So we spent a day or 2 weighing up all the options, and the route through Syria is actually the least unacceptable of all the things we could do. Of course, they may turn us back at the border, in which case we will be up a gum tree without a paddle. We are carefully avoiding the discussion about what we will do if this occurs. If it does we may hole up somewhere pleasant in Turkey (not difficult) and spend a bit of time drinking. Oops, I mean thinking.
We have had a couple of setbacks this week. One, there appears to be a problem with the suspension on the unimog - or possibly not, but it's taking up a lot of B's time figuring this out, involving him spending ages on various discussion groups online. Two, when B lifted the hall carpet to do some electrical work the floorboards all appeared to be damp! Panic stations! After a lot of shifting furniture etc and trawling the internet for ideas, we finally decided that some oily substance has been leaching out of the carpet underlay, which feels dampish but actually seems to be protecting the boards. Ultimately a storm in a teacup and an almost wasted day, but actually we did quite a bit of sorting/binning etc in order to lift the carpet, which would have had to be done at some point anyway. At least we don't have a burst pipe or other troublesome leak.
Meanwhile life in Hertfordshire ambles on. I'm still enjoying Morris practice, going to a reading group and tinkering with my flowerbeds. B and I are still walking several times a week in Weston hills (not very high hills, these) and lately we have had some great sightings of tawny owls.
We have had a couple of setbacks this week. One, there appears to be a problem with the suspension on the unimog - or possibly not, but it's taking up a lot of B's time figuring this out, involving him spending ages on various discussion groups online. Two, when B lifted the hall carpet to do some electrical work the floorboards all appeared to be damp! Panic stations! After a lot of shifting furniture etc and trawling the internet for ideas, we finally decided that some oily substance has been leaching out of the carpet underlay, which feels dampish but actually seems to be protecting the boards. Ultimately a storm in a teacup and an almost wasted day, but actually we did quite a bit of sorting/binning etc in order to lift the carpet, which would have had to be done at some point anyway. At least we don't have a burst pipe or other troublesome leak.
Meanwhile life in Hertfordshire ambles on. I'm still enjoying Morris practice, going to a reading group and tinkering with my flowerbeds. B and I are still walking several times a week in Weston hills (not very high hills, these) and lately we have had some great sightings of tawny owls.