Monday 28th Jan

Following an unexpected spillage early in the morning, I find my week commencing in the laundrette. "Do they still exist?" I hear you ask. Well, yes they do, and due to the fact that our washing machine recently expired and we bought a new one, which whilst being the same size on the outside, is actually it now transpires smaller on the inside! That is the drum appears to be smaller than the previous one - It's a bit like owning the Tardis in reverse!

So the upshot was the duvet in question would no longer fit in our washing machine, and so I set off for the laundrette. Seems every type of life can be found in your local launderette. From the young mother, with baby in tow to the polite old gent in collar and tie. Used to be you had to put your money in the machines, now you key in your machine number on a pad in the wall and then insert your money. All was going well until I had to pay for the dryer. So I typed in 20, having in mind the dryer was 20p a go, then inserted my money, which was immediately rejected. After four goes at this, I stood back thinking it can't be that difficult to turn on a dryer. Then the light dawned my machine was number 11, not 20, oops! Not the sharpest knife in the block this morning.

But on the bright side the lady looking after the machines showed me how to fold a fitted sheet properly. You know the elasticated ones that fold around and under your matress, and you can never get flat for folding and ironing. I know what you might be thinking, "who irons bedding?" Well Mrs Perry does, so that means I do. Still I can say will some satisfaction that I learnt a life skill today in my local launderette, that will benefit the Perry household for years to come. You've got to be in it to win it as they say.

Yours slightly the wiser

Jay