Tuesday Jan 22nd

Snow on the ground but at least the kids are off to school. Get up, get them breakfast, bacon sandwiches as it’s Tuesday. Then clearing up, getting myself ready, making sure they’re out the door on time, then myself. Funny how school day morning’s seem so much busier these days. Time was I got up, washed, had some breakfast and left; if only I’d known how easy that was.

Off down to library, a brisk walk in the freezing cold, and despite a few slips I stay on my feet. Passing kids loitering on their way to school, most without coats on and some without jackets. How do they do it! Me I’ve got 4 layers, a hat, scarf and gloves on, and I’m moving to keep warm. In an effort to put something back into the community I volunteer at the local library offering IT support to computer users. This means the retired and the unemployed. This morning it’s quiet, though one chap having pressed the Print button did ask what happens next, at which point I walked him 5 paces to the printer, about the 4^th pace I saw recognition dawning in his eyes, slowly but surely.

Expecting an afternoon delivery and received a text telling me I’d be called an hour before to confirm. Got the call “We’ll be with you in 10 minutes Mr Perry.” I reply “I’m walking and will be home in 15.” Get home to find delivery man ringing the bell, hey ho. Still it’ll give me something to do tomorrow.

Mate of mine pops round in the evening bearing used handles for double glazed windows. I’d mentioned in passing one of mine had broken, hadn’t mentioned it was two years ago it happened. Suffice to say his offerings were incompatible, which I already knew as I’d checked them out in the shop a while back. Still a nice but futile gesture. I don’t believe in rushing things where DIY is concerned, a period planning strategy, the longer the better, usually brings results when I actually get to the job I find. An excellent example being my broken letterbox. The outside flap had not lain flat for over a year, but after a period of consideration (c12 months) I tackled it last week. 5 minutes later I’d fixed it! Funny thing was when I proudly announced my achievement to Mrs Perry, she said she didn’t know it had been broken! All that planning, and no appreciation.

Jay