Tuesday 18 January 2011

High dudgeon? Stratospheric dudgeon!

Scooter is outside in the dark on a neighbour's shed roof, in a terrible huff, and will probably choose to remain there all night. I can't blame him. I would like to be somewhere else right now too.

This has been a fairly horrendous afternoon. No photos; no time. Don't ask awkward questions about why tins of paint were in my bedroom either.

In brief:

Two calls missed as I hosed a filthy mud-encrusted labrador down in the back yard, after a long, pleasant but exhausting walk through the Dene. Tree surgeons are everywhere, their heavy vehicles churning up enough mud to keep a dog blissed out for weeks.

Took advantage of mild weather, and pressure-washed the yard. Came in with back aching, but carried on with task of clearing up in attic after all the shower room painting. Disaster struck: TWO tins of paint (gloss and emulsion) dropped on my bedroom rug, lids not well secured on either. Much scraping and scooping of paint back into tins, regardless of hair and fluff going in with it. 

Also managed to paint-splatter the muddy socks and trousers I had just taken off and the clean ones I had just put on. A little white gloss paint goes a long way....

One new basin tap came apart in my hand as I rinsed the paint-soaked sponge used to clean gloss paint off the scraper before using said scraper on the emulsion paint. Hot water running freely, as tap cross-head would not screw back on, but, thankfully, running into basin.

Sprinted downstairs. Washing machine pulled out, but arms too short to reach round it to turn water off at stopcock. Neighbour Sandra called in; she could reach, but arthritic hands couldn't turn the stopcock - plumber Richie the last one to touch it,  evidently has vice-like grip.

Pulled freezer out too, and fascia came off in my hands. Will apply duct tape, the hapless housewife's friend, tomorrow. Then had bright idea: turned off water heater setting on boiler, so only cold water could gush freely from topless tap. Felt less criminally wasteful.

Richie's phone turned off, but with much perseverance, Sandra managed to put tap back together again, although it's now a bit wobbly. Eventually Richie called back and is coming round to sort it all out.

The two missed calls later revealed via email to be estate agent wanting to book a viewing on my house - the house that is not on the market at the moment - tomorrow at 11 a.m. Surprised myself with politeness of response: refusal. I can be available on Wednesday afternoon, not before. Tomorrow I will be lying down in a darkened room.

Then something nice: Roger and Tim arrived bearing an enormous wedge of birthday sachertorte made by a friend. Didn't fall on it like a ravening wolf, despite sore temptation, but ate it daintily after a salad made from the meagre offerings at the bottom of the fridge.

Continued to wash bedroom rug and paint-covered clothes, with mixed success.

Later, took dogs out, and almost fell over a strange cat outside my back door. Ancient, thin, coat badly matted, an oldie lost and confused, and obviously completely blind. Yes, I took it in, of course I did. And was it grateful? Of course it wasn't. Isn't.

Now in a puppy crate in the back kitchen with food, water, a litter tray and a soft blanket, but loudly displeased to have been kidnapped. Posters and calls to vets will be arranged tomorrow.

Three of my cats are on wide-eyed patrol; Scooter is making A Point outside.

Perhaps tomorrow will be better. But you've no idea how grateful I am for that huge piece of sachertorte.....


21 comments:

John said...

Wow! Now that was a bad day.

Happily, cake conquers all.

Anonymous said...

Oh my stars! You do have your moments, don't you?
Or perhaps you just tell a damn' good tale?

flwrjane said...

Jesus. I think all bad luck for 2011 has happened to you, for all of us.

Relax tomorrow,will you?

I repeat, Jesus.

xo jane

Catherine said...

Oh my goodness ~ what a day you had! Well... chocolate cake can always make it a little better! :)
xo Catherine

judy in ky said...

Oh dear! What a day! Maybe one day you will be able to laugh about it all??? I'm thinking of the time I was babysitting my nieces, who were painting pictures, and their dog ran through the paint then proceeded to run across the room, leaving blue pawprints all over their new carpet.

Thank goodness for the sachertorte, which looks irresistible. A quiet day in a dark room sounds like just the ticket. Of course we will be wondering how the kidnapped cat is doing!

June said...

I stand in awe.
After a day like that I'd need a whole bakery full of sachertorte.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the quote "the reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." It appears you've made an exception to the rule Rachel.
You seem remarkably good natured about it all. Not thinking of taking up painting as a trade any time soon?
With all that happened, I'd still be lying in the darkened room with a bottle in hand,by the time the prospective buyers were brought around days later!! I'd manage a feeble "Cheers".

Val said...

How I admire your fortitude - I would have been carried off to hospital in a snug white jacket by that stage. I do hope Scooter gets over his high dudgeon and that the little stray will be okay. I once sold a house after I'd given up the immaculate, museum curator routine, when viewers arrived at mid-morning and I hadn't even made my bed or wash the breakfast dishes! Send out for more sachertorte to carry you through Wednesday!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Dear Heaven , I hope today goes better . Sachertorte , even intravenously , can only do so much , after all .
Good luck with it all !!

Rattling On said...

Been there with the paint...only it fell down 2 flights of stais, ricocheting off walls and doors (only recently professionally stripped and waxed). New stair carpet. Only consolation was that MrH was the culprit and not I!!
I would have taken in the cat as well, have done on more than one occasion in fact, any chance of it being chipped?

Lucille said...

Aargh! Look I'm sorry to do a 'me too' but I knocked over a full tin of white emulsion paint on the carpet on Saturday. It paralysed me as it globbed out. Eventually scraped it up regardless of grot, but got it on new cardigan. None of the rest of the things happened but so strange. I have never done that before. I feel (some of) your pain.

Marianne said...

aaaargh! If a hug's any use to you, here's a big one.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! I'm a bit lost for words for your catalogue of disasters. I have a steam cleaner that I could lend you to help with the clean-up of your rug. And look on the bright side- at least it wasn't your new socks you had on!! Hope the poor cat is ok - I hope you appreciated that I actually had a photo of a cat in yesterday's post!! That cake would cure a lot of ills!!
ps - we sold two of our various houses to viewers who came when the places were decidely messy!!

lovethosecupcakes said...

That was quite a day. I'd have needed the whole cake, not just a slice.

mrspao said...

Oh dear - that sounds like quite a catastrophic day (apologies to cats). I think you needed that sachertorte and I do hope things are better today.

the veg artist said...

My days are just so boring compared to yours!

Jenny Debeaux said...

Your day sounds vile but this might be helpful for future reference: I used butter on our puppy's ear when she got white gloss over it. I rubbed it well in and then washed the gunge off. Nothing left except a shiny, clean hound ear!

It was from when I was a teenager - a very long time ago! - and a neighbour's child got covered in paint from we knew not where. They used butter and it worked then, as it did a week ago.

BTW, don't ask how the puppy got paint on her ear; if I had my way I would ban gloss paint, the smell is horrendous.

mountainear said...

Oh dear. What an awful afternoon. Exhausting and demoralising - except for the cake.

Hope you find the elderly cat's people. And Scooter decides to come in.

Lesley said...

Thank the Lord for sachertorte!! Sorry you had to go thru such a series of unfortunate incidents. Hope they are all resolved quickly, especially the elderly lost cat. I'm so pleased he found such a kind home in his confusion (sorry Scooter....

Lesley xx

Gwen Buchanan said...

OMG... and all you need is a dark room!!!!!???? do you have any hair left??

Salute...you are a strong one!!

BumbleVee said...

Sorry Rachel.... by the time I got to the part where the freezer fascia came right off in your hands I was rolling off my chair with laughing...

it never rains but it pours.... and with water?..it doesn't take much to make a real mess...
aww... poor old kitty...

Related Posts with Thumbnails