Sorting

Marigolds and graft. A good combination. A full day in the kitchen cleaning. Loud "urghs" when we move something and uncover slime or mould or droppings or "uinspecified". Coos when, after 90 mins of scrubbing something, on of us stand back and say "That actually looks ok doesn't it?!"

The first plumbing challenge I ever faced was in Nottingham in 1987. I failed. I have faced many others since, and have failed on most occasions.

The first obvious leak - maybe the only one, to be fair - was the upstairs toilet. The smell of a bit of rotting underlay and urine is not a Tom Ford natural. The challenge: to stop the leak. The solution: Plumbers' Mate. Mission accomplished. I now use Plumbers' Mate for any job. Any.

Lots of lino everywhere. And nylon carpet. Useful to get into the swing of wearing a facemask before COVID. Googling "old lino cariogenic dust inhale".

Our first meal in the now clean kitchen. "What's for dinner, Cookie?" The smell of ammonia and cumin...

One of the happiest moments of my life.

Luxury. (Though interestingly and sadly Julie could not get out of the sofa unaided.)

And our first night in the house...