After a brief panic on the part of the deliveryman, we received a full tank of oil today. The operator couldn’t initially get his machine to work,
so he spent some time, whilst we trembled in trepidation, tinkering with dials.
Before the rain set in, I cut the grass and Jackie carried on clearing and tidying the rest of the garden.
Having spotted that a number of birds have been tearing strips off our roofing insulation for nest building, she has netted up the entrances in continuing the avian warfare begun yesterday against the greenfinches.
Whilst she was at it, she also blocked the route to last year’s starling nest.
She cleaned out the Waterboy feature and set it going again.
Back inside, as feared, we found the boiler wasn’t working. This, we discovered, seemed to be because Jackie had turned the living room wall thermostat to zero when we ran out of fuel. She turned it up. The light came on on the reset button. When it was depressed, as the instruction book suggested, we had lift-off. We will be having the device serviced anyway, just to be on the safe side.
This afternoon the rain desisted and we continued weeding and tidying.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s lemon chicken; sweet potatoes; and sautéed leeks, mushrooms, broccoli, and bacon; followed by apple strudel and custard. She drank Hoegaarden and I drank Reserve des Tuguets madiran 2012.
Now that you have oil the weather may warm up! (wishful thinking)
Thanks, Jessica
Who needs computer games for entertainment when you can have a central heating system?
🙂 Thanks, John
Sounds like quite the productive day with a perfect topping off feast!
Thanks, GP
What feast, indeed! My mouth was watering as I read the description about your dinner. I must say I envy the fact that your weather is warm enough for the water feature. This morning, when I let the dog out in the backyard, I found that the water in his outside dish was frozen solid. Plus, it’s been spitting snow off and on all day. Oh, the weather in Maine!
Just loved your dinner 😀 ! Delectable dishes…
Thanks, Maniparna
Wow lots of work Derrick! yumm to the dinner!
Thanks, Lynn
It’s always nice to have a productive day…well done, Derrick. I love the waterboy!
Thanks, Jill. http://derrickjknight.com/2014/06/09/trust-me-im-a-doctor/
I would be nervous too if I had a great tank of oil connected to my house by a man who doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing. Let’s hope you don’t get lifted off.
Will you put fish in your pond? I have fish but no pump or filter in mine. I had to put a wire cage over it to stop birds from fishing it. I use a plastic hose thing and gravity to take the water out. Great tonic for my plants. Then I replace the water from a bucket. Very low tech.
Yummy dinner.
Thanks, Mary. The pond is too small for fish, but birds drink from it. We have another little pond, filling a cistern. Last year it had frog or toad spawn which didn’t come to anything
I can hear frogs but never seen them 🙂
I hadn’t noticed the waterboy feature before – it’s rather lovely. I hope you are now enjoying having a warm house.
Thanks, Pauline. We are: http://derrickjknight.com/2014/06/09/trust-me-im-a-doctor/
I love the small waterboy and sautéed leeks sounds good 😀
Thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick
Another rich day you shared with us, Derrick. Thank you.
Thanks, Ann
Glad you’re back in oil. Sorry about the birds. I have doves trying to nest on my sills.
Thanks, Lisa. Last year, we watched the starlings grow
I remember your photos of them. They had a good launch.
We have bird boxes in the garden, but the starlings were a bit close to home last year, not good for our garden furniture,(bird poo daily) and not really good for them as we were in and out of the garden and this stressed the parents, tho’ they did manage to raise their brood.
It seems there would be plenty to nest in in your garden, even if you didn’t supply extra bird homes. Good luck discouraging them. Once they’ve found a place, they seem to be persistent.
Enjoying your Countryfile!
Your finches should have had plenty of twigs to use for their nests after your rainstorms! This would seem like an avian attack! I like your sense of humor and glad heat is restored upon the household, Derrick. 🙂 Delicious meal, once again.
Thanks, Robin
Congratulations … a good day all round, eh? 🙂
Yes, thanks, Widdershins
Still laughing – those damn heaters NEVER seem to work when you turn them off. : )
🙂 Thanks, Jodie
Nice to get rain, yay! Like the waterboy 🙂
Thanks, Amy
I think this is the best-sounding dinner you’ve ever had 🙂
Thanks, Weekly