Last night, while just a few of us were still awake and beginning to tidy the kitchen, the lights went out. Quick as a flash, a still lively Poppy, dashed upstairs crying “I’ll get my Daddy. He’ll fix it.” She woke him. He said he’d deal with it in the morning.
True to his word, he did. Except that it took most of the day.
There are a lot of light switches and individual bulbs that needed to be checked, with constant trips to and from the fuse box in the hall. All were in good working order. Eventually our son discovered that the problem had arisen somewhere in the lights around the outside of the back of the house. He thought he would try the switch first. This entailed shopping at Christchurch for a replacement.
There was nothing wrong with the switch.
Matthew then examined and tested all the lights. There was nothing wrong with them. Observant readers will notice that we still have geraniums in hanging baskets.
The next possibility was the wiring between the switch inside the house and the lights outside. Eureka! The expert pointed out that the live wire had been exposed and water had dripped from this to the uncovered earth below. We have hardly ever used these lights, but did so last night because some our visitors had parked on the back drive.
Early this evening Ian, Jackie, and I repaired to The Royal Oak for a drink, some time later to be joined by Matthew, Becky, Tess, and Poppy who had visited the Byron Road Christmas lights. Having drunk Razor Back there, I, as did Tess, abstained from alcohol with dinner, which consisted of Jackie’s splendid lamb jalfrezi with savoury rice. The others drank Senza Tempo Pino Grigio.
I’m glad your expert was able to solve and fix the problem. How handy to have him there! It sounds like everyone enjoyed the rest of the day.
We did. It was so fortunate that this happened when Mat was here. Thanks very much, Merril
whew, glad no one was frazzled by that
š Thanks a lot, Geoff
Must be nice to have a handy man in the family! Nice job, Matthew!
Definitely. Will pass on your message, Jill. Thanks very much
That is the annoying thing about electrical faults. One often has to eliminate many possibilities before the correct diagnosis is reached.
So I understand, Leslie. Many thanks
Well done Mat!! I hope your ensuing days are light filled š
Thanks very much, Pauline. Mat won’t go near a computer, so I’ll have to pass on the good wishes. š
I trust the handyman gets good presents every year. Good man to have on call.
He is indeed, Dad. Many thanks
I like the scientific approach to the problem. Matthew can’t be persuaded to take a hand in running the country I suppose.
Many thanks, Tootlepedal. Who in their right mind would want to?
Good thing everything is fixed now Derrick. Isn’t it nice if someone in the family could fix it pronto?
It was wonderful. Thanks very much, Arlene
What a great job of of tracking down the problem, definitely a job well done by your son.
Thanks very much, Ivor. You would know
Glad Matthew was able to shed some light on the problem š
š Many thanks, Dorinda
You’re welcome. How’s the knee?
Knee still a bit painful, but working better. Thanks for asking
Hope the pain disapates quickly. Happy New Year, my friend! š
Thanks again, Dorinda
Īll good!!!!! I wish LIGHT in your life EVERY DAY!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bE0Vlx2P3Q
Thanks very much, Efi
no matter how well I plan my days in advance, something always happens – & these ‘little things’ always take much longer to fix than I’d like
Thanks very much da-AL
This one is a graphic post depicting the tripping of lights and their eventual restoration. Poppy’s confidence and her daddy’s persistence have been deftly woven into the storyline as the saga unfolds.
Many thanks, Uma. As usual, you picked up the key to the storyline.
At home in Paris on my balcony, at the first cold I cut the geraniums.
Since some feet still remain alive
Good luck with the geraniums, Yoshimi. Many thanks
thank you, so I hope I do not have to buy it back next year and save
You were very fortunate to have help on hand, and Matthew did very well to find where the fault was.
Absolutely true, John. We would have been stymied otherwise. Thanks very much
Good to have a handy man on hand when something goes out! Poppy knew just the man for the job! (That is so cute! š )
We don’t realize how important light is, until we are without it.
HUGS and a bright-light-warm New Year for you and all of your loved ones!!! š
Very many thanks, Carolyn. Your good wishes reciprocated š
Ah, the day the lights went out! At least that’s all that happened and not a fire. Rest assured – your wiring has now all been checked out!!
Thanks very much, GP
I don’t mind fiddling with most DIY things, but not electricity – you can’t see it and that scares me!
š Many thanks, Andrew
So glad the problem was found and fixed. And Poppy was exactly right, wasn’t she?
She was indeed, Laurie. Many thanks
So glad you’re back in light. I love Poppy’s confidence and Matthew’s skilled persistence.
So did we, Lisa. Thanks very much
Exhausting!
Congratulations to the electrician in the house. š
Hear, hear. Thanks very much, Widders
The best thing about problems is when someone else is good enough to fix them! How was the breach in the wiring fixed? With electrical tape around it?
Yes. He taped it, Crystal. We are very grateful that he was here. We couldn’t have managed without him. Many thanks
So sweet that Poppy has such confidence in her daddy; and super that he can live up to her expectations!
Yes, indeed, Jodie. Thank you very much
: )
Glad your son was able to find the fault in the wiring. Good job!
We were so lucky he was here, Lavinia. Many thanks
Great that you had someone around that day to fix your electrical problem and to know how to isolate the problem effectively.
Wasn’t it just? Thanks very much, Gary
Everything wears out with age. I have noticed that over the last few years…
Me too, Quercus. Many thanks
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