Thursday, August 05, 2004

Fire, Electricity and Gas

Fitted the granite slabs for the new fireplace hearth and concreted around the side to build up the level ready for the floor tiles. It took a couple of big wheel barrow loads of concrete to get it almost level. I'll finish off with some self-levelling skim before laying the tiles.

Chopped three small trees down (about 15cm across) that were just touching the overhead power lines. EDF came last winter and topped a load of trees under the power line, but these grew into the light 'corridor' under the lines and would most probably caused the power to trip if they had been left. A bit more firewood for next year.

The Butagaz man came in his lorry to re-fill our underground gas tank. Another 900 Kg of butane ? to run the hot water system. It was only filled about 15 months ago, but I suppose it does supply all the hot water for our house all year, and the three gites during the holiday periods.

Went to fit the new magnesium anode in the hot water boiler (it's meant to reduce hard-water scale build up), but the old one was not that badly corroded. Cleaned it up and re-fitted, at least I've got a spare now.

Marathon mowing and strimming session. We had a fantastic thunderstorm a few nights ago and the grass has only really just got dry enough this afternoon to cut. It was still a bit too damp and clogged the mower several times, but it just seems to grow so fast at the moment.

Hugh has got the surfing bug. Caroline took the kids to the beach this afternoon and she couldn't keep him out of the water. He's only 4 and just messes about with the body board in the waves but has a wail of a time.

Finished reading The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency -- Alexander McCall Smith, and found it most enjoyable. It's an easy read with some interesting characters and storylines. In fact we both enjoyed the book we have ordered the sequels.

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