I made a couple of phone calls yesterday.

I have now arranged for a bloke to fix up my lighting next week.

The other call was to annoy the people who are supposed to be insulating the Manor. This little lark was kicked off some time last summer so they’re due a prod from time to time.

The door bell went this morning. As luck would have it, I was up and dressed so I opened the door. There was a bloke there looking a bit shifty. “Windows” says he by way of greeting. I nearly passed out. My energy efficiency lark was actually going to happen.

So I pointed out all the windows [six, I think] that were to be replaced with energy efficient ones. Two of them are in the porch which is a bit pointless as we don’t live in the porch. I let them do them anyway as the existing frames were beginning to rot so it will save me a bit of work.

Naturally the dog got out. So I squeezed past a massive van that had appeared on the drive and wandered up and down the lane. No sign of Penny. It was quite chilly. I went home and put on a jumper and the went back out. Still no sign.

I eventually spotted her. She was in a neighbour’s garden doing her circles, just wandering around in an endless loops. Neighbour came out and complained that Penny was shitting all over his lawn. I doubted that as she had presented me with a pile on the sitting room floor before this adventure started. I asked Neighbour to show me a dump. He did. It was a huge turd that had half melted in last night’s rain. I pointed out that a turd that size would split Penny in two. Neighbour apologised and we parted on good terms. He’s a strange bloke but nice enough.

So now windows are being ripped out. They’re making one hell of a racket.

Life is an endless hurricane of excitement in the Manor.