In recent months, I have spent a huge amount of time sorting out the endless little things in the house, that usually go unsorted. I was feeling quite positive about the process, our house would finally be ship shape, perfect, wonderful.
Except of course it’s not. I have frustration oozing out of every pore. There has not been a single job that has only taken one phone call to sort. Even the new carpet for Eve’s bedroom, which was organised by our lovely friends, involved having to break into a cupboard which we’d lost the key for, to provide them with a sample. So of course, the cupboard lock then had to be fixed.
Every, single, little, job has taken disproportionately huge amounts of time. But by far the worst has been the electricity meter. I was informed that we needed to change it. So I made an appointment and waited in. An electrician came and told me that he couldn’t change the meter because he couldn’t open the fuse casing properly. So he went away. I arranged for someone to come and cut away some plasterboard. I made another appointment with OnStream to change the meter. They turned up. And changed the gas meter. Which apparently also needed changing, although they hadn’t informed me of this. I made another appointment with OnStream. Waited in. They didn’t turn up. I asked why, they said they didn’t know. So I made another appointment. Or so I thought. When the day came they said they had no record of it. Sorry if I’m boring you. I’m boring myself.
So I made ANOTHER appointment. Double checked it. It was today. I waited in. Someone turned up! But in my heart of hearts I knew that something would go wrong. I’ve not had much reason to hope so far. And I was right. He sucked his teeth. Said look at that wiring. That needs changing. I’ll have to fax EDF to tell them to come and change the wiring. Problem is EDF are very slow, I don’t know when they’ll get back to you. I say as calmly as possible, we are renting our house out in three weeks time. What am I supposed to do? I don’t know he says. I can’t change your meter until the fuse has been rewired. And if he can’t change my meter. I can’t have the new meter boxed in. Or the holes in the wall filled and decorated.
Typing this, a have a solid mass in my lungs and a hand, firmly clasping the top of my skull. I know that this will not be sorted before we leave. My to do list will have items uncrossed. I know it shouldn’t bother me, that I should just think of the beach. But it does. I am a person who needs to cross things off. I would like to be able to go away knowing that it is all sorted. But I can’t.
Maybe this will be the first lesson of the trip. Sometimes, you just have to let things go. But first I think I’m going to go out side and scream.
It's a small world after all 