The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Note to readers: For the avoidance of any doubt, every character in this blog is Baggy! No Baggy was harmed in its writing, although some of them get pretty confused!

Anxiety sufferers know full well that their anxiety can appear from nowhere, for no apparent reason, at any moment. Hormonal Hannah in particular is used to this, sadly. However, with everything that is going on at the moment, it's hardly surprising that she has some angst at present. She needed to give Creative Clara a couple of days off to get over the fiasco! So here's what happened next!

This is what caused Hannah's meltdown:

The gas pipe installed with no consideration whatsoever for aesthetics, or for the building work that's going on.

Baggy thanks the universe for her lovely husband, who took the day off to confront the British Gas engineer!

'So what's  the problem with it mate?'
'Are you serious? What do you think?' glared Calum.
'Well we've only done what we were told to do,' (very defensive) 'where's your paperwork?'
A very stressed Hannah dug it out.
'See! It says here, "pipe to meter at high level," (smug and patronising).

Hannah cringed. 'Well, I'm sorry that I didn't see that,' (Baggy could feel Calum's eyes boring into the back of her head, as she tried to get Hannah to shut up - but she didn't), 'but you don't really think it's okay to put it straight across the house surely?'

'In the unset render,' added Calum, in a 'don't mess with me' voice.

'We just followed the instructions.'

'Well, if I had taken in that 'instruction', I would have presumed that 'at a high level' meant behind the guttering out of sight,' said a now tearful Hannah. Clever Bird decided that perhaps she should leave Calum to it.

'Cal, I'm going to take Billy Bob Jalopy campervan to the garage. I'll see you later.'

Having avoided the house for most of the morning, Furry Mama and Pepper Pooch returned from walking home from the garage, to a moved pipe...

Freda Fretter still thought it looked a mess, but nowhere near as big a mess as previously. And the lovely Topcote guys reassured her that once they've finished with it, she won't really notice it. Phew! But apparently Calum had to virtually read the guy the riot act, to get him to put it where it now is!

The gas engineers finally left in the late afternoon. The combi-boiler and new radiators worked wonderfully, and to Freda's relief, even the bath cover had been fixed back together - it's funny what having a big burly husband in the house will achieve, eh Baggees?

However! And this is a big however! This is how the rubbish was left...

... yes Baggees, the radiators are leaning on the new render, and sitting on top of all the plants, that the Topcote guys had so lovingly protected previously.

Gloria Gardener was upset and furious. To make it worse, all of that rubbish was to have been picked up yesterday! It is still at the house now.

The gas meter box, which was locked before they arrived, now looks like this...

... taped shut, because it's broken!

It got even worse though. That evening Baggy asked Cal why the rug in the kitchen was so wet. Upon investigation, the rug that the engineer had been standing and kneeling on for a large part of the day, was not only soaked, but actually had a mini flood under it, that spread across the kitchen.

Calum managed to find and stop the leak, (which was an unstoppered, old washing machine pipe). To be fair, it was not a pipe that the engineer had touched. However, it had actually been caused by the increased water pressure that the new system had allowed to build up, and the guy must have known that, yet he didn't even bother to mention it. Baggy was just grateful that Cal was there to fix the problem.

None of the furniture was put back where it was moved from. And the mess wasn't even washed away!

It was such a disaster, and such a shame, because Baggy has always had wonderful engineers whenever they have been needed previously. But never mind, Hannah is letting the stress go, because the new heating looks wonderful, and works beautifully.

Meanwhile, the Topcote guys, who are the exact opposite in their attitude and professionalism, and are a pleasure to have around, started beavering away again, once the rain had stopped, while Furry Mama and the pooch escaped to the beach.

The sea was a tad wild!

Baggy got soaked again, so had a cappuccino on the pier.

Today is dry, so progress has been rapid!

As Furry Mama headed off to the beach once again, she found Steve making the best of the situation...

... using the (in the way) radiators, as a seat, whilst he fixed a rotten sill.

In contrast to yesterday, Southwold sea was like a mill pond, and Baggy could have an outdoor cappuccino in the sunshine.

Home again, to this...

... and round the back...

... and currently, Baggy and the pooch are shut in the house, which is being sprayed!!!! Baggy is excited to see it later, when she's allowed out...