In a land far, far away

Well it seems like that sometimes.........and I get stick from my regular readers for not posting too often. This is as much due to my routine lifestyle than anything else. I don't want to write about golf, DIY, life in Scouseland and family all the time, unless something out of the ordinary happens.

So,is  no hot water, a ruptured tap spout and number two daughter locked out of her house on her birthday routine? It's a good question, and , yes, it probably is routine as we have at least one major crisis just before Christmas.

In the past we have had the cooker pack up on Christams Eve and only got it fixed because the company, Stoves, is a Scouser outfit, the swimming pool has broken on more than one occasion just before Christmas and the central heating boiler has also given up the ghost at this time of year.

So, at least a bit of variety. Our ever so helpful plumber, Keith sorted the hot water on Tuesday, and the spare part for the tap arrived about an hour after he had left. It was only the 'simple' task of undoing a grub screw and taking off the old spout, but could I do it? Not a chance. Keith was back the next day after his works night out and he could not do it either, until I had a brainwave and delved into my car boot sale box to pull out one of a number of hobby screwdriver kits. In amongst the sockets, cross thread and posidrive attachments was a T9 fitting that went into the grub screw a treat. Once removed it was evident that the screw was also ruptured which explained why it was so difficult to remove. Anyway, job done.

So all that was left was last nights drama at number two daughter house. She was off out partying and had left her keys in the inside door lock. So my trusty bent and twisted coat hanger, or ouja douja as number one grandaughter calls it, was forced into action and after half an hour or so the key was flicked out and access to the house restored. Number two daughter return later totally oblivious to the problem and resulting panic.

Only concern was that no neighbours or passing dog walkers called the police to advise of this dodgy looking character trying to gain entry to a house, through the letterbox.

Hey ho, maybe all the expletive's warned them off..........happy ho ho ho to all my readers, look out for the family Christmas stories to follow....with 18 for lunch, there are bound to be some!