Blowing Hot and Cold

I prowled luxuriously between rooms in my newly-spacious house, revelling in its extent. It seems so big again, so expansive. All the windows were opened apart from in the kitchen where the woodburner kept things cosy. But it was a wonderful day, very windy but warm and sunny. I stripped all the beds and did wash after wash after wash, sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases and towels, the odd knicker. Out came the washing line and one by one I pegged them out. With the first lot billowing satisfyingly in the extremely high breeze I stood back to admire my handiwork when a sudden fierce gust whipped a brilliant white duvet cover from the grip of its pins and flung it across the lawn. I laughed, honestly I did, and rescued it to secure it and its fellows under a battery of pegs. Within a few hours everything was dry.

Such a happy sight

The reason the windows were open, apart from wanting to air a stuffy house, was that Tony came and diagnosed condensation in the cloakroom. Condensation! He thought it was a combination of lots of people in the house, central heating on high, and the exposed north-facing wall of the cloakroom getting the brunt of any cold air. Already it is nearly dry. Such a dear man, such welcome news. He is coming back to put a door between my newly-appointed study and the utility room as early as next week. I think it will look a lot better, more finished.

There was only one way to spend my afternoon after the washing had been brought in: ironing. I know this can be a tedious job, but I really enjoy ironing bedding and putting it away in the airing cupboard all fresh and pristine. I have to admit to having used the tumble dryer quite a bit recently without the extraction hose which is missing, no doubt contributing to the condensation though I always open three windows to reduce the moisture. It's great to get the washing out but I won't often be able to do that until the spring, so I'll be buying a new hose and fitting it tout de suite. There's only so much hot air any house can tolerate.

Some of my missing Christmas peeps, pretty in pink