Blackbird

We have blackbirds nesting in the garage. They were building before we went away and now the female is sitting on eggs on a shelf- just above head height, adjacent to the side door and right over the tumble drier. She doesn't seem to mind our comings and goings.

New Boiler

We've ordered a new boiler. The man with the contract to service the old one told us earlier this year that he wasn't going to touch it for fear it died under the knife. My mother doesn't have gas laid on so we're stuck with oil-fired- and that- we've been discovering- is a niche market. The first chap we called- recommended to us as "dear Mr So-and-so" by our neighbour Mary- never showed up to give us a quote- even though we asked him twice. The second has been dilatory about keeping appointments but he's come through with a quote and we'll go with it because we don't seem to have much of a choice. He and dear Mr Whatsit have the local market divided up between them.