MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEK

MONDAY 11^TH/ MARCH 2013.

On Sunday afternoon we had problems lighting the gas boiler for our hot water for the shower; after several attempts I gave up and called the help line. So first thing on Monday morning the engineer arrived, who turned out to be our maintenance man and with him was his co-worker who we know; they had come to do all the repairs and maintenance that we had called for and at the same time fix the boiler! It was the thermostat on the boiler and was quickly replaced, they then attacked the bathroom and stripped and primed the ceiling and grouted around the bath and sinks ( The last time the bath was grouted was when Tim visited us for the first time over five years ago – thanks Tim ! ) Four broken sockets were changed and the push button on the downstairs toilet was replaced. They put new filters on the taps as the calcium in the local water soon rots them;

Finally the side tile on the front door step was cemented back, they also dismantled the rocking chair and took it away to see if it was repairable – they are returning early on Tuesday morning( Which they did) to give the bathroom ceiling its second coat and repair and fix all the kitchen cupboards – result and very professional work by Antonio and Joachim ! At the same time the new contract on the house arrived and was duly signed as it was due to be paid from the bank today.

While all this was going on Andy called into to help me on the PCs; I now have installed the ‘Filmon.com’ TV channel on which I’ am able to watch all the English stations in full screen; it also has world wide TV stations and films! On Tuesday afternoon, for the first time I will be watching on Channel 4 the racing from Cheltenham – weather permitting – they have just announced that racing will start 35 minutes behind time! At a later date I will now be able to connect the small PC to the large screen TV downstairs to watch various programmes.

Monday was also “D ” Day, the diet has started in earnest ! No more Crisps, Biscuits, Chocolates, Cakes and only small amounts of Potatoes and smaller portion all around; for supper we had cold pork and the leftover vegetables. More exercise is called for so weather permitting it will be longer walks with dog – at the moment it has gone a lot cooler and the rain is returning on Tuesday before it picks up again towards the end of the week.

The films on Monday evening were a very gripping LAPD thriller with Keanu Reeves and the excellent Forest Whitaker called “ Street Kings ”from 2008 – they are all action corrupt cops – watch it. The late, late movie on the Paramount film channel was a good old fashioned western; “ Broken Trail ” from 2006 – it was originally a miniseries on American TV, made into a film with Robert Duvall, who is exceptional as a old cowboy on his last drive across the mid-west, with Thomas Haden Church as his side-kick, they both won awards and the ever watch able Greta Scacchi appears as the tart with a heart – you must catch it from start to finish – its very moving as they travel along the trail picking up and helping all sorts of waifs and strays( Not cattle – people!)

Thoughts for the Day;

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.   We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.

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