Bugs, germs and rolls of insulation

Ste Odile

We both seem to have collected nasty germs during our trip to the UK. Poor Jon has been coughing and sneezing all over the place and I have got some sort of virus which has kept me immobile for days, mostly on my back as the room spins uncontrollably every time I stand up. However, I think we are both on the mend. Which is just as well given the busy fortnight up and coming.

We sadly missed our first Christmas party on Friday due to the bugs which we were very disappointed about, but we did have a very pleasant surprise on Friday morning.

You will recall my numerous moans and groans about slow, late or just vanishing deliveries over here Sarkozyland. Well, in the hunt for insulation materials I came across a website which promised delivery 'in under 48 hours'. Fat chance, we thought, but since we don't have the transport with which to collect 7 rolls of 15 sq m of insulation, we thought we'd give it a go, expecting the stuff to turn up sometime after Christmas.

I placed the order on Wednesday afternoon just before 3pm and had an immediate acknowledgement by e-mail. Nothing very surprising there as these things are usually automated.

On Friday morning the telephone rang at 9.30. I was still struggling myself into a sitting position in bed (it's been taking me a while) so Jon handed the phone to me. It was a delivery company asking for directions so that they could deliver our rolls of insulation. Within 15 minutes the van was at our door, unloaded and paid for.

Wow.

Jon thinks it will take the two of us a couple of days to put it all in place in the loft, so we should be toasty here for Christmas when we have cut out the draft coming down from the roof. Just as soon as I can stand up straight we can get on with it.

Meanwhile my eyes are beginning to work again so I can plan my Christmas Day menu, and my canapes for our friends 'bit of a do' next Sunday, and we can rehearse our turns for the same little party. Jon has been asked to play carols and accompany me and a few other friends. I haven't quite decided what to sing yet though.

The weather has been rather chilly this week but now it has started to rain. We hope we don't get quite as much rain as the UK has had this weekend, we don't want a repeat of last years' floods, thank you very much.