I’ve been home a day and a half and I haven’t opened the post yet. Twenty-plus items and they’re just sitting there. I’ll do it tomorrow – which is what I said yesterday.
I did open one envelope, because I could see it was a letter from the taxman. And yay, it’s a cheque for over a thousand pounds. The reason for it is the massive expenses last year, but hey, a tax rebate for … did I mention? … over a thousand pounds. Quirkily, it feels as if I’m in profit.
I endeavour to find an achievement in every day, because I get disappointed otherwise. Today’s – it doesn’t matter how small they are, it’s just that they have happened – is that I’ve booked the chimney sweep. Last year, I left it rather late and he was very busy and it was a bit worrying, as we’d come close to a chimney fire at one point the previous spring. As it is, the sweep isn’t coming for another six weeks, but that’s fine, he’s booked. He’s the brother of the chap who installed our splendid woodburner, actually, and he’s very good and more reasonably priced than the man who I used before, who then let me down the next year (the reason for the near-chimney fire was that I hadn’t been able to get the chimney swept as I’d been let down) and actually, possibly, better because he gives an actual certificate, in case it’s needed for house insurance. Who knew? I haven’t checked my small print, admittedly, but some house insurers require annual chimney sweeping.
We always did have it done, except that one year, but quite often did it ourselves, or with Jamie’s help. Chimney sweeping is quite satisfying, in fact … blimey, I can’t believe I just said that. Bear in mind that I’m a woman who knows how to use a set of drain rods and pity me, darlings.
And now, I’m going to go out and smell the heliotrope. Because it’s delightful.
CONGRATULATIONS on that refund!!! I can only start to imagine a refund that large!
I’d been due to pay a bill of several thousand, on estimated income, so getting a refund instead makes quite a difference.
🙂 Even happier for you! To get a refund when one expects to pay is quite … double the happiness!