Erieversible

So today the temperature hit 60F.  At least, that’s what my car showed at one stage today.  With the rain pouring down too I’m surprised there’s any snow left around, but there is.  Down in the basement the sump pump is working away.  Touch wood.  I can honestly say I’ve never known of a UK house having such an arrangement, so this is another fairly fundamental difference between the two countries.  I understand the concept of why such things exist (I think I do, anyway) but then a whole country, and one that is arguably just as wet as this part of the US, manages without the concept.  We’re back in the territory of why does the same car need servicing 2-4 times as often when it runs in the US compared to the UK.  Must be something in the air.  Or the water.

Meanwhile on the roof the startling news from yesterday is that, and I quote from the roofer’s paperwork, “House was roofed with absolutely no underlayment”.  At first that meant nothing, but I’ve very quickly come up to speed with the terminology and the technology involved.  I am busy gathering information before deciding what course of action (if any) to take.  Not something I wanted or expected to be dealing with at the moment

Never mind, the British are reknowned for their ability to talk about the weather, and there’s certainly plenty of scope there!

We toddled along to the Clarence Winterfest 2009 yesterday.  We had no idea what to expect and, unfortunately, neither did the organizers in respect of the weather!  It is somewhat hard to hold a Winterfest when the temperature is in the 50s.

The unseasonal weather wiped out the ice skating attraction, though it was interesting to learn how the tennis courts are used as ice rinks in the winter.  The display by the Husky Club was also hampered by the weather, but both the people and dogs were lovely.  Some intrepid souls tried sledding but on the whole winter activities were made difficult as things melted fast around you - the ice sculpture people did their best to stay ahead of the big melt!

Our 6-year old daughter was determined to get a hayride, and she did.  And she loved it.  A totally new experience for her - and the rest of the family.  The Arts & Crafts area, where the kids could be creative, was very good.  Congratulations to the sponsors and volunteers running that area, it was very well run.  It was also an opportunity for us to check out one of the Clarence parks, and it looks like they’ll be a great town asset in the summer.

All in all it was an interesting event with more potential had the weather actually been wintery.  We’ll have to try it again next year when, hopefully, we’ll need boots and heavy coats rather than sunglasses and light jackets.

Today we made a paint decision for the dining room and also bought a dining table and chairs.  We’re not quite sure if the furniture will go with the paint (or vice versa) but should find out by the end of next week.  I suspect it will be easier to re-paint than to send the furniture back and try and find another set, but hopefully neither course of action will be necessary.

Apart from the dining room furniture we ordered a few other bits and pieces.  Suffice to say that by the end of next week the house should seem a little bit fuller.  Mind you, there are still empty rooms…

The event for today was the unseasonally high temperatures - the car registered 54 degrees at one stage.  It felt quite unnatural, and we’ll be almost glad to see temperatures get back to around freezing tomorrow.