not so festive!

Noone wants a broken washing machine at Christmas time.

After the power had cut out several times during a wash, that's when we knew that after 17 years of faithful service, our old machine needed replacing. I recalled the day when it was delivered - Luke and I were doing a puzzle and the driver phoned to say he couldn't find our house, so I said we would go down to the end of the drive and wave at him. While we were out, a pheasant flew through the window of the room where we'd been sitting, showering shards of glass all over the floor!

D and I took a trip into town and walked along the rows of machines on offer. How do you choose? We wanted an energy efficient machine that would last years and not cost the earth. We only ever do a 30 degree wash using eco balls instead of powder. 

Most of the machines on offer had a bewildering array of programmes (duvet wash, baby wash!!) and some cost £1500!

We found one which was a clearance model, available today. Luke and D took out the old one, collected the new one and plumbed it in. Jess didn't like it much. This is where she sleeps (not on the floor, though).

It's the shortest day of the year, by my calculations we have had 6 hours and 59 minutes of rather gloomy light between sunrise and sunset. Now the days will start getting longer - hurray! Fiat Lux!