Oh Bother!

Why, oh why do things always go wrong just before Christmas?

Our dishwasher broke last week, and after waiting about 10 days or so for a man to come and repair it, it turns out that a new control panel, plus VAT, plus repair, plus VAT will cost more than a new one.  So tonight I ordered a new one from Coop Electrical. 

I love Coop Electrical Online, they always seem to be cheaper for online white goods.  In this case, about £40 cheaper than Curry's, and you can choose your delivery date!  Fortunately the lovely DLA people have just sent me some more money and John has received a little money he expected never to see, so we are able to do it.  I do love being able to shop for white goods at 10.00 pm while sitting at my desk!

BUT, of course, there's always a fly in the ointment!  Now the boiler has started to play up and keeps turning itself off, then refuses to restart for ages.  What's the betting we won't be able to get a heating engineer this side of Christmas?

We had to wait so long to find out that it wasn't worth repairing the dishwasher because two separate men came to try to repair it, several days apart, and despite having been told that it was a dishwasher, they both immediately walked out, having looked at it,  declaring that they don't "do" dishwashers.  I didn't actually see them, but John said they were rather rude, and he was particularly cross, because he specially emphasised to the second man on the telephone that it was a dishwasher!  At least the man who came today knew it was a dishwasher, telephoned to tell us he would be late and only charged us a tenner for his diagnosis.  I asked for his card, because next time I need white goods repaired, I shall definitely ask him.

I'm quite pleased with myself because I've more or less finished my Christmas shopping and have done it all online, except for odds and ends like boxes of chocolates and cigars for Charles.

Of course, it was fairly easy because mainly it's just a few books for John, some CDs, knickers for Charles, memory for Charles' PC (that's for his birthday) and a new video card so that he can play the two new games I've also bought him.  I just luuuurve Amazon wishlists!  There are a few small things from other online stores, but that was basically it.  I haven't spent a huge amount of money, either.  The most difficult thing about it was to get John and Charles to sit down at their PCs and concentrate on finding things they wanted online so that I could order them.

Charles has been feeling sorry for himself for ages because he couldn't see how he was ever going to get the expensive video card he wanted, but I persuaded him that if he could find one which was "good enough" he could upgrade some time in the future and if it wasn't too expensive I would buy the "good enough" one for Christmas so that he could play new games.  So that's what we've done.  Compromise is great!

I've given them both Mum's Christmas list 2008, but on John's I've put that if he guarantees to finish the cloakroom (which is only 18 months overdue!) and sort out my office before Easter, he needn't buy me a present at all.

I'm pretty sure Charles will get me the DVD of "Mama Mia", which will be just what I want.

Poor John has done something horrid to his ankle during the night, and he's been hobbling about with my stick today.  He's so stubborn, though;  he absolutely refuses to take any painkillers!

I'm feeling a lot better at the moment, except for being so cold all the time, although I ran out of crucial medication on Friday and couldn't get a prescription till yesterday, so I've been a little breathless again.

I seem to have completely recovered from last week's fall, except for a bit of shoulder ache when I'm tired.

I'm rather looking forward to Christmas.