Sue Woodcock: The heat is on and the world is now a much better place

At last, the new boiler for my Rayburn arrived from the manufacturer.

The local Skipton stove company brought it up and the boss, Gary, kindly advised me how to fit it. It took three of us, and then I had to address the plumbing, the flue and the balancing of all of them.

The boiler is so efficient – not only did it heat my water, it got excited and water boiled over and flooded into the lights overnight, which I then had to replace. But I got there in the end and now have hot water and power, and that, for me, is great luxury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Such things tend to stress me out and when, for a short period I had no power, no heat and no light I was almost in despair, but now I have calmed down a bit and I am content. I even luxuriated in a hot bath the other night, the one thing that eases the aches in my back, which is telling me daily that I am not as young as I was.

My older collie, Froyle, needed to have an operation to heal her eye, and at the same time I had her spayed. This was a stitch in time as she had started to develop problems of the female kind and now the poor dog is confined to wearing a plastic collar for a week or so.

She hates it and tries very hard to remove it but she is healing well and, after a couple of subdued days, has bounced back and is once again eating with a fervour and is up to all her normal tricks.

Boo, the labrador, was most concerned and lovingly washed her face for her.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I called in at St Mary’s Coniston for the evening service on my way to the quiz. I do attend there occasionally and am always made very welcome and was very flattered when I was asked to read the Gospel at the service.

Coincidentally, the sermon was about the ups and downs of life and an example was given of a game of snakes and ladders. Remembering the ladder still up in the bedroom at my place, and the alternating despair of when things go wrong and the elation when they are fixed, it was very fitting for me.

Suitably calmed, I went on to run the pub quiz and I returned home in a much better frame of mind.

On the way to Buckden Singers choir practice with two friends, I was surprised to see a young pig happily trotting down the road towards us. It is not unusual to come across the odd stray sheep and lamb. But a pig?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He didn’t want anything to do with us and was obviously on a mission. We alerted the owner who then went off in search. It was such a glorious evening that I expect the animal had just fancied a little adventure.

On my way back from the vets with Froyle, I called in at the supermarket at Skipton to visit the cash machine (vet bills are expensive). It was a very hot day and I parked up, left the car windows open and was walking towards the store when a lady firmly told me that I must not leave the dog in the car as it was cruel. I patiently explained that I was only going to be a couple of minutes.

She was waiting for me when I returned and said she hoped I didn’t mind her saying this. In the past, she had had to call the police to distressed dogs in hot cars. I told her that I would never leave my dog to suffer like that and I was glad she was so concerned.

Dogs are best left at home on very hot days. The dog who had been happily watching the world go by from the comfort of the back seat was totally unconcerned. She likes going in the car. Once home, she immediately headed not for the water bowl but to the food.

Any adventure always needs extra sustenance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The May blossom is over but in the field and hedgerows there is the glory of flower blossom, including the yellow of buttercups and ladies’ bedstraw and the multi-colours of displaying gardens backed by the subtle green of the trees and shrubs. The sorrel is sumptuous pink and the mosses are many hues.

Nature is so varied and there is such a lot to see. The pale yellow of the hay fields is criss-crossed with lines of darker cut grass drying in the sun.

The whole area is a tapestry of wonder.

Related topics: