I am the worlds worst Bricoleur- meaning that DIY and I are not really capable of travelling together. I have friends and relations (you know who you are) whom I bribe with food and accomodation in exchange for small acts of Bricolage and that works well. Occasionally there are jobs that are so petty that it just doesn’t justify getting and feeding someone from Ireland or Spain to fix it. I offer you three with which I have been living for some time.
Number One ;
Our Shower. The shower in our bathroom at the top of the house has a flow problem which puts a whole new definition to the word trickle.
Number Two :
On three of the six burners on the stove top the gas rings automatic igniter has ceased for some time to work- not a huge problem one would think but one that involves one, again, in gas lighters, matches and even spills of news paper.
A world one thought one had left behind.
Number Three :
My Belitta stove top Espresso Coffee Pot has ceased to work- this does not sound like the most serious problem but when all it produces for me, first thing in the morning, when every nerve in my body is screaming with caffine withdrawal, is a spoonful of brown mud I assure you it is serious indeed.
The good news is, that with a little help from Madame, I have now I am proud to relate, virtually alone and unaided, fixed all three.
Number One.
I had assumed that the trickle was caused by the fact that our bathroom was virtually the Highest Shower in The Village and it was lack of pressure which caused the problem. But a little light went on in the head last week and I lifted up the shower which is in the bath to the same level and there was No Loss of Pressure ! When I related this to Madame she very simply said “lets swap heads and see if that is the problem” (I had no idea one could do something so radical so simply). She did, and it did and now we have a shower which would give Niagara a run for its money.
Number Two.
While cleaning my cooker top last week, with all the burners steeping I inadvertently pressed down on one of the gas dials, to my estonishment and delight I discovered that which ever dial one pressed down ALL the burners threw out an ignition spark . Now instead of resorting to all sorts of the above primitive ignition methods I merely press down on the dial I want and then simultaniously press another- but dont turn it – my gas lights up beautifully.
Number Three, the most serious of all the problems needed a little more work. I made the usual assumptions that (a) the rubber ring was worn so I replaced it- no joy (b) the filter was somehow malfunctioning, I replaced it- no joy. So then I had to think. What possible other factor had changed in the last few weeks ? The light bulb when on again. Just about three weeks ago the Super U had ceased stocking the excellent coffee from Cuba which I had enjoyed each morning since I moved here. I had been experimenting with various brands since. What if ? Down in Super U’s coffee isle I found an Italian brand made especially for Expresso Coffee Pots. I tried this this morning for the first time, and Yay Hay ! It worked.
All three problems solved. I tell you I am begining to realise, in my sixty sixth year, that I still possess hidden talents.