SPANNER

I was expecting three parcels today.  One was originally scheduled to come yesterday but as I knew I would be out a lot I asked for it to come today.  Parcelforce delivered it this morning as promised.  Next was a parcel delivered by DPD.  I was sent a text this morning telling me a time slot and as I knew I would be out then I messaged them to tell the driver to put the parcel in my garage.  When I got back from shopping the parcel was there in the garage.  Big tick for DPD.  Last parcel was delivered by Amazon - they had told me that delivery day was today and they kept their word.  Of course these three perfect deliveries just show how useless Yodel is. After last weeks non delivery of a parcel which they said I had received  I am still no further forward.  Heard nothing from Yodel.  The company that sent the parcel have had  2 messages from Yodel saying ---- they were investigating.  Pathetic.

I haven't done much today.  Just walked down to the village to get some shopping and post a letter.  The weather has completely changed from yesterday.  Today its been cold and rainy.  Heating is back on this evening.  Crazy British weather.

The Tiny Tuesday challenge them today is " hard " .  I scratched around in the garage to find something to fit the bill.  I thought a tool might be a good idea and came across this adjustable spanner.  Thanks to Riwaka7 for hosting the challenge.

While I was taking my shots of the spanner I remembered the day my husband and I bought it.  It was probably in 1979 or 1980 and the weather was freezing.  We got the bus to go to work and as usual we walked across the Tyne Bridge from Gateshead to Newcastle.  It was so cold that we could see lumps of ice in the river.  When we got home in the evening we were greeted with a strange sight.  The kitchen tap had broken apart and there was ice between the two parts.  Obviously the pipes has frozen and the pressure had forced the tap apart.

We didn't have a clue what to do next.  So Douglas got his handyman book out.  It was an old fashioned book but it was all we had.  The advice for frozen pipes was to be gentle or else you would crack the pipes.  You had to use cloths soaked in warm water and press them on the pipe till the ice melted.  So we decided to buy a wrench so that we could fix the tap back together after we had melted the ice.  Luckily we lived near a B & Q. 

So we started with the warm wet cloths and eventually the ice melted in the tap and we were able to quickly press the two parts together and fix it - using this spanner.  Then we had to get stuck in with more warm cloths and try and melt the ice in the kitchen pipes.  They were mostly behind wooden paneling which we had to take of.  We worked solidly all evening - to no avail.  We gave up and had a bite to eat and then went to bed.  Then all of a sudden we heard a gushing sound and realised that the water was flowing through the pipes again.  What a relief. Since then I don't think this spanner has been used but it did its job that day.

There has been an air of sadness around today remembering the people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena bombing a year ago.  Neils girlfriend Rachael lost two of her friends that day.   RIP Chloe and Liam.

Steps today - 7,256