In other news

There was a small panic yesterday when I realised that the car had just had a birthday - the third one - meaning it needed to have an MOT certificate.  The day before yesterday... this lead to something of a panic this morning as I rang around the local garages, and managed to get an instant appointment - phew!  It passed, thankfully, which shouldn't have been in any doubt given that it's three years old...  Just glad it's sorted anyway.

Conservatory news is still on hold - we talked to our neighbours about the project, and while they are not opposed in principle they are concerned about us fixing the structure to the wall of their extension.  I'm sure it's not an insurmountable problem, and the contractors are coming round to meet with them next week to discuss their concerns and hopefully reassure them that actually the conservatory will be protecting their wall rather than putting it in any danger.  If we can't get over this issue then it's not a show-stopper - we can build the thing free-standing instead of fixing it to the wall, it'll be a bit smaller and it'll cost a bit more, but not so much that it threatens the whole thing.  We just need to get the decision made so that the guys know what they are doing when they come to lay the base in just over a week's time.  I called the contractors and they said they'd come and visit the neighbours, so I ran back next door and handed over my phone so that they could agree a time... hopefully there will be an answer on Monday or Tuesday .

Still frantically trying to create a birthday present for No 2 stepdaughter... we're off to visit tomorrow and I am still working on my creation...