Life must be filled up

The water board chaps are tarring outside my house. There are two builders' vans in the drive. I can't possibly get my car out and even walking up to the shop meant negotiating about a dozen pieces of large machinery. Back at the ranch, all the doors are open, it's freezing cold and I stupidly didn't move the kettle somewhere I can use it. Never mind, it's brightened up and the sheep are sunbathing peacefully. And I have ( a new toy )

When I left the house at eight o'clock this morning, my kitchen looked something like this.



When I returned at half past twelve, it looked like this ( photos )

Today a small but very heavy object was removed from my house. So heavy that it had to be danced down the garden path. It was one of these: