Here we are, back in Hastings after spending longer than planned for Christmas in Surrey due to floods, wind, rain and other assorted Acts of God.
We were lucky to get up to Surrey in the first place – most train services were either not running or severely curtailed due to the weather. Fortunately, a wonderful friend offered to drive all the way down to us and then deliver us (and our cat, Sandy) to my mother’s house – such a relief as I couldn’t bear to think of her not having company over Christmas, so I probably would have ended up spending a day trying to get up there by assorted and probably unsafe means.
Great though it is to be home, we have come back to a few problems, the roof is leaking in the bathroom, so everything is soggy and the whole flat smells damp and miserable. I turned the heating on full blast last night (dreading the bill) and today I have opened up all the windows, in the hope that the combination of heat and fresh air will make it feel more homely again. The flat is quite high up so we will need to have scaffolding put up for someone to be able to get up to the roof and fix it – and I expect that will have to wait for a while. In the meantime, there is another gale forecast for tomorrow. Joy.
On another matter, I have news relating to the closing of the gallery. It still will be closing, but we have had a rather lovely offer from another friend – and I will post more about that in the New Year – but you can stop feeling so sorry for me for a bit — and I will stop whining about our current misfortune! Hope that sounds like a good deal to you?
Thank you all so much for your supportive comments and shared experiences re the closing of the gallery though – it really has helped to remind us that we are not the only ones going through such times, and that others have been through similar and come out smiling on the other side.
Now, forgive me, but I am off to go and play with my Christmas presents. I have a couple of lovely books (Pearl Lowe’s Vintage Crafts and a comprehensive sewing manual) plus a lot of stunning French General fabric – and they desperately need me to go and gloat over them as soon as possible!
painterswife 
Welcome home and Happy New Year. Wishing you have a great one and all your present problems get themselves sorted, most especially that leaky roof. Been there and it’s no fun at all. 🙂
Hoping 2014 brings you lots of lovely surprises and wonderful adventures/ XX
The word “Phoenix” seems appropriate, even if you’re rising from the damp rather than from the fire. (I could make another pun out of rising damp there… no, stop.) Glad you’re feeling happier and that things are looking up. Have fun with your pressies, girl!
Just call me Rigsby! Am stroking the fabrics as we speak…