Washing and Re-Washing

I was just reading about the Oscars. If it had been up to me I'd have given the top awards to the same people and the same movies -- so good results all around, I think, if a bit predictable. 

A ghost, or something, seized control of our laundry machine yesterday morning. I started a load of wash around 10 a.m. and at about noon I realized the machine wasn't running anymore. I went to empty it and it had stopped mid-cycle, flashing "Error F:13" on the screen. (Googling now, I see that this relates to "a faulty sensor within the dryer heater assembly.") I didn't know at what point the cycle had stopped, so I restarted the whole thing and just washed the clothes again. Somehow, though, I must have programmed it to run TWO cycles, because by mid-afternoon it was still washing! Those poor clothes! I stopped it manually, spun the clothes and hung them up to dry -- and now I suppose our washing machine needs servicing. Argh!

Add that to the other things going on in our flat -- an evolving plan to remodel the bathroom and repair and repaint the hallway walls, damaged by a slow leak in the shower; a plan to replace our range (or "hob," as the British call it) as well as the kitchen floor; repairs to a leak over the living room window; and repainting the dining room ceiling, damaged by a leak upstairs. This place is going to be chaos in the coming months.

We were feeling hints of spring yesterday. The temperature got almost up to 60º F and the sun was out, more or less. We took Olga to Fortune Green and the cemetery, where I shot that picture above of those amazing crocuses.

Be prepared for lots of barking. I told Dave I was going to post this video and he said, "Ugh. My hair!"

Here's Olga at the cemetery. When I showed Dave this photo, he said, "She looks huge! Like a horse!"

So we had a good if muddy walk, and when we came home I opened up the house to let in some fresh air. It felt great to get those windows open, even for just half an hour or so. I feel like I've been living in a hermetically sealed box for months.

Today is our last day of Covid isolation, though both of us feel well. Like I've said, I think I detected my infection rather late so I'm probably well past the infective period now. I clarified my absence with my boss yesterday afternoon and she said she's still healthy, so that's a good sign that maybe I didn't infect everyone I work with. I'll find out more tomorrow.