F…f…freezing!

Are you stuck inside your house feeling cabin fever with every passing hour and knowing exactly how the Prisoners of Cell Block H feel?

Stockpiled your bread, eggs and milk yet?

Eaten that loaf of bread, toasted with hot butter and drank a gallon of tea?

Is hot chocolate suddenly looking like a great idea even though normally you would not touch it with a barge pole?

Got 4 pairs of socks on?

Found your hot water bottle?

Moved your chair right by the radiator?

Has your car/van/mode of transport gone sideways down a hill? Scared the bejesus out of you and made you vow to not go out again in this weather, not unless it’s a case of life or death and in that event – your ordering a taxi!

Have you watched A Touch Of Frost on the Tv (in case your not as sad as I am you will find it on ITV1 at 4pm on weekdays – a full length episode so your not wondering who did it for the rest of your life – you will know by 6pm!)

Do you long for the balmy days of rain, rain and yet more rain – because at least that was relatively warm and just wet, not icy? Are you cursing the day you said ‘I am so sick of this rain and grey sky! It’s time we had some sunshine now! I don’t mind the cold!’

Ahhh, yes… remember when that little chestnut flew out of your mouth? Well, now you mind the cold, don’t you!

Every service known to man has broken down… From your bin collection to your treatment in an A&E should you fall over and break your arm – what was (only!!) a 3 hour wait to get that arm plastered before has now possibly become an overnight camp-out. Be advised to take your own flask of soup as your going to be hanging around a while and the ladies of the WI have not ventured into the cafe for a while – you’ll get nothing at all from that little shop! Indeed, that arm could repair itself the amount of time your sat there waiting for the plastering nurse to call your name and lead you to the bucket of odd white stuff and the old rags they use to cover up your lovely arm to the elbow.

What has also broken down is the school system. And this is the whole reason for my posting this morning…

Firstly, to all you lovely clients that had booked this week and could not make it. Please don’t feel the need to apologise for it. I understand.

I am indeed, extremely thankful to those of you that took the time to actually get in touch and tell me you could not make it. There is nothing worse than me sat here waiting on you only for you not to show up! I appreciate the time you have taken to let me know, even the gent who attempted valiantly to get here only to call an hour before his booking  to admit defeat! Thank you for calling me and telling me. I hope you got back home safely.

In these circumstances, cancellations are common and understandable.  Nobody is going to rant at you for deciding to not venture out and cancel instead.

There is always next week (she says with her fingers crossed – I have seen the weather report for Sunday night!!) There is always the week after – In short, there is always another day so don’t worry at all about it. Stay home and remain without broken bones or a crashed or stuck in a ditch, car.

From my end of things. I have a small son – that is no news to my regulars. The pipes at his school have burst so whereas most schools seem to be back to normal today in Swansea, his remains firmly shut. This is hampering my ability to take incalls. It is not impossible – ring to ask but be prepared for a time that suits me not you. I have to get him to the childminder in order to see you.  My hands are tied, I can’t do anything about it. A bit of appreciation please for my situation and know I will do my best to see you, it is not a problem, it is simply a case of extra arrangements have to be made and that takes a bit of extra time.

Wait to see me! You never know, the wait might be worth it and the whole experience better for it. Anticipation – always a great thing!

I am not driving to outcalls late at night until this weather improves. Nothing is worth my car ending up upside down in a valley someplace – apologies to the nice gent from Pembrokeshire who requested a 9pm outcall – I won’t take the risk Sir. I am happy to come along in more friendly weather…

If you do catch me and see me, I have plenty of hot coffee and milk! My milkman it seems can battle through Siberian winds and North Pole like ice to deliver my 2 pints of semi-skimmed every other day! He’s a tough cookie!

I will warm you up in ways you can’t think about and send you along your way with aglow inside, think of me like your bowl of Ready Brek!

Keep warm and watch Jack Frost! I am off for a cup of that hot chocolate – hmmmm.

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