26th September 2006

A team of “plumbers” arrived today to replace the faulty washing machine. I am impressed. It has only been a week since we had our first visit. After much contemplation from the team a plan was hatched to remove the old machine and then bring in the new one. Complex I know but this crack team took a mere two hours to figure it out. Unfortunately large American top-loaders into small Jamaican hovels will not go. Not without extensive carpentry to remove door frames.

During the remodeling of our cave, Lady of Leisure, displaying a new found knowledge of all things DIY tried to convince one of the team to check the fuse box as an increasing number of sockets were refusing to work. It has been spreading over the course of last night like a plug plague. A long discussion ensued, like conversational tennis where LoL attempted to convey what she meant to an increasing bewildered “spark” during which time LoL began to doubt her omniscience. Eventually the problem was diagnosed. Jamaican refer to it as a “breaker box”, though whether that was enough to allow them to fix the situation remains to be seen. Everything appears ok at the minute, but I’m not naïve enough to believe it can be fixed in one go.

New washing machine duly installed and doorway completely reconstituted, a test was initiated. New washing machine does not work and there is much to much work involved taking back down the door again. The team left for re-inforcements never to be seen again. This one will run and run.