There’s a Vibe in my Soup V
There are two members of the cast who are feeling rather left out of the action. And they are making their presence felt in the life of the Meddlesome Wife.
With fanfares, if you must, we introduce to you Ancient Solid Fuel Aga and Septic Tank (keep quiet Wood-burning Stove – your opportunity will come soon... )
Meddlesome Wife has always rather prided herself on being a little glamorous. She never used to be seen out of the front door without the full slap on. She kept in touch with fashion (adapting it slightly with the passage of time– she is a realist!)
She was quite happy doing most of the gardening, including that oddly male preserve, mowing the grass. She earned an honest crust torturing teenagers. She did the bulk of the housework. She was even prepared to take the dogs for a walk - if the weather was gloriously sunny (about twice a year in this part of the world.)
However, there were two tasks she did not do on principle: deal with the sulky, Ancient Solid Fuel Aga and grapple with Septic Tank and its related plumbing.
But now, as well as the sinister digestive bubblings with which our Hero must contend, she is hearing the sinister bubblings of the plumbing.
And she almost let Ancient Aga out.
Meddlesome Wife, at first, pretends she doesn’t see a certain unpleasantness oozing from the drain into the innocent snow. She hopes the dogs and our Hero don’t notice it either.
She then, secretly, whooshes some wonderful enzyme that will eat-everything-and-is-kind-to-Septic-Tank down one of the loos.
She keeps her fingers crossed.
But it is minus seven degrees outside and even the most active enzymes are going to curtail their enthusiasm at that temperature.
She tries to reduce the water going down into the system (or ooze into the garden) by scuttling under the trees with buckets of dishwater. She really does not want to have to face the truth and get the rods out to clear that drain which leads to Septic Tank …
The soup bubbles on Ancient Aga.
Our Hero is fed (after a fashion).
The snow falls.
The temperature falls.
And Meddlesome Wife forgets to top up Ancient Aga.
Ancient Aga is almost out in the morning when our Hero arises who, with a weary sigh, goes out to gather fuel.
Meddlesome Wife feels a little inadequate.
I suspect she will have to be out with the rods tomorrow.
Glamour? Hah!
