The washing machine is dead…

Long live the new washing machine… if we ever find one.  Last Monday, after 7 years of loyal service, the washing machine repair man, consigned our washing machine to the classification of, past it, kaput, an ex washing machine. It has worked extremely hard over the years. As you would expect with a family of five, it has seen lots of work. In fact, I am sure that if the washing machine had a tongue, after some of the marathon washing sessions it has had, the tongue would be hanging out and it would be gasping for breath.

The expired machine is a Hotpoint. The washing machine repair man, having quizzed Tricia as to why our machines are always knackered, asked ‘exactly how much washing do you do’. On being told, he recommended a Bosch. Because apparently Bosch make more robust washing machines. He said Hotpoint machines are only good for 5 of 6 loads a week. Whilst we appreciated the advice, the mind does boggle. No salesman is likely to say, ‘great washing machine, just don’t use it too much’. It would be like buying a new car, and being told not to drive it too much. Anyhow, Tricia and I started the search for a new washing machine, which should be simple you would think. Except that, like humans, who have evolved over time to be taller, washing machines seem to be taller since we last bought one. Most now seem to be 85cm high. Whereas the hole in the kitchen where the washing machine lives, is 84.7cm high. So, that seems to rule out about 80% of all washing machines. The useful item we found on the expired washing machine was a ‘time saver’ button, which, as far as we could tell, reduced the length of time that a wash lasted without affecting the cleanliness of the items when they came out. It seems not many have a time saver button now either. It also seems, that in the age of the internet, you can’t just go and buy a washing machine and take it home with you, as they don’t hold much in stock in these large electrical warehouse type shops.

I also made the mistake of  looking at Which reports, which seemed to criticise some machines for not being good at washing, or rinsing, or spinning. The thing is, the people at Which are obsessed with, and make a living from, assessing things like washing machines, and there is a tendency to believe the reviews… even if the difference between a rinsed, and well rinsed item is negligible to a human. 

So, at present Tricia is doing runs to and from her parents using their washing machine, whilst we dither, cogitate, and get frustrated in trying to make what should be a simple choice.

The weekend was manic as ever. Tricia was catering for a kids party on Saturday, and providing a buffet meal for a 100 on Saturday night. She also seemed to have to make about a million cakes last week. Hence, Saturday was hectic with all the food prep. Tricia employed Nikki and Robbie for the day, along with a chap called Clayton who has helped before. They also waited at the function. To make schedules complicated I had agreed sometime previously to reprise my role as Rene Artois at a local event on Saturday evening. Tricia was pleased with how the catering went, and got loads of excellent feedback.

Sunday, there was a mountain of washing up, and packing up of all the catering stuff. I managed to sit and watch ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’ in the afternoon, after all the work, I needed a sit down. It was a recent version with Martin Clunes in the main role, and I thought he played it very well. I was very tired on Sunday evening, and was in bed before 10pm. I saw something of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, which Tricia, Nikki and Robbie were watching, but which really should be called ‘Britain’s Got Very Little Talent, and loads of Idiots who think they have Talent’. Apparently this passes for popular TV viewing.

My bike is in for service this week. Which is a shame, because the weather is lovely, and I should be taking advantage of it.

Oh well. Mid Year Resolution…. Must do less, and Rest more. Oh, and get a new washing machine.