vilakins: Vila with stars superimposed (yin-yang cats (Jasmin and Ashley))
Nico ([personal profile] vilakins) wrote2010-02-18 04:36 pm
Entry tags:

Mixed bag

Bad: Our sole heatpump (aircon) has just broken down. There's a block in the pump and it's leaking. Fujitsu won't repair it and it's not covered under warranty so we'd have to pay unless we get the installer to do it for free. I've left a message on his phone. In the meantime I'm sitting in front of a fan on full while I dry off from the exertion of cleaning out the car and doing some packing in the heat and humidity (75%).

Good: we're going on holiday tomorrow for a week. Taupo is at a higher altitude and will be drier. Yay.

Bad: It's only a week and I will have to come back here. I will have to think of ways of not thinking about this.

Good: I just picked up four books from the library to take with me as well as the China Mieville I'm reading. That should be enough what with all the stuff we'll do there. I will pack the Book Seat anyway (we're driving so we can take things like Book Seats).

Bad: We take the cubs to the cattery tomorrow for their first time away from here. Woe.

Good: Even if we're coming home to sauna city, we'll be seeing them again. That's the best part of coming home again. :-)

[Edit] It may be 75% humidity outside, but our sensors say that's it's 100% in here due to all the water the heatpump put in the air; no wonder I was like limp spaghetti. Greg's looking at it now, and the installer is ringing us tonight.

[identity profile] bigdamnxenafan.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
Ugh sorry to hear about the heatpump! Unfortunate timing on that.

Yay for holiday! Safe travels and have fun!

Hopefully the cubs will see the cattery as a grand adventure. I know you worry about them though *hugs*

[identity profile] kindkit.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
I googled Taupo and it looks beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and some nice comfortable weather.

[identity profile] nautile26.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
This February seems to have been even more humid than usual. Blessedly, we seem to be having a few cooler, less humid days to end the week.

Oh, holiday in Taupo sounds very, very good. Do enjoy yourself!

[identity profile] vandonovan.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
Icky heat, blaaaugh, that is failtastic. Glda you're going away on holiday for a week to avoid it, but ughhhh, coming home to more ick is definitely not fun. D: *hugs* hope you have a grand time anyway.
ext_50187: (sun)

[identity profile] jomacmouse.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Woe about both the aircon and the separation from the kitties. Crossing fingers that the aircon can be fixed without further trouble. Enjoy the holiday, both of you.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
I cried a little (behind my sunglasses) every time I left my other cats there, and I probably will tomorrow. I hope they'll enjoy it. Tessa loved her taut little hammock and Claudia always came home with the idea that anything was fair game to climb on. Jasmin already thinks that, so no change there, I think. They'll be in good hands; the place is run by our vets.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
It is beautiful! I'm so looking forward to relaxing and having fun. And ooh, there's a wonderful restaurant just a block away from where we're staying, one of the best I've been to here. I plan at least one dinner there.

[identity profile] luinielle.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Hope you have a fantastic vacation!!

Sorry to hear about your heatpump - hopefully it will be fixed by the time you return home.

It's always hard leaving the kits. I'm sure they'll have fun at the cattery, and as you said, seeing them again when you come home will be the best part. :o)

Which China Mieville book are you reading? I've had a request in at our library for his 'King Rat' book - but I'm 43rd on the list... I keep checking the used bookstores and hope I'll find a copy there.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
This summer does seem worse than most. I usually love summer, but it's been so uncomfortable; the slightest physical effort is horrible. My karate instructor rang up and asked where I was and I said I'd be back in autumn. :-P

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sure I will. I hate packing though and usually forgetting something really important.

I will have to think about seeing the cats again instead of the weather here. Napier is just as bad so I think I'll miss out on the Art Deco this time and stay up on the plateau.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
According to the manual, it may be just unable to cope with the humidity. WTH? They sell these things in Auckland; what do they expect?

I usually ring the next day to check on the cats, and they're always fine. I worry needlessly, but I can't help it.

[identity profile] entropy-house.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
*hugs* for the ick and *glee* for the good. I hope you and the kitties have a wonderful holiday.

[identity profile] kalinda001.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
Have a great vacation! Hopefully your heatpump gets sorted out quickly.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
I'm reading 'Iron Council', the third I've read of his (the other being his other Bas-Lag ones, 'Perdido Street Station' and 'The Scar'). I also picked up 'City and the City' today. The other books are mysteries, light holiday reading. I'm sure I won't need that many, but it's better to have too many than to run out of books.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I'll be happy when I'm there. I hate the packing and driving, not to mention leaving the cats.

[identity profile] entropy-house.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
*nods* It always takes forever to get ready & to get there, and then it's over too soon! You really needed a change of place/pace. :^)

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
So will I. Apparently the 75% is misreported. It's been 100% the last two days and the heatpump probably just can't cope. I'll find out when the guy rings.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
I do, even if I'm not working.

I think I'll go and sit outside now it's evening; I need to dry off and cool down.

[identity profile] luinielle.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
I started reading 'Perdido Street Station' and got sidetracked by another book. I'll definitely get back to it and finish - I, unfortunately, can't read several books at one time, I get too confused. And completely agree that it's better to have too many books than not enough. :o)

[identity profile] vjezkova.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! For me, reading about the conditions there at your place sound unbelievable. Like a greenhouse, or my granny´s ancient laundry.
But even with those bad things on your list, I believe you will have the most relaxing and wonderful holiday! A week can behave like a month if you want:-)! Make the most of it*************************

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
I prefer to read one book at a time too, though I often have a "background" book which I own to read when I'm out of library books.

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
Apparently it's been 100% outside for the last two days. No wonder I'm wrung out.

I will! A holiday with no housework to do or anything I have to do, yay!
ext_50187: (sun)

[identity profile] jomacmouse.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
That is *very* odd. It may even be Just Plain Wrong.

You love them. That is all that is needed to know :D

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
It turned out to be overdue for maintenance--which we didn't know about, not having been put on a contract--but both have been done now. :-)

They'll think we've abandoned them though. Claudia and Tessa got used to it, but this is the cubs' first time.
ext_50187: (cat)

[identity profile] jomacmouse.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 08:33 am (UTC)(link)
That's good. Was the maintenance bit extra? Or is it part of the deal from when you bought it, whether or not you knew that?

They will be very happy to see you again on your return. I hope. Sam, our dog before Rusty, went to a particular kennel if we couldn't take him with us, and tended to sulk for a day or two on our return. (Rusty was our spoiled darling, by contrast - no kennels for him, only holidays where dogs could go too, or me or a neighbour looking after him.)

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 10:26 am (UTC)(link)
It's extra, but we should have been signed up for it and weren't. Oh well, it was quickly fixed, contrary to all my expectations.

I don't want to leave the cubs for neighbours to look after as they could wander; you can't confine cats and they'd want the company. A cattery is safer for them (and was for Claudia and Tessa who were very gregarious). Vic is OK to be fed here as he's always been happy to stay around home and got really stressed when he was put in a cattery the one time we tried it. He still misses us, but he's fine.

[identity profile] astrogirl2.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 03:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Good luck with the aircon, and have a terrific vacation!

[identity profile] vilakins.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
He came and fixed it last night. Yay! Only an hour later it was so much better.

I will! When I've had this coffee, we're taking the cats in. :-( They give us a good reason to come home though. :-)