Oh yes I can

In my long and varied career most people have come to the conclusion that I can do just about anything if I put my mind to it…with the sole exception of Badger, my current husband.

He has spent over 20 years working on the basis that I am mentally 6 and totally unable to do anything at all.

Life has taken a hand in this and put him out of action following a stroke. This has lead to him changing his mind because, obviously, if anything needs doing now, there is only me to do it.

Yesterday I proved it again. Now, I have been caravanning with Badger for two decades or more but it has never crossed his mind that apart from emptying the portaloo,[image error] I have changed enormous gas bottles quite regularly. Our cooker in the house kitchen works on bottled gas because in French villages we don’t have mains gas. I have never been allowed to touch the cooker gas bottle even though I am on first-name terms with the machine [image error]

When I was making dinner the gas ran out and I issued one question and two commands…

“Are the gas bottles in the caravan or the outhouse? Sit there. Do NOT come into the kitchen.”

[image error]14kg gas bottles

Finding my favourite adjustable wrench I removed the old bottle and carried it out to the back, putting it into the hatchback so I can replace it on Monday. Fetching in the full one was going to be slightly more awkward as it is heavier and has to be manoeuvred around the back yard, wood store, parked caravan etc. With my usual lateral thinking I fetched the sack truck with which I often move the portaloo when on campsites. [image error] Yes, I am trained to mind my back when lifting heavy things so I tilted the gas bottle forwards, slid the front of the trolley under the raised edge and let it down. Bingo! Bottle now on wheels!

 

I will admit that over an obstacle course it is easier to pull the sack truck than push it so I may have looked odd walking backwards around the backyard but the bottle arrived in the kitchen, was attached to the cooker and life restored to functional normality.

It might just be that a minor miracle has happened – Badger is beginning to see that I am quite capable if left to work things out for myself and not yelled at. Hoorah!

[image error]