Scrape

and burn. An early start to meet the Schornsteinfeger/ chimney sweep at the new flat. The old green stove is ok to use. Finished scraping the paint off the one M started. Had a market trip in the middle. Finished the first door and started on the mini door in the kitchen. It was the worst one so far. The old paint stank and could only be scraped off in one continuous motion. Burned my hand crossing in front of the hot paint stripper.  Eventually finished at 7pm. The door handles in the flat are all original. There are a couple that we need to remove the paint from. I really like the style of them. 

It was the first time that we have been there late and there was a warm welcoming glow in the flat. I started to be able to imagine it being home. It sounds strange since we bought the place but the doing of repairs or painting somehow gives an emotional bond with a place. On our evening walks I love the light at the moment, it's not dark but all the flats have their lights on. Almost like mini advent calendars. It feels both autumnal and cosy. As if people are all cooried in with a book. (It's a Scottish word meaning snuggle up/in)

 The warm autumn weather is confusing my cold Scottish brain. It looks like autumn but the temperature is like summer. I love the punk horse chestnuts dropping mini jaggy bombs clattering onto the streets below, banging off cars and the pavement. Releasing the shiny brown contents onto the ground. It's not warm enough in Scotland for this, you have to prise them open yourself. 
The M&Ms came to pick me up and we popped to our nearest pub for an Aperol spritz/beer. Walked past the pizza place to order takeaway, mini M stayed to pick it up. Walked yo the bank to get a small suitcase of cash to pay the dishwasher repair people. Scoffed Pizza and went to bed at 9.30.