For over a week the gas men have been toiling, pneumatic drills screaming, diggers crunching, compression units whining, beaters thumping. But in all the noisy chaos that engulfs our small cul-de-sac and the streets beyond, the smiles and patient endeavour of the men working so hard in the freezing weather have made us grateful. And their wonderfully uplifting bright red and yellow working clothes - the yellow perfectly matching the colour of the new plastic gas pipes being installed - pleases my artistic soul.
No matter that my deafness is now worse on account of the noise. No matter that my chilblains are worse because we were without heating for one day. No matter that the daffodils in the front lawn are the worse for wear having been dug up and then replaced. No matter that our beautiful tree may find it hard to blossom, its fine roots having been severed to get at old pipes. Our house has new gas pipes safely installed and the red and yellow men still brighten up our streets with their efficiency, hard work, smiles and radiant colour!
