No, Acme, the electricians are not *really* finished. Wires dangle from every connection in the work area, waiting for the carpenter to repair the walls and ceilings; the plug receptacles in the sitting room are dead again for no discernible reason; and half the circuit breakers in the panel have misleading labels, as the circuits have been rewired and now cover different parts of the house. Also, the range and its exhaust hood have yet to be installed, a project that will involve both a gas-fitter and an electrician.

We must also summon back the plumber, as the sink in the second-best bathroom drains very slowly despite several doses of Drano. This condition makes it possible to see that water from the new supply lines laid in when the leaking pipe was discovered contains grit. Although the sink drains so slowly that we have not been able to flush those lines as thoroughly as a plumber might want us to, I believe that the water should be running clear after nearly two weeks of use.

Mayhem begins again tomorrow, when Tony the carpenter returns to start hanging drywall. Sean the contractor allowed as how we probably have three more weeks (Three! More! Weeks!) to wait before we can count on making tea in our new kitchen.