Rainy Saturday

Most of our neighbours don't have clothes dryers - electricity is so expensive here that running one could bankrupt the average wage earner. That and often buildings aren't wired for anything that heavy duty. We have one but I took a tip from Cowbell and on nice days start to dry things outside then bring them in for a final 20 minutes. Plus, of course, I have Nellie's Dryer Balls.

Given that the forecast is calling for rain the next five days I'm not sure how our neighbour at the back is going to get her clothes dry.

And earlier Doralong was asking about today's lunch: well Laurent makes the best egg salad sandwiches in the world. And on rainy days there's nothing quite like egg salad on whole wheat toast and a big mug of Orange Pekoe tea. Guess you can put the boy in Italy but his Irish peasant roots will eventually show.

12 gennaio - San Modesto

Nellie's DryerBalls

As opposed to Nellie's Wetter... never mind.

From an North American point of view there's a problem here with clothes dryers - okay there are several problems here with clothes dryers.

1. They have a small capacity (but then so do the washers)
   
   
2. They don't seem to get clothes completely dry
   
   
3. You have to empty the flimsy plastic water tray after every load
   
   
4. It can take up to 2 hours to dry (sort of) a small load
   
   
5. Electricity costs a fortune.

So in true Diplomatic Spouse fashion some of us have been voicing our concern - okay, whining about the problem.

Voilà the answer: Nellie's DryerBalls (I'm not making this up you know!)

An environmentally friendly alternative to fabric softeners according to the publicity on the packaging (recycled cardboard) and the website. And the website includes a slideshow of the oh-so-50s June-Cleaver-are-you-watching cartoon from the back of the package.

I can hardly wait to try them. God help me I'm turning into Laurent's housekeeper!

17 Ottobre - San Ignazio d'Antiochia