Washday Blues.

So...we are in a cold snap at the moment, in fact some places are nearing record coldest temperatures for May. We had 16 mls of rain the day before yesterday, which was welcome, but for a few days now it has been cloudy and that is not good when you rely solely on solar power.Today was my first full day off in 6 days and I needed to do some washing. It never used to be such a wearing job all those years ago in suburbia when you could just fill the washer, turn it on and press a button. I lamented those times today.I daren't risk draining the batteries so filled 'Geronimo' the generator with petrol and started him and connected up the washer, then walked up to the water tank and turned two taps before filling the washer, switching it on and then pressing the start button.It was ten minutes into the cycle when I noticed 'Geronimo' making a strange rattling sound. Did it need oil? I paused the washer and went to investigate. I turned the generator off and checked the oil but the level was fine. I moved the generator a bit to make sure it was level and went to start it again but that is when things got worse...the starter cord was loose, wouldn't retract, and I couldn't restart the generator.Will was away at the Cheese Factory as the shop is now open again at weekends. I was on my own.I was so fed up. It was just too much so I just gave up and decided to wait until Will got home and leave it for him to fix.I busied myself tidying up inside but was still mad that I couldn't do the things I needed to do and lamenting how simple things often end up so flippin' complicated. I hated feeling helpless so I resolved to go and see if I could fix it myself. I went out to have a look. I could see the starter cord housing had three bolts so I found the right tool and took them off and carefully removed the cord housing but that is when things got even worse. The spring inside the starter cord housing exploded out and I was left looking at about ten different components, springs, bolts, and metal levers, lying on the floor. It was all too much and I gave up again.I stomped back inside into the warmth to sit and sulk but got to thinking about the chat I had had with my brother last night when he told me he had fixed the radiator on my Mum's car and had to remove the whole front of the car to do it."I don't know how you do it," I had said, "I wouldn't know where to begin."He had said he didn't really know either but said "You just have to have a go, don't you?"We are made of the same stuff. He wouldn't let things defeat him so I got up and went out to look at the generator again.It was like a fiddly, greasy jigsaw but slowly I began to see where things went. I eventually managed to refit the metal coil to the housing, after some effort, but then discovered that I had fitted it the wrong way and that the cord would not retract the right way so had to take it apart again. I fitted the coil the correct way and was just tying off the cord after threading it through the hole when the whole thing exploded apart again.I had to walk away again in despair...but took a deep breath and eventually went back to try again. I fitted the coil the wrong way again on the next attempt so had to back track once more but finally I got everything in place, tied off the cord, got it wound on again and carefully refitted it back onto 'Geronimo'.The generator started first pull. It was a flippin' miracle!Remember how lucky you are next time you just press that button to start your washer. Don't take it for granted.