An unexpected surprise...

Eurovision was a letdown last night. Russia deserved to win but if the eastern bloc (as was) continues to vote for each other the UK will never be up there with the leading countries and there's little point participating. Mind you, our song was not too good either.

In the old days (ha!) the songs were chosen regionally and voted on by a panel. Now you can text your choice but sadly the portion of the great British public that can text also has crap taste in music. That's essential for a Eurovision winner but it's obviously the wrong type of crap.

... woke to cold water all round. Large pot of water set on stove in kitchen for washing up, profuse apologies to guests at the ready. Thinking - when I was up there (in loft) some months ago there was a switch plus lead into the tank. Two years ago, on energy audit, I was told this was an old fashioned immersion booster to top up the heat of the water from our boiler.

I went up and switched it on expecting a flash and a bang followed by no electricity for anybody on top of no hot water. Nothing much happened so went back to kitchen to cook breakfast for guests.

British Gas engineer arrived 20 minutes later - looked at faulty part, rubbed chin, shook head - 'unusual type of thermocouple' 90% certain he didn't have one on van (he was right). Showed me old one - broken (his colleague broke it I reckon on the service three days ago). Can't get one until Tuesday, can fit Wednesday. THREE DAYS!!!! I said I needed hot water and that I'd tried an old immersion heater once active in the system and nothing had happened - switched on tap to show him - INSTANT HOT WATER! So we had back up after all that. Most guests came to breakfast understanding at lack of hot water but had they tried - one did - they'd have found it hotter than ever.

OK - I know it costs a fortune to heat a tank of water with one of these. But at least there's hot water for the period until the boiler is fixed and it's a chance to replace our knackered old boiler with a spanking new energy efficient model - so enhancing the Avalon Brighton's green credentials. I'm not gonna leave it on 24 hours a day either. Just 6am - 10am and 4pm - 8pm.

Another moral here - NEVER GET YOUR BOILER SERVICED IN THE WEEK LEADING UP TO A BANK OR PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

It's a stunning day out there and we're off to the seafront. The last day of Brighton Festival and Fringe should have some treats in store. There's a whole street given over to human statues, clowns with microphones in their mouths so you hear them chewing loudly, guys spiking cabbages onto their helmets etc.

At least the three dogs we have staying can get a nice walk as it's currently dry but the forecast is for biblical scale downpours.

Fluffy seagull chicks appeared on chimney at rear of Avalon. Cute now - pain in few weeks when they whine continually for heaps of food needed for their growth from sparrow size to turkey size in 6 weeks.