Bad housekeeping

In theory our fridge doesn't need to be defrosted; it defrosts itself automatically. I have no idea how this is supposed to work: magic, maybe? In practice, ice accumulates, and drips onto the things in the fridge, and eventually I get tired of little cold water surprises when I reach for a storage box or a pot of yoghourt, and then I defrost the fridge. Since in theory the fridge doesn't need to be defrosted, there is no mechanism to do the job: I use a washing up bowl, hot water and a certain amount of bad language. This is slow, but ultimately effective.

During the thaw, the contents of the fridge wait patiently on all available surfaces. Only right now, there are fewer available surfaces than usual, because the builders have ripped out the corner unit to gain access to the damp wall. Never mind, the top of the freezer is a good flat surface - and I've only had to move everything off it twice, to open the lid and take something out of the freezer.

Tomorrow we have guests: desperance and klwilliams have bravely declared that they don't mind building works in progress, and are coming to dinner and overnight. There are probably other things I could do which would contribute more to their comfort.

So perhaps this isn't the ideal time. But who am I kidding? There is no ideal time to defrost the fridge. It is emptier now than it has been for some time, and tomorrow groceries will be delivered, and it will fill up again.

Anyway, it's too late to change my mind now.