First, most important of all I should consider myself fortunate that I wasn't injured. I arose early that morning in darkness and spotted something on the carpet that shouldn't be there. I switched on a light and discovered it was wooden paddle from my living room fan.
The evening before I thought the fan was making an unusual amount of noise. But I was engrossed in a movie, plus I watch TV in the dark. So I didn't investigate.
However just before going to bed I'd walked under that fan to close my blinds. I was sleepy and didn't look up or around.
After discovering the paddle I noticed from my loft that a nail was coming loose at the ceiling as well. I could have been killed!
I have a 30 ft cathedral ceiling at its height but where the fan is located its 20 ft attached to a 6 ft rod.
My financial advisor gave me the name of an electrician to come and fix/replace it. The man told me the rod could remain and be renailed but the wooden paddle was unfixable. The fan needed replacing.
I inquired if he could get me one and I'd pay for his time. He replied that he'd done this dance before with other customers who were left unhappy with his choice. So the problem was thrown back in my lap!
He measured the fan and sent me out to find a replacement that would fit the rod. I went to both Home Depot & Lowe's. I learned the fan was an off size and a discontinued brand. Plus none (at either store) would fit the rod or the match the decor of my house. Now I was truly frustrated!
However in town was a fan shop. But after the back-to-back hurricanes of 2004 I had such a negative experience I swore never to do business with them. But as time passed it was getting hotter and I relented.
I bought the cheapest fan there; one that stood out from the rest. It went perfectly with the color scheme of my home. The wooden paddles were wide and frond shaped. The fan looked exotic like something you'd see in Shanghai or Bombay.
And I bought a new rod. I was given the name of an electrician to install it. I was informed he might need to rent a scaffold due to my high ceiling which would add to the cost.
I phoned the electrician and left my info on his answering machine. Time was passing and I wasn't receiving a call back. So I contacted the store and told them I wanted to find my own electrician since this one wasn't interested in my business.
Almost immediately the electrician called and then came over to measure. Thankfully he didn't need to rent a scaffold.
My friend Irene (now deceased) was from the UK and used to say that my home with its big stone fireplace, loft, and cathedral ceiling reminded her of an English country house. I imagined anyone residing in one a kindred spirit; someone who had traveled to distant lands such as I have, with many foreign souvenirs as I do; along with taste that reflects this.
My new fan fits both me and my home to perfection!
