Here we are, the first post of 2010 – the year we finish our house (stop smirking).
First up was playing in the snow and having snow days at work (or not at work!).
Brill if nippy. We had ice on the inside of the windows for quite a while, but we now have working radiators (uosatirs anyway). Schveet and hot.
Secondly we bought a new bed. Having had a brilliant Christmas at both parents’ and enjoyed luxurious beds, we were shocked to land our backsides on the dipfest that was our nackered, tied-together-with-underwear timber frame bed. So with some Christmas money in hand we headed for ikea and bought the one we wanted... which for a change was also the cheapest... wooooop.
An evening was spent putting that together and good night sleeps have been had by all (both).
The first ‘real’ job we did was the breakfast bar. We had ummed and ahhhed for a while about whether to put the breakfast bar in as it might make the kitchen rather awkward and small. But we decided to go for it one Friday night a couple of weeks ago... although we weren’t sure how we were going to fix it as we had no legs (we did, we had four between us, 2 each, but none that the breakfast bar could use). I (Ben) woke with a flash of inspiration in the middle of the night, and Saturday morning we were out at B&Q buying parts. I also thought it was a naff idea and wouldn’t work and so complained the whole way around the store. Hannah was more confident.
The rest of the Saturday both Hannah and I crafted our breakfast bar. It consists of a wooden batten on the wall at one end, and 4mm metal rope and some hooks at the other end. Yup, we hung the breakfast bar from the ceiling, and it really works! It’s fantastic being able to sit at a table and eat. Brill.
So that was 3 weeks ago.
2 weeks ago I didn’t have much time on the Saturday as we had a ‘tidy up morning’ at church, but did manage to put a window sill in front of the sink in the kitchen. A surprising difference it makes too, rather than a dirty hole full of crap... (put own crude jokes here).
Last week we were looking after Freddie (our friends’ son) on the Saturday afternoon but had enough time to re-hang the door which goes in to the living room. I borrowed an electric planer from pops evans, which is older than me, but still does a great job. Thanks dad.
Monday and Thursday last week I got on with making a door for the bedroom. It’s an ok effort, not as good as a pro, and the quality of wood is a bit naff to be honest, but it does a job and looks ok. I found it tricky as it’s my first ever door that i have made and hung on my own, but it came out ok on the whole.
Today, Saturday I have been back on in the kitchen finishing off the pantry wall. We had originally planned to put green glass block in the wall, but have since decided we can’t be bothered. So i’ve got to work and plaster boarded the wall, made the door frame and put prependuit on the plasterboard ready for the lime putty coat to go on on Monday night. I have done the same around the back door too... a job that had just got left.
In other news we have got a quote from a man to sort out the fire place for us as it needs some serious TLC and stone work beyond my skills, as well as a liner etc for the stove so I’m happy to pay someone to do all that.
We have also had a structural engineer come around today to take a look at the (non existent) lintel above the window in the living room. We’re going to have to go through conservation and get permission to replace it. They might say go for original materials (oak beam) or to show the changing history of the building and go with a steel beam. Watch this space with that. I’ll be on to them first thing Monday morning to get the info so we can get moving quickly on that.
I have a master plan which would mean the house is almost done by the middle of April. Very attainable plan it is too. So we’re quite excited that the end is in sight (kind of).
And final news, someone grassed us up to the council so have to move our trailer off the road. Chuffers. And we have a cat, to catch Osama the Mouse (hides in holes and we can’t find him). The cat is a she cat called George, but looks uncannily like my childhood family cat Garfield, so names get interchanged.
Cool.
Until next time, stay classy San Diego.
