Blog

Yay – builders are here

Monday November 9th, 2009 |Fiona

Hard to believe that it’s over a week since I updated here, but at last I have scheduled time to sit down and update it…

We have had a few events since my last update – we had some fun with the rain on Sunday 1st November – the word someone used on Twitter summed it up beautifully – hostile! When we got up in the morning, we noticed that the waterfall and “sink” area were under water. So, we immediately got our act together and tried to see if we could divert it away from the house and get it to the stream the other side of the drive. Dug out some old yellow drainage pipe from behind the barn, and got it going. Then Norman went into dig mode, and created two more channels from the drive into the lower stream, so it had somewhere to go – other than down the drive! So, some 2 hours later, when it all subsided, we noticed that of the two drain holes in the upper sink, one had a great bolder in front of it – so presume that this was the root of the problem, although I have to say, with all the work the neighbour had done on improving his drainage, plus all the rain we’d had, it was perhaps always going to struggle. However, since removing that bolder, and despite some very heavy rain again since, it has not overflowed in quite the same way again. Fortunately… Fingers crossed that it stays that way!

We ended up not needing wood for shelves as originally planned – so a blessing that we hadn’t bought any last week, although knowing Norman he would’ve found a use for it – but he re-used the shelving out of the existing walk-in wardrobes. Had a bit of a nightmare getting all the nails and screws out, as there were far too many, but at least the shelves for the linens is now up – if being used to hold videotapes and cassette tapes for the moment. He also put other shelves up, as well as fixing the pulley maid so we can use it now – we intend to buy another larger one for there, too. So definitely enjoyed himself I think… We do actually need to buy another bookshelf, as we have far too many books for us to have on the one we have – even though its 6′ high and about 4′ wide! We have taken all the cookery books off and placed on some freestanding shelving in the kitchen (not a stupid place to have them, I suppose) so that the rest of the books can be seen, but fiction and DIY are also in the utility, beside the tapes. All need a home sometime in a more suitable place…

Had the final delivery of the goods which Pickfords could not bring on the original delivery van… very good, and asked them to move one of the sofas – we wanted the larger one in what will be our lounge, leaving the small one in the guest lounge/diner. Sadly they had to concede defeat when after 20 minutes they could still not get it in! They did a bit more damage to the back – the original guys did some when they put it I the guest lounge anyway – so they moved the little one into our lounge – Norman and I will just have to cuddle up even closer when we manage to sit on the sofa from now on…

Didn’t go to the sausage tasting event I heard about on Twitter – was a bit of a wimp and decided not to go in the monster (hubby’s sports car!) as I was worried about the ford on our drive, plus not knowing where I was going in the dark, I could end up stranded… Apologised to them, but will still try and order from them. Will call them tomorrow or Wednesday to discuss how we can trial some of their stuff – although Norman bought some great sausages from a butcher in Welshpool on Saturday, and they were very nice. I think she understood my reasoning for not going, but not sure! Anyway, thebestof site is sending me some other info from an Oswestry butcher, so worth a try… It will be fun trying all these different things in the meantime.

I went and saw a new chiropractor on Friday… very good start. Came back feeling like a new women, but obviously its early days yet. Have a couple of appointments this week and we’ll see how it goes. All this shunting of boxes is not doing me any good! I bought a new wallpaper steamer last week, so will get onto using it this week, when I strip the large bedroom ready for skimming with plaster, if necessary, or just paint if it’s good enough underneath. Hope that won’t upset my back at all… we shall see though.

One of the things we have both commented on is the amount of walking we’re doing. Between the size of the house compared to our old one, we’ve got more flooring to cover anyway, but also because the majority of the boxes we have been emptying and sorting this week are in the barn, we have been schlepping back and forth, as well as around the house. I said I should have been wearing my stepper, to find out how many I’ve been doing – it’s probably miles if I added it all up! Combine that with taking the dogs for walks, even if only little ones, it all mounts up to a lot more exercise than I have been used to. In addition, we’re getting a lot fresher, cleaner air than we were, so no wonder we’re tired. I have been sleeping very well, if a bit fragmented – in part due to my poorly back – but also I think we’re not used to the quiet. So, anywhere from 6-9 hours is not uncommon. I changed the alarm last week, to get up earlier, so that when it’s light, I take the dogs for a walk. They seem to be pretty good at holding on till I am ready to take them for a constitutional, but sometimes they only just get to the gate, not even in the field, so I am watching that, try and make  sure we’re a bit more considerate…

So, the great news is that the builders arrived this morning, to make a start on the external work for the en-suites – as in the waste pipes to the cesspit. As the weather has been so good today – albeit cold – they were able to crack-on and get a lot done. When they were planning to leave, they said they should start filling in tomorrow! Rapid progress indeed!! Sadly, there was a problem with the soak away – as in its not working! Despite the comment from the owner when Norman saw the pit in the summer, that it was because there had been so much rain, it was not at all… the water has got nowhere to go, so the septic tank is full! Ah well, just another job to get done, but means that there might be an additional delay to the finishing of the works.

We had some fellow B&B people come to see us today; as they are looking to rent the land from us… he has sheep and helps her with the B&B, whilst she runs the B&B. They have agreed to take the land from us, and will pay us 6 months in advance – so a Xmas present for us on 20th December! Means that the grass and land will all be kept in better shape than if we left it as it is now – not sure if we need to get it “topped” (I think that’s the terminology!) but will seek some help from our neighbour – he offered to help us try and sort the land, even with the drainage. Seeing as now he’s done his, we need to sort ours out (see previous comments about that) before we get deluged again!

I have been saddened these last few weeks with the deaths of 3 people who were all slightly younger than me. Firstly and mentioned in a previous blog was Dawn, then I heard about Simon, a cyclist buddy of my ex, and then this week was someone who used to work with me back in Guildford until 2000, Alistair. It’s all rather sad and sudden – maybe only to me as I had not been in regular contact with each of them, and if they had been ill, I was unaware of it, but for them to be gone to young is all rather upsetting. So, RIP to all of them – and best wishes to their families and loved ones.

On a slightly more upbeat note – I have been efficient in getting birthday cards out this week, although it took me 3 days to give them to the Postie! Should have put them in a box when I was out on Friday, but forgot! So, they went today and that’s the important thing. Hope they all arrive in good time. Got another one to get off now – so must remember to take it out with me tomorrow… must remember…must remember… Good news is that Norman is taking the monster south with him this week, and I get to keep the 4×4, so if anything comes up, I can go with more confidence. Been hunting for a Land Rover to purchase, but we will be better off selling the monster down south – not sure anyone would want it here, as it is not designed for hilly terrain! (Although it manages well, I would prefer something higher off the ground on our drive!)

Ah well, that’ll do for now. Hope you are all enjoying my updates. Let me know – it is good to know people are reading it! Au revoir…

Tags: ,