Monday, 30 May 2011
Nearly the end...
It is slightly embarassing, as the blogger, to not understand your own blog, but I am totally confused by the random date order of my entries! It was my intention to make daily, or weekly, updates, but it has not worked out that way. Now, at the end, I am going to present you with just the photos, as the witty asides I had planned have vanished from my mind. The days of Florian and gang are limited. I will be sad to see them go, they were quite good company, despite their strange work practises. I have learnt some things; WD40 is good as a floor and worktop polish, you need a filter for a pond, onions don't like too much water, Romanian builders drive minis at the weekend, it is possible to hoover all day and, the good things are hardest to do.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
16 April 2011
Last time I tried to update, I couldn't, because Blogspot was having a problem. It was very annoying, as I'd typed reams of witty prose that was then lost. So today my story will be a pictoral progress of the kitchen from Thursday to Sunday. Yes, the poor kitchen man has worked all weekend. It is pretty good work, except for the drawer that won't close....
OK now the blogger thing can't seem to SEE any other photos that I've uploaded. I give up for today.
OK now the blogger thing can't seem to SEE any other photos that I've uploaded. I give up for today.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
10 May 2011 - I think
I have lost track of the days. When you are without a sink one day blurs into the next. Not a great deal has happened since last time. The walls have been painted, or should I say sprayed! Honestly, if you like to paint, get yourself one of these sprayer things! 1 hour to do the whole lot including the ceiling, and its a very fine, smooth finish. Apparently the person operating the pipe and the tin of paint is the lynch pin, so a project to attempt with friends I think.
This is the roof, have I already showed you this???
We also have lights. Yes, they go on and off, but via a system of switches and dimmers so random and illogical that it will be a miracle if I ever understand it. Before the more eco-minded of you lash out regarding the excessive use of non led light bulbs, I have to blame it all on Florian. In a moment of laissez faire (aka late for school pick up) I left the lighting to him. Still, we like his choice of outside lights.
I am off to bed now, big day tomorrow! Not only does the door arrive, but also the kitchen, appliances, and worktop. I'm not sure where it will all go. Hopefully not too near the green water, larvae invested smelly pond (suggestions welcome).
Say hello to Rodney the hamster, according to Sadie the most boring pet in the world, according to me, the best pet in the world because he is only awake 11.30pm to 6am!! But we sometimes wake him up for a cuddle. xx
Good night!
This is the roof, have I already showed you this???
We also have lights. Yes, they go on and off, but via a system of switches and dimmers so random and illogical that it will be a miracle if I ever understand it. Before the more eco-minded of you lash out regarding the excessive use of non led light bulbs, I have to blame it all on Florian. In a moment of laissez faire (aka late for school pick up) I left the lighting to him. Still, we like his choice of outside lights.
I am off to bed now, big day tomorrow! Not only does the door arrive, but also the kitchen, appliances, and worktop. I'm not sure where it will all go. Hopefully not too near the green water, larvae invested smelly pond (suggestions welcome).
Say hello to Rodney the hamster, according to Sadie the most boring pet in the world, according to me, the best pet in the world because he is only awake 11.30pm to 6am!! But we sometimes wake him up for a cuddle. xx
Good night!
Thursday, 21 April 2011
21 April 2011
Well a lot has happened since the last entry. We have had a lovely week at our country seat (rented) near Kendal in the Lakes. Complete with sun, lambs, daffodils, friends and naked children in a stream, Shaw End was a welcome break from the dust and smoke of home.
We were obviously very excited on our way home, in anticipation of seeing the progress that had been made. We were not prepared for the MASSIVE difference!
I was so impressed! The layer of dust over every surface in the house was not SO impressive, but I've become used to eating out of a dusty bowl now.
Florian has a dream of installing a wood burning stove in the old boiler fireplace, and has made a little project for himself, moving pipes etc. You'll have to agree it does look rather nice now!
The roof is a poured fibre glass one. No I had never heard of it either. Apparently it doesn't leak as much. See below!
You can't see them, but there are about 12 pipe vents sticking up out of the roof vertically in a line beneath the windows. They are bit unsightly so Florian took it upon himself to install a solar powered garden light in each one. I was slightly concerned that jumbo jets inbound to Heathrow might get sidetracked, but so far only one light has been seen to work, so no worries there.
On the subject of lights I'd like to conduct a snap survey of my blog readers and ask you to count how many power sockets you have in your kitchen. My request for 6 double sockets and a socket for each electrical appliance has more than doubled the original quote!!! They think I'm some sort of power junkie! There obviously isn't so much to plug in over in Romania.
Still on lighting, I made the mistake of taking Florian's advice on down lights and we are now in serious jeopardy of draining the national grid in order to make a cup of tea at night. I'm sure there is method in his madness if I ever master the complex switch and dimming combinations he has created.
This week has been quite quiet builder wise. There have been some new faces. MC Hammer Trousers the plumber (put pipes in wrong place but said you can't touch this!), Hairy Face the plasterer and some dude who came to put the windows in. They seem a pretty humdrum bunch, but don't be fooled, amidst the machismo and cement is an artist waiting to break out. The evidence lies in our new "gnome garden" which appeared overnight......note the cunning placement of space enhancing mirror. Is Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen Romanian?
Having an extension is not without peril, as I discovered yesterday when the girls and I found ourselves LOCKED IN THE BACK GARDEN when the internal door (with deadlock) blew shut. I had conveniently, but not very security consciously, left the front door open! If only I could get to it!
Using one of a fine selection of ladders I found in the garden I considered scaling the side fence in my maxi dress, but thought that using the neighbour's Merc as a stepping stone would be illconsidered and costly. In the end I propped the ladder at the front and waited......for an unsuspecting member of the public to walk by. The lady looked English, but wasn't. We spent a comedy 10 minutes with me asking her to open the internal door and her showing me various sets of keys she found inside the house. Eventually, with her tenacity and my (becoming wilder) pointing and shouting we bridged the language barrier and she let us in. Phew! Extensions!
We were obviously very excited on our way home, in anticipation of seeing the progress that had been made. We were not prepared for the MASSIVE difference!
I was so impressed! The layer of dust over every surface in the house was not SO impressive, but I've become used to eating out of a dusty bowl now.
Florian has a dream of installing a wood burning stove in the old boiler fireplace, and has made a little project for himself, moving pipes etc. You'll have to agree it does look rather nice now!
The roof is a poured fibre glass one. No I had never heard of it either. Apparently it doesn't leak as much. See below!
You can't see them, but there are about 12 pipe vents sticking up out of the roof vertically in a line beneath the windows. They are bit unsightly so Florian took it upon himself to install a solar powered garden light in each one. I was slightly concerned that jumbo jets inbound to Heathrow might get sidetracked, but so far only one light has been seen to work, so no worries there.
On the subject of lights I'd like to conduct a snap survey of my blog readers and ask you to count how many power sockets you have in your kitchen. My request for 6 double sockets and a socket for each electrical appliance has more than doubled the original quote!!! They think I'm some sort of power junkie! There obviously isn't so much to plug in over in Romania.
Still on lighting, I made the mistake of taking Florian's advice on down lights and we are now in serious jeopardy of draining the national grid in order to make a cup of tea at night. I'm sure there is method in his madness if I ever master the complex switch and dimming combinations he has created.
This week has been quite quiet builder wise. There have been some new faces. MC Hammer Trousers the plumber (put pipes in wrong place but said you can't touch this!), Hairy Face the plasterer and some dude who came to put the windows in. They seem a pretty humdrum bunch, but don't be fooled, amidst the machismo and cement is an artist waiting to break out. The evidence lies in our new "gnome garden" which appeared overnight......note the cunning placement of space enhancing mirror. Is Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen Romanian?
Having an extension is not without peril, as I discovered yesterday when the girls and I found ourselves LOCKED IN THE BACK GARDEN when the internal door (with deadlock) blew shut. I had conveniently, but not very security consciously, left the front door open! If only I could get to it!
Using one of a fine selection of ladders I found in the garden I considered scaling the side fence in my maxi dress, but thought that using the neighbour's Merc as a stepping stone would be illconsidered and costly. In the end I propped the ladder at the front and waited......for an unsuspecting member of the public to walk by. The lady looked English, but wasn't. We spent a comedy 10 minutes with me asking her to open the internal door and her showing me various sets of keys she found inside the house. Eventually, with her tenacity and my (becoming wilder) pointing and shouting we bridged the language barrier and she let us in. Phew! Extensions!
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
6 April 2011 - 21C!
A lovely day today. Blue skys and warmed up to 21C pretty quickly. Wooly Hat and Baldy were late today, Florin was not impressed. I went to very kind Asha's to get away from the cramped living quarters and do some washing, as the washing machine has broken.
Whilst I was away blockwork began in earnest. The inspector came and was not happy with the soakaway. It had consisted of a 1.5 deep by 1m square hole filled with bricks, but the inspector wanted the bricks neatly piled around the edge with a gap in the middle. So poor Wooly Hat had to take them ALL out!
Asha and I had guessed we might see some shirts come off today in the hot weather, and lo and behold we were right. What a sight. Sorry Baldy. I hope you appreciate the clandestine fashion in which I have to take these photos for you? Imagine if they saw me!!
Florin has a tattoo on his back that I can only discern as a one eyed pirate having a cigarette. You be the judge....
Both ceilings in the old part of the house have been taken down. Mainly because they fell down. At least now I can have down lights! Also Florin claims to have found a leaky pipe. I think it is more likely a case of over zealous crow bar, but at least it will now be fixed. The old mantlepiece in the dining room was removed without my consent yesterday. I hadn't planned to keep it, but would have liked to be asked. The washing up room looks very yesteryear now. I can almost imagine I am victorian when I do the washing up by lamp light (because they took the bulb out).
The first steel has been delivered (didn't see it though) and today they moved it ready for getting it in place tomorrow. As far as I can tell, it was moved purely by the force of Romanian swearing.
Florin bought some floor samples round today. It is so hard to choose. We like the dark colours, but I think the finish is going to be the most tricky. Matt? Hand Brushed? Antique? I don't know! Whilst we were looking at the floor samples we got talking about the living room and I boasted that I had painted it. Florin told me it was "okay", but he wouldn't give me a job, and pointed out the bits I'd missed on the ceiling!!
The lads finished the day with a bbq, and who can blame them. It's so easy, buy some burgers, stick a bit of 2x4 on the barbie and close the lid for the full smoke/toxin effect.
Sadie and Harriet think the builders are hilarious and very entertaining. This afternoon Sadie shouted, "pull your trousers up mate!" out of the window....
It is nearly Easter here and Sadie is full of the Easter story. She was very disappointed to find out I already knew it. She told it to me again on the way to school today. Then asked me "why can't you be more like Jesus mummy? He was calm and kind and you are cross and shouty." Hmmmmm
Whilst I was away blockwork began in earnest. The inspector came and was not happy with the soakaway. It had consisted of a 1.5 deep by 1m square hole filled with bricks, but the inspector wanted the bricks neatly piled around the edge with a gap in the middle. So poor Wooly Hat had to take them ALL out!
Asha and I had guessed we might see some shirts come off today in the hot weather, and lo and behold we were right. What a sight. Sorry Baldy. I hope you appreciate the clandestine fashion in which I have to take these photos for you? Imagine if they saw me!!
Florin has a tattoo on his back that I can only discern as a one eyed pirate having a cigarette. You be the judge....
Both ceilings in the old part of the house have been taken down. Mainly because they fell down. At least now I can have down lights! Also Florin claims to have found a leaky pipe. I think it is more likely a case of over zealous crow bar, but at least it will now be fixed. The old mantlepiece in the dining room was removed without my consent yesterday. I hadn't planned to keep it, but would have liked to be asked. The washing up room looks very yesteryear now. I can almost imagine I am victorian when I do the washing up by lamp light (because they took the bulb out).
The first steel has been delivered (didn't see it though) and today they moved it ready for getting it in place tomorrow. As far as I can tell, it was moved purely by the force of Romanian swearing.
Florin bought some floor samples round today. It is so hard to choose. We like the dark colours, but I think the finish is going to be the most tricky. Matt? Hand Brushed? Antique? I don't know! Whilst we were looking at the floor samples we got talking about the living room and I boasted that I had painted it. Florin told me it was "okay", but he wouldn't give me a job, and pointed out the bits I'd missed on the ceiling!!
The lads finished the day with a bbq, and who can blame them. It's so easy, buy some burgers, stick a bit of 2x4 on the barbie and close the lid for the full smoke/toxin effect.
Sadie and Harriet think the builders are hilarious and very entertaining. This afternoon Sadie shouted, "pull your trousers up mate!" out of the window....
It is nearly Easter here and Sadie is full of the Easter story. She was very disappointed to find out I already knew it. She told it to me again on the way to school today. Then asked me "why can't you be more like Jesus mummy? He was calm and kind and you are cross and shouty." Hmmmmm
Monday, 4 April 2011
The first step is the hardest to take
This entry is a bit late as we are now into week 2 of the "building". I am yet to see any building though, only a great deal knocking down.
Vasile, Florin and their motley crew have been decending on us at 8am and keeping us company until 5.30pm, six days a week. I haven't ever met a Romanian person before. My impression so far is that they like wooly hats, cigarettes and indian music. The latter could be a result of not finding the FM band button on the radio I lent them.
Vasile is the "brains" or "money swindler" of the operation. Florin is the smooth talking, placer of wool over eyes. Baldy and Stripey Hat (I don't know their real names) are just really good at digging, being shouted at and knocking walls down with their bare hands. There is an occasional "temp" , usually age 70, wearing dress shoes, and minus his front teeth.
Things progressed swiftly from the off. They demolished the shed and pergola in 10 minutes flat! That was £600 well spent!
Then came the digging of the foundation trench, and the digging, and the digging..........
Not a lot happened for the rest of the week. Saturday arrived and whilst we hung out in our dressing gowns Florin arrived and asked if we could please clear out the kitchen so he could knock it down. THIS WASN"T IN THE PLAN! NOT UNTIL AT LEAST WEEK 3!!!! We thought he must be some sort of massive exaggerator. We were WRONG!
Florian surveys his victim...
This Baldy, not that bald really is he. Cheerful though.
These guys meant business! Forget hard hats and steel cap boots! What's a few flying bricks?! Demolition balls? No my friend, a hammer! By the end of the day I have a horrible feeling, perhaps akin to that which a nurse might have after giving the surgeon the wrong notes. Had Florin understood our brief? By end of day I did not feel any better.
Still, my onions and garlic are growing!! They are from Lidl!
A funny story to finish. Whilst in the garden Sadie provided a background of screaming. I said that she shouldn't scream when playing in the garden, that screaming might be more appropriate if one was being chased by someone with a knife............ Yes, agreed Harriet, or a FORK!
Vasile, Florin and their motley crew have been decending on us at 8am and keeping us company until 5.30pm, six days a week. I haven't ever met a Romanian person before. My impression so far is that they like wooly hats, cigarettes and indian music. The latter could be a result of not finding the FM band button on the radio I lent them.
Vasile is the "brains" or "money swindler" of the operation. Florin is the smooth talking, placer of wool over eyes. Baldy and Stripey Hat (I don't know their real names) are just really good at digging, being shouted at and knocking walls down with their bare hands. There is an occasional "temp" , usually age 70, wearing dress shoes, and minus his front teeth.
Things progressed swiftly from the off. They demolished the shed and pergola in 10 minutes flat! That was £600 well spent!
Then came the digging of the foundation trench, and the digging, and the digging..........
Not a lot happened for the rest of the week. Saturday arrived and whilst we hung out in our dressing gowns Florin arrived and asked if we could please clear out the kitchen so he could knock it down. THIS WASN"T IN THE PLAN! NOT UNTIL AT LEAST WEEK 3!!!! We thought he must be some sort of massive exaggerator. We were WRONG!
Florian surveys his victim...
This Baldy, not that bald really is he. Cheerful though.
These guys meant business! Forget hard hats and steel cap boots! What's a few flying bricks?! Demolition balls? No my friend, a hammer! By the end of the day I have a horrible feeling, perhaps akin to that which a nurse might have after giving the surgeon the wrong notes. Had Florin understood our brief? By end of day I did not feel any better.
Still, my onions and garlic are growing!! They are from Lidl!
A funny story to finish. Whilst in the garden Sadie provided a background of screaming. I said that she shouldn't scream when playing in the garden, that screaming might be more appropriate if one was being chased by someone with a knife............ Yes, agreed Harriet, or a FORK!
Friday, 11 February 2011
Where not to put the brush
Apologies to anyone who has been waiting to see where not to put the brush before starting their own wallpapering project. The answer to this question may not be as obvious as you think!
As you can see from the picture below the matter of the living room wallpaper had to be addressed.
We decided the easiest option would be to stick lining paper over it and paint it. Some sections had textured wallpaper underneath the patterned stuff, so I chose thick lining paper to try and hide that. I also bought some paste and a paste brush and a special brush for brushing it when it's on the wall.
It would have been good to read the instructions first and see that you have to wait and let the glue soak in a bit before you hang it, we didn't. However, the on the wall brushing brush was EXCELLENT! It achieved an excellent smooth finish and avoided getting glue on your hands. We only got to use it once, Ben put it on top of the radiator and Harriet promptly knocked it down the back. It's still there!
The finished product, painted in Farrow & Ball's London Stone.
As you can see from the picture below the matter of the living room wallpaper had to be addressed.
We decided the easiest option would be to stick lining paper over it and paint it. Some sections had textured wallpaper underneath the patterned stuff, so I chose thick lining paper to try and hide that. I also bought some paste and a paste brush and a special brush for brushing it when it's on the wall.
It would have been good to read the instructions first and see that you have to wait and let the glue soak in a bit before you hang it, we didn't. However, the on the wall brushing brush was EXCELLENT! It achieved an excellent smooth finish and avoided getting glue on your hands. We only got to use it once, Ben put it on top of the radiator and Harriet promptly knocked it down the back. It's still there!
The finished product, painted in Farrow & Ball's London Stone.
Old Boiler
Not me, the one that broke. It was a 30 year old Potterton Flamingo complete with asbestos cladding! We went without heating from September when it set the CO2 alarm off, and the new Vaillant combi was installed 4 weeks ago. It cost just over £4000. I am sure one day we will look back at this entry and exclaim how cheap it was! One day.
Pretty huh?
Pretty huh?
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