3rd June 2018

So we decided to go up Friday night this week as we are short of time. Next weekend is Sarah’s wedding (John’s Daughter) which we are attending and I am yet again away all week. We spent the evening mainly tidying up as it’s difficult to move and to find anything. It always looks better after a tidy and at least all the tools are in one place. I also wired up the hob so we now have a fully functioning oven and hob in the kitchen. Sharon’s Mum and Dad came for a visit as they are away this week so might not get a chance to see it inside again, they are very proud of our achievements and think we’ve done a fantastic job. John and Richard have been on with jobs in the week, all the floors are in completely down now, the pipes are boxed in in the kitchen, most of the skirtings are on in the kitchen, the kitchen ceiling has been plastered where the pipes were exposed as well as around the front door and a couple of other bits. The path has been cut round the back and the old clay drain pipe has been exposed ready for the new soil stack to be installed. They have also installed the shower screen in the bathroom and connected all the internal waste pipes, and fitted the door on the downstairs loo.

On Saturday Sharon was having her hair cut in the morning, so I went up and John went too. The first job of the day was to glue and clamp the worktops together in the kitchen so the join is near enough invisible. It wasn’t without its challenges but we did it and it looks great. We then progressed to installing the sink which was a bitch of a job. The cupboard supplied by B&Q wasn’t a sink cupboard but just a std 800mm unit. This made getting all the sink clips which pull the sink down on to the worktop very difficult to get in place and use. We got most in and the ones we couldn’t get, we used wire to clamp it down. It looks a good job so I’m pleased with that. We connected the tap up, sorted all the waste out and cut the shelf out to accommodate the sink trap. I learned no end of little hints and tips. We also re-piped the washing machine supply, adding it in to the cupboard rather than behind the washer as to not to hinder pushing the washer back and to check it we chucked the washer in too. It’s semi connected at the moment. Had the inspection from Spok, he’s chuffed with it and loves it.

Sharon came up in the afternoon and she was a big help as always. After John had left, we stayed on and did a few more jobs. I needed some supplies so Sharon went off to gather them for me whilst I got a few bits ready. I swapped the fused switch in the living room for a single socket as Gemma and Adam have a nice focal fire which is a plug in type. I then mounted that on the wall in the living room. I also installed a fused switch in the kitchen and added a socket in the chimney of the extractor fan, connected that up and tested it and finally put filler in the wall where I’d chased out for the cable. A long day, but a productive one.

This morning (Sunday) I was awake early so decided to load the car up and get up there, letting Sharon have a lie in. I left a Note saying I’d be home about 9.30 and we’d go out for breakfast. JB gave me a small list of jobs as he couldn’t come today and I had some of my own. The first job I tackled was to put a couple of light in the loft and add in a switch. TGB makes a huge difference up there, I then did the job I hate - put the 2nd layer of insulation in. It was beautifully sunny outside and very warm which made the loft boiling. I put on a jacket, mask and gloves and sorted it. I was soaked when I finished but theres loads of insulation up there now. I went home dripping wet, had a shower and breakfast, collected Sharon and we went back.

Once again Sharon did some tidying, it’s blooming relentless. I rubbed the wall down near the extractor where I have added the socket and painted it before refitting the fan and testing it. All perfect there, I then installed a ceiling fan in the bathroom, cored the hole and wired it up. That was s mucky job as I was in snd out of the loft, but again success, installed and working. It comes on when the bathroom light is switched on and runs for 1 minute when it’s been turned off. I also siliconed around the hole John cut in the under sink cupboard and edged the worktops. Again a very productive day / weekend. Baz & Linzi paid us a visit too see it, they loved it and think we’ve done a great job. Barry reminded me how the living room was like his mums and said that pigeons used to crash in to the windows as they could see straight through front to back. Never happened to us, then Sharon and I were having a cup of tea and low and behold a pigeon crashed in to the kitchen window, I nearly poo’d my pants. Gemma and her mini tribe turned up with a few tiles, nice chat, hopefully we’ll be done inside in the next couple of weeks and they can put their own mark on it.Read more