House renovation and garage build
Discussion
We have finished paining the walls in the hall, stairs and landing, which felt like it was the big job that we needed to get out the way. I'm glad I won't have to stand on my rickety arrangement of ladders and planks for the cutting in.
Walking the plank by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Allegedly the carpenter is coming to finish the dinging room cupboards today, but I won't hold my breathe.
Jen had a bit of a melt down yesterday about just how much we have to do in the next few months before the baby arrives, but now that we've got it on a todo list, with target dates it seems a bit more manageable.
Walking the plank by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Allegedly the carpenter is coming to finish the dinging room cupboards today, but I won't hold my breathe.
Jen had a bit of a melt down yesterday about just how much we have to do in the next few months before the baby arrives, but now that we've got it on a todo list, with target dates it seems a bit more manageable.
Had a busy weekend, doing lots of niggling little jobs - but I guess that is a sign that we're nearing the end!
The job that I'd been dreading the most was the second stage of first fixing the cable between the porch and the fuse board for an electric car charger. When the hall ceiling was down the long run of cable was put it, but it was left to me to get it to the fuse board. It took most of the morning, including a trip out to buy a longer drill bit, but I did it. Impressed with my new found electrical skills, Jen decided that we should go out to buy new lights for the hall and landing, but I will leave those for another day.
We're hoping to get the last bits of woodwork glossed this week, including all the stair spindles and the carpet is being measured up tomorrow.
The job that I'd been dreading the most was the second stage of first fixing the cable between the porch and the fuse board for an electric car charger. When the hall ceiling was down the long run of cable was put it, but it was left to me to get it to the fuse board. It took most of the morning, including a trip out to buy a longer drill bit, but I did it. Impressed with my new found electrical skills, Jen decided that we should go out to buy new lights for the hall and landing, but I will leave those for another day.
We're hoping to get the last bits of woodwork glossed this week, including all the stair spindles and the carpet is being measured up tomorrow.
Things have slowed from a trickle to a complete halt. The reason for this is that a new foreman has joined the project:
Unfortunately he is still a bit small, so we have been in hospital with him all week. We have got most of what we wanted to do before he arrived, but are still waiting for carpets to be fitted and a radiator to be fitted. My plan for this weekend had been to clean & restore the tiles, but I'm getting the chemicals sent to my parents house, hopefully they will take the initiative!
Unfortunately he is still a bit small, so we have been in hospital with him all week. We have got most of what we wanted to do before he arrived, but are still waiting for carpets to be fitted and a radiator to be fitted. My plan for this weekend had been to clean & restore the tiles, but I'm getting the chemicals sent to my parents house, hopefully they will take the initiative!
Nice one! My foreman was born on the 15th last year so I can give you a rough idea of how much work you'll get done in the next 12 months.....
I remember the melt-downs about getting things finished before too, the reality is that you've got more than a few years before they start asking why you haven't finished that bit of skirting and picking you up on the quality of the finishing. And by that time they're old enough for a clip around the ear, so it's fine. Now the baby is here she won't notice the house at all either, so you're off the hook!
Storage. She'll badger you for more storage though, so you'll need a plan for this. Mine has basically been to gradually move all my stuff into the workshop and let her have the house. Oh well.
Might as well prioritise your workshop now so you don't disturb the sleeping baby! Ace.
I remember the melt-downs about getting things finished before too, the reality is that you've got more than a few years before they start asking why you haven't finished that bit of skirting and picking you up on the quality of the finishing. And by that time they're old enough for a clip around the ear, so it's fine. Now the baby is here she won't notice the house at all either, so you're off the hook!
Storage. She'll badger you for more storage though, so you'll need a plan for this. Mine has basically been to gradually move all my stuff into the workshop and let her have the house. Oh well.
Might as well prioritise your workshop now so you don't disturb the sleeping baby! Ace.
Happy birthday for yesterday to mini Rockliffe!
Owen is still in hospital, so we're with him most of the time, although the jobs arranged for the start of Jen's maternity leave are kicking in - boiler service & new radiator this afternoon & new carpet tomorrow. The few hours we've spent at home have mostly been about clearing space in Owen's room, which was our bedroom until last September. I just took the approach that as I hadn't used most of my stuff in there since last September I could get rid of it. We also picked up an armchair & footstool from Ikea for his room. In my sleep deprived state the chair took a bit of assembling, but Jen is really pleased with it. The next job is to fit the blackout curtains we bought the day before Jen's waters broke.
The garden seems to have come on well whilst we've been in hospital, we've had a few crops of strawberries, and it looks like the garlic is ready to harvest too.
Owen is still in hospital, so we're with him most of the time, although the jobs arranged for the start of Jen's maternity leave are kicking in - boiler service & new radiator this afternoon & new carpet tomorrow. The few hours we've spent at home have mostly been about clearing space in Owen's room, which was our bedroom until last September. I just took the approach that as I hadn't used most of my stuff in there since last September I could get rid of it. We also picked up an armchair & footstool from Ikea for his room. In my sleep deprived state the chair took a bit of assembling, but Jen is really pleased with it. The next job is to fit the blackout curtains we bought the day before Jen's waters broke.
The garden seems to have come on well whilst we've been in hospital, we've had a few crops of strawberries, and it looks like the garlic is ready to harvest too.
Had a quick visit home today for a shower and to pick up some clean clothes. The carpet on the stairs & landing is lovely - especially after bare wood for most of the year. In fact the plushest we have had the landing is a few off cuts from the back bedroom carpet loosely laid over the floor - so a proper carpet, with underlay will be luxury when we're back home.
I took a quick walk up the garden and disturbed a rat, this was the second rat I'd seen this week, after one appeared in the garden when the midwife was checking that Owen would have somewhere safe to sleep etc - fortunately she didn't see it. I thought that the new fences we'd had installed would have stopped the rats, as the gravel boards are well dug in, but here appears to be a rat run down the side of the garage. I'll be re-laying the traps next time I'm home!
I took a quick walk up the garden and disturbed a rat, this was the second rat I'd seen this week, after one appeared in the garden when the midwife was checking that Owen would have somewhere safe to sleep etc - fortunately she didn't see it. I thought that the new fences we'd had installed would have stopped the rats, as the gravel boards are well dug in, but here appears to be a rat run down the side of the garage. I'll be re-laying the traps next time I'm home!
Edited by Craikeybaby on Sunday 19th June 08:38
ts. They will get in no matter what you do. 
Craikeybaby said:
Happy birthday for yesterday to mini Rockliffe!
Owen is still in hospital, so we're with him most of the time, although the jobs arranged for the start of Jen's maternity leave are kicking in - boiler service & new radiator this afternoon & new carpet tomorrow. The few hours we've spent at home have mostly been about clearing space in Owen's room, which was our bedroom until last September. I just took the approach that as I hadn't used most of my stuff in there since last September I could get rid of it. We also picked up an armchair & footstool from Ikea for his room. In my sleep deprived state the chair took a bit of assembling, but Jen is really pleased with it. The next job is to fit the blackout curtains we bought the day before Jen's waters broke.
Thanks! Mine spent a week in hospital, he stayed in for something minor, then got jaundice so ended up in a week. It was ace! Why are you tired? Don't they kick you out at 10pm for a good nights sleep? Owen is still in hospital, so we're with him most of the time, although the jobs arranged for the start of Jen's maternity leave are kicking in - boiler service & new radiator this afternoon & new carpet tomorrow. The few hours we've spent at home have mostly been about clearing space in Owen's room, which was our bedroom until last September. I just took the approach that as I hadn't used most of my stuff in there since last September I could get rid of it. We also picked up an armchair & footstool from Ikea for his room. In my sleep deprived state the chair took a bit of assembling, but Jen is really pleased with it. The next job is to fit the blackout curtains we bought the day before Jen's waters broke.
It was much the same here, he was meant to come home on day 3, but he seemed a bit cold, then they picked up jaundice so kept him in for that, now he's struggling to put weight on, so keeping him in still. Jaundice has come back too, so not sure when he'll be home. They have family rooms at Coventry hospital, which is both a blessing and a curse - it is hard leaving him there, but after spending the last 3 nights there a good sleep in our own bed is needed.
Got Owen home this afternoon! I have got a few more days off now, so hopefully I'll be able to make some slow progress on the house by getting some of Owen's visitors to pitch in!
Also got a picture of the carpeted stairs:
Carpeted/painted stairs by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Also got a picture of the carpeted stairs:
Carpeted/painted stairs by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
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