Hoodwinked, scuppered and reflections

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March 29^th gave us back the rule of 6 outdoors and we planned to make the most of our new freedom to have those long craved for sessions with friends and family.  The plan was set for us to travel up to Somerset on Saturday 3^rd April and as circumstances turned out this was going to be an opportunity to meet with not just with Paul and number one grandson but also Leanne.  We were really looking forward to it as we hadn’t seen Leanne since last August and Paul since around Christmas. 

First thing Thursday morning we got a message from Paul to say that there had been a positive test at the play group and that the family had to self-isolate for 10 days.  The planned visit would have to be postponed.  We were gutted but replied to the effect that we understood and, hey ho, it could be worse. 

That same day we had been invited to an afternoon session on neighbours Bob and Sheila’s patio along with Paul and Maureen.  It was to be an afternoon of snacks and drinks and lots of chat and banter.  Just as we arrived at midday Neil got another message and video from Paul but as we were in company he decided it could wait.  The garden party was fun and it’s amazing how a simple pleasure can be so good after such a long time without any face to face social interaction.

After a couple of hours Paul phoned.  Neil took the call just to quickly say he would ring back later as we were with friends.  He did ring back sometime after 4pm to be told ‘Dad look at the video’.  We watched and saw Super Kid saying ‘April Fool’ although, as Leanne pointed out later, it sounded more like ‘Achy Balls’!  We had been well and truly April Fooled.  By this time Paul was thinking that his wizard wheeze had not been seen in the light that it was meant to and that our lack of response meant we were miffed.  We saw the funny side straight away.

So with plan A back on track we did get to meet in Tricia’s garden after all for an afternoon of playing with Super Kid and chatting with everyone.  Leanne pushing the wheelbarrow with Super Kid shouting ‘chase Gramps’ and laughing as he hurtled around the garden.  It was a sunny day but cool so we wrapped up and sat in the lea of the fence and had a really great afternoon.  Again, a simple pleasure and so good to see everyone after such a long time.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

We can formally announce that the ‘sandin’ and paintin’ is coming to an end.  We still have to do the front door and to patch up the coving and fine cracks where new plaster meets woodwork due to the drying out process and damage caused by the leaky chimneys, but that’s all small stuff.  At the start of the month we anticipated the main house renovations would finally be done and we could live like normal people – whatever that means!  We were looking forward to having the summer off before tackling the minor patching in the Autumn. 

The final room was the study. It’s been a temporary kitchen, a dumping ground and storage for materials for the build as well as mission control for planning the work. The threadbare curtains came down and the swirly carpet was given away – yes – people do want stained, worn and generally horrible carpet!

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We cracked on with painting over the wallpaper in the study and covering the dark ugly alcoves & shelves with a fresh coat of white.  The ceiling and walls turned out better than expected given the wallpaper was in less than perfect condition.  The hideous orange disappeared without too much trouble but the shelves weren’t going to be covered up without putting up a fight.  Eventually, after several coats of spray stain stop, Neil resorted to the heavyweight Zinser we used to cover up the ski chalet pine in the kitchen. 

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We allowed a week for the paint on the skirting board to harden off and Neil phoned Imran in advance to schedule a fitting slot for the remaining carpet for the study, hall, stairs and landing.  What we didn’t want to hear, and certainly didn’t anticipate, was Imran’s response that there was a problem with the carpet supplier from Turkey and that at least for the moment we would have to wait. 

Once again the hallway was to be the scene of yet another chapter in the ‘Book of Renovation’.  Having been a kitchen for 3 months it became the storage location for new bedroom furniture, and then the work area for decorating equipment & DIY tools, it was going to continue in its latest role as storage for the study furniture…….but for how long?

A few days later Imran confirmed our worst case scenario that the carpet we had fitted in 75% of the house was no longer available…..bollocks!  We went down to the shop and sifted through sample after sample to try and find a match.  Eventually we found a carpet that was very, very similar so we plumped for it in the hope that the wide wooden door thresholds would mean it wouldn’t be too obvious. 

There was a positive however.  Imran agreed to keep the price the same whatever carpet we chose.  The new one is much better suited to busy areas like the stairs and it costs about 40% more.  Fingers crossed it looks the part.  As this is being typed we still don’t have a fitting date so we’re still living with bare boards, exposed carpet gripper and chaos.  Maybe next month we can finally show you some before and after pictures of properly finished rooms.

Bits and Pieces

Monday 12^th April was to be a momentous day for England as it was the next phase of the return to normal life.  Pubs and cafes were allowed to serve to outside seating and non-essential shops were allowed to open.  There were long queues outside shops and some of the scenes in the newspapers of revellers was amazing.  One in particular in The Daily Star made us laugh.  It showed two people sitting at a table outside tucking into a plate of food sitting under an umbrella.  April 12^th also coincided with some parts of the country getting snow but it didn’t bother these two guys…..simple pleasures.

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The shops have opened in our little high street and with the painting all done we had time on our hands. Having bought the beautiful marble topped wash stand last month we shopped for other ‘interesting’ items to complement the decoration and make the house feel like a real home. 

We’ve also embraced the concept of upcycling and giving unwanted items a new purpose in life.  We’ve been selling the items that we came with but that didn’t suit the house.  In particular the Malm furniture we bought in Ikea to furnish the rentals, some of which must be 20 years old.  It’s still in good condition and we have probably sold it for what we paid for it but it also meant that our house bargains weren’t actually costing us that much, maybe nothing.  Most things we picked up have been in great condition, but some required a lot of sanding and cleaning and we are really pleased with the results. We’ve also gone overboard on the nautical bits and bobs – but hey, we do live at the seaside.

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The garden is bursting with new life and continues to surprise us with how much it changes month on month.  March was yellow, April is bluebells, cherry blossom and tulips. 

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We have at least 2 pairs of robins, one of which has set up home in the garage as they did last year…..shitting everywhere!  Rufus the pheasant puts in the occasional appearance and Neil spotted a female in the garden just once.  We were sitting in bed one morning having tea when Neil spotted a swallow, the first this year.  Whilst the weather has been dry and sunny it has been cold…..we haven’t seen it or any others since…..maybe it’s flying back to Africa?

Bob the Builder

April 23^rd brought us some sad but inevitable news.  Neil’s eldest brother Bob had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for the last few years and finally his body gave in.  Obviously very upsetting but in some ways relief as he had little quality of life towards the end and seeing his children and grandchildren was complicated due to Covid.  Towards the end he required a live in carer and then two.  It’s not good to visit anybody, let alone your brother, when the person doesn’t know who you are.  It’s very upsetting. 

We had the call that the end was close and Neil and brother Bill arranged to drive to Gloucester  to go and see him but sadly before they could get there the news came that he had finally breathed his last.

Why Bob The Builder?  Simples.  In exchange for babysitting his kids, Bob did so much for Neil.  For example, when he bought his first sports car aged 20, an MG Midget, he knew it needed some improvement under the bonnet.  To cut a long story short they replaced the engine and then when Neil ‘remodelled’ the front end Bob said ‘I can fix it’.  They rebuilt the bodywork including spraying.    

RIP Bob, we’ll remember you the way we saw you the last time, drinking tea, munching mince pies and watching the family video circa 1966 which brought such emotion from you as you clearly did have some memory.

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Reasons to be Cheerful

1. The UK Covid infection rate continues to decline, vaccination rollout has been excellent and uptake has been high.  Freedom is on the horizon, and maybe, just maybe, we will get back those freedoms we took for granted.
2. A major project is underway that was not in the original renovation plan – more news on this next time.
3. Whilst reflecting on past memories we looked through some of our old travel photos.  It made us realise what a fantastic 12 years we had.  The people we met, the scrapes we got into, the special places we discovered and the fun we had. 

Carpe Diem