tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251217662024-02-08T02:04:52.624-08:00A House In MordenChronicles of suburban life...londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1150149526747700942006-06-12T14:53:00.000-07:002006-06-12T15:01:14.933-07:00KITCHEN: THE IDEAL HOME SHOW SESSIONDoesn't the kitchen look really nice all lit-up (and without flash)?...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_2.5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_2.5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_3.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_3.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_6.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_6.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1150115333036564412006-06-12T05:08:00.000-07:002006-06-12T05:32:15.626-07:00IT'S ALL BEEN A LAUGH REALLY...Nearly three months in, Tony and his team have completed the work on the house toward the end of last week, and on Saturday, we had the cleaners in, and a jolly good job they did too. Now, we actually have a clean fully working kitchen/dining room (img1-3), and the dining room table has now been assembled again and is sitting in its prime location (img4-6).<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_2.4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_2.4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG: The all-clean kitchen from the dining room.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hob_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hob_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG2: We can now use this wonder of modern life that is our gas hob.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3: Another view of the kitchen.</strong><br /><br />The lounge is also looking a lot more cosy now that it’s had the mop/hoover/duster treatment (img7-9), and we can now enjoy watching TV (or the world go by since we don’t currently have any blinds/curtains) in much more comfort than in previous weeks. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/diningroom_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/diningroom_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/diningroom_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/diningroom_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG4-5: The dining room table as it was, and as it is now.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_3.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_3.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG6: Two become one: the dining room and kitchen as one.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG7: Sean enjoying a bit of that footie-worldie-cuppie thing that's going on at the moment...</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG8-9: Dust-free lounge.</strong><br /><br />Tony will be back in a few weeks just to get the last bits and pieces sorted, and the carpet is not due until another couple of weeks, but this is very much the end of the big work, and it has been all worth while.londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1149625108162944872006-06-06T13:07:00.000-07:002006-06-06T13:18:28.170-07:00BACK TO LIFE...Came back home this evening to find the lounge all floored up and looking nice and lovely (img1-2). We haven’t reached the stage where we can move back in quite yet, and there is still work to be done in the room, but we are certainly getting closer to get the place back to what it is destined to be, that is a perfectly functioning lounge. We are looking forward to be able to watch TV elsewhere than in bed. In fact, the bedroom has become our main living space in the last week as we don’t currently have any table to eat on either.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_1.4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_1.4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_2.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_2.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1-2: The wooden floor in the lounge</strong><br /><br />Although the kitchen/dining room is still pretty busy with boxes and some of what used to be in the lounge, we have been able to use the hob and oven for the first time at the weekend (img3), and this continues to improve our standard of living in the house. There is still a layer of dust on kitchen utensils that aren’t being used and on most of the visible work surface, so this weekend coming will be spent cleaning, cleaning and cleaning some more… If Anthea Turner is free this weekend, she’s more than welcome to come and give us a hand… I promise to be civil toward her! Now, that’s an offer or what?...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3: This is an almost fully-functioning kitchen</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1149593160203348452006-06-06T03:58:00.000-07:002006-06-06T06:49:30.286-07:00THE END IS NIGHSimple pleasures can be very satisfying… This is what I am currently experiencing, what with the kitchen sink being in perfect working order (img1), it means that I can actually do the dishes without having to go and fill a bowl up in the bathroom. This may not sound like the greatest advancement in history, but it makes a real difference to me, thank you for asking.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/sink_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/sink_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1: The kitchen flamingo being put through its paces.</strong><br /><br />I was actually busy with breakfast dishes this morning when I looked up through the window and thought that the view was rather pleasing (img2). For a while, I observed a dove feeding on the garage roof while a cat was doing its morning clean on top of another garage roof in the distance. Definitely beats looking at a brick wall!...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/gardenview.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/gardenview.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG2: The view from the washing up observation post.</strong><br /><br />Since the grass was mowed at the end of last week and the crap that had progressively filled it has been removed, the garden is looking positively better (img3). The guys have also cleared the garage now (img4), so we could actually (almost) start using it to park the car again.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/garden.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/garden.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3: Paparazzi-view of the crap-free, freshly mowed garden.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/garage.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/garage.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG4: The garage hasn't looked this 'tidy' for a while.</strong><br /><br />The floor in the hall was laid on Saturday (img5), and the lounge should be done sometime this week, as soon as the last coat of paint has been applied (img6), which means that we are getting near completion (TETC (Tony’s expected time of completion): Thursday). The banister is now finished painting and varnishing (img7), and all the doors upstairs have got brand new handles (img8), so we don't run the risk of getting locked in a room with no way to get out, as it happened to Sean the other night!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hall.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hall.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG5: New floor in the hallway.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG6: The lounge looking a lot fresher than it did before.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/banister.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/banister.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG7: Close encounter with the banister.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_furniture.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_furniture.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG8: No fork, just handles.</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1149192451943995742006-06-01T12:25:00.000-07:002006-06-02T00:30:21.110-07:00THEN THERE WAS LIGHT! AND FLAMINGOS...As announced earlier today, the back window and back door have now been fitted, and the back part of the kitchen is now flooded with natural light (img1-4). This actually makes a rather striking difference to the kitchen/dining room as a whole. Plus, it is nice to see the sink area decluttered and free. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/window_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/window_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/window_2.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/window_2.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1-2: New observation post...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3: The new door</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG4: Out with the old...</span><br /><br />Tonight was actually the first time I took a proper look at the kitchen sink (img5), and it looks quite good. The tap is rather camp, looking like a cross between a shiny coin and a pink flamingo…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_sink.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_sink.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG5: The kitchen flamingo</span><br /><br />Talking of sink, the one in the bathroom has finally got a waste pipe, which means that we can no officially use it (img6). We went for a shallow wall mounted sink, and today, we filled it for the first time (img7-8). Now, that’s some excitement, I can tell you! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_sink_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_sink_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG6: The bathroom flamingo and its shallow pond</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_sink_3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_sink_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_sink_4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_sink_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG7-8: The bathroom sink... Nice, isn't it?</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1149162728071157992006-06-01T04:18:00.000-07:002006-06-01T13:44:19.753-07:00SO CLOSE, YET SO FARWe had, until Tuesday, one room, the lounge, left untouched, albeit very messy and extremely dusty (img1). This is not the case anymore. Monday, Sean and I shifted whatever was in there (clothes rails, boxes, kitchen utensils, table… you name it, we had it stored in that one room), to other rooms so the guys could get started on it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">IMG1: The subtlety and entertainment value of the old iridescent wallpaper is lost on picture.</span><br /><br />Now, the (vile) wallpaper’s gone, the walls have been plastered and are now drying off gently (img2-4). The carpet, which was in dire need of ripping off, has been ripped off and is now sitting outside, waiting for a skip to materialise (img5). The new floor should be laid down as soon as the walls and ceiling have been painted, which should hopefully be early next week. This means that, apart from the two bedrooms, we do not have any other room properly finished. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_1.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_1.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG2: The lounge looking rather more empty than in recent weeks.</strong><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge_3.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge_3.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3-4: The thing under the dust sheets is not, as one could think, a piano but a couple of settees.</strong><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/carpet.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/carpet.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG5: Carpet: burn!</strong><br /><br />Annoyingly, we are still missing waste pipes in both the kitchen (img6) and the bathroom (img7), although this is due to be fixed imminently (today). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/u-bend_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/u-bend_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/sink_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/sink_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG6-7: Pipes to nowhere.</strong><br /><br />The hole in the back wall of the kitchen should also finally be filled with a brand spanking new window (img8), and the back door changed by the time we get home this evening, which will bring us a step closer to completion. Hurray!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG8: The wooden window is due to be replaced with a glass one - what a novel idea!</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1148590981311607992006-05-25T13:59:00.000-07:002006-05-26T03:14:47.900-07:00A GIANT LEAP...It’s been three weeks since the last update, and while we were away sunning ourselves in Cuba, Tony and his guys have been busy with the house, getting the two bedrooms completed (img1-4), and the staircase almost ready too (img5-6). This was actually the first thing we saw when we came in on Sunday, and a nice sight it was too. The all hall is now very white and bright, which makes it a lot more welcoming that it was before I think. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bedroom1_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bedroom1_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bedroom1_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bedroom1_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1-2: Front bedroom</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bedroom2_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bedroom2_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bedroom2_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bedroom2_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3-4: Back bedroom</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/stairs_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/stairs_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/stairs_1.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/stairs_1.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG5-6: The freshly-painted hall and staircase</span><br /><br />The bathroom is not quite complete yet, but should be by next week (img7-8). At least, we have a clean toilet (flushing cold water), a shower in working order, although we cannot currently quite use it yet as the shower screen still needs to be coated with a special product to stop water marks when dry. The sink is now in place too, but somehow the waste pipe has gone walkies, so better not use it yet. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_2.4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_2.4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG7-8: The nearly completed bathroom looking really nice</span><br /><br />Despite a continued effort from MFI to mess it all up, the kitchen is almost complete too, and looking even better than I was expecting (img9-11). We are still waiting for a few bits and pieces from them, and the windows people still haven’t come round to fit the back window and new back door, but this should finally happen next week. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_2.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_2.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_3.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_3.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG9-11: The kitchen is now completely fitted</span><br /><br />Just before we left for Cuba, we had to transfer the whole content of the two bedrooms into the lounge, which will be the last room to be done, and everything is still there so life is no short of chaotic. Not only about half of the kitchen is in there, but our complete wardrobes too.londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1146701594717463672006-05-03T13:30:00.000-07:002006-05-03T17:13:14.786-07:00CONSTRUCTION DERBY...It’s been nearly a week since I updated this blog last, and things have been moving steadily while I was away. The kitchen units at the back are pretty much all in now, and the work surface is partly down (img1-2), but, despite all this, it still seems as it will be a while until it is completed. There are some delays with MFI to deliver some of the missing bits, and there’s also been a bit of an issue with one of the guys cutting the work top to fit the sink the wrong way round. These things happen I suppose, but it means a further delay with this. At least, we are away from Friday, so we shouldn’t have to suffer chaos much longer. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_2.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_2.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The kitchen is starting to look more kitcheny</span><br /><br />The tiling in the bathroom is almost complete now (img3-8), apart from the floor, which, I suppose will be finished while we’re away. The shelves unit is taking shape too, with the back panel now in place so the pipes are hidden, and half of the unit tiled. There are some issues in the bathroom too. The plate that’s supposed to sit behind the taps, landscape-way, has been engraved… portrait way! Sean’s spoke to the bathroom people and apparently it is the case with all their stock, so they are apparently going to send our to be polished… they’re good guys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_2.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_2.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_3.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_3.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_4.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_4.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3-7: Tiles and more tiles, what was done while I was away...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG8: ...and more progress from today.</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1146170460876875112006-04-27T11:46:00.000-07:002006-04-27T13:45:50.136-07:00IN KITCHEN UNITS WE TRUSTIt’s been a few days since the last update, and there’s been some more progress on quite a few fronts. The carpet’s all gone in the hallway, staircase and landing (img1-2).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/stairs_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/stairs_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hallway_1.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hallway_1.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1-2: Who needs carpet anyway?...</span><br /><br />The kitchen floor was finished on Tuesday (img3). The section in the dining room is protected with boards to avoid any damage (img4). Since, the guys have started putting the kitchen units together (img5-7) and the new fridge and freezer and double oven are in place (img8-9).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchenfloor_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchenfloor_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3: The north wing of the dance floor.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchenfloor_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchenfloor_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG4: The dining room floor protected with board.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG5-7: The first kitchen units<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/fridge_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/fridge_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG8: The new fridge and freezer.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/oven_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/oven_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG9: I have it in good authority that two ovens are necessary.</span> <br /><br />In the bathroom, the new taps have been fitted (img10-11), and the guys have started to tile (img12-14), and it is all looking really sexy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathtaps_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathtaps_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathtaps_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathtaps_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG10-11: The new taps</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_2.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_2.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_3.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_3.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG12-14: Now, this is starting to look more like it...</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1145908270564203042006-04-24T12:30:00.000-07:002006-06-19T13:25:12.946-07:00GET DOWN ON THE NEW FLOORDust gets everywhere, and it finally got on my nerves. Look at the state of our poor turntable (img1)! I know vinyls are supposed to be a thing of the past, but there’s a limit to how much dust one can leave untouched. I know I am fighting a loosing battle, so I only did dust the Hi-Fi (some would say I’ve got my priorities all wrong, but wishing to play the beautiful new Vetiver album while writing tonight’s update, I couldn’t play it on a dusty Hi-Fi system, could I?). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hifi_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hifi_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1: This is not a 'before/after' picture, this is a 'during' picture...</span><br /><br />Mess is a state of affair when building work is going on, and the front garden is a proof of it. (img2). I won’t even bother with the back garden. First thing I noticed when I got home is a strong smell in the hallway. Looking closer, the rest of the wallpaper has come off and the walls have had bonding of some description applied to them (img3-6).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/front.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/front.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG2: We may have a storage issue.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hallway_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hallway_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hallway_2.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hallway_2.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hallway_3.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hallway_3.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/landing.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/landing.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3-6: The hallway, staircase and landing stripped bear</span><br /><br />I spent part of Saturday working in the office while the guys were just above me laying boarding in the loft (img7-8). At times, they were banging so hard it felt as if the whole house was about to collapse on my head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/loft_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/loft_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/loft_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/loft_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG7-8: The loft boarding</span><br /><br />Not much progress in the bathroom, apart for the channeling for the bath pipes, tapes and spout (img9), and, to go onto my favourite topic, we have played musical throne this weekend, with the old one from upstairs interestingly being replaced with the old green one from downstairs (img10). Not really sure why… Perhaps to keep us on our toes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG9: Nice brick effect in the bathroom.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_2.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_2.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG10: The chameleloo... even David Cameron finds it hard to keep up.</span><br /><br />The biggest change has been in the dining room. Seeing as everything’s been shifted to the kitchen (img11), the new wood flooring has been partly laid down (img12-14), and it looks really nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG11: The kitchen is rather cosy at the moment.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/floor_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/floor_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/floor_2.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/floor_2.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/floor_3.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/floor_3.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG12-14: The newly-laid floor in the dining room.</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1145660579589232512006-04-21T15:24:00.000-07:002006-04-21T16:10:31.886-07:00DAY 19 IN THE BIG BOTHER HOUSEThe floor in the kitchen extension at the back was not quite level with the rest of the house, so the guys had to lower it a bit by knocking the concrete that was there and redoing it (img1-2). The manhole has also been changed, all ready for the guys to start laying the floor next week. From there, that part of the house is going to start looking more habitable. I can’t wait. The dining room ceiling has received its second coat of white paint (img3).<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_floor_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_floor_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_floor_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_floor_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1-2: The concrete floor in the extension</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/diningroom_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/diningroom_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3: The dining room ceiling looking positively whiter than the walls</strong><br /><br />In the bathroom, things are progressing. No major change but the plumbing for the towel rail and the new sink seem to be sorted (img4-5), but the bath fixtures haven’t been changed yet. Think should start to improve there too from next week. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG4-5: More progress in the bathroom</strong><br />Continuing on my now recurring toilet topic, I am dying to finally get something that can be used without requiring full decontamination first and manual treatment after use (img6).<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/toilet_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/toilet_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG6: Luxury muck...</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1145560062984616132006-04-20T11:13:00.000-07:002006-04-20T12:15:46.630-07:00WHERE IT IS TALKED ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE OF AN OUTSIDE LOOThe dining room and part of the kitchen received their first coat of white paint yesterday (img1-3), and the hole for the new back window is taking shape (img4-5), and the door frame for the bathroom door is in place too (img6). <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/dining_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/dining_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/dining_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/dining_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1-3: The dining room and kitchen have had their first coat of paint</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/window_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/window_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/window_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/window_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG4-5: The new window at the back.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG6: The door frame to the bathroom</strong><br /><br />The garage had been emptying nicely over the last week, but the kitchen was delivered yesterday, and it is full to the brim again (img7). <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/garage_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/garage_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG7: The garage had been emptying a bit in the last week... until it filled up again yesterday.</strong><br /><br />As I said the other day, the downstairs loo has now gone and is now outside on the patio (img8). Not quite as private as I usually like that kind of conveniences to be...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/outsideloo_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/outsideloo_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG8: Al-fresco loo anyone?</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1145386578492402962006-04-18T11:42:00.000-07:002006-04-18T15:20:20.376-07:00LOO-LOO, LOVE LOO-LOO...There was always going to be one thing more difficult to deal with than the absence of shower or bath facility, that is the lack of working toilet. Great then! We have officially no mechanically-flushed toilet anymore. The upstairs loo has been flush-less ever since the bathroom was pulled apart (was it only last week?), and today, the loo downstairs has lost its flush too. <br /><br />It may appear as if I have been developing some kind of unhealthy toilet obsession in recent days, and I am actually wondering whether I’ll ever spend another day without mentioning any kind of throne or flush… none of them of the royal sort. When I got home tonight, I found a nice half-filled bright yellow bucket by the downstairs loo, and I began to suspect that something was going ever-so-slightly wrong (img1). On closer inspection, I noticed that the cistern top was lying against the wall, and that the cistern was empty… to my despair (img2). Obviously, although I was absolutely fine a moment before, I suddenly felt the need to use this new kind of facility, and believe me faithful readers, it is not the most glamourous thing I’ve even done. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/toilet_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/toilet_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1: Bucket: 1 Spade: 0</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/toilet_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/toilet_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG2: One of the Surrey reservoirs <em>HAS</em> ran dry</strong><br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, the old back window has now gone (img3-4) and has been replaced with some nice boards, until the new window is put in place, which should hopefully be soon. The kitchen walls are now pretty much plastered, and I would suspect that the flooring is going to be laid imminentely. The kitchen is being delivered tomorrow.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/window_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/window_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/window_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/window_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3-4: The old back window has gone.</strong><br /><br />Plastering in the bathroom is going well to. The guys were finishing the ceiling as I got home, and the new stud wall is also up (img6), which surely indicates that we’re close to get a working shower again. On the other side of the wall will be some shelves that we are planning to use to keep towels. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_3.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_3.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG5: We went for a drapé-style floor in the bathroom.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG6: The new wall where the shower will be.</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1145205671072430102006-04-16T08:46:00.000-07:002006-04-16T09:49:36.933-07:00I AM THE (HOUSE) RESURRECTIONThis is Easter weekend, so I am sure the neighbours will have thoroughly enjoyed the piece and quiet of the last couple of days. Sean being away in Jersey all weekend, I have been able to enjoy dust-heaven on my own. <br /><br />Things are still moving pretty quickly, and I believe that major changes will be happening in the next couple of weeks, with the kitchen being delivered on Wednesday, the back door and new back window fitted soon and the bathroom fully kitted, including underfloor heating. As it stands, the bathroom is relatively rudimentary (img1-4), but thanks to Tony and his very efficient team, I have a fully working bath. And it is fucking huge too! The first time I stepped in it and lied down, I nearly drowned as my feet couldn’t actually touch the end! Since, I’ve had a bath everyday (it’s that or stinking), so I can imagine that the Kent and Surrey reservoirs are getting a real hammering. I must admit that, although having showers at work has been an “interesting” experience, I am glad to know that I will be able to leave the house fresh on Tuesday morning. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1: All mod-cons and all that...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG2: Unashamed opulence.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_3.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_3.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bath_4.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bath_4.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG:3-4: These aren't just copper taps, these are the finest, most delicately hand-crafted taps made with the most luxurious Brazilian copper this side of B&Q.</span><br /><br />The living area is quite precarious too. We still have an outside hot water tape, a luxury that has made us the envy of our street, and the sink is still standing (img5), although it is not connected to any waste pipe. We are using a bowl to wash up (img6), and, force of habit, on the first night, I nearly emptied it in the sink. Now, I can imagine how funny that would have been! The cooker is standing on its own now, looking more desolate by the minute (img7), and the only part of the dining room used is still that one corner where the fridge, freezer, microwave oven, kettle and bread bin are (img8).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_sink_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_sink_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG5: Everything but the kitchen sing</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_sink_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_sink_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />IMG6: The bowl in the sink</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/cooker_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/cooker_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG7: Even for a seriously cooking-impaired person like me, this is not ideal.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/diningroom_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/diningroom_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG8<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>: This is hardly The Ivy... </span><br /><br />Now, those of you who have been following this blog since the early days will remember me mentioning our hot-water-flushed open-plan back-kitchen toilet, which used to be, funnily enough, a back toilet. Well, I thought it was time to reveal the conditions in which we have been living and give this fine piece of enamelware its fifteen minute of fame, so enjoy these couple of pictures (img9-10). Soon, this “facility” will be gone forever… (may turn up on eBay at some point though…)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/loo_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/loo_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/loo_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/loo_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG9-10: Our now world-famous downstairs throne, as part of our open-plan toilet.</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144864592095536442006-04-12T10:38:00.000-07:002006-04-12T10:58:15.360-07:00STRIPPED AND PLASTERED, A NORMAL DAY IN MORDENThe focus has gone off the dining room, where the plaster’s still drying nicely thank you, and the kitchen to the bathroom all plastered too (img1), and now the work is spreading to the hallway where the wallpaper’s started to come off (img2-3). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1: The newly-plastered bathroom</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hallway_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hallway_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/hallway_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/hallway_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG2-3: The wallpaper has come off in the staircase</span><br /><br />Also, the marble tiles for the bathroom were delivered today and are currently keeping company to my scooter in the garage (img4-5). The bath should move from the garage (img6) to the bathroom tomorrow. Last, the trap door to the loft has also been changed today (img7).<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/tiles_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/tiles_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/tiles_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/tiles_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG4-5: The bathroom tiles, currently kept in the garage.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/garage_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/garage_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG6: The new bath waiting to be taken to its definitive place.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/trap_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/trap_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG7: The new trap to the loft.</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144781358326469162006-04-11T11:28:00.000-07:002006-04-11T11:49:18.370-07:00DUST ANYONE?...The guys have started on the bathroom now (img1-3), which means that we do not have any bath, shower or sink, and the only way to flush the loo upstairs is to use a bucket! Actually, the only tap that’s got hot water is the tap outside (img4), and while the toilet downstairs is still connected (flushing with hot water if you don’t mind), it is also covered with dust and muck. Not ideal, clearly. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1: Lonely toilet</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG2: There used to be a bath, a sink and a partition wall</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/bathroom_3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/bathroom_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3: er... what's that supposed to do in a bathroom?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/outside.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/outside.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG4: Our only hot-water supply</span><br /><br />Tony said that his guys will be plastering the bathroom tomorrow so they can at least get the bath in on Thursday on time for the weekend. Should be fun!<br /><br />Elsewhere, the plastering in the dinning room is going well (img5). The sink in the kitchen has now been disconnected and moved a bit (img6-7). Apparently, Tony will try to get the sink connected to the waste pipe again for the weekend. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/dr_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/dr_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG5: Part of the newly-plastered dinning room</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG6: Where the kitchen used to be...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG7: ...and where it is now!</span><br /><br />Surely, the only way is up from here! The kitchen is being delivered mid-next week, and the tiles for the bathroom should be in soon, so I suspect that things will start to fall into place from there… <br /><br />Sean's choosen to stay away tonight. Wimp! He's missing all the fun. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/lounge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/lounge.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Our survival kit... boxes with the bear essential in the lounge. </span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144492288361173522006-04-08T03:29:00.000-07:002006-04-08T05:13:43.296-07:00DAY OF THE EARLY BIRDS<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/skip.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/skip.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>This year's must-have accessory: a big yellow skip outside the house</strong><br /><br />Welcome to Saturday morning. I was looking forward to a bit of a lie-in this morning as every time I’ve been at home, the builders didn’t turn up until after 9.30. This morning however, they got in at 8.30, blasting through my hope of waking up nicely. Since, there’s been a lot of banging as they are preparing the kitchen to fit the electrics and plumbing. This prompted Frank, the neighbour, to come around and have a moan, which is becoming a bit of a regular feature. The guys know that they legally can bang, drill, knock and generally make a whole lot of noise until 1pm, and I really hope they do! Take that Frank!...<br /><br />The old kitchen door is now completely blocked (img1-3), which is a bit strange as this obviously changes the traffic flow in the house drastically. The boiler has been fitted in the loft (img4-5), and it looks like we will have hot water and heating back on by this evening. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1: Can you see what it is yet?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_1.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_1.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG2: Yep, this used to be a door</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_2.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_2.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3: The blocked door from the dining room</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/new_boiler.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/new_boiler.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG4: The new boiler in the loft</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/pipes_1.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/pipes_1.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG5: Pipes in the loft</strong><br /><br />It all feels like work is going well, which is good news. Sean’s had a bit of a worrying moment earlier when one of the builders told him that there would be a bit of a gap in a couple of places in the kitchen, so we are now going to get back to the kitchen people to change a couple of cupboards.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/stairs_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/stairs_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>Stairway to dust heaven</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/pipes_bathroom.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/pipes_bathroom.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>The new pipes going through the bathroom</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/pipes_down.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/pipes_down.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>Looking down to the kitchen</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/pipes_up.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/pipes_up.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>Looking up to the loft and the old chimney stack</strong>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144364859870724722006-04-06T16:03:00.000-07:002006-04-06T16:09:33.910-07:00A HOUSE, IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREETDue to popular demand, here are a few shots of the house taken yesterday…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/front_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/front_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/front_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/front_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1 & 2: Front of the house</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/back_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/back_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3: View of the back of the house from the garden which currently looks a bit like a builder's backyard</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144364086493900332006-04-06T15:44:00.000-07:002006-04-06T15:58:57.430-07:00DAY 4 IN THE BIG BOTHER HOUSE...Work is continuing at a good pace. Yesterday, the boiler in the kitchen was taken away and the chimney stack came down (img.1), leaving us with no hot water, so we have to boil three or four kettles to do the dishes. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG1: The space where the boiler and chimney stack were</strong><br /><br />The guys finished stripping the wallpaper in the dining room ready to start plastering tomorrow (img.2). They have got the pipes ready for the new kitchen, and the new boiler should be fitted tomorrow or Saturday in the loft. Last, the old kitchen door is now blocked with a wooden frame (img.3 & 4). <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/room_3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/room_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG2: The dining room with our fridge, freezer and essentials on the right</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG3: View of the old kitchen doorway from the corridor</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/door_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/door_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>IMG4: View of the old kitchen doorway from the dining room</strong><br /><br />Next week should be interesting as the bathroom is being pulled out on Monday, so God knows what we’re going to do. If you see one of us and we smell, you’ll know why!londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144309375047330642006-04-06T00:41:00.000-07:002006-04-06T16:12:09.900-07:00WELCOME TO THE CHILLER CABINETWell, I suppose it was <I>always</I> going to happen. All last week, the weather had finally taken a turn into spring as the temperatures were going up. <br /><br />Yesterday, the boiler was pulled out and disconnected, just on time for the return of morning frost, and generally, cooler temperatures. We’ve got no hot water (apart from the electric shower, probably the first time I actually welcome the damn thing with opened arms), and no heating! Woopy. We went to buy a small fan heater last night, but unfortunately it produces about as much heat as my left thumb, so possibly not a great buy, but there. Thank God Dolly’s also lent us a heater so at least it was toasting in the bedroom…<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/boiler_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/boiler_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>The old boiler is not boiling much anymore...</strong><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/garden_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/garden_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Our new garden water feature...</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144194635258765322006-04-04T16:40:00.000-07:002006-04-04T16:50:35.266-07:00ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUSTNot so much of a major change today, but it is perhaps also because I was working from home, so I kind of followed the progress a bit. With the wall between the kitchen and dining room turning out not to support anything, Tony (our builder) suggested we open up the wall at the back of the kitchen and use the metal joist to support the wall there. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_0405_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_0405_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG1: Another bit of wall has come down</span><br /><br />Today, his guys pulled the wall down (img. 1 & 2) and got the joist in place, and it has actually opened up the back section of the kitchen completely, bringing in tones of natural light. When the back window gets sorted, this room will actually have even more natural light coming in, which is just great. At the moment though, all you can see when you come in is the bog at the back!...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen_0405_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen_0405_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG2: The view from the current kitchen door, before it gets blocked out.</span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1144096864584378622006-04-03T13:21:00.000-07:002006-04-03T16:25:59.300-07:00DESTRUCTION DERBY PT. 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/Kitchen_4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/Kitchen_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Is it too late to change my mind about that wall?"</span> thinks Sean...</span><br /><br />That's it, it's all started, and so far, not too much dust considering... The wall between the dining room and the kitchen has come down (img. 1), and it is already looking VERY different. It gives us a bit more of a feel for the space that we're having to play with and also gives us a clearer idea of what the final room will look like. To everybody's surprise, that wall was not actually supporting anything, so this gave Tony the idea to open up the gap left by the old door to the back toilet, as this is actually a supporting wall, and use the metal beam to support this part of the house. As long as the whole thing doesn't cave in on us, I'm happy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/Kitchen_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/Kitchen_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG 1: The wall <span style="font-style:italic;">has</span> come down</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/Kitchen_3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/Kitchen_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG 2: This is what I call an open kitchen</span><br /><br />The back wall of the kitchen and the toilet wall at the back have also come down, but the guys have left the toilet, so it is now possible to sit on the bog and wave at the neighbours across the road. That's a novel idea and should make us very popular with the locals... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/Kitchen_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/Kitchen_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">IMG3: <span style="font-style:italic;">"The toilet's at the back, luv'."</span></span>londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25121766.post-1143801760885206962006-03-31T02:39:00.000-08:002006-03-31T03:01:35.910-08:00DESTRUCTION DERBY PT. 1This is the weekend before the week! From Monday, builders are invading the house, bringing chaos and destruction with them, and the big work starts, … The plan for the coming week is as follow: <br /><br />Monday: the wall between the kitchen and the dining room (img.1 & 2) comes down, and the rest of the kitchen gets stripped out, leaving us with just a cooker, a sink and loads of dust in there. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/kitchen.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><B>IMG 1: The kitchen</B><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/diningroom.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/diningroom.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><B>IMG 2: The dining room as it is now</B><br /><br />Tuesday: the boiler (currently in the kitchen) is disconnected and works begin on getting the pipes sorted so the new boiler can bit fitted in the loft. This means that we won’t have any hot water or central heating. Good job the weather’s finally warming up a bit.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/1600/batroom.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2139/1950/320/batroom.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><B>IMG 3: The <I>old</I> bathroom and the rather subtle green toilet</B><br /><br />Wednesday/Thursday/Friday: more of the above. Hopefully, the new boiler should be fitted toward the end of the week.<br /><br />Also coming: the wall between the bathroom and the toilet get pulled down, the old bathroom suit and toiled (img. 3) get stripped out, and this feels even more like chaos! We know we’ve got a good 5 to 6 weeks of this, but the good thing is that we’re actually going away before the end of the work, so it will actually be nice to come back to a brand spanking new kitchen/dining room and extended bathroom!londonmilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14283526867187742363noreply@blogger.com0