Yup.
On our way home from somewhere or other this the morning we were pondering what to do next. Weekly shopping. Tidying after double glazing. Housework. Crash out at home.
We made our decision and just went, without telling anyone in advance, without making any arrangements.
We just travelled, arrived, had lunch, did what we wanted to do, went somewhere else, looked at what we wanted to look at, bought a couple of bits and pieces, had cake (tarte aux abricots for me, tarte au citron for him) and coffee, stayed for a meal (sea bass for me, steak for him) and came home.
It was a magical day.
Not telling where we went. Don't want to break the spell. I've told you what we ate. That should be enough.
I have a feeling that this was the first away day for us, with no appointments, no requirements, no agenda, no reason, just the two of us
since...
sometime in 2014. When in 2014? Can't remember. Too long ago.
There were a couple of emails awaiting response when we got home, and the appointments and schedules are beginning to solidify the upcoming days. Good job we ran away when we could.
We were back in time to feed the cats.
Monday, 30 March 2015
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Saturday 28th March - 116 things to throw away update
Anyone looking at the page "116 things to throw away" would think that we haven't thrown anything away since January.
That's so untrue. Except it's sort of true. It depends. Lots of stuff is on its way out, just not made it through the door yet.
The large IKEA bag I filled in January
is still at the top of the stairs, over-flowing now with even more clothes and things. It will have to be repacked into three large IKEA bags now.
And another half-dozen or more bags have been added; some ours, some as a result of my parents working through their wardrobes before moving house.
However, when the garage went in January (or was it February?), EVERYTHING inside went as well! It was crammed full of this, that and the other. A few things were saved, some were "rescued" by the workmen ("If you don't want this child's bike/broken clock/set of spanners/bit of wood, could I have it?") and some went on the back of their truck, never to trouble our lives again.
So, over the past few months quite a lot has gone. Biscuit tins that were a "decorative" feature above the sitting-room curtains for 30 years. GONE! Glass jars. GONE!
Less clutter makes for more happiness. Trust me on this!
Oh, and here's a different sort of de-cluttering: this red bucket of earth and bulbs was lurking in my father's garage back in December, as far as I can judge. "Here, you have it".
I eventually found time to shove them into a vacant trough. What a joy!
That's so untrue. Except it's sort of true. It depends. Lots of stuff is on its way out, just not made it through the door yet.
The large IKEA bag I filled in January
And another half-dozen or more bags have been added; some ours, some as a result of my parents working through their wardrobes before moving house.
However, when the garage went in January (or was it February?), EVERYTHING inside went as well! It was crammed full of this, that and the other. A few things were saved, some were "rescued" by the workmen ("If you don't want this child's bike/broken clock/set of spanners/bit of wood, could I have it?") and some went on the back of their truck, never to trouble our lives again.
So, over the past few months quite a lot has gone. Biscuit tins that were a "decorative" feature above the sitting-room curtains for 30 years. GONE! Glass jars. GONE!
Less clutter makes for more happiness. Trust me on this!
Oh, and here's a different sort of de-cluttering: this red bucket of earth and bulbs was lurking in my father's garage back in December, as far as I can judge. "Here, you have it".
I eventually found time to shove them into a vacant trough. What a joy!
Saturday 28th March - Double Glazing Phase 1
The activity of the past two days is over, and double glazing phase 1 is complete.
There have been a couple of snags along the way, which will be sorted in due course. That's only what we expect with this house. You can hit an unexpected and unforsee-able problem due to its cranky construction, or encounter something terrible resulting from the various "improvements" that were undertaken before we bought it. "Undertaken" is a great work in this context. They certainly fell well under normal expectations, for safety, reliability, quality of finish....... Anyway, we always assume that something must go wrong somewhere to keep up the tradition of "surprises" that lie in wait once we start doing anything more radical than changing the battery in a torch.
I'm not going to bother with the details of what still needs to be done. A handle here, a pane of glass there. That sort of thing.
But here are some "after" pictures to give you the general idea of what we have now.
The sitting-room window. We paid extra for the window latches because I loathe the functional handles you get on modern windows. I had resigned myself to them, until I saw these "monkey-tail" latches. Big Yes.
The kitchen window, looking unnaturally clean and clear.
This is more like it should be: look at the gleaming sine on those tea-pots!
All the clutter from the hall window and kitchen window just got added to what was already on the dining-room table. Clearing that isn't going so well. Quite a lot of things had been squeezed onto the kitchen windowsill and are NOT going back... new homes required.
The same is will happen when I replace selected items onto the hall windowsill. Clearing the dining-room table is going to be even more challenging than usual.
At least I've put the music stand away. Dunno what I'm going to do with the Olympic flag.
There have been a couple of snags along the way, which will be sorted in due course. That's only what we expect with this house. You can hit an unexpected and unforsee-able problem due to its cranky construction, or encounter something terrible resulting from the various "improvements" that were undertaken before we bought it. "Undertaken" is a great work in this context. They certainly fell well under normal expectations, for safety, reliability, quality of finish....... Anyway, we always assume that something must go wrong somewhere to keep up the tradition of "surprises" that lie in wait once we start doing anything more radical than changing the battery in a torch.
I'm not going to bother with the details of what still needs to be done. A handle here, a pane of glass there. That sort of thing.
But here are some "after" pictures to give you the general idea of what we have now.
The sitting-room window. We paid extra for the window latches because I loathe the functional handles you get on modern windows. I had resigned myself to them, until I saw these "monkey-tail" latches. Big Yes.
The kitchen window, looking unnaturally clean and clear.
This is more like it should be: look at the gleaming sine on those tea-pots!
All the clutter from the hall window and kitchen window just got added to what was already on the dining-room table. Clearing that isn't going so well. Quite a lot of things had been squeezed onto the kitchen windowsill and are NOT going back... new homes required.
The same is will happen when I replace selected items onto the hall windowsill. Clearing the dining-room table is going to be even more challenging than usual.
At least I've put the music stand away. Dunno what I'm going to do with the Olympic flag.
Friday, 27 March 2015
Friday 27th March - New Windows!
I've just cancelled the last three piano lessons I'm supposed to teach tonight.
This is because, after 31 years, we have achieved Double Glazing. Or rather we are in the process of achieving it. We knew, when we moved in, long ago in the Spring of 1984, that the windows needed replacing. However we just about emptied every bank account, every piggy bank, and retrieved all the loose coins from down the back of the cushions in the settee, in order to raise the money to buy this house.
So, we patched the windows with paint and polyfilla until such time as we could gather the double glazing money together. After a decade, we thought we could now go ahead - so instead of painting the windows that year, we made the plans....
and then spent the money on an unexpectedly urgently needed replacement car.
Never mind, there's always the next year...... or the next year, or the year after
but then came
redundancies (his, then mine, then both, then his)
expenses (computers, washing machines, fridge-freezers, more cars)
so this year became next year became sometime.... and all the while it didn't seem worth painting the windows, and certainly not worth the expense of getting them painted because we were always just about to get them replaced.
So this is what the front of the house has looked like for the past few years:
I'll post the "after" pictures tomorrow.
This is because, after 31 years, we have achieved Double Glazing. Or rather we are in the process of achieving it. We knew, when we moved in, long ago in the Spring of 1984, that the windows needed replacing. However we just about emptied every bank account, every piggy bank, and retrieved all the loose coins from down the back of the cushions in the settee, in order to raise the money to buy this house.
So, we patched the windows with paint and polyfilla until such time as we could gather the double glazing money together. After a decade, we thought we could now go ahead - so instead of painting the windows that year, we made the plans....
and then spent the money on an unexpectedly urgently needed replacement car.
Never mind, there's always the next year...... or the next year, or the year after
but then came
redundancies (his, then mine, then both, then his)
expenses (computers, washing machines, fridge-freezers, more cars)
so this year became next year became sometime.... and all the while it didn't seem worth painting the windows, and certainly not worth the expense of getting them painted because we were always just about to get them replaced.
So this is what the front of the house has looked like for the past few years:
Do you remember DIY retro-fit secondary double glazing? Ugh. I can't wait to see this go!
I'll post the "after" pictures tomorrow.
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Thursday 26th March - Excuses, excuses?
So I don't write anything for nearly three weeks and then you get a whole load of verbiage about pens and notebooks and diaries?
The start of this year as been an absolute cracker. Or knackering. That's probably a better word.
We ("my husband and I") finished last year pretty much on our knees as a result of everything that happened throughout 2014. There was a lot to be done on both sides of our family, and the days and months and weekends sped by relentlessly. I arrived at the Christmas "holiday" ready for a fortnight's hibernation, but that was not an option.
The New Year had barely started when we were back in top gear, careering breathlessly through the days; parents moving house, me having chest infections, BB assembling regiments of IKEA wardrobes, bookshelves and bathroom cabinets, all the extra teaching work that I took on for this academic year and so on and so on And it was such a good thing that my brother was able to come down for the week of house moving, and again this week just gone to hang pictures.
Half term in the middle of February was NOT a break. Instead of "a week off" there were three days of routine hospital appointments, one morning at the dentist, leaving just the one day for planningandhouseworkandvarioustasksandgettingthingsdone. Catching up with friends didn't happen that time.
Most evenings I have been watching the clock from 7:30pm and waiting until it is reasonable to go to bed. say, around 8:45 pm. Sometimes we've managed to stay up as late as 10pm! Then up at 6am and on the road ready to cajole cohorts of children into tootling their recorders, whanging their ukuleles or whatever is next on the schedule.
Blogging has been way down there on the list of priorities!
So, now, the end of term is in sight (last day tomorrow, whoop whoop). never has such a short term - a mere eleven weeks long instead of the more usual 13 - felt so long and unending.
There are two weeks holiday this time. This Sunday is already fully booked, I want to visit my Godmother one day, I have ANOTHER routine hospital appointment, the middle weekend is the long Easter when the family will be coming to stay (whoop whoop again!) and will probably stay until after the Tuesday, and before I know it.....
Whoosh - back to school!
The start of this year as been an absolute cracker. Or knackering. That's probably a better word.
We ("my husband and I") finished last year pretty much on our knees as a result of everything that happened throughout 2014. There was a lot to be done on both sides of our family, and the days and months and weekends sped by relentlessly. I arrived at the Christmas "holiday" ready for a fortnight's hibernation, but that was not an option.
The New Year had barely started when we were back in top gear, careering breathlessly through the days; parents moving house, me having chest infections, BB assembling regiments of IKEA wardrobes, bookshelves and bathroom cabinets, all the extra teaching work that I took on for this academic year and so on and so on And it was such a good thing that my brother was able to come down for the week of house moving, and again this week just gone to hang pictures.
Half term in the middle of February was NOT a break. Instead of "a week off" there were three days of routine hospital appointments, one morning at the dentist, leaving just the one day for planningandhouseworkandvarioustasksandgettingthingsdone. Catching up with friends didn't happen that time.
Most evenings I have been watching the clock from 7:30pm and waiting until it is reasonable to go to bed. say, around 8:45 pm. Sometimes we've managed to stay up as late as 10pm! Then up at 6am and on the road ready to cajole cohorts of children into tootling their recorders, whanging their ukuleles or whatever is next on the schedule.
Blogging has been way down there on the list of priorities!
So, now, the end of term is in sight (last day tomorrow, whoop whoop). never has such a short term - a mere eleven weeks long instead of the more usual 13 - felt so long and unending.
There are two weeks holiday this time. This Sunday is already fully booked, I want to visit my Godmother one day, I have ANOTHER routine hospital appointment, the middle weekend is the long Easter when the family will be coming to stay (whoop whoop again!) and will probably stay until after the Tuesday, and before I know it.....
Whoosh - back to school!
Thursday 26th March - F-o-u-n-t-a-i-n- P-e-n-s
Most teachers of my acquaintance have a stationery obsession to some degree. Skip this post if all things pen and paper leave you cold.
I've been indulging mine these past few weeks;
Recent purchases have been a Moleskine "Chapters" journal (two, actually, I couldn't decide on the colour and they were only £3.50 each). I should have measured them first; then I would have bought the larger size as these are a bit too small for ease of use. I haven't yet sent off for the larger size; it's been a near thing once or twice, but so far I have managed to resist. I would use them as a handbag notebook - passing address, ISBN of a likely-looking book, jot down a poem from the tube, filch a recipe from a cookery book that just "happened" to fall open at the right page, sketch something that catches my eye...
Then there are fountain pens. I've still got the little Parker, engraved with my name, from when I was a school. It sort of writes, but I "modified" the nib so may times to make it work "better" (I'm left-handed and used to find all pen nibs un-cooperative) that it should really either have a new nib or have a decent burial.
I use the Schaeffer cartridge pen given to me by my brother about forty years ago. It writes so smoothly, and is totally reliable. It has black ink in it for important and grownup things like writing cheques or filling in official forms.
I've a couple of cheap Osmiroyd fountain pens with italic nibs, which I bought at university years and years ago for writing out runes and poems from "The Lord of the Rings" and inscrutable symbols for the plants or from alchemy texts. As you do, when you are in the phase of your life. I don't use them much now - they really are not very satisfactory as writing instruments.
Then I discovered the website www.bureaudirect.co.uk. Financial disaster. If your order comes to £10 or more there is no charge for delivery. Well, a flat white costs close to £3 from my favourite expensive coffee shop, and that's before you add a croissant. And last year I used to call in at greater and lesser coffee and tea shops several times a week as I roared around the countryside from one school to the next, whereas this year that is simply not happening. So, the occasional order from Bureaudirect is still a saving, and very low-calorie compared to last year.
Just look at the desirability of this:
a dinky Herbin fountain pen and set of six Herbin ink cartridges in one of around 20 colours of ink. I chose this green. Ahhh. All for £10.95
And my other favourite pen:
The Lamy Safari. I bought the cartridge version, because it is easy to keep a spare handy, but then I discovered you can buy conversion thingies, so now I can refill it with any colour ink I want. Purple at the moment. Periwinkle. Orange. Even blue (the midnight blue with gold flecks in it).
Oh, and my other other favourite pen: the Lamy ABC, with matching 6mm pencil. Mine's red, not blue. It contains burgundy ink.
So what brought all this on as a blog post? I really just wanted to record a link to this super desirable planner that I really, really want next year. I'm using a Moleskine planner for my daily appointments and notes, and a larger Moleskine for a page-a-day diary/journal that I write up every (nearly every) evening, but the Hobonichi looks to be eminently wantable. I am wanting it very much at the moment, but the Moleskine planner is only half full!
http://www.thejournalshop.com/hobonichi-techo-planner
I'm managing the "waste-not" part of the wise old saying, but "want not" is not happening right now.
Oh, just a final note; I kept a page-a-day journal all through last year, and am doing the same this year. It is quite amusing to read what was happening in our lives a year ago - so much I had already forgotten. Several times I wondered what the point of the diary was - now I know.
I've been indulging mine these past few weeks;
Recent purchases have been a Moleskine "Chapters" journal (two, actually, I couldn't decide on the colour and they were only £3.50 each). I should have measured them first; then I would have bought the larger size as these are a bit too small for ease of use. I haven't yet sent off for the larger size; it's been a near thing once or twice, but so far I have managed to resist. I would use them as a handbag notebook - passing address, ISBN of a likely-looking book, jot down a poem from the tube, filch a recipe from a cookery book that just "happened" to fall open at the right page, sketch something that catches my eye...
Then there are fountain pens. I've still got the little Parker, engraved with my name, from when I was a school. It sort of writes, but I "modified" the nib so may times to make it work "better" (I'm left-handed and used to find all pen nibs un-cooperative) that it should really either have a new nib or have a decent burial.
I use the Schaeffer cartridge pen given to me by my brother about forty years ago. It writes so smoothly, and is totally reliable. It has black ink in it for important and grownup things like writing cheques or filling in official forms.
I've a couple of cheap Osmiroyd fountain pens with italic nibs, which I bought at university years and years ago for writing out runes and poems from "The Lord of the Rings" and inscrutable symbols for the plants or from alchemy texts. As you do, when you are in the phase of your life. I don't use them much now - they really are not very satisfactory as writing instruments.
Then I discovered the website www.bureaudirect.co.uk. Financial disaster. If your order comes to £10 or more there is no charge for delivery. Well, a flat white costs close to £3 from my favourite expensive coffee shop, and that's before you add a croissant. And last year I used to call in at greater and lesser coffee and tea shops several times a week as I roared around the countryside from one school to the next, whereas this year that is simply not happening. So, the occasional order from Bureaudirect is still a saving, and very low-calorie compared to last year.
Just look at the desirability of this:
a dinky Herbin fountain pen and set of six Herbin ink cartridges in one of around 20 colours of ink. I chose this green. Ahhh. All for £10.95
And my other favourite pen:
The Lamy Safari. I bought the cartridge version, because it is easy to keep a spare handy, but then I discovered you can buy conversion thingies, so now I can refill it with any colour ink I want. Purple at the moment. Periwinkle. Orange. Even blue (the midnight blue with gold flecks in it).
Oh, and my other other favourite pen: the Lamy ABC, with matching 6mm pencil. Mine's red, not blue. It contains burgundy ink.
So what brought all this on as a blog post? I really just wanted to record a link to this super desirable planner that I really, really want next year. I'm using a Moleskine planner for my daily appointments and notes, and a larger Moleskine for a page-a-day diary/journal that I write up every (nearly every) evening, but the Hobonichi looks to be eminently wantable. I am wanting it very much at the moment, but the Moleskine planner is only half full!
http://www.thejournalshop.com/hobonichi-techo-planner
I'm managing the "waste-not" part of the wise old saying, but "want not" is not happening right now.
Oh, just a final note; I kept a page-a-day journal all through last year, and am doing the same this year. It is quite amusing to read what was happening in our lives a year ago - so much I had already forgotten. Several times I wondered what the point of the diary was - now I know.
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Saturday 7th March - ?Jet-lagged?
How can you feel jet lagged when you haven't been near a plane?
Yesterday was a strange day - I felt as though I was floating along, and the ground rocking gently under my feet. I didn't feel unwell, or anything like that. In the end, I narrowed it down to that feeling when you step on dry land after several days on a small boat, or after a long-haul flight and change of time-zones.
It was the first day when I could walk around outside without wearing a warm coat (and scarf as well).
We went to Petworth for lunch (very good savoury quiche and salad, and excellent coffee, at The Cocoa Lounge), browsed in the Delicatessen but didn't buy any more cheese. Good to know that they stock "Old Amsterdam" gouda. We bought birthday presents and cards.
We were trapped by The Petworth Bookshop - a truly eclectic independent shop full of books that I want to buy, and unusual oddments, equally desirable. Bought more birthday presents.
.
Home, via Staples where I was hoping to buy something in particular for someone in particular, but they have had a refit and that range has been discontinued. However, they have sent all their discontinued stock to the Staples in the next town, and lo, behold, it is all half-price AND "buy one, get one free", including the tote bag that I really, really wanted for work, but had refused to buy on the grounds that at £40 it was far too expensive. I bought two. At half-price for one and free for the other. And the something in particular for the someone in particular.
So we floated gently through the day together, ignoring everything that needed to be done, and doing just what we wanted to do, coming home with all kinds of books and goodies.
I'm glad to say the floaty feeling had worn off by the next day.
Yesterday was a strange day - I felt as though I was floating along, and the ground rocking gently under my feet. I didn't feel unwell, or anything like that. In the end, I narrowed it down to that feeling when you step on dry land after several days on a small boat, or after a long-haul flight and change of time-zones.
It was the first day when I could walk around outside without wearing a warm coat (and scarf as well).
We went to Petworth for lunch (very good savoury quiche and salad, and excellent coffee, at The Cocoa Lounge), browsed in the Delicatessen but didn't buy any more cheese. Good to know that they stock "Old Amsterdam" gouda. We bought birthday presents and cards.
We were trapped by The Petworth Bookshop - a truly eclectic independent shop full of books that I want to buy, and unusual oddments, equally desirable. Bought more birthday presents.
.
Home, via Staples where I was hoping to buy something in particular for someone in particular, but they have had a refit and that range has been discontinued. However, they have sent all their discontinued stock to the Staples in the next town, and lo, behold, it is all half-price AND "buy one, get one free", including the tote bag that I really, really wanted for work, but had refused to buy on the grounds that at £40 it was far too expensive. I bought two. At half-price for one and free for the other. And the something in particular for the someone in particular.
So we floated gently through the day together, ignoring everything that needed to be done, and doing just what we wanted to do, coming home with all kinds of books and goodies.
I'm glad to say the floaty feeling had worn off by the next day.
Sunday 8th March - I said I'd let you know how we got on.
Me:
- Haircut NOT YET!
- 5 letters outstanding (3 from Christmas) One done, 4 to go.
- Invitation to reply to for Sunday DONE
- 2 telephone calls to reply to I've forgotten what one of them was. The other is still to do.
- Work admin and emails DONE
- Clean bathroom and loo DONE
- Women's World Day of Prayer on Friday I didn't go. I was asleep on the settee at home.
- Start taking the bags (about 8) to the charity shop We are still adding to them almost daily. Perhaps we should open our own charity shop.
- Monday (recorders, piano, samba, djembe, theory) DONE
- Tuesday (recorders, theory, ukulele, 2 more piano lessons) DONE
- Wednesday (keyboard, samba, recorders, ukulele, 2 more piano lessons) DONE
- Thursday (Music Club, ukulele, 3 class music lessons, theory, exam rehearsal) DONE
- Friday (Music Club, exam rehearsals, recorders, ukuleles, 3 more piano lessons) DONE
Him:
- Housework Hoovering complete, and other background tasks along the way.
- Washing basket is over-flowing THREE (4?) LOADS THROUGH. Basket nearly empty
- Fridge is empty FRIDGE IS RE-FILLED. Then we ate most of it. So it is empty again.
- Weeds are growing Still Growing
- Grass is growing Still Growing
- 3 IKEA cabinets to make up and install in parents' flat Still Growing
- Planning renovation of our bedroom DONE
- Following up Double Glazing installation dates Still on the list
- Take stuff to the tip DONE
- Loads of other stuff that I don't know about If I don't know about it, I can't comment
Thirteen tasks completed from a total of twenty-three. And that doesn't include half-a-dozen items from his list that I didn't even know about. That's better than 50% - so I'm pretty pleased.
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Thursday 5th March - Surprises
Today has been full of (good!) surprises
Mostly good, none bad....
There was a bright frost this morning - the weather was brisk rather than freezing and the ice had already started to soften in the morning sunshine. That made a nice change!
At break time, I balanced a sirop-wafel on my coffee... half a sirop-wafel - I didn't want to be too greedy. Let me tell you now that half a sirop-wafel won't balance on athat particular cup of coffee. However it wasn't very difficult to fish it out with a teaspoos and it tasted delicious. I think that's definitely the way to go in future.
Crossing the playground after a disorganized and - my new descriptive word for this class is "ebullient" - music lesson, the breeze had dropped and the sun was HOT on my back. Loverly.
These tiny daffodils have emerged; I don't know if they are stunted or miniature. They can only just see over the edge of their container. So brave. So sweet.
The camellia that I was given in November is still covered in buds and producing flowers. It has rather capsized itself since we planted it in the tub, but has managed to cope.
We have been invited out to supper! Yum yum!
Surprises still to come:
Every year I buy, or am given, flowering bulbs in pots. Once they are finished, I tend to just push them whatever suitable plant pot is handy outside the back door. Labeling them would be too organised. I wonder what's in these?
Mostly good, none bad....
There was a bright frost this morning - the weather was brisk rather than freezing and the ice had already started to soften in the morning sunshine. That made a nice change!
At break time, I balanced a sirop-wafel on my coffee... half a sirop-wafel - I didn't want to be too greedy. Let me tell you now that half a sirop-wafel won't balance on athat particular cup of coffee. However it wasn't very difficult to fish it out with a teaspoos and it tasted delicious. I think that's definitely the way to go in future.
Crossing the playground after a disorganized and - my new descriptive word for this class is "ebullient" - music lesson, the breeze had dropped and the sun was HOT on my back. Loverly.
These tiny daffodils have emerged; I don't know if they are stunted or miniature. They can only just see over the edge of their container. So brave. So sweet.
The camellia that I was given in November is still covered in buds and producing flowers. It has rather capsized itself since we planted it in the tub, but has managed to cope.
We have been invited out to supper! Yum yum!
Surprises still to come:
Every year I buy, or am given, flowering bulbs in pots. Once they are finished, I tend to just push them whatever suitable plant pot is handy outside the back door. Labeling them would be too organised. I wonder what's in these?
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Sunday 1st March - The Really Big TO DO List
Here goes...
Resurface the Drive DONE
Clear the Garage DONE
Have Garage Demolished and Taken Away, (including the asbestos roof) DONE
I like to start a list with somethings that have already been done and can be crossed through straightaway. So encouraging.
Double Glazing
We've been not painting the windows for about ten or fifteen years now, as every year we were going to have replacement windows fitted. Then, as soon as we accumulated the money, something would happen - unexpected demise of car, or sudden redundancy, or whatever. It's now about to happen - the deposit has been paid, the options (opaque glass, handles, colour of front door etc) all chosen. We are just waiting for a date.
Our Bedroom
The carpet (if you could dignify the cheap and tatty substance laid over long-since-disintegrated foam underlay by such a name) went into holes many, many years ago. However re-doing the floor remained well down on the list of priorities, after making the children's rooms into better places for them to sleep and study and relax, after replacing the hideous, horrible carpet in the sitting room with a beautiful wood floor, and so on. It is now BEYOND a joke, and probably the next major item in the schedule.
Number 1 Son's Bedroom
He had the little room over the front door. When he moved out - four years ago? - maybe - he took everything he wanted/needed with him. Everything else is still there. Along with all sorts of "stuff" that has made its way into the room from somewhere else. Time for change. Time to exchange the high-sleeper for the sort of bed that grown-ups are happy to use. Time for a whole lot of things to be re-homed.
The Loft
Don't go in there. Because everything that hasn't been put somewhere else in the last 30 years is in the re, waiting to escape. We don't need loft insulation at the moment, believe me. But I lie awake in bed wondering if I will wake up with the contents of the loft on top of me in the morning.
The Bathroom (and the loo)
Back in 2002 it was our silver wedding anniversary and we had a family party here. At the time, both rooms were way overdue for redecorating. We solved the horrible appearance of these rooms by the age-old ruse of stripping off most of the paper and airly announcing that we were partway through the job. That was then. This is now. Nothing has changed. And the suite is a strange orangey-apricot colour that was probably fashionable in 1984. And the taps are just very aged.
The Garden
This defeats us every year. Sometimes we manage to get one border, or half a border clear. Sometimes we don't. BB mows the grass. The man with the chainsaw and chipping machine does a holding action on the hedges, large shrubs and trees every year. I call it a Green Garden. Or a Low-Energy Garden.
The Shed
Now that the garage has been cleared and demolished, we need to replace it with Which means pick-axing out the porridgy patch of weak concrete at one corner of the base, and replacing it. Also, levelling the base would be a good plan before we then start thinking about sheds.
The Kitchen
It came with the house. BB rebuilt it, using the same units, during one period of redundancy (we've found that we have never had time AND money at the same moment). That's the only reason that the units are still attached to the walls. I guess this is going to stay well down at the bottom of the list for now.
General Painting and Decorating
Oh yes, that would be nice. The kitchen was painted when it was redone and it made such a difference. The children's bedrooms were painted too at one time. I painted over the wallpaper in our bedroom about 25 years ago. I know that, because I kept Number 1 Son happy (he was about 2 years old) by letting him play with my radio cassette recorder (the one I bought in Indonesia in about 1974). That brings back memories...
Sunday 1st March - Done, and still To Do
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| Translation of Leonardi's "To Do List" |
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| Leonardo Da Vinci's "To Do List" http://www.openculture.com/2014/12/leonardo-da-vincis-to-do-list-circa-1490-is-much-cooler-than-yours.html |
Here's ours
Done, so far today (3pm):
Me:
- Played for 9am church service
- Chatted to several people after church
- Wrote up www.themusicjungle.co.uk
- Wrote up this blog (well, writing up this blog!)
- Ate lunch
- Made cup of tea
Him:
- Still working with my parents on finding the best way to arrange their sitting room
- Arranging for IKEA delivery to their flat tomorrow
- Taking boxes to Lock and Store, re-arranging storage area to fit new boxes in
- Sorting through old box of tools
- Making and eating lunch
Still To Do (preferably before Sunday 8th March)
Me:
- Lesson Planning
- Monday (recorders, piano, samba, djembe, theory)
- Tuesday (recorders, theory, ukulele, 2 more piano lessons)
- Wednesday (keyboard, samba, recorders, ukulele, 2 more piano lessons)
- Thursday (Music Club, ukulele, 3 class music lessons, theory, exam rehearsal)
- Friday (Music Club, exam rehearsals, recorders, ukuleles, 3 more piano lessons)
Other: ("free" time; This afternoon, Monday 3:30 and 4:30, Tuesday 0:45 and 12:00)
- Haircut
- 5 letters outstanding (3 from Christmas)
- Invitation to reply to for Sunday
- 2 telephone calls to reply to
- Work admin and emails
- Clean bathroom and loo
- Women's World Day of Prayer on Friday
- Start taking the bags (about 8) to the charity shop
Him:
- Housework
- Washing basket is over-flowing
- Fridge is empty
- Weeds are growing
- Grass is growing
- 3 IKEA cabinets to make up and install
- Planning renovation of our bedroom
- Following up Double Glazing installation dates
- Take stuff to the tip
- Loads of other stuff that I don't know about
I'll let you know how we get on.