...Day One Hundred And Fifteen...

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I used the new ceramic hob for the first time today - it heated up so much faster than the awful hob that was already here - nearly burnt my bacon - it did :0)

I'm doing fish this evening for dinner so I'm hoping it'll be OK - the oven is fan assisted and apparently takes less time to cook things - as my mum always use to say "If it's brown it's cooked but if it's black it's buggered"

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Fourteen...

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Dave's been fitting the ceramic hob and cutting the breakfast bar today - that's measure twice and cut once - however Dave always measures umpteen times and cuts once and then normally trims again!!

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Thirteen...

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Another good day in the kitchen - worktops are being fitted - the walls aren't square, as is the norm, so Dave's having to plane areas off to make them fit. The oven is now in and will be connected tomorrow as will the ceramic hob (I hope!). Then it's only the sink to be replumbed and fitted and it's pretty much over - YIPPEE!!

I've been scrapping wallpaper again in the hallway as this is the next room to be tackled - Boy! I hate that job -

ME :0)

...Day One Hundred And Twelve...

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Dave spent most of the morning picking up the two remaining worktops (that have been on order since 5 June) and then discovered that one had a large chip on it - OMG! what is it with suppliers and damaged goods???

As we couldn't wait another three weeks for them to order another....he took it anyway....but only after speaking to the manager of the store and kicking up a bit of a fuss. They let us have it for nothing - hopefully Dave'll be able to 'hid it' when he installs it tomorrow.

This afternoon we've both been in the garden planting up lilies and poppies (I really like them both!) and of course weeding -- they never let you down, do they? -- they just keep growing even when everything else seems to have come to a standstill.

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Eleven...

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Dave’s been beavering away again today – the oak across the fireplace is now in position and it looks fantastic – it’s true what Dave says ‘There’s nothing like a real bit of wood’.

~ I've already 'dressed' it, of course ~

He’s now working on the corner cabinet that is going alongside the breakfast bar. The area is an odd shape so of course the standard filler doesn’t and he’s having to construct something bespoke to fit there.

It’s just as well he can do it as he’s so handy

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Ten...

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We’ve been out (again!) for most of the day – looking around people’s gardens at Mareham le Fen - they had an open day today to raise money for the village hall – it’s amazing what people do with their space – quite an eye-opener and we came away with some great ideas.

Dave’s now in the garage (9pm) planing the piece of oak for the fireplace – there’s just NO stopping him

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Nine...

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Well the knobs are on the doors and drawers – the store has discontinued the ones that we really wanted so we had to compromise and buy others that are not as pretty but will do. Even though as is life, the screw length was too long and would have showed through the other side of the doors so Dave had to file each one down – there are twenty~two in total. So of course a ten minute job turned into a couple of hours – isn’t that always the way?? But it’s a job now done and having knobs certainly finishes the look.

He’s also cut and put up the worktop in the utility – so that also looks smart. We were going to buy those nice chrome legs for the cabinets in there but they were just too expensive so we’ve left the plastic ones on them – for now…

Dave’s now back in the garage planning and I suspect playing with the real pieces of oak– he just loves real wood – for the fireplace. A chunky piece is going across as a mantelshelf and the other piece is going at floor level to cover up the rough edge of the quarry tiles.

…It’s gonna look so good – I’ll never want to leave it…

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Eight...

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We've been out for most of the day today sourcing the final materials for the kitchen – B+Q, Homebase, Wickes and the sawmill to collect the couple of pieces of oak – I must admit they look quite impressive and that’s before Dave planes them, shapes them and oils them – I’m looking forward to the finished result.

We’ve also collected the worktop so Dave’ll be able to complete the installation of the ceramic hob and sink.

It’s going to look superb :0)

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred & Seven...

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I’ve been ‘arranging’ in the kitchen –so it really must be getting to the end of it – I love the dressing up stage of a room. I can’t get involved in the actual refurbishment, other than choosing finishes and colours, etc. ….I hate getting my hands dirty…. But I really do enjoy the end results - matching blinds with cushions and dishes with glasses and exciting things like that…

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Six...

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Dave’s now completed the kick board around the cooker and sink area, we’ve also moved two of the old kitchen units into the utility for extra storage and luckily there’ll be a piece of worktop over to lie across it.

We had a call today saying that the worktop was finally in – it’s been on order for three weeks – so we’ll go over to Boston on Friday and pick it up.

We just waiting for the sawmill to give us a ring to say that the two pieces of oak that Dave ordered for the fireplace is in

…and then we’ll really be cooking on gas…

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Five...

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It's a lovely sunny day here today - first thing there wasn't a breathe of wind but now (4pm) it's started to pick up quite a bit. Dave's put up a couple of hanging baskets - one on the bungalow and the other on the pretty shed....it looks so great I'm thinking about moving in :0)

He'd also planted up a very old wheelbarrow (that we've had for years) and we've moved that to the front garden - boy what a dead weigh that was and we had to get it over the nearly laid gravel drive -- backache or what!! -

We've also had another couple of 'roadmen' come to lay the tarmac at the end of the drive - it looks really good -

Dave's now back in the kitchen painting the kickboards (again) and cleaning up the last of the quarry tiled floor. He's also put up the first glass wall cupboard so I'm off to find something fancy to put in it

....I Have All The Most Difficult Jobs....

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred And Four...

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Dave’s back in the kitchen today after being released for the day yesterday and has been making good progress again. The chimney hood extractor fan has now been installed AND is fully working it’s always a bit of a nightmare to erect these. The instructions make it sound so easy but needless to say it never is.

He’s repositioned Bruno (dishwasher) and is now taking off the old kickboard to be replaced with lovely plum-coloured new ones.

He’s just about to start cleaning off a few more quarry tiles with the horrid Nitromors. It certainly does the job but isn’t very nice to use.

He’s actually looking around the room trying to find the next job to do – that’s a really good sign – shows it’ll soon be over

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred & Three...

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As it's Father's Day today, Dave is taking the day off from the kitchen. He's going fishing instead.

I've promised him that I'll continue with the stripping of the hallway wallpaper...boring...

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred and Two...

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Another day of plastering and electrics in the room know as our kitchen - but at least ALL the painting has now been completed and I'm really pleased with the lovely plum colour on the fireplace. Dave wasn't sure how it would look but I think it's great....and after all that's all that matters isn't it....?

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred & One...

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It’s been such a cold miserable day here today – heavy downpours on & off the whole day. Luckily for us we didn’t have to go out and Dave continued in the kitchen and got on very well. He’s now put up the ceiling spotlights and done a bit more electrics – they’re almost finished now - He’s really, really on the last leg of it now, so it’ll be over soon.

While he’s been doing that I’ve had another go at stripping the wallpaper in the hall – it’s such a s-l-o-w job & it pulls on my back so I’m only doing a modest amount and then stopping frequently.

Just before lunch Dave also started removing the wallpaper in the dining room so it’s all looking a bit battered – mind you as our bedroom was completed some time ago it’s nice to go and sit in there with the door close and imagine what it’ll look like when it’s all over

…that won’t be for some time yet though…

ME ;0)

...Day One Hundred...

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Not much has been doing on in the kitchen today – we decided to take most of it off and visit a local-ish wood yard, as Dave needs a couple of pieces of real ash to finish off the fireplace in the kitchen. We managed to find the sawmill eventually – it was way out in the sticks – and has ordered the two pieces that he needs – we’ve got to collect them next week.

While we were out we decided to stop for a picnic – it was pretty windy and quite cold, but who cares we were both in good company.

Now that we’re back, he’s connected the electrics for the chimney hood extractor and replaced the lightswitches.

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Nine...

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The plaster is almost dry on the wall that Dave completed yesterday – he’s been checking it regularly throughout the day, just to be sure :0) He’ll be painting that wall tomorrow probably, so then all the painting will be over – Thank Goodness. It seems to have been going on for a long time but then it is a very large kitchen that needed a LOT of paint so I expect it’s only to be expected really….

He’s also finished more electrics this morning and has prepared the wall for the last of the quarry tiles that was under Boris (washing machine) so the refurbishment is finally ‘getting there’.

I’ve started stripping the wallpaper in the hallway today – next room to be tackled – Boy! I really hate that job……I know it has to be done, but as is normal it isn’t coming off easily and I’m having to chip away at it in tiny pieces. Even though the hallway isn’t huge (thank god for that!) it seems an awfully long way round when you’re on your knees looking up at it.

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Eight...

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Another gloriously warm day here and I’ve actually been in the garden this morning -- working that is, not lazing. I’ve been weeding the border that fronts the road…there’s a hell of a lot of thistles there I can tell you – I’ve got the stings to prove it too…

Dave’s finished painting the ceiling, at last. It took three coats of emulsion to cover the new pink plaster and the place really looks crisp now. He’s finally plastering the area of wall where the ceramic hob will go (a job that he’s been putting off for days as he doesn’t like plastering!) but as far as I can tell he’s doing a grand job -- of course --

So another day is passing very favourably in the place we call home

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Seven...

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The builder has been here again today to finish off the gravel drive, laying down top soil at the entrance to the bungalow and replacing the stink pipe outside the bathroom.

Dave & I are quite impressed – he’s done a grand job – and surprise, surprise once he was here he stayed until he completed the job…not all of them do that – they arrive for a few hours and then keep disappearing…

Even though he was very shaky in the beginning – trying to tie him down to a day to come round in the first place to see the job and then waiting and waiting for the quote….but he’s redeemed himself in his workmanship. We’ll definitely be keeping his telephone number in case we need him again -- we just have to pay him now -- OUCH!

Dave, in the meantime, has been beavering away in the kitchen – I know, again! – he’s now painted the ceiling, removed the old worktops – we’re waiting for the delivery of new ones (could be up to 28 days!!) and is plumbing the washing machine.

It’s been very hot here again today so we’ve stayed out of the garden as we don’t have much shade to work under and wearing an umbrella stuck to our heads seemed a bit extreme!!!

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Six...

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It’s been a glorious day here today so Dave & I decided to abandon the kitchen refurbishment and go into the lovely Lincolnshire Wolds for a picnic instead -- it was a peaceful, relaxing day spent in the good company of my husband --

Mind you, Dave being Dave couldn’t let the whole day go by without some work being done so as soon as we returned home, after a quick cup of coffee, he dragged me into the garden to trim back the hedging – he has a new hedge trimmer to play with - and also clear another border in the rear garden.

He’s now talking about putting a coat of paint on the kitchen ceiling before bedtime

…there’s just no stopping him…

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Five...

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..............................................................

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It’s been a cold and wet day here today but that hasn’t stopped Dave from ‘getting on’ in the kitchen. Today’s procedures have included finishing off the coving and picture rail – I’m always amazed at what a difference it makes to a room – filling cracks and rubbing down more wall area….he’s a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to smooth walls…and he’s intending to put a first coat on the ceiling, this evening.

For the last couple of hours – now that the rain has finally stopped – he’s been re-potting plant pots and generally tiding the garden

…you just can’t keep a good man down -- Can You…?

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Four...

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The builder arrived with a road roller this morning & I thought that the digger was noisy. I must admit to still being in bed when he arrived -- Dave was up -- and I was quietly snoozing and snuggled when the row started and I thought for a second that another earthquake had arrived. Needless to say I was soon up and about.

After an hour or so of rolling the hardcore the gravel started to be laid on top – I must admit to liking the chalky white colour of the hardcore more than the sandy coloured gravel that’s going down on top….Oh Well!….but either he misjudged the amount needed or the builders merchant didn’t deliver enough of the gravel because he ran out just short of the end of the drive so he’s having to get more delivered on Monday.

The chimney has also been re-pointed and vented off, as it’s no longer a working chimney and looks really smart.

In the meantime, Dave’s been in the kitchen (where else?) and has now removed all the wall tiles (except for a small area beside Boris - washing machine -) and has repaired the window frame.

More updates tomorrow

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Three...

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The builder has been here again today and has now laid the hardcore for the gravel drive - it already looks so much smarter and the area also seems so much larger.

Dave's been working in the kitchen this afternoon - he's been laying the slate floor tiles in the fireplace - they look lovely, I'm really pleased with them. He even managed to cut them without any breakages, which is just as well, because we didn't buy any spares :0) -- so it's all happening here.

We've also ordered the worktops today - they might take up to 4 weeks to arrive though - but there's still plenty to do

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~Two...

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We’ve got the builders here today laying a gravel drive. They arrived just before 8am and got straight down to work. Mind you, just getting the digger onto the drive was a very noisy experience I can tell you and when they actually started digging up the concrete drive that’s already here the noise was quite deafening. But within a few short hours all the old concrete and paving slabs have been removed and they’re now digging out the soil for the footings - so we’re quite impressed with their progress so far.

We have already had one ‘not so good’ discovery – the idiot that laid the drive in the first place decided to concrete OVER a mains drain – very naughty – so now of course the builder has to sort that out as well.

While that’s been going on, Dave’s finished off top-coating the kitchen door, put on the nice new door handle and is applying the second coat of matt emulsion on the walls…the plum coloured fireplace looks gorgeous…no, really it does.

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety~One...

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Not too much has been happening in the kitchen today because Dave's back (prolapsed disk) has been playing him up :0( so he's spent much of the day resting.

He has managed to put the second coat on the wall above the picture rail but I think that'll be pretty much it for now -- hopefully the back thing won't delay him too much (he's a terrible patient!) -- we'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings

ME ;0)

...Day Ninety...

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Dave has spent most of the morning in the garden as the weather has been quite warm. We have builders coming this week to relay a new drive for us and some of the planting will be lost, so rather than throwing them in the recycle bin Dave decided to move them to other areas of the garden.

This afternoon he’s been painting the kitchen walls – he’s happy now that he’s started as he can see an end to all the work – even though to be fair there’s still a lot to do but all the messy jobs have now been completed.

We’ve bought some really nice floor tiles to lay in the fireplace – it’s quite a large space which housed a Rayburn or possibly an Aga at some time (not that I’m a great lover of them I must admit) – but it has been lost over the years. I’m going to have a butchers block unit in there so it should look OK.

ME ;0)

...Day Eighty~Nine...

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Another day in the paradise that is our kitchen :0)

Dave's taken over the refurbishment of the quarry tiled floor because they need to have a clean-up with Nitromore & he doesn’t trust me with it….that’s OK I can live with that….

He’s been at it all day and has only managed a fairly small area – it’s a very slow process and his back has been playing him up as well which obviously has slowed him up. But true to form he’ll not let a small thing like a prolapsed disk stop him

…he’s such a super hero…

ME ;0)