Tuesday 31 December 2013

Round-up 2013

2013, you've been a lot of fun, plenty of change and lots of chaos too. 
Kitchen's done and is such an improvement. The use of space makes it a lovely, family living area.
Bathroom is also done - with a couple of bits that needed tightening or tinkering with, but it's done and looks much nicer than before. Couldn't do a lot with the space as it is what it is.
Still haven't won millions on the lottery....
Kittens are growing, and will need to go and be spayed in the new year, which is in under 24 hours now! Wow, how did that happen?
Christmas came and went, several times. We counted it up, and with various friends and family gatherings we'll have had 5 "Christmases" by the time we're done. Each one with a big dinner, crackers and gifts. I made a gingerbread house! I've never made one before and it was easier than I thought, and tasty too. I want to make a gingerbread Tardis next.
On to 2014 then and I got a Gardening calendar for Christmas and I aim to sort out some growing space in my garden and grow something I can eat. I have seeds for sprouts, carrots, courgette, chard, tomato and lettuce. I don't think the tomatoes will do well here, but the others should do OK. I think I have pumpkin seeds somewhere too, will have to go through and see what I actually have and start planning. I want to be eating things I picked or pulled or dug from the garden. I want to be washing soil off and complaining about slug damage.
2013 was mental, mad-busy and chaotic. It was loads of fun too, and there are so many happy times and positives to reflect on. 2014 is starting with the best of intentions and I hope will be better.
I'll keep you posted.

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Days 11 and 12: Floor!

Day 11, yesterday, was a second coat of paint, and a chat with tenant liaison about a handful of little things that need sorting. Nothing to take pics of, no really big changes, not a lot to write about.
Day 12, today, was flooring. The kitchen floor is down, not the bathroom. Some sort of communication misadventure there, what a surprise.Kitchen floor looks good.
Also today was lots of other, smaller, jobs. The kitchen now has a window sill, the wonky door frame got patched with some plaster filler (I'm really not happy with the response there, or the result, but that's a chat with TL another day) and the kitchen unit plinths got fixed properly, most of them. There are a couple to be finished off tomorrow.
There have been bigger changes in the bathroom. The shower rail and curtain is up, and the shower is now plumbed in and working, both kids have used it and say it's good. The bathroom floor has been boarded but the flooring not laid yet - I lost track of what the excuse was but someone said it "wasn't on the job list." Someone else said they "don't know what flooring was chosen." And someone else said that the floor wasn't ready. So, I have no clue what happened there, and clearly, neither does anyone else. Allegedly the bathroom floor will be going in tomorrow.
Bathroom window sill is also in, and the bath side panels are on.
It's all looking good.
So, just a couple of days to go and there's a short list of things to be finished or looked at.
  • Bathroom floor
  • Possible very small leak in the bathroom 
  • Toilet flush handle is loose
  • Hole to be patched on landing ceiling
  • Last kitchen unit plinths to be fixed
  • Kitchen door frame
  • Broken light bulb in kitchen light
  • Seal round floors and units
  • Paint touch up where patches have been done

There may be other things to pick up when I do a more detailed look for the final snagging day, but it's not a huge list and it's not major stuff.

Monday 2 December 2013

Gratuitously cute pic

Kittens, about a month ago, aged around 2 months. 
Cute pic, just because I can, and it makes a change from building work! More kitchen and bathroom stuff tomorrow I expect.