Day 1: Demolition.

The van arrived, and I went out for the day. The shopping needed doing anyway, and once that was done I sought sanctuary at a friend's house.
All because today was demolition day.
The bathroom's not much different - the tiles are off the wall, the sides off the bath and the built in storage under the sink is gone - but it still looks like a bathroom.
It's not messy and the bath, although looking odd without the panels, is secure and steady and I'll be soaking in it later!
The kitchen, on the other hand......
More like, What kitchen?

The wall is gone, the door is gone and the radiator (attached to the wall) is gone. The cupboards, drawers, tiles, and a large slice of floor - all gone. The kitchen is now reduced to a building site with holes where the wall used to be and dust everywhere. The cooker and washing machine are still in place, and still connected so we can use them, and there is a temporary sink so washing up can happen.
It's actually not as bad as I'd feared, and although it feels a bit like camping, it's mostly functional, if not overly pleasant or practical.

Today's changes have been dramatic; the removal of a whole wall would have that effect. I imagine subsequent days may well be less big and obvious changes, although the overall process will be interesting to watch unfold and the end result will be great.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring?
See you in the morning. 

A picture of us.

I'm a parent. I have children. I have a phone with a camera.
What I don't have is anyone who will take pictures of me with my kids, and getting my kids to stay close enough to each other to be in the same picture is close to impossible.
There are some family snapshots with various combinations of us all in, but I've become very aware that my children are growing fast and I don't have any really nice pictures of all of us, together. There are other posts and articles around the internet discussing the notion that family pictures often don't have everyone in, because someone is always holding the camera. Or that one parent is always too busy to sit down for a photo. Or that someone is always missing.
My photo files, and albums, are very much like that. Lots of images of children, pets, house, garden, landscape, friends.... But I'm noticeable by my absence. And now I have a teenager. Where did all that time go? Where are the memories, the pictures?
So, today I made the children put on clothes that weren't shapeless t-shirts and tracksuit bottoms, and I took them to a proper photographer to get a bunch of shots done.
I'll get a set of around 20 on disc at the end of next week, then I can get some printed and framed and I'll be happier. And Christmas presents for various family will be sorted as well. Bonus!
Do you have those special pictures of you with your family?