Return from Wolverley - the highlights.

 

 I just got home a couple of hours ago. There was a two hour wait for the RAC to fix the rear door, which popped open on the Hurcote Lane. That's the narrow one with the passing points. I discovered that the handle had lost a couple of screws - a bit like me when the RAC said the wait was 2 - 4 hours. I made a pot of tea and had lunch in Hurcote Road while I waited. I was very pleased to have my onboard facilities as Hurcote is in the middle of nowhere.

Despite this setback, I really enjoyed my few days away with the group. Lovely company and lots of assistance. A steep learning curve about the storage and bed base. I'm going to strip out the van and repack with a lot less stuff.

I took a few photos on the campsite - a couple from Levant II, watching the game of Kubb (sounds like something that should be played on Discworld.) The other is of Levant II's very spacious pitch.

Thank you, Malcolm for organising Wolverley and encouraging me to join in when I was feeling very sore and tired. I felt very relaxed on Thursday and dozed in the sun. You probably couldn't tell as I was beneath my large sunhat.

I'm looking forward to St Neot's. It's very close to home and a lovely site. I hope to have the air lock in the water sorted a suitable washing bowl for use in the Skadu. I might replace the large chair with the lightweight one that packs into its own small carry bag.

Preparations

 

Along with most of the population, I'm finding Lockdown 3 extremely challenging. Things were much worse when I was without my hearing aids. Now that I have them back, I'm beginning to take control of my daily routines again.

They are very weather-dependent, so the first few days with the hearing aids working were spent on housework and cooking. Yesterday, I made my Saturday Facetime meeting with my old school friend, for the first time in a couple of weeks. We've both been through a rough patch, so it was good to be able to talk about it. We chatted for over an hour - the longest since before Christmas.

The weather forecast for today was very good. It was chilly but sunny. I wrote a letter to a friend yesterday, and the first job after breakfast was to take Alf for a walk and post the letter. I met a neighbour with her dog on the way back home. Normally, the two dogs (both male, both terriers) do not get on very well. But this morning, there was a very quiet, civil greeting, giving their humans a chance for a chat.

After lunch, I had decided I would do some preparation of Levant II for her trip to the workshop tomorrow. I vacuumed and cleaned the interior, and turned the engine over to check that the battery was charged. I needed to reset the calendar/clock after the last time the battery went flat.

Then it was time for tea. It took me a while to remember the procedure for getting the gas hob to work, but not as long as the maiden boiling of the kettle. The view from my seat beside the low table is lovely. The Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn is covered with fragrant blossom on bare stems. 

Alf took up his favourite position, checking out passers-by. The whistling kettle startled him - it's very loud. Water boils quickly on the hob but I am still a little worried about the capacity of the gas bottle.

I have almost decided to ditch the expensive non-working Eberspächer  heating to free up the starboard locker for a spare bottle. I would then be more confident about pitching without electric hook-up and running the fridge  (visible below the hob) on gas as well.

I'm going to ask the workshop to do some major refurbishment of the roof in addition to fixing the leaky rear door. I might as well have the heating removed at the same time, or perhaps they might be able adjust the port locker to take a larger gas bottle? 

While the van is in the workshop, I am going to plan my first road trip. I've decided a tour along the coastal path from Southwold to Cromer, would be an ideal late Spring adventure. I'm not keen to be on my own for the whole tour so will have to do some creative thinking about how to include some company. More on that next time.

The Winter Solstice approaches

 

 

and this year, there is a chance of seeing the Christmas Star for the first time in 800 years.

Getting ready (early) for the Winter Solstice. The days have become gloomy and, despite the SAD Daylight lamp, I need more light in my life. Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent. 

I decorated the candle holder with holly and ivy, and lit the candles. 

Levant II is already decked-out with lights and Christmas decorations, but I doubt I'll be spending the 21st aboard - unless the skies clear on the night.

I had some good news from the GP's surgery this afternoon, telling me that my recent BP readings are acceptable. That really brightened my day. 

I've decided to send my cards early this year, given the strain already on delivery services due to the pandemic.

New Kitchen - Day 161

Today the flooring was laid in the

Study

Utility

Utility Room

From utility into larder

and Larder
















Sis-in-Law says she cannot see the joins in the vinyl between the utility and larder, but that's because there aren't any.

From kitchen to utility

There are, however, joins between the kitchen and utility, which MWNN and I can see because of the slight difference in  colour. The kitchen vinyl has been down for five months and is in need of a good clean, thanks to all the workmen (and mucky dog-paws) trampling over it,

From utility to study

There is a further join, at the study end of the Utility Room, which is extremely difficult to find.












I'm very pleased with the work, which was carried out to Wymondley Flooring's usual excellent standards.

New Kitchen - Day 160

At last, the repairs and renovations are nearing completion/

Today, Charlie from Wymondley Flooring came to level the study, utility, and larder floors, and lay a  silicone screed.

We moved everything from the study, except the desk. which wouldn't fit through the door or utility room.












Earlier last week, our builders made good inroads into the painting and tiling of all rooms.

Wall colour = primrose white

The study walls were repainted, the radiator re-hung,  and the entrance and door painted in colours that match those used in the kitchen and utility,

Wall colour = primrose white

The re-plastered larder wall was painted, as were the door and surrounds (Lamproom Grey).

Wall colour = primrose white

The utility walls that were damaged, were also re-painting. Skirting boards and door surrounds are in the lovely Lamp Room grey, from Farrow and Ball.

The shower room tiles were finished on Sunday evening.

The floor tiles look wonderful, especially the 'coriander' border around the shower tray

and at the bottom of the walls.










Charlie (Wymondley Flooring) returns tomorrow to lay the vinyl in the study, utility, and larder. Fingers crossed he can match up the kitchen and utility without the need for a joining bar.

Out builder then re-appears on Wednesday to finish the tile grouting, re-install the sanitary ware, and plumb in the new power shower.


Then there will be a lull in the proceedings while MWNN and I recover. The opportunity to sort the study is too great to miss, before we embark on the next big house project - replacing the flooring in the sitting room/dining room/hall/stairs/landing.

New Kitchen - Day 152

The water damage was discovered when the lino was laid in the utility room. Although the kitchen was finished on 22nd October, related works (drying of four rooms, re-plastering etc) has dragged on - and on and ......

Day 152 and the work began on restoring the rooms that have been dried and re-plastered (very competently and cleanly, by alfaplasterers ) First, the door to the study was replaced.

Hopefully, the utility area will be warmer, now that there is no longer an icy blast emanating from an unheated, north-facing room).

The study and shower rooms are still without radiators, which can't be re-instated until the walls are decorated (next weekend.)

The decoration of the shower room has begun. Some wall tiles went up today, after the study doorway was finished.

The end is in sight - almost. Next week the remaining work will be done by our builder, but it will be February before the flooring company replaces the vinyl in the study, utility, and larder.








We are so far behind with our planned work schedule. I had hoped to replace the flooring in the dining/sitting room, hall. stairs, and landing by the end of February. We are both fatigued from all the upheaval and shifting of furniture and stuff. I'm hoping to get the work done during our holiday in Southwold in mid March,

In the meantime, I'm spending some of the voucher money MWNN gave me for Christmas, on a massage next week.

New Kitchen - Day 52

The final flourish was installed on Wednesday. Blue glass splash-backs look great in the down-lights.

The surrounding seals are white. They will need painting the same colour as the walls (primrose white)

The oven housing was finished, with the addition of a drawer front to the tray shelf, and a new drawer below the stainless-steel warming drawer.










There's some painting still to be done - skirting boards and door frames in Lap Room Grey. Then there's the thorny problem of the utility room floor. The lino must be lifted to complete the drying of trapped damp below the concrete floor. Whether that will necessitate lifting and replacing the lino in the kitchen or seaming the new lino in the doorway, has yet to be decided.

New Kitchen - Day 38

The glass splashback men came to make a template yesterday. Ten working days and the glass should be fitted.









The glass will put the finishing touches to the colour scheme of the kitchen. In the meantime, I pruned the birthday bouquet changed the vase and water, and brought colour to the corner beneath the window.

MWNN set to work with a paintbrush and roller to finish the painting of the doors and doorframes. The doors are painted in Estate Eggshell, Colour Day-room yellow from Farrow and Ball.

The frames are also painted in Farrow and Ball Estate Eggshell, colour Lamp-room grey and echo the colour of the new fridge-freezer.













Once the kitchen is completely finished and has passed its first technical inspection visit, we must concentrate on getting the shower room fixed and the utility and study re-decorated,


I think a little escape to the river is called for very soon.

New Kitchen - Day 30

We now have a working sink

and gas hob

The man from Electrolux service came and replaced the broken part in the dishwasher, and I now have a fully working kitchen.









I spent most of the day re-integrating things into the cupboards, while waiting for the fitter to come and do the finishing.

He didn't turn up, so I put my own finishing touch by cutting some Red Hat Lady Roses and lavender stems from the garden.

It will be another week or two before the glass splash-back is installed underneath the wall units.

Earlier today, I received flowers through the post. There was no card.I don't know who sent me an early birthday bouquet.

Thank you anonymous Flower Fairy.

New Kitchen - Day 28

Today, the Corian fitters arrrived.

Protective paper on panels with arrows.

It's stunning

has an upstand that covers the window-ledge,

and complements the units perfectly (it's aqua, as are the units)

It's on top of the oven housing.

Not a seam in sight,


with a  moulded drainer and white sink (tap to be fitted and sink outlet to be hooked up tomorrow).

Corner cupboard beneath the hob (gas to be hooked up tomorrow)

Pull-out drawer unit.

Pull-out corner storage.

MWNN's phone charging on the new corian worktop.

There are a few outstanding jobs to be done by the fitters

• The dishwasher started leaking on day 2 and needs a replacement part fitting (Thursday)
• Ceiling lights need reseating. (Thursday
• Downlights need connecting. (Thursday)
• Skirting boards.
• Gas hob connecting (Wednesday)
• Sink and tap connecting (Wednesday)
• New kitchen/dining room door (Thursday)
• Splashback glass template (?)
• Splashback glass  fitting (?)

I'm looking forward to using the appliances again, A month of take-aways, eating out, and cobbled together meals is no fun.