The After Build

Now the builders have gone I have been busy doing the finshing and trying to get the house back to some sort of normality. There's a lot to do. (More than I realised!)

While the weather has been good I've closed the old drive entrance and replanted some laurels to give us some added privacy. You'd think that replanting 5 laurel bushes is quite straight forward. All the gardening info says dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball - pretty straight forward what could go wrong. I started digging at lunch time, chatting to neighbours and regular visitors to the pub, by evening I was still at it as the regulars re appeared for the evening session. I'm sure it caused a great conversation piece over a pint or two as I took to using a 5ft breaker bar and sledge hammer with sweat dripping off me to break through the compacted ground to get to the soil and plant the bushes.

The Replanted Laurels 

They are now planted, the root balls are in holes just about big enough and its fingers crossed that they will establish themselves. On a plus side I had lots of positive comments about how nice the changes are to the house.

A dry floor

In a desperate attempt to avoid rocket Ron, the psychic plumber, returning I've even taken to fitting the new radiators myself - plumbing isn't one of my strong points, but how difficult can it be? However I soon realised that taking the 'it'll be alright on the night' approach to plumbing isn't always the best thing to do. I couldn't get the chrome valve to fully grip on the chrome pipe, but pressed on regardless. As I re pressurised the boiler, I just walked back onto the room to witness the valve shoot off the end of the pipe followed by an indoor fountain. It was a good job Ellie was home, she caught the water in a bucket as I put the valve back on and Ellie held it in position until I could release the pressure again. OMG come back Ron all is forgiven, how am I going to explain this one to Alison, no heating or hot water, thank god there was no flooring down! Still where there is a will there is a way and second time round all sorted, if it wasn't for the wet floor no one would have ever known!

All's well that ends well

Lofty the cat continues to call round for a good sleep every day. She goes home at night and reappears most mornings as we get up. The 'gifts' continue, a couple of birds but mostly mice, all of the dead variety.

Lots to do before the boys narrow boat next week, wallpaper and skirtings to finish and new coat cupboard to build, I just hope the radiators last while I'm away!