It’s A-Door-able
Sunday
Up at the crack of dawn to see the family off. It was so early it was still dark! I was up but clearly very sleepy still…
After some fond farewells it was time to head back to bed, there’s no sane reason to be up any longer than you need to be at this time of day and and on a Sunday of all days. Once we’d had a chance to double our evening’s sleep Matt went off to check the mail and he found Mum’s handbag sitting in the driveway. It looks as though she must have somehow caught it on the car, dragged it along and then it got left behind as she drove off. Although they had to come back to collect a forgotten jacket it was too dark to see the bag. Thankfully there was no important paperwork inside. Mum was annoyed to find that she’d left it though as she’d already left her earrings behind at Wendy and Tony’s. At least she didn’t run over it and after a good brush off everything inside was undamaged and it looked good as new.
Time to crack on with the real jobs of the day. First job is to remake the end of the fireplace in the kitchen. I still have no idea how or why it is like this but either way now we know how bad it is we need to do something about it. So Matt’s bought some fire bricks and is cracking on. Since we’re doing the fireplace we probably we’re probably also going to want some doors back on to keep the warmth in the kitchen. Time for me to work on the second door.
Not a great deal further along but it’s time for a lunch break and since the weather is still nice we decided to take it outside.
The super massive paddling pool has been draining for a long time now and seems that it’s gone as far as it’s going to, we’re going to need to drop it to get the last out.
With that drained and drying in the sun I need return to working on the door. Some of the paint is coming off well while other areas seem as though they won’t move no matter what I do or how long I try. It’s coming along though and every bit is progress.
Back in the kitchen Matt seems to have removed the old bricks and is measuring/levelling up for the new stack. It’s got to be put in exactly right or the old surround won’t fit perfectly. My job however was to clear the fireplace, it seems we forgot to empty it at the end of winter. At least it makes for a good addition to the garden compost.
As I return outside it seems a good time to remove the last of the dead tomato plants from the bed. Then move on to clearing out one of the chicken sheds, with winter approaching we’re going to need the space to pack away all the garden furniture and pool stuff.
Eventually it was time for dinner. Since it was so warm we also decided to make the most of it and use the fire pit to relax before we have to get back into the normal routine.
[17 October 2021]
Monday
After work Matt was back in the kitchen working on the fireplace again. Always a good idea to use the laser level to make sure that things will go back right. I did a bit more work on the door, however Matt popped out to check how I was doing so managed to convince him to ‘show me how it’s done’. [I was feeling rather over it by this point and could do with a break. Also once he realised that nothing more was going to come off without taking half the door with it then he wouldn’t criticise it being unfinished – or as Tonia calls it ‘Farmhouse chic’.]
Almost out of fuel so rather than go up to St Gaudens we decided to head over to Spain, once again forgetting that very few places are open on a Monday. We did managed to find a little place almost opposite the weird cash and carry [Boya] which despite a slightly disappointing starter had excellent mains and was fantastic value for money [half a rotisserie chicken that was amazing and a big chunk of lamb leg that fell off the bone, with desert and starters for 13-17€ all up with wine it was about €30-35].
Dinner eaten and time to head home for an early night, only problem was trying to get the cat to leave, she was pretty comfortable.
[18 October 2021]
Tuesday
The cycle continues. More work, Matt popped down to the Brico and bought me back a present, and then we return to our respective chores. I was pretty pleased with the job I managed to do on the door.
Matt’s work on fixing the fireplace has also been going well so time to put the surround back. Just one minor adjustment needed to be made but all in all it was pretty successful.
Next big job on the list, that we’d been trying to get round to the entire time that mum was here, was to make some tomato chilli jam. Since she’d filled the freezer with food we’d had to take a box out and if we didn’t use them then they’d spoil. These things take time though and we hadn’t started till 9pm so it was just after 12 by the time we were done so time to go to bed.
[19 October 2021]
Wednesday
Working. Got the chilli jam labelled up now it’s cold but it doesn’t seem to have set properly. We may have to go back and do something to try to get it to set but there’s no way we’re doing that this evening. I think we deserve a nice glass of wine so best try one of those bottles we picked up in Spain the other day for something like €2.50.
[20 October 2021]
Thursday
A rather busy day at work today. With the doors ready now though Matt managed to fit the new hinges for the old door though which was a result. [If you don’t remember the left side of the door opened but the right side was blocked in with a cupboard and wall that had to be adjusted] Finally for the first time, potentially ever, the kitchen now has a beautiful double opening door. It’s glorious! I’m absolutely thrilled with it.
To top it all off, or more accurately bottom it out, by adding the kick strip to join the finish with the hall. Good job Mr Camp. Time for a well earnt rest and some Gold Rush.
[21 October 2021]
