"One man went to mow . . .

  . . . went to mow a meadow."  Or at least, our new front lawn which was definitely looking like a meadow, full of dandelions, thistles, other assorted flowering weeds and huge clumps of tough grasses gone to seed.  We had planned to cut the grass this morning but as no-one seemed to be up and about we thought it prudent to wait till after lunch ;)

The first cut, and edges neatly trimmed - a huge improvement

The petrol lawn-mower we bought has proved it's worth already, and N did a grand job of the first cut, keeping the blades high to begin with.  There are lots of ants' nests in both front and back lawns, and cutting has opened them up, much to the delight of the local blackbirds.  

Hopefully the birds will have their pick, and regular cutting and exposing to the sun will help in drying the nests out.  We don't want to use chemicals if we can find a greener method.

We spent the morning digging more of the veggie plot.  We both really enjoyed doing that - we had something immediate to show for our efforts.  The soil looks quite healthy with lots of worms in it so N is hoping to get some potatoes in this week.   

A final update on the bluetit nestbox on our shed.  The box has not been used at all for well over a week so we took it down early this morning and had a peek inside.

We were amazed at the amount of nesting material those two little birds had collected to make their nest cosy for the chicks.  Sadly it seems two chicks didn't survive for very long and died in the box, but we know at least one survived and fledged, having seen it in the garden with it's parents.  We have found it fascinating to be able to watch the bluetits nesting over the past few weeks - it has given us a real appreciation of the hard work and drama that goes on in the garden, right under our noses.

Dismantling - and a bit of a flood

The peaony in full bloom - just beautiful!

We've run out of steam a bit, I don't mind admitting.  We were both really tired by yesterday evening so we gave ourselves the afternoon off today, and caught up with a bit of essential shopping, washing, and cleaning.  It has also given us the chance to take stock of what we've done, where we're at and what needs doing next.  We have workmen coming in this week and we have to ensure certain jobs are done in preparation for them.

Yesterday we carried on with the bathroom demolition.  All the tiles were removed, some more easily than others, and then the bath itself had to come out.  It proved a bit of a challenge but, as usual, where there is a will, there's a way, even if it wasn't the conventional way!  And yes, the water was turned off first.

Having removed the bath, and gone on to something else, I noticed that there was water trickling (actually it was rather more than a trickle) up from the disconnected pipework, which definitely shouldn't have been happening.  A moment of panic ensued.  Towels and rags were flung at the floor to mop up the growing puddle.  Words were uttered.  There was a problem with a valve and/or feed tanks (the technical bit eluded me).  N ingeniously temporarily 'fixed' the problem by refitting the taps to the pipes.  It was all a bit hairy for a while  =:o

We took things easy today, spending just the morning on the house.  We had a tidy up - the tools seemed to have found their way into every room in the place, yet we could never put our hand on the one we wanted - then turned our attention to the kitchen.  We began dismantling the floor and wall units, working out what we might be able to make use of again as storage and shelving.  The oven and hob we left; I think we may need to seek some guidance on disconnecting those.

Before . . .

. . . and after

Tomorrow we plan to tackle the front lawn with hand shears and my new toy, a sprung-tine lawn rake, which we bought today.  I can see it being well-used over the coming months as we try to tame the garden.  I also want to have a good look around to see what plants we actually have growing in the garden - my 'green fingers' are beginning to itch!

We can do that

We have been gathering some quotes for the work we would like done in the bathroom.  One of the big expenses was to rip out the existing bathroom before a new one could be fitted.  We would be able to save some money if we did the demolishing bit ourselves.  Although we've not tackled something like that before, we felt certain that it was a job we could try - we're not afraid to have a go.  So today we did just that.  Boilersuits, protective goggles, dust-masks, hammer and chisels, and we were good to go.

The shower door and frame on it's way out

We took the bathroom door off to give ourselves a bit more space - it's not a very big room - and began by removing the old shower pipework (having first isolated the water supply and taken the fuse from the electric box to avoid any nasty shocks).  It all came away without any problems.  Off to a good start.

The bathroom was tiled floor to ceiling throughout in 4 1/2" tiles.  There were a lot of them.  Lots and lots.  They all had to be removed, by hand.  Some came off several at a time, others in the shower cubicle has to be laboriously chipped away.  It was hard work and we still haven't quite finished.

However, we did manage to get the stud wall down.  There is probably an easier way that the method we used but between us we found a solution to the problems we encountered and when all else fails, brute force generally has the desired result!  

We are thankful, yet again, that we work well together.  We each appreciate the work that the other does and know that we are working towards a common goal.  It was hard going today -  there was lot of dust and tiles shards - but by doing the work ourselves we saved quite a few pounds.  It's surprising what you can do if you put your mind to it and just take your time.  And there is great satisfaction in doing it yourself.

Stripping back the layers

We seem to be knee-high in wallpaper every day at the new house.  Every room is papered and it all has to come off.  We are using the tried and tested method - rip off the top pattered layer and wet the backing paper to scrape it off.  It's messy and time-consuming and occasionally we have a little discussion about hiring a steam-stripper but inevitably return to the original method.

So far we have stripped two bedrooms and are halfway through the hallway.  We are getting there, slowly but surely.  In the process we are revealing previous painting schemes (to date; pale green, candy pink - that has to go! - and white), along with an interesting assortment of cracks, which were a little alarming to begin with.  Thankfully we have had a builder look at them and he assures us none of them are anything to worry about so we are gradually filling them in.  Now I know why people choose to dry-line walls, or paper them - it hides the cracks!

A little time and effort with the heat-gun and sandpaper has removed all the chipped paint, and the window sill is back to bare wood.

Yesterday we also sanded skirting board and window sills in the little room, measured up for coving (quite a lot of that needed!), had a visit from the kitchen designer, took down some wall cupboards in the kitchen which will be ideal as storage/bookcases, and discussed bathroom ideas with a plumber.

We can definitely find a use for these

Today was an out and about day, checking out bathroom designs again, booking a visit from the carpet fitters, picking up odd DIY items, calling in at the window fitters to discuss handles, and another trip to the tip.  Then back to the house where I started on the hallway wallpaper, while N finally managed to cut the grass in the back garden with the new lawn-mower.  He set the blades to the highest setting and even though the grass is still actually quite long, it does look so much better than before.  We have both agreed that the lawn, such as it is, will have to be a long-term project to bring it back to a reasonable condition but in the meantime, simply mowing it on a regular basis will help that process.

The first cut!

This evening I set some time aside to make up a new household file with all the relevant paperwork we are amassing for the new property.  We had numerous scraps of paper with important measurements and jottings on, and they needed to be together in one easily accessible place.  Quotes, estimates, business cards, plans, meter readings - they're all there in the file.  A little bit of organisation - I'm a happy bunny :-)

Back home, we've not seen our little bluetit family for a few days and we think that the chick(s) must have fledged and the parents moved on.  I guess once the chicks have left, there's no reason to stay on at the nest-box.  We will have to start a new list of 'birds in the garden' at the new property.

I'm beginning to be aware that the wedding is not so many weeks away now, and I still don't have a dress to wear.  I have the material, and the idea, just not enough time at present to make it.  I am going to have to get a move on with this or I shall be turning up in my boiler-suit!

Fetching, isn't it  =:o

Boys' toys

We're getting into the swing of 'working' again.  No need for an alarm call; we seem to be waking up about 05.30 (bird-song and a rising sun are responsible for that), lasting til 6ish before we have a cuppa, then a discussion as to what the plan of work is for the day.  Once our list is written, we get up, dress in our 'uniforms' of boilersuits - apart from being totally practical it also cuts down on the clothes washing - and prepare our packed lunches and drinks to take with us.  After breakfast we pack the car up and off we go.  

Today we continued with the small bedroom.  I washed the walls down but they are still really 'gluey' - I think the walls may have been painted with the old-fashioned 'size' before being papered.  They will need another wash tomorrow.  We've filled in all the holes from picture hooks, and any other little imperfections and that will need a light sanding in the morning.

After much deliberation we decided to try to strip the paint from the window sills as it had chipped in several places.  Not wanting to use a chemical paint stripper, we dug out the heat-gun and gave that a go.  N took to this new toy straightaway, and spent a happy hour scraping the sill.  He's not used one before but I think it may become his new favourite gadget!  All the filler between the sill and the window frames has been removed, cleaned up and re-filled, and the window looks very smart now.  We were reminded, yet again, just how important all this preparation is in decorating.  We are great believers in the old adage that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well, or at least, as well as we can do it.  The preparation is time-consuming, usually dirty/dusty, and looks worse before it gets better, but it is rewarding in the long run.

Grasses gone to seeds in the lawn

We have two areas of lawn, both of which are resembling wildernesses at the moment.  The weeds - oh so many weeds - have taken hold and have reached alarming heights, seeds being scattered back into the grass.  I know N has been desperate to get the strimmer out to attack the lawns, and this afternoon, he finally did.  I could see the look of satisfaction on his face as he started cutting down the swathes!  He was a happy man ;)

Had the door locks checked out and the bathroom measured up for a design.  Two more things crossed off the list.

The first weekend

We have a lot of work to do in our new house.  Lots and lots of work.  If I stop too long to think about it, I get just a little daunted by the task ahead of us.  And I don't think I shall be making a list of all the jobs and projects to be done because it would just be too long.  In short: a new kitchen, new bathroom, new central heating boiler - all of these will be installed by local tradesmen, although N and I will be doing all the preparation.  The house requires decorating throughout - new flooring, painting/wallpapering, curtains, etc, which we will be responsible for.  We would like to convert the integral garage into a workroom and utility/storage area, but that is dependent on the budget we have set aside.

Then there is the garden.  Gosh, there really is a lot to do.

We peeled back one carpet, to find another carpet underneath!  Both had to go.

So we didn't waste any time.  Within an hour of walking into the house on Friday - and having sorted through all the keys, trying to work out which key was for which door - we had set to work taking up all the carpets.  Unfortunately, the backing had perished on several of them and it disintegrated into fine black dust as we pulled the carpet up.  It was just like soot and got everywhere; thankfully we had taken the precaution of wearing dust masks but it was still quite unpleasant.  Some of the carpets were fixed to the floorboard with staples, so all those had to be prised out as well.  By the time we had swept up the worst of the mess it was late afternoon, and we loaded the car with carpets and took them to the local tip for disposal.  

This is what was left behind after we took up the hall carpet - all that black dust is the backing that perished.

Yesterday we awoke with an assortment of aches!  Another full day of work - I was busy with the vacuum, getting rid of all the dust that had settled from the previous day, whilst N carefully removed some mirror wall tiles in the hall and bedroom.  We had been concerned that they might all be stuck on with grout or plaster and therefore be extremely difficult to remove without breaking so it was a relief to find they were held in place with sticky foam pads which proved much easier to deal with.  I took all the curtains and rails down - my thrifty mindset is wondering if the fabric might be useful for something else, but it all needs washing and then storing, so I'm wavering slightly.  We then tackled the bathroom, pulling up the carpet (up the side of the bath, too) and removing the medicine cupboard, various plastic holders and rails.  The cupboard we will keep; cleaned up it can be used in the shed.  To finish off the day, we spent half an hour in the garden, just pulling up some of the huge weeds from the veg plot - we filled a dust sheet without any effort.

Grand-daughter No 1 told us she wanted to keep the buttercups in the veg plot because they were so pretty!

Today began with a trip to the tip with the remainder of the carpets, and a bit of shopping to collect some decorating items we had ordered.  Then back to the new house.  We started out today with a work plan.  We have come to the decision that we work best if we set ourselves a goal for each day.  Not a list of 20, or even 10, things to do; we are being sensible and making our goals realistic and achievable.  So today our target was to strip the wallpaper in the little bedroom, and have another session of weeding in the garden.  And that is what we did.  The wallpaper, of course, decided to come off in two layers, top and backing, and it took us till mid-afternoon to finish and clear up.  

The weather this weekend has been glorious, so it really wasn't a hardship to spend some time in the garden, weeding.  The soil seems quite sandy, but there are lots of worms which is always a good sign.  Unfortunately there are loads of ants' nests, too, which is not so good.  We need to be vigilant in dealing with them as we find them.  I'm afraid it's the old-fashioned 'boiling water' method, using an old kettle and water from the water-butt - needs must.  We filled another dust-sheet with weeds and there is still so much more to do.  We are just going with the attitude that every little bit helps.

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I think we quite quickly realised that we were going to have to pace ourselves.  It's physical work that needs to be done, and whilst we are perfectly capable of doing the work, we can't tackle it with quite the speed that we could 20 or 30 years ago - we came to that conclusion by the end of Friday!  Instead, we have the sense to stop for a breather if we need to, rather than push ourselves too far.  We want to be able to enjoy the work, not wear ourselves out in the process!

One day at a time, one job at a time.  We'll get there. 

Photos to follow.

A new veg plot

We have a new veggie plot . . .

it's just a little bit overgrown at the moment . . . 

but we hope over the next few months to bring it back into production.

There's a house that goes with the veg plot . . . and that's ours too!!

We've bought a new house!  Yipee :-))))))
After months of 'shall we, shan't we', of searching, finding and then being disappointed, we finally found 'the house' a few months ago but hardly dare hope that the purchase would actually successfully go through.  Today, after what has seemed such a long journey, we received the phone call that told us the house was ours and we could collect the keys.

We are thrilled and excited by the prospect of this new phase of our lives and have many plans and ideas for the house and garden.  

In amongst the tangle of overgrown plants and weeds, a perfectly straight row of carrots.  Not knowing how they have been grown, I'm not too sure about trying them, but we have taken it as a positive sign!