Author: peterb51

15th December 2017

Pete the plasterer was at the cottage bright and early, I had use him before, he remembered the long walk up the slope, and gasping at the front door.

We went through everything, and agreed that he would come in when rooms were ready.

Next were the guys from the kitchen and bathrooms. “A blank sheet of paper” I said as they both gasped for breath at the front door.

These were young kids, I don’t expect they know what a blank sheet of paper was? I should have said “blank screen” oh how things have changed.

After taking measurements, and listening to my requirements, they left, promising to send me a date for the revelation of the first draft plans.

I returned to chipping off the old tiles and plaster, slowly reducing the place into the contents of many black rubble bags.

Gavin, electrician number two arrived gasping at the front door. He was someone the property management company had use for electrical jobs in my rental house. He was really detailed in his note taking, and his knowledge of all things electrical. He threw things at me that I had no idea what he was talking about, I just nodded, like a back window plastic dog. My general response was”You’re the expert” that seemed to boost his confidence, or increase the quote, I’m not sure which.

Finally, after sweeping up the mess I had made and starting yet again another plastic bag, I left the cottage, and prepared for the main event of the day, Star Wars.

It was forty years ago that I took my boys to see the first very first one, and today it is still an important event in their lives, and they have passed it on to their own children, awesome.

This obsession/passion is also shared by Kelli and her children, although, being American there are more whoops,cheering, Pepsi gulping and popcorn, and that’s before the film starts.

14th December 2017

I converted the kitchen into a pile of rubble. It was a dirty job, but it’s progress.

The builder turned up, and wasn’t phased by the job. Removing the wall between the living room and the kitchen was the simplest, the old fireplace would require a bit more thought.

Mid afternoon Antony the electrician arrived.

We talked through the job, and he went away to tot up his numbers, and send me a quotation.

That evening I went to my son Ryan’s home where I would be staying for the next few nights. Yet again I was relying on other people’s generosity to get me through, and it is hard for me. I have this wreck of a house that I cannot live in,…………yet, I am not used to being so dependant, I feel grateful for every cup of tea, and slice of toast, I’m not actually in control of anything at the moment.

I do need to see this through, it will be great, but I have to build a realistic timeline, and I can only do that when I get information back from the trades.

It is frustrating not being able to tell Kelli when I am flying back, but if I have to wait for the jobs to come together, then I might fly back in between, that is the freedom I have, I guess.

13th December Thursday

I decided to take a drive to Taunton, somewhere else that I have never been before.

The road signs directed me to a city centre car park. I decided to drive to the top level so that I had a better choice of parking space. It still took me several attempts before I was satisfied that my positioning was good, hopefully no-one was watching.

Taunton was surprisingly good with plenty of well know shops and cafes. Some of the shop names were amusing. I had lunch in a place called ” Bare Grills” and found another place, that if Bob Rhodes ever decided to become a retail shop name consult, this is what he’d come up with.

Passing an insurance brokers I was drawn to the window displayed.

Cool car for kids.

When it came to leave, I made my way to the top level, but could not find the car. Frantic searching continued, different scenarios flooding my brain. There was nothing about the parking level that was vaguely familiar, it then dawned on me that I was in the wrong car park.

I should have realised at the time of climbing the stairs that something wasn’t right. There were so many levels that the air was thin, and there were these pearly gates.

Retracing my steps, I realised there was another car park next door, and that was where my car was waiting, Duh!

12th December 2017

The day for mental planning, I needed to prepare for my meetings on Friday. There is a lot to think about, the key is getting the building work done first. I made contact with a structural engineer who I need to advise me on the reinforcement needed to keep the house standing, whilst the walls are removed. There is a lot to think about, and that is before I get bombarded with questions from the trades.

I made a list of all the jobs that I could do to start the project. It will be dirty, and at times overpowering, but I guess every bag of rubble I make will move me forward.

11th December 2017

A early drive to Bath for a dental appointment, and a list of things to do was on the days agenda. I was pleased with the number of tradespeople that I have on my project, the plasterer confirmed a meeting at the end of the week. Tomorrow I make a start on some of the dirty work to strip down the old kitchen and get it to the tip. I am eager to get this renovation started so that I can get back to Holland and continue where I left off. Kelli has been doing an amazing job, working in the cold to keep her business going. She has never faltered, even though it is really difficult to keep positive sometimes, She had a problem with a customer who bought a lamp fitting that didn’t work. This happened just before I flew back, so there was no time to look at it. This is a real blow, it had a good price on it, but to keep your customer happy, she did a deal for this lady to choose other items from her booth up to the value of the lamp. Having done that, she collected the light, and brought it home. To her relief she found that it worked perfectly, and took it back to Painted Farmgirl, but this time connected and working.

Another furniture piece that I worked on, that I was not happy with, had the full Kelli treatment, and looked a whole lot better.

10th December 2017

The wind howled, and the rain hammered down through the night. Snow is very rare in this area, it’s not until you drive out of the village that you can share what the rest of the county has endured.

I took Nicola and Colin for lunch at a local pub, all low beams and big fires. A party of old folk joined the table next to us. As they surveyed their table, each couldn’t decide which chair to choose. Each one of them had a reason why “that” chair wasn’t suitable, too draughty, in a corridor, there were so many variants. After a prolonged game of musical chairs, but without the music, a compromise was reached. The designated driver was the one to sit in the draughty seat. He sat, dressed in a thick coat, hunched up sipping his fruit juice, whilst the old girls debated which wine to choose. It was better than a soup opera, our table was transfixed with the performance. The bottle arrived, and the glasses were filled, soon after, the cackling began. “We’ll go for the full three courses” said the lady with the obviously coloured hair. Now this pub is renowned for it’s ample servings, both Nicola and Colin gasped, they were thinking that all that food could kill them, so Colin moved his chair to give the paramedics an un-hindered way through, should they be needed.

“Oh this prawn cocktail is a bit filling” said the smallest lady, death by heart attack beckoning. The driver man shuffled in his seat, the fruit drink had done its job, he toddled off to the first of five visits to the toilet.

When the main course came, there was silence, a few mutters of “Oh that looks nice” but no immediate words of panic. We got on and finished our meal, and waited for any comments. The peace was broken by the words “Oh very nice, but they give you too much” We got up to leave, and I looked across, their plates were a sight of devastation. They have scraped up the turkey with the stuffing, and everything else was left. Colin likes his food, and I could see him eyeing up the roast potatoes, but Nicola made sure that eyeing was all it was.

We never knew if they had deserts, there were no ambulance sirens that we heard, so we concluded that they survived another day, and another feast.

9th December 2017

I had my fill of curry today. First was Curry Rivel, then North Curry, villages close to Barrington, and not an Indian restaurant in either of them.

I paid a visit to the Wetlands and Willow centre in Stoke St Gregory, an amazing place of damp grass and sticks.

I am interested in woven fencing panels, but here was every conceivable basket shapes, animals, and even coffins. It seems to be popular at this time to hold a “green” funeral, where willow coffins are used as an alternative to the traditional, and although quaint, and well made, it was full of holes, so the deceased could freeze to death.

The company also supply baskets for hot air balloons. I have never wanted to ride in one of those things, my brain will not allow me to take a trip to oblivion where my fate is controlled by the thickness of a twig. It is the same fear of riding roller coasters that make me wonder if all the nuts and bolts have been fitted correctly. The next stop was a to a shop called “The Sandpit Heating Centre” in Curry Rivel, they dealt solely with woodburners and ranges. It was the best place to be on a cold day because the stoves were alight, so hell in summer.

There certainly would not be any incentive to be the first person to arrive in the mornings, because you would have to light all the fires.

8th December 2017

Time to clean the car again. I think I am a regular sight in Barrington walking about, and cleaning cars. I miss the creative stuff I have been doing the past months, I feel the holding pattern will eventually drive me nuts. I had a response from a builder, so that’s a start.

I have made lists of jobs that I can start, and I have my list of tradespeople that I have contacted, but yet to hear back from. I know they can pick and choose work, but it would be polite for them to email and tell me. One day they might need new work from me, but if they appear in my little black book, they can go f*** themselves.

Today was Kelli’s daughter Greer’s birthday, I was sad to miss that. I saw pictures of the cake, and remembered the party they gave me. Although I only had one piece of cake, it was the best piece.

7th December 2017

I decided to spend the day in Exeter to finish my Christmas shopping.

I had a mental list of what I needed to get, so I set off like a guided missile, sliding through the hordes of old people, and those who should be at work.

By lunch time it was done, I had the carrier bags, the gift receipts and a smile on my face. Now I could look round the rest of the place.

The Christmas market was at the front of the cathedral, all pine cabins and quaintness. The street entertainers were out, and very tuneful.

On the way back to the car park, a couple had brought their little dog with them. It did not like the bus journey at all. It was wining all the way, and I could hear them desperately trying to quiet it down, but to no avail.

So there it was, no stress, no panicking, just cruising round the place looking for gifts in boxes, these are the only things I can wrap with any confidence, anything else is just a mess. I can never understand the purpose of wrapping a bottle, everyone will know what it is, and have to feign surprise when opening it.

Christmas this year will be different, hopefully more peaceful, and the holiday will last till the next one, when I will spend it in America.

6th December 2017

The phone was hot today as I went through my list of trusty tradesmen. First it was an e-mail to the electrician, this was preferred to leaving a voice message, odd. I managed to speak to a plasterer, which can be a miracle in itself. He promised to e-mail me back that he could meet me next week. I could not reach the builder, so that’s for another time.

I went for a long walk to clear my head, and to build a timeline of what needs to happen first.

At the end I was becoming a bit excited about what I could do, although I have to rely on others to be available when I need them.

Things will become far more clear once I can talk to people.

My sister Nicola and her partner Colin have been so good to me, I have felt more like a hotel guest, even down to the fresh fruit and bottled water in the room

The daily room rates are good, I can really recommend it.