Another Lifetime to go

27th November 2018

Nicola was at the door bright and early. Today was painting day, and she had rollers, and she wasn’t afraid to use them.

In a couple of hours she had the first coat done, so we moved onto the next challenge, the mural. This was another indulgence, an experiment in texture and colour, but also, a bit of fun.

The roll was divided into six panels that had to be applied left to right on the wall.

I had marked out the wall with the starting line, so the application was really straight forward.

This coincided with the man from British Gas who came to install the smart meters. This was power off, plunged into darkness, and the oven had to be re-set, a real pain. To set it can bring on RSI because the adjustment knob is small, and you have to roll it minute by minute. The only benefit was it was just about midday so I only had half RSI.

26th November 2018

The time of my return to the US is getting shorter, but my work list is still long.

I had to move many large blocks of stone from the patio so that British Gas could have access to the meter box tomorrow. So that I didn’t strain anything valuable, I rolled each one to the bottom of the garden to avoid potential injury.

I arranged to have my hair cut, I think it has been about eight weeks since I had it done in America, just prior to the wedding. I have got out of any sort of routine since I retired, all the days merge into one, and I just lose track of things, especially hair cuts. I’m only reminded when a lump of hair falls over my eyes and obstructs my view.

25th November 2018

I started my homework straight after breakfast.

I was able to use Nicola’s dining room, as it is waiting for a new floor to be laid, sounds familiar? But no I’m not doing that job, they have hired professionals. I was, however using the space to paint the pieces of skirting board that I brought with me. Oh yes, I can’t get away from it even for a day.

I also gathered up all my things I have been storing there, so finally Nicola and Colin can have their room back. Although I don’t have enough storage at the cottage ,I can at least store things in a warm room.

24th November 2018

There was a round-up of jobs I wanted to do before I drove down to Barrington. I wanted to finish the floor in the bedroom, and oil the landing. I had left this until the last moment so I didn’t need to get anything fro the bedrooms.

I also painted the doors for the boiler cupboard. These are tricky because they are made like a Japanese rice paper screen, so a lot of area to paint.

I stuck the last of the skirting board in the utility area, and had a general clear up.

I set off for Trowbridge with the aim of buying a washer dryer. I went to Currys PC world, the windows covered in Black Friday stickers all over the window. I was positive that I would find something there.

I walked up the stairs and found the washing machine display. There were names I’d never heard of, so a little disappointed. I looked at the AEG models but was put off by the curved fronts. I passed a sales lady who was reading the condition of sales to a bemused customer, it sounded like she was reading a death sentence, I decided that this was not the place for me.

I walked over to Knees Home and Electrical hoping for more success. They had a better selection, but were understaffed. The only person available looked like the undead. He floated around trying not to make eye contact with anyone. He was dressed in black with his sleeve pulled up displaying a vivid green tattoo.

I walked up to him and inquired when it could be delivered, he muttered something about checking stock, and slid off towards a terminal.

I walked around expecting him to call me to give me the answer to my question. Eventually I approached him and he said “Friday morning between 8.30 and 12.00”. I told him okay and he set about preparing the sale.

After that fiasco, I went to Halfords to buy a replace brake light bulb. I got frustrated with the screen to check which type I needed, so I looked for a human. He found the correct one for me, so I paid and went out to change it over.

The back light cluster was only held on with two screws, so easy to remove. Then I removed the bulb holder and found the blown lamp. I open the package and tried to fit the new lamp. It did not fit because the lugs were at a different height so would not lock in. Back I went, found the human, he gave me the correct type that matched the old one, I exchanged them at the register and walked back to the car. This time it fitted perfectly, I was pleased. As I refitted the cluster I noticed the lamp I replaced was actually the reversing light, the brake light was one above, I took that out, and it was the same type as the one I had bought in the first place, what a bloody dick-head. I was now too embarrassed to go back inside to buy the ones I had before, so I decide I would find another Halfords another day, but at least I had a perfectly working set of reversing lights.

23rd November 2018

I had a call from Dibly and Roy to tell me the vertical blinds were ready for collection. I drove down to collect, and rushed back to fit them. Then I realised the brackets supplied were for an inset blind whereas I had specified the external fixing. A quick phone call, and half an hour later a man arrived with the correct parts.

The town is experiencing horrendous traffic problems because of a bridge inspection that has taken all week. The traffic control is a man with a board and a walkie-talkie this can be good or really bad. I was stuck in the queue for ages, and just about gave up hope of ever moving again, when the cars stated moving. Great shafts of light shone down and angels sang in unison,as I approached the man with the board and a walkie-talkie, I willed him to let me pass. Closer and closer I moved nearer. I shouted at the cars in front to get a move on.

I was watching his hands to see if they were ready to flip the board, but no! I was through.

“Thank you, thank you” I muttered as I cleared the bridge.

22nd November2018

I purchased the last of the skirting boards, and wasted no time in cutting them up. I am prepping myself up for a last surge of energy to finish the place.

I had great fun sanding the floor, the sawdust got everywhere even with a mask on, it still got up my nose causing me to sneeze. Sneezing is quite satisfying, I usually do it everyday, and in batches of three or four. The first is just a warning, the second and third are more precise, but a forth is some serious activity. It’s like the final thrust of a drain cleaner when the blockage clears and everything gets released. Coupled with the noise, it puts the shits up the dogs and strain on the chair springs. This happens anywhere, the U.K. and the U.S. Kelli has learnt the warning signs, and tries to prepare for the shock wave. Fortunately there are rarely any projectiles, so far. After the event, I have to relax, maybe smoke a cigarette,( If I ever did) and appreciate the moment.

I was able to apply a coat of finishing oil to the floor, a real sign that the project was drawing to a close.

21st November 2018

I had to fix all the remaining boards down today, it has been going on too long, and I needed to move on.

There was a dig from the neighbours regarding the noise of me banging the nails. They’ve had to put up with a lot over the past year, so it was important to me to ease the inconvenience.

I had a long list of jobs, including trips to the tip.

I had an old drain hole to seal up, so I bought some expanding foam. I had seen everyone using it to do just about everything from filling gaps, sticking electrical sockets to bonding panels,so how difficult can that be?

For starters, there is no “feel” for how much to use as there is a delayed effect. So off I went giving the nozzle a good squeeze. The gook came down the tube and into the hole. After a few seconds it started to grow, and grow at an enormous rate. “Oh shit!” I thought, what had I unleashed?

It rose about six inches out of the hole, and fortunately did not get any larger. It looked like an enormous white head waiting to be squeezed. I left it a couple of hours before tackling the trim-back.

The moral here is never underestimate the amount of expansion in a can of Wickes’s polyurethane foam.

20th November 2018

It’s my birthday, and to celebrate, I will bang more nails into floorboards. This should be finished today, but some of the joists are so out out of true that the boards won’t lay flat, so I had to cut packers to correct them.

For the last two weeks it has been full on, wood, nails and hammering. The hammer and the nails were always at the opposite end of the room, so my poor knees had to keep shuffling up and down. I hadn’t knelt so much since I was a choirboy, and that was a while.

However to the rescue was a gift from Ryan and Louise. The gave me a magnetic wristband which was designed to hold screws, nails, and washers. This was put to work immediately.

In the evening I went for dinner with my favourite people, less Phillip who made some excuse about his wife, Cerys retiring from work.

I suggested he bring her along, but he thought it would be too emotional, and a lot of tears. I said that I would try to control myself.

Along with Helen and Bob, Jeanine, and husband Mark joined us. It was a wonderful evening of terrific Thai food in a place called “Sian Smile”. Bristol is not my favourite place to drive into, but with the aid of GPS and the excitement of meeting everyone I put my fears behind me a traveled to a place far, far away.

19th November 2018

I always seem to be at Wickes, I hope I get on to their Christmas list, I must have spent thousands with them, and they don’t even offer to clean my shoes.

Nicola came up and finished painting the Ikea shelving.

I am amazed how useful the Shogun has been. I was able to get three-metre long packs of floorboards in, and was able to close the back doors.

In the evening, I built up the two shelf units and put them in place. I even set up my TV and binged watched “Friends”

I moved the bed from the living room into the small bedroom, at last things are becoming civilised.

18th November 2018

Where does all this hair come from? I am giving the floor another coat of oil, but with each stroke of the brush another hair appears. It is so annoying, it can’t be coming from me, if it did I would be bald as a coot. It is not bristles from the brush (I get that as well) I believe I am attracting hair from all over the area, which some are long, short and curly.

Out of concern for the neighbour’s sanity, I didn’t do any hammering, so I spent the day cutting the planks to length.

The pile of old boards are piling up outside, I often expect to see local wildlife empaled on the upturned nails.

I started to paint my cheap Ikea shelving, a rest-bite from the hard physical work. I had to get some paint remixed because the tin I had mixed in ilminster I had left in the boot of the car that is stored at Damian’s place. This is a typical forehead slapping occasion.