tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511138113905594542024-02-18T23:34:33.180-08:00Two small boys, a husband and a renovation projectweeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-39324731164336298962013-01-14T01:49:00.001-08:002013-01-14T01:49:25.626-08:00And so it comes to an end...I think it's time for me to close my blog. I've loved writing it but the project is nearing the end and me continuing to blog about a little bit of glossing here, or hanging pictures there is not going to make you chuckle!<br />
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We even have a very nearly pimped front garden. It just requires a bit of digging and planting:<br />
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And I'm currently sitting typing in our newly re-branded 'spare room' complete with home office (ha ha), guest bed and the washing that's drying. The drying is the biggest achievement as our smalls are no longer on public view in our living room!<br />
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I have my thinking cap on for what I could blog about next but in the meantime, thank you for following our progress.<br />
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Mum, Project Manager, two Small Boys.weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-70306817144778974122012-12-30T11:48:00.001-08:002012-12-30T11:48:09.793-08:00Ta-da!After much hard graft, and working right to the last, the boys rooms were finally finished in time for grandparents to come and stay for Christmas and have a bed in our 'new' spare bedroom. The banister went in at 10am before we headed out to the pantomime and Grandparents were here when we got back!<br />
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So, without further ado, Bedroom 1:<br />
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and Bedroom 2:</div>
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I mentioned to Number One Sons friend that he should come and play to see the new bedroom because it was finished. To which I got the response, 'Does it even have a door?!'. Busted. No, okay, it does not yet have a door. Honestly, 5 year olds these days...</div>
<br />weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-6677285621443507472012-12-17T13:32:00.000-08:002012-12-17T13:32:24.653-08:00Frustration is...This evening, we have a new definition of frustration courtesy of our renovation project. To some people, frustration is a hubby who dumps his socks on the floor, a computer that won't start, picking the label off a bottle of Bud...to name a few!<br />
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In this house, frustration is having two completed upstairs bedrooms but no banister! And the wee boys are too little to navigate stairs without a banister so moving in day will have to wait a little while yet.<br />
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However, there was a definite sense of achievement as we finished fitting the carpet and lay on the floor looking up through the skylight into the night sky...weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-78258502341142909082012-12-04T13:43:00.000-08:002012-12-04T13:43:10.317-08:00Early nostalgia setting in...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8Wiz_dFDovrtp2bUwLNqsaAEyfmRB-egSOZaeItrjOgELLuCOuLbPeC8ntfp9rEaB_8Skhg2X3nRFMBkCIoAz_46jUag0UETuZBZNqyq715lxB07kN7L3BmEoEZEqDWFmo9jXAUaCiq2/s1600/100_7265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8Wiz_dFDovrtp2bUwLNqsaAEyfmRB-egSOZaeItrjOgELLuCOuLbPeC8ntfp9rEaB_8Skhg2X3nRFMBkCIoAz_46jUag0UETuZBZNqyq715lxB07kN7L3BmEoEZEqDWFmo9jXAUaCiq2/s320/100_7265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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To the untrained eye, this is a strange thing to take a photograph of.<br />
To the trained eye, an incredibly badly cut, even worse fitting, piece of plasterboard.<br />
But to us....?<br />
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To us it is beautiful, satisfying - I may even think of it fondly in a nostalgic moment. <br />
It is the LAST piece of plasterboard to be fitted in this renovation project!<br />
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It' still naked, as is the rest of the stairwell but that's a job for another night. I wouldn't want to complete too many tasks in one night - what on earth would I blog about tomorrow?!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-78427793349730113312012-11-21T13:00:00.000-08:002012-11-21T13:00:32.415-08:00..'took something purple and painted it red'Okay, it wasn't purple to start with but I have been painting with red tonight. The storage in the boys room is going to have red gloss doors so I got out my roller and tray, switched on my i-pod....and out came the dulcet tones of Daniel Merriweather singing 'Red'.<br />
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Which got me thinking - which other songs are 'DIY' songs?<br />
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Given the family part of this project, my repertoir mainly consists of:<br />
Bob The Builder - can you fix it?<br />
Build it up, build it up, build it higher (good for brick laying!)<br />
Gonna build a house (with a garden wall...)<br />
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But on the grown-up front, apart from Daniel, I could only think of 'This Ole' House'...until I googled and I have now discovered entire albums of DIY Songs! I spot a Christmas pressie for Project Manager coming on...<br />
Can you dig it?<br />
Lets stick together<br />
It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it<br />
etc etc etc...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio77XbO5PIJ2mtqNBfckmuI1m2VsJFRZOcQgfeeuS15NdttGEocU28rHCXk25wzxCus7LVy2NaxETe-mxPBoujcwiD2I_-EM93ctSfMIb2n198xMsC87xJjtQ2u5nGDN4x4CUg10HU7M0Q/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio77XbO5PIJ2mtqNBfckmuI1m2VsJFRZOcQgfeeuS15NdttGEocU28rHCXk25wzxCus7LVy2NaxETe-mxPBoujcwiD2I_-EM93ctSfMIb2n198xMsC87xJjtQ2u5nGDN4x4CUg10HU7M0Q/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oh boy - they look more red in a photo!<br /></td></tr>
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<br />weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-42501171957713652732012-11-06T13:23:00.002-08:002012-11-06T13:23:51.784-08:00It's looking promisingWe've been plugging away on the second upstairs room, trying to do as much as we can without spending money - which isn't as limiting as it sounds. In fact, not at all. We tend to buy materials in bulk, and on offer, when we can which has left us with a healthy supply of plasterboard and mix. <br />
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Over the weekend we realised we had reached that critical point where it looks like we have sooooo much to do but by this evening we had finished boarding out the space ready for plastering.<br />
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There was even a moment (which I am reluctant to mention incase I tempt fate) where I caught hubby putting tools <i>away</i> into the garage - woop! woop!<br />
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I can now get into the garage (also our utility room) without having to move large pieces of wood or plasterboard out of the way. I won't go so far as to say it's clean under foot, and I still drop random bits of clean (always clean) washing into the dust...<br />
<br />weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-65459594492965242622012-10-27T15:01:00.000-07:002012-10-27T15:01:44.864-07:00It's the finishing touches that make me smile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You may remember the lovely wallpaper that we used to decorate our living room, nearly a year ago now <a href="http://familyrenovationproject.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/what-happened-to-wall-mummy-it-looks.html">http://familyrenovationproject.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/what-happened-to-wall-mummy-it-looks.html</a><br />
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I had hoped to buy some complementary fabric from Next to complete the look but my budget did not stretch that far - very favourably priced wallpaper, not so the fabric! Luckily, in the January sales (yes, it was that long ago) I spotted a complementary duvet cover in the sale bins and snapped one up for the bargain price of £11 with the intention of making roman blinds. I have no excuse as to why it has taken me so long - I even know how to make roman blinds! It was when I bought my favourite interior magazine and they had a feature on how to make simple roman blinds that I decided it was time to get a move on...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrw4pOympGHceUFz_DYdrOP14HH8Ae2BajNIrHuACTLZqB_eWGjy3hXndy0y0VEE_iDLrpZtKX8ajWJtzEXjHmDge0zfdsK7UaHjs18JCylHz839Ua5TR-ZKi3QGUuI8U4_etx8FJtOOa/s1600/halfterm+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrw4pOympGHceUFz_DYdrOP14HH8Ae2BajNIrHuACTLZqB_eWGjy3hXndy0y0VEE_iDLrpZtKX8ajWJtzEXjHmDge0zfdsK7UaHjs18JCylHz839Ua5TR-ZKi3QGUuI8U4_etx8FJtOOa/s320/halfterm+056.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy of Style at Home, Sept 2012<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8-nVBDoHTIsU3Q6jGAxs-EDr5Y_HhoYnUZtBHdmgkHSC2PFOhtyYyyt5_ESjhwWBWrk51ktrEKy2pCdpj1B3QwM976bpL09PmnBgTy_b9bDnzZ8T5YvK7VCqtJvtGNYPOC0Qav6XVVUQ/s1600/halfterm+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8-nVBDoHTIsU3Q6jGAxs-EDr5Y_HhoYnUZtBHdmgkHSC2PFOhtyYyyt5_ESjhwWBWrk51ktrEKy2pCdpj1B3QwM976bpL09PmnBgTy_b9bDnzZ8T5YvK7VCqtJvtGNYPOC0Qav6XVVUQ/s320/halfterm+054.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGoy8LvJcaj-6zn3m-kURmofV_2qgjswWlMiDLIwJyo1oZNdZEkjbO4KLSLBp5ji71XOwId8O2GpDah4yU9LSWFOeDY2SNdt4AvAW1CUxD1yTE2UqtmgBzUfz3P5KWi66-zvJVxaPE_nS/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGoy8LvJcaj-6zn3m-kURmofV_2qgjswWlMiDLIwJyo1oZNdZEkjbO4KLSLBp5ji71XOwId8O2GpDah4yU9LSWFOeDY2SNdt4AvAW1CUxD1yTE2UqtmgBzUfz3P5KWi66-zvJVxaPE_nS/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="240" /></a> </td></tr>
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Now the living area feels nice and cosy, ready for long wintry nights.weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-70968588917499954042012-09-30T13:21:00.002-07:002012-09-30T13:21:52.547-07:00There is such a thing as too much choiceHow on earth do you choose a sofa? <br />
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Ever since we moved in, we have been 'going to buy' new sofas for our living room. We currently have one that we bought when we bought our first house and one that we took from my sister-in-law as a temporary measure when the boys were babies, and have never replaced it with a permanent measure!<br />
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The new sofa decision has come to a head as my brother-in-law is looking to move into his first abode with his Significant Other and I mentioned that if he needed sofas, we were planning to get new ones.<br />
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Add to the 'too much choice' conundrum the fact that I am a certain nationality that finds parting with money difficult and it could be a long wait.<br />
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Here's some of the sofas that I am considering (and that is mostly 'I', as we cannot agree on these things so it will be my choice in the end!). PM's only consideration is whether it is comfortable to lie on to watch the TV...<br />
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<br />weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-35049496093158958332012-09-21T13:12:00.000-07:002012-09-21T13:12:10.816-07:00Have you seen fat Max?<br />
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My favourite DIY tool is Fat Max – not least because it has
a very cool name! </div>
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It’s a saw with a nice
ergonomic yellow handle but the twist is that it has teeth running around the
end as well as along the blade. Fat Max
cuts through materials beautifully. </div>
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The
fact that I can actually cut things with this saw is testament to its
effectiveness as I am normally pretty useless with a ‘regular’ saw.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In fact, he is so much a part of our DIY family that you
don’t ask to ‘pass the saw’ – Fat Max has become personified and the lingo
in our house is now ‘can you pass Fat Max’…<o:p></o:p></div>
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weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-11238854813185219482012-09-12T13:23:00.000-07:002012-09-12T13:23:30.949-07:00And when the kids get involved...Having had a particularly engaging DIY weekend as far as the two small boys were concerned, I thought it would be interesting to share the consequences! Having said the two wee boys were engaged - so were the two big boys. My dad, in particular, seems to like nothing more than digging and excavating.<br />
<br />
So Grandpa could be found with mini-man helping in the hole:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqurVLjbwoRdZwwpocmRGmBHo2-V7bX2hvdClNCF8ARXXGa0dl5OXSM969GRbuXCQxkmBLoKC1CwMk6XwL_PUvjvG3ZV1yS45BsWKIjnKIirJ_6WQgcN9IgSZ4R2D-CcMx5Ii7CGva3QQO/s1600/100_7113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqurVLjbwoRdZwwpocmRGmBHo2-V7bX2hvdClNCF8ARXXGa0dl5OXSM969GRbuXCQxkmBLoKC1CwMk6XwL_PUvjvG3ZV1yS45BsWKIjnKIirJ_6WQgcN9IgSZ4R2D-CcMx5Ii7CGva3QQO/s320/100_7113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then the wee boys spent the rest of the day 'rehoming' the earthworms. The blue container in the photo is the transport system for the worms to get to their new home in mummys vegetable garden.<br />
<br />
There are some consequences of having small helpers:<br />
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Users of the toilet can now be easily identified by fingerprint!<br />
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And cleaning the bath becomes as much of a job as cleaning the boys!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-12670059624468674712012-09-08T14:06:00.000-07:002012-09-08T14:06:18.409-07:00Everybody needs good neighbours...I love having great neighbours. I didn't have bad neighbours in my old house - they watched our house when we were away, knew which way the drains ran and we swapped Christmas cards 'from those at No. 25'. However, we didn't socialise with them or have much in common other than living in the same street.<br />
<br />
Since we moved here, we have been to Christmas drinks at the neighbours house (whole street invited), swapped DIY tools and puzzles with next door, had more than one set of kids round to play, been to a funeral and supplied wood for the log-burner across the road!<br />
<br />
DIY activities this weekend have just confirmed how 'neighbourly' (for want of a better adjective) our new neighbours are.<br />
<br />
We have finally embarked on Operation Tidy The Front Garden and commenced with looking for all the utility pipes so that we know where they are and to see whether our water pipe is lead or plastic.<br />
Obviously, working in the front garden enables you to talk to everyone who passes and also allows them to be curious without appearing nosey!<br />
<br />
Having found the gas and electricity without much difficulty, we were scratching our heads as to where the water could be. The man across the road works for the water utility company but couldn't access the records. The elderly neighbour got involved, applying logic that older people seem to have in these situations. And then the elderly lady from the end of the street joined in - but we still didn't find it.<br />
It was also green-rubbish day so we had our wheelie bin full and several other boxes of compostable waste at the ready. It's no exaggeration that five of the neighbours came out of their houses to offer us their green bins.<br />
<br />
We did find the pipe eventually. And it is lead. So now PM is dismantling even more of the garden to fit a new pipe and taking apart the hall floor (not so happy about this!)...weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-45068290382068498432012-09-03T13:49:00.000-07:002012-09-03T13:49:45.818-07:00Confined Spaces<br />
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Covered in sweat, high on fumes and coated in a fine mist of
‘timeless’ – that’s how I emerged this evening from the latest stage of Project
Loft Conversion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Working in the confined space of sloping ceilings and
tunnels has given us a few interesting problems, the latest being the build-up
of fumes during filling and painting!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The tunnels are our built-in storage running around the
perimeter of the rooms. We have divided
them up so that we don’t find the boys using them as tunnels in the future but
you do have to crawl in and out to do any work in them (and probably to retrieve our worldly goods in the future). Plastering involved sitting and shuffling
backwards on your bottom whilst plastering in front of you. I decided to get clever when it came to
painting the inside of the tunnels by bigging it up so that Big Son thought he
was being really helpful and doing a proper big boys job. He gave up after 5 minutes claiming the hole
was too small and he kept banging his head…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We’ve been keeping the windows open as long as possible but
with the nights drawing in, the bugs and beasties have been joining us in our
confined space.</div>
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Luckily the boys are still short so I think we have at least until they
hit their teenage growth spurt before they start complaining about the head height
in their respective rooms!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EIfhmLHq5FCpc9joE-XQqKu1g-nkvMBXsb8AtEshgjmbqhsvnIZI2_rTjpHtGjzue0YBkCMY9blMbPxjZ5-B8C5QMdt9NyYBiZMRvitKuc6MURmoFXxcUmq6K6oQQZS1r0cN3pQMZFam/s1600/100_7107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EIfhmLHq5FCpc9joE-XQqKu1g-nkvMBXsb8AtEshgjmbqhsvnIZI2_rTjpHtGjzue0YBkCMY9blMbPxjZ5-B8C5QMdt9NyYBiZMRvitKuc6MURmoFXxcUmq6K6oQQZS1r0cN3pQMZFam/s320/100_7107.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the tunnels, under the slope of the roof<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-80221037740269412712012-07-22T11:42:00.000-07:002012-07-22T11:42:19.421-07:00Let the sunshine in!Our kitchen area has no external windows of its own so we have been deliberating for the last 18 months whether to invest in a sunpipe. Decision time finally arrived as we have begun plastering the roof space. So, armed with Wickes vouchers and money off coupons I nipped out to buy a sunpipe the other week. Fitting it wasn't too bad - although the instructions got thrown to the side almost immediately for making no sense whatsoever!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU4oiEu5cV2z8aecBqZJHO4Fa74zx6NxhFdg57XduwpiAZK70m-0CkgTeBL5UCGishonn6LyZ8tu7fFAPBeXN57H0EKfvH8s9yAskLSmJ6b-VkOWEeuZ1yl4MsFTF2yjXVjrWKCV1-Hux/s1600/we150712_003%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU4oiEu5cV2z8aecBqZJHO4Fa74zx6NxhFdg57XduwpiAZK70m-0CkgTeBL5UCGishonn6LyZ8tu7fFAPBeXN57H0EKfvH8s9yAskLSmJ6b-VkOWEeuZ1yl4MsFTF2yjXVjrWKCV1-Hux/s320/we150712_003%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 1: make a hole in the kitchen ceiling without incurring the Wrath of Mum by spreading dust everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFpcDRW5yLyb5Qpe8WkoLyBqmryxazylrI7H32yiFDqXnAD0b7YQgJV3KkMeA1REg2HHsyt_ZiFelu7XvtS-B5iyCuiNnmejpqM-5cvp_0dGpmA4BjtPDQ7h5sPsj8Mk0XgmWk28Ph3p2/s1600/we150712_008%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFpcDRW5yLyb5Qpe8WkoLyBqmryxazylrI7H32yiFDqXnAD0b7YQgJV3KkMeA1REg2HHsyt_ZiFelu7XvtS-B5iyCuiNnmejpqM-5cvp_0dGpmA4BjtPDQ7h5sPsj8Mk0XgmWk28Ph3p2/s320/we150712_008%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 2: assist Project Manager from the inside of the roof, in impossibly small space</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWmnfaVgABKGqEKKvqu27WhHYKVTQuMQp23VpqsmYwO58-fK1N5Tcz-iBktDrQUQZ8i48Wb_dBZi1RDqrScZl3X2QIKU9U5gvqJ61PxuOI5dPF131Uz21KNMrP5rYYW_5CNA0ppmHU9hK/s1600/we150712_009%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWmnfaVgABKGqEKKvqu27WhHYKVTQuMQp23VpqsmYwO58-fK1N5Tcz-iBktDrQUQZ8i48Wb_dBZi1RDqrScZl3X2QIKU9U5gvqJ61PxuOI5dPF131Uz21KNMrP5rYYW_5CNA0ppmHU9hK/s320/we150712_009%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 3: send hubby into the tunnel to make sure it's all sealed up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXcOH2QdojbqBrv38nRK9IH3Y90KxbYSu1-qkkLTv5xhAkWor_EHUoZX7OqFRbSLxZi9BXTKhGc7hLhzo1-NNLHXthnw2HgAFnUNuHzeFtuod-wnhqOZN8fMITDDyTJ2Egnz4paszQ1S5/s1600/we150712_010%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXcOH2QdojbqBrv38nRK9IH3Y90KxbYSu1-qkkLTv5xhAkWor_EHUoZX7OqFRbSLxZi9BXTKhGc7hLhzo1-NNLHXthnw2HgAFnUNuHzeFtuod-wnhqOZN8fMITDDyTJ2Egnz4paszQ1S5/s320/we150712_010%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 4: enjoy being bathed in light at the far end of the kitchen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All that remains to be done is to paint the surround to match the ceiling - it's our own improvisation to make the ceiling join neater.weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-11637824689336620012012-07-08T10:13:00.000-07:002012-07-08T10:13:13.554-07:00What Can I Do To Help?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This weekend was the first ‘summer’ we’ve seen for a while
so I got out the lawnmower and waged war on the lawn. It was a bit on the humid side so I stopped
once I reached the limit of the short extension lead, fully intending to go in
and relax with a glass of wine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, in the meantime, I spotted PM heading upstairs so I
was guilted into asking ‘what can I do to help?’ I was immediately recruited to assist with
completing the floor. <span style="background-color: white;">We proceeded to lift the mdf boards to lay them back down
with glue and nails in place.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">It was all
going swimmingly with our well-oiled team spirit coming to the fore – me
glueing and PM following behind with the screws.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then…I lost my balance.
Bent double, glue-gun in hand and balanced on two of the joists, it all
went pear-shaped in a flash. My foot
went down into the soft, fluffy, insulation between the joists – and just kept
going. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right. Through. The.
Bedroom. Ceiling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PM grabbed my arm and I threw myself forward at the same
time so I didn’t fall entirely through the ceiling. I burst into tears. PM thought I was hurt. I blubbed and tried to laugh and talk. PM still thought I was hurt. Eventually I managed to say that I was OK but
I had just fallen through the roof that he had plastered and I’d ruined
everything and there was clean washing on the bed and oh my god what about the
mess and, yes, I am OK!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PM was so glad that I wasn’t seriously hurt that he just
laughed! A whole day later he is still
smirking at me – the fact that he can gloat for years to come that I was the
one that fell through the roof. And,
just incase he forgets to take the mickey any day, there will be a big
croc-shaped patch on the bedroom ceiling right in my line of sight as I go to
sleep every night! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am somewhat bruised today, and limping slightly – my left
thigh hit one joist and my right knee another. I have been slapping on arnica, deep heat and cold packs in equal measure all day. On the plus side, I will be on light duties for a week or so…<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWIstrxDIAft25IAnBP200sBml5UXDtoEvMXhJTurNBZElE53y33Qrqwdnqf4HZy-HqEFlNndNYScN_v_C-8k5dvNi2gIn7cDQCAS4H1O_PuWoMQjT5ijGgtSWph7QZmTSwF9F5Cct6UR/s1600/we080712+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWIstrxDIAft25IAnBP200sBml5UXDtoEvMXhJTurNBZElE53y33Qrqwdnqf4HZy-HqEFlNndNYScN_v_C-8k5dvNi2gIn7cDQCAS4H1O_PuWoMQjT5ijGgtSWph7QZmTSwF9F5Cct6UR/s320/we080712+027.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBU8ug_yWDeCxqWdxP6kuHgflF_P_Ab6OtVF4UVpvn0ZANaaCEpzzvBHYoN-OJmK3fVrXQQznPyYECO9Yj4DwAnIA3iq2pdWo0D-X6SrbhTAky-mOuR86vzhjimhVLxTOPKwicwZGZM5Z/s1600/we080712+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBU8ug_yWDeCxqWdxP6kuHgflF_P_Ab6OtVF4UVpvn0ZANaaCEpzzvBHYoN-OJmK3fVrXQQznPyYECO9Yj4DwAnIA3iq2pdWo0D-X6SrbhTAky-mOuR86vzhjimhVLxTOPKwicwZGZM5Z/s320/we080712+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big clod-hopper sized hole<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-14212522423381654532012-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:002012-06-29T13:22:44.191-07:00Long live the London look (other brands are available)Before I start, I should probably warn you that this blog is loosely affiliated with DIY - the girly side of DIY.<br />
<br />
I have beautiful nails this week courtesy of having an Olympic Day at work. I found some Union Jack nail transfers which I carefully applied one evening after I had finished making my 'Great British Bake Off' cake and cleaned up after myself. Even at that point, I only put on a couple of the nails as I didn't believe they would truly last the night and morning ablutions unscathed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2X8WZphRQP4MfxZmE6ig_X3AKJZ-YnNQMIcsSgCCqLw5MP3HNWFOYkhYj330Ab1rUOvefAMC7KspB8NryEn61xDiL-FgjY4rJzOhsoNmGgBUyV78nb8lmnfNoQ6cmGjpea08Gl6IERMR/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2X8WZphRQP4MfxZmE6ig_X3AKJZ-YnNQMIcsSgCCqLw5MP3HNWFOYkhYj330Ab1rUOvefAMC7KspB8NryEn61xDiL-FgjY4rJzOhsoNmGgBUyV78nb8lmnfNoQ6cmGjpea08Gl6IERMR/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympic firework cake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the morning, o<span style="background-color: white;">nce the shower, dressing and boys breakfasting was out of the way, I applied the remaining nails (plus one each for the boys!) and went to work. My nails re</span><span style="background-color: white;">ceived many admiring comments all day, and then the next day as I did my school run duties. By this point, my they had done their job so I began to revert to normal - bathroom cleaning, pan washing...</span><br />
<br />
Once the boys had gone to bed, it was time to do my regular gig in the attic conversion. Even the hubby noted that this would 'not do my nails any good' but it didn't get me off duty for the night!<br />
<br />
And so, two hours later, I am pleased to note that my transfers are still intact and I still have beautiful nails!<br />
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<br />weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-22424304746008009202012-06-16T14:06:00.000-07:002012-06-16T14:06:41.525-07:00Diary of a Glossing Day0900 pack super excited wee boys, big boy and big uncle off to the Pagaent of Power<br />
0915 have shower<br />
0930 read paint instructions (and yes, it's Dulux): quick dry (good), two coats (inconvenient), no undercoat required (what!!!! spent all week undercoating, grrr)<br />
0935 send text to friend to try and induce long telephone chat<br />
0936 start painting first door<br />
<br />
1000 one side done - only another 9 sides to go : /<br />
1005 start 'blogging' in my head to amuse myself<br />
1009 change tunes from Proclaimers to random shuffle...<br />
1048 first spill on the dark wood floor - eek! Baby wipes to the rescue - phew!<br />
1050 one whole door complete. Second door of choice is the family bathroom. Unfortunately kneeling in close proximity to family toilet, I realise it smells like a family bathroom so spend some time introducing the toilet to the bleach. After that, the second door is far more satisfying - it's one of the pre-undercoated ones so I can see it becoming pure white as I paint.<br />
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<br />
1123 paint brush cramp-hand kicks in<br />
1158 Door 2 done - am I getting quicker??<br />
<br />
1200 coffee break time! Luckily my girlfriends left some Extra Special chocolate chunk cookies yesterday. Nothing like sugar and caffeine to keep me working...<br />
1220 decide to take the washing in and discover how much the house smells of paint so have to open some windows<br />
1231 much as I love all my genres of music, jumping from bagpipes to pop to Michael Buble crooning about Christmas is a bit much for the senses. Switch from random shuffle to the Beautiful South.<br />
1233 discover I've had paint on my sock so arm myself with the baby wipes and follow the trail round the house. Thank goodness it's a water based gloss (ironic chuckle to self - this is why the first batch went yellow!)<br />
1256 Me time! I jump on my bike in my DIY rags to go and get my eyebrows shaped. Trinny & Susannah would be horrified that I even left the house! And whether you can call getting your eyebrows shaped 'me time' is debatable.<br />
<br />
1338 bit of sustenance before I crack on with round four...<br />
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1428 change playlist (again) to Keep Calm & Relax. Not sure that's the right sentiment but cue paint roller as pretend microphone and belting out tunes at full volume!<br />
1458 Door 4. Done.<br />
<br />
1503 Door 5 - this is going to be interesting. I have already painted the door with the (not so) brilliant white and now the frame is going to be painted with the Dulux replacement.<br />
1520 every time I think I'm nearly done, another door appears! I'm like Alice in some obscure DIY version of Wonderland. Argh!!<br />
<br />
1600 hand has now achieved 'the claw' look and shoulder starting to ache<br />
1605 only two more to go...<br />
1621 get word that the boys are on their way home so stop to put on spaghetti, and clear a path through the paint trays and paint sheets.<br />
<br />
1819 Finished! Until Round 2. At some point. But it does look so fresh and lovely.weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-34122399189156757192012-06-10T10:46:00.001-07:002012-06-10T10:46:52.070-07:00And then there was lightFour hefty boxes were delivered a couple of weeks ago - two skylight windows and flashings. Hubby duly disappeared into the loft last Saturday and I was, once again, on child entertainment duties. Luckily, window fitting requires dry weather so my job was made easier by being able to play in the garden all day.<br />
<br />
Every so often we would see Daddys head pop up through the ever-increasing hole in the roof. Even our elderly neighbour took a pew in his garden to watch progress, shouting over helpful comments to Hubby such as 'you realise it's not in the middle'!!<br />
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I was also on weather watch which is pretty tricky in flat Cheshire - the furthest I could see was over to the next street!<br />
<br />
By dinner time project manager was visibly more relaxed as it became clear that the window would be completed in a day. Batman was most entertained by the 'Smokey Show' as the final finishing touches were made by cutting roof tiles down to size:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajwcW6GYutzzzh_k2nKGnjY_KYes2erJ9N5GRBPLuqprAbTlXuJOkWOXaK9LgSyXM4lab4fytwa9Ablb_VHdyJMXinkUqE85m55v5VgdnlxzqHpGY8JNOfz1fSwI6H2q2pLHdZEQ7ZgdT/s1600/we040612+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajwcW6GYutzzzh_k2nKGnjY_KYes2erJ9N5GRBPLuqprAbTlXuJOkWOXaK9LgSyXM4lab4fytwa9Ablb_VHdyJMXinkUqE85m55v5VgdnlxzqHpGY8JNOfz1fSwI6H2q2pLHdZEQ7ZgdT/s320/we040612+013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-1441279124976261962012-05-27T13:24:00.001-07:002012-05-27T13:24:11.672-07:00A day in the gardenLast week I advertised my new weightloss regime in converting the attic space. This week - it's too hot! But myself and Project Manager cannot sit idle and enjoy the sun, we need to keep doing something so that we feel we are plugging away at the renovation. <br />
<br />
Attic conversion was out as mentioned...<br />
Front garden is <em>way</em> too big a job to start for just a day or two...<br />
Side paving is a bit too labour intensive for the heat...<br />
<br />
So we finally plumped on reconstructing the boys play frame. PM had built a tree house / slide contraption in our last property which we had duly demolished and taken with us 18 months ago. Obviously, improvements were required - rather than just putting it all together in the same form. So far, this had involved us building a play house and 'talking' about the rest but today we finally got down to business:<br />
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A fun day was had by all, as the sawing and hammering was interspersed with a spot of trampolining, a few chases around the garden and plenty of juice!<br />
<br />
The other benefit to all this reconstruction is that the collection of wood in our shed and garage is somewhat slimmer than this morning!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-81201698298527260432012-05-21T13:54:00.000-07:002012-05-21T13:54:47.089-07:00A new weight-loss regimeI think I've finally sussed out an advantage to all the slogging away in the loft-to-be-bedrooms that we are currently doing (that's mostly the royal 'we' to my shame). Now that the summer has finally arrived the advantage will only increase. Let me set the scene...<br />
<br />
It's a black tile roof on the outside, black felt on the inside. South facing for most of the day, with east-west perspective the rest of the time, it soaks up the sun like a sponge. My 'gofer' job has been to put in all the insulation so I have also been dressed from head to toe in long legs and long sleeves, complete with face mask! When the weather was slightly cooler, it made the loft a pleasant place to work. Now that the mercury is rising, it has turned our DIY space into our personal sauna. I must be losing weight by the bucketload!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the intense heat also fuddles my brain and makes me even less able to compute the instructions that Project Manager is doling out, whilst he calculates complex angles in his head and saws them (correctly) without making a single mark on the wood.<br />
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If anyone fancies trying my new weight loss regime, there's plenty more work to be done here - and there's no charge!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHuz317ukuVxYp3TXrB6qE94r3Gfn0oMkU8LaXlcjFmP5pTVp5jTAyGcD8rzWlnD6kd_EucZ9uiEbFQlyzNoMTffG9QldOLkkYYaCKFkBF1mjImxwSrHiRAYDKfUZ5qf81PzaXkhPLvRU/s1600/2012-05-13+12.26.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHuz317ukuVxYp3TXrB6qE94r3Gfn0oMkU8LaXlcjFmP5pTVp5jTAyGcD8rzWlnD6kd_EucZ9uiEbFQlyzNoMTffG9QldOLkkYYaCKFkBF1mjImxwSrHiRAYDKfUZ5qf81PzaXkhPLvRU/s320/2012-05-13+12.26.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-91169765000878136192012-05-03T13:42:00.001-07:002012-05-03T13:42:59.611-07:00DIY Dalai LamaI left work-work in a bit of a rush today, having been in a meeting right up until 4.30pm when normally I'm leaving the building to pick up the Small Ones. I buckled up, fired the engine (as much as you can in a family estate), flicked on my stereo then had to switch it from 'We're Going on A Bear Hunt' to radio function. Aaaah, music, bliss to my ears and then, tune into Patrick Keilty...daily interview...house builds...well spoken guy...cogs are turning...ears prick up - it's Kevin McCloud! <br />
<br />
The God of all things renovation and building. When I'm not DIYing myself, the television just seems to settle onto Dave or More4 and I find myself watching somebody else do DIY. Crazy. But Kevin just draws you in with his friendly, knowledgable dialogue and his likeable charm.<br />
<br />
He's on the radio to advertise a new series - NEW SERIES!! - of Grand Designs which means even less real DIY will happen in my own house as I peer into someone elses life and wonder why they can't stick to either budget or timeframe. I can now nod knowingly when they procrastinate and deliberate over such decisions as new slate vs recycled slate vs fake slate, and then go with the most expensive option for reasons unfathomable to the rest of us.<br />
<br />
Can't wait to watch it - and I must remember to tip off my friend with the Kevin-crush...weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-10437999928809402252012-04-28T14:04:00.001-07:002012-04-28T14:04:51.560-07:00I'm wondering whether I have a weird phobia of power tools?I finally got back on the preverbial horse this evening and got myself up into the attic to assist Project Manager. I'm not sure how much assistance I actually was with my 'why is that there' and 'what are you doing about this' and 'how do I do this' and 'I don't understand what I'm supposed to be doing...' <br />
<br />
Project Manager eventually sighed and told me to get on with whatever I felt comfortable with. The options being:<br />
<ul>
<li>measuring wood </li>
<li>sawing wood </li>
<li>drilling and screwing wood </li>
</ul>
Measuring I can do, although I tend to find it dull and repetitive after measuring a couple of lengths. Sawing, I can also do but to say that I'm rubbish and pathetic when it comes to sawing (lack of straight lines, lack of arm strength) is an understatement! <br />
<br />
Drilling and power-screwdrivering, however, are slightly different - I avoid them. I don't ever approach them with the required confidence and assertiveness required with power tools which means that drill holes and screws go wonky, putting me off even more. I don't think I'm scared of them - although I do occasionally have visions of power tool type incidents floating in front of my eyes. Gruesome, I know.<br />
<br />
Anyway, after doing more measuring than PM was ever going to keep up with having to do both sawing and fixing jobs, I decided to 'man up' and do some sawing. Pah! I got sacked from that as PM had to come back with all my lengths and trim them. <br />
<br />
I looked around, went to the loo, got some beers in then faced up to the fact that I was going to have to do something. So I went for the circular saw. Which, oddly, I enjoy using - given that it's a very powerful power tool which could lead to terribly gruesome incidents...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcS38dUfJjHmQNkd4Cd_JKbk5CfEHUMqG4RLjZsW-goaHfZE49G7p1H41UliGcsMkCBCEycrS7V9YBhSm1WN0FDQbJFLrsqK-Fusr1BTdMENVFTZktqluffyFX4axzSZnsvdj2l01K8XR/s1600/2012-04-28+19.19.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcS38dUfJjHmQNkd4Cd_JKbk5CfEHUMqG4RLjZsW-goaHfZE49G7p1H41UliGcsMkCBCEycrS7V9YBhSm1WN0FDQbJFLrsqK-Fusr1BTdMENVFTZktqluffyFX4axzSZnsvdj2l01K8XR/s320/2012-04-28+19.19.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the beginnings of our attic bedrooms<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-25171918263946115322012-04-17T13:41:00.000-07:002012-04-17T13:41:14.962-07:00The trials and tribulations of modern living vs. modern buildingThe hubby and I came out of the dark ages a couple of weeks ago and upgraded mobile phones, capable of only calling and texting, to smartphones. I have unlimited internet access and more texts than I can possibly use in my monthly package - woo hoo! I can spend even more time on facebook, blogging and other pursuits that my dad rolls his eyes at and mutters something about 'disfunctional family life'.<br />
<br />
Alas. If only it were so. Due to modern building regulations we live in a 125mm thick coccoon of aluminium foil backed insulation. Too well insulated, it would appear, for our android devices to work. Instead of being more in touch with my network of mummies, I feel stranded in my cave of tinfoil. I did my own experiment last week and found myself at the very back of the garden before I had a signal on said device.<br />
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Looks like I'll be moving into the wee boys play house to keep tabs on my social life - or I could adopt a real social life and visit my friends instead......now that's a <strong>much</strong> better idea!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-13559093729464826552012-03-22T14:27:00.000-07:002012-03-22T14:27:25.390-07:00My pure brilliant not-so-white Eureka momentYou know that feeling, that niggling thought, when you know something isn't quite right?<br />
And that Eureka moment when it all clicks into place and suddenly everything is clear?<br />
<br />
Well, it's all just happened in the last couple of minutes whilst flicking TV channels in despair...<br />
<br />
The glossy white paint in our ensuite and bedroom has been looking very much yellow for some weeks now. Yellow enough, that PM didn't even think that I had painted it! For my sins, I actually have a degree in Colour Chemistry and couldn't think of any logical explanation. I was wondering if we hadn't used the right base paint, maybe the ambient humidity in the bathroom was to blame - or maybe we had taken paint from our old house and used it up first? My preference was for the latter.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndxtVN8kzJz2GZzcO2dIbcNzdZhhSHRY_lZ-qEAznwqc4rD3Ri8B05BgW_n9JW72yzOb4k8M4tvY7s1PwzmJWagbWmO6ASHobDL_S6HiTqHbaVCY27ZUY6NDDV9pGhopOyY_v15l12qKh/s1600/we220312_paint+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndxtVN8kzJz2GZzcO2dIbcNzdZhhSHRY_lZ-qEAznwqc4rD3Ri8B05BgW_n9JW72yzOb4k8M4tvY7s1PwzmJWagbWmO6ASHobDL_S6HiTqHbaVCY27ZUY6NDDV9pGhopOyY_v15l12qKh/s320/we220312_paint+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dulux 'not-so-white'<br />
<br />
<div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Then tonight, I caught the end of Watchdog where Anne teased us with the topics for next weeks show. One of them being the 'Dulux paint that's not as white as it claims to be'.<br />
<br />
Come on next Thursday - I want to know the whole story now!!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-78456160761383013622012-03-16T07:03:00.000-07:002012-03-16T07:03:30.977-07:00What a difference a year makes...Todays post is mostly about taking a step back and reflecting - and this applies to lots of situations, not just our renovation project. We often get so caught up in the present, that we forget how far we've come.<br />
<br />
Almost exactly one year ago to date we:<br />
<ul><li>had new builders starting on site. </li>
<li>lived in a 'granny' bungalow with dated decor. </li>
<li>had a humungous hole running the length of the garden. </li>
<li>didn't have space to invite people for dinner. </li>
<li>didn't have a safe garden to invite the boys friends to play.</li>
</ul><br />
What we had instead was bucketloads of enthusiasm, energy and a willing family to help with the mundane jobs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW79JBJNtZOSy-i-d2ZPCs71RY4JWgJpWiQtfM9zQULVy6AQ4K91cCrRQDi-sNDZl_G1v_NDxIN7XYO0oxmG4Mvo-MeA_4FXqBuuxYaZCQkgt8cjQoEL2zhg3lgzdGpfO0ip7CSWkwskG/s1600/we+270311+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW79JBJNtZOSy-i-d2ZPCs71RY4JWgJpWiQtfM9zQULVy6AQ4K91cCrRQDi-sNDZl_G1v_NDxIN7XYO0oxmG4Mvo-MeA_4FXqBuuxYaZCQkgt8cjQoEL2zhg3lgzdGpfO0ip7CSWkwskG/s320/we+270311+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Today we:<br />
<ul><li>no longer employ builders</li>
<li>live in a contemporary bungalow with fresh decor</li>
<li>have a fab garden</li>
<li>can have 12 people for dinner and still have room to move</li>
<li>have a garden full of plastic toys and footballs and only last week had 14 kids over for a birthday party.</li>
</ul><br />
Possibly what we lack now is quite the same enthusiasm!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdllOEOz0fg5BWXpHZnyWeJRTBISU4Bf1oFOwuvGdCCyVBvGo7W8EaQPwFK6EtgX-Bsbl9J0mzocjqEuTKJnH2G5OnI6qKh7WvWam_GVpd6Y2RduC-ipLUTxZTGxfty7RH8iX_IrQjzPPS/s1600/we160312+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdllOEOz0fg5BWXpHZnyWeJRTBISU4Bf1oFOwuvGdCCyVBvGo7W8EaQPwFK6EtgX-Bsbl9J0mzocjqEuTKJnH2G5OnI6qKh7WvWam_GVpd6Y2RduC-ipLUTxZTGxfty7RH8iX_IrQjzPPS/s320/we160312+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>What does continue to amaze me is how far we have come in just one year, whilst working and looking after a young family.<br />
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So, well done to my fantastic Project Manager, our families and everyone else for putting up with us and looking after us!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851113811390559454.post-46386897200582638912012-03-10T13:37:00.000-08:002012-03-10T13:37:40.237-08:00It's imitation all the way!I think I've blogged about my bathroom flooring dilema previously. If not, the issue was that I had intended to have the same flooring throughout the living areas of the house but, due to cost-benefit analysis, had decided not to buy aqualoc flooring. Instead, I opted for normal laminate throughout and left the bathroom for a later date. <br />
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I then scoured the internet for something a bit different - no imitation tiles, mosaic or wood for me! However, yet again, cost-benefit analysis cropped up and my alternative flooring at £40 sq. m. didn't make the shortlist. Instead, I managed to find some good old vinyl in the same, imitation wood, finish as my laminate from the rest of the house - effectively back to Plan A.<br />
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In fact, so similar, I have a game of Spot the Flooring...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4-7oQeRxKYpopLN3vVo14Lv04Kwvx2ZX7IU4f6IAanAUDA2098sJoGnyMKK8G16R50I5-58aM2bsBQH072gQBHY9uXbO9QrXerdAeaqTK7XCgNO8TzolE9tCj2C0QQRHEznNxaNAD4Vf/s1600/we110312+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4-7oQeRxKYpopLN3vVo14Lv04Kwvx2ZX7IU4f6IAanAUDA2098sJoGnyMKK8G16R50I5-58aM2bsBQH072gQBHY9uXbO9QrXerdAeaqTK7XCgNO8TzolE9tCj2C0QQRHEznNxaNAD4Vf/s320/we110312+006.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>After we had both checked the basic dimensions of the floor area, then came the tricky task of cutting holes for the sink and toilet. Some scratching of heads, and a few 'Blue Peter' moments later, and we came up with paper and masking tape as the solution. Not the most pleasant way to spend a Friday evening, stretched around the toilet bowl, when you have a 4 1/2 yr old (boy) that looks every which way when weeing and a 3 yr old (boy) that has toilet trained in the last 2 weeks!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8REZ7RYPVCBDKuqMBaUGmhy7js6DY6KVIJVEmQlKkEoYQMA6hnIcaaEafziOgbxVTM5wt6bI50H9UQf9JUgP8VsAusw9q4GrbsU_yrI4TULNZNa2o7VOvS4IQtEAUsxnByUpQvht2vCn5/s1600/we110312+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8REZ7RYPVCBDKuqMBaUGmhy7js6DY6KVIJVEmQlKkEoYQMA6hnIcaaEafziOgbxVTM5wt6bI50H9UQf9JUgP8VsAusw9q4GrbsU_yrI4TULNZNa2o7VOvS4IQtEAUsxnByUpQvht2vCn5/s320/we110312+007.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>Then I got the full responsibility of cutting (nice). There were a few alterations to make ('cos you always cut too small!) and then voila!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVFjjaDCmwL8ZbgF_n96DpTY3u9_3ncjRjMqMhuZyz_FfAlXoMfvDV4dmJVIn8oGH3bRWd_FP3j7sQ2zf_PQNqyR25i3fQPpxOx1F2Yakh-jnNN4RA-zmCj8hNL5AbKS-ayfWqdbcIuvN/s1600/we110312+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVFjjaDCmwL8ZbgF_n96DpTY3u9_3ncjRjMqMhuZyz_FfAlXoMfvDV4dmJVIn8oGH3bRWd_FP3j7sQ2zf_PQNqyR25i3fQPpxOx1F2Yakh-jnNN4RA-zmCj8hNL5AbKS-ayfWqdbcIuvN/s320/we110312+008.jpg" width="240" yda="true" /></a></div>It all sounds so simple in retrospect but has actually taken 2 1/2 hours - time for a cuppa!weeboysmumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927288674978682032noreply@blogger.com0