sealing ceilings

16.2.12
BUILDING NEWS

Today the locksmith came and put locking latches on the four external doors. There is a hot wind blowing quite strongly so this will help stop any slamming. Edd has started to fill in the holes the plumbers mad behind the toilets when they moved the pipes and Josh and I have been painting ceilings. I hate this task because I always get a stiff neck from bending my head backwards to see what I am doing.

Steve is holed up inside the beer bottle he is constructing in the wet room. It is starting to take shape but is pretty tricky work. We have to do the ceiling and wall work before I can start building the bath. I think we do the walls even down to the paint and then put in the wooden vanity tops so that the plumbers can put the sinks in.

The plumbers came yesterday and connected up the rest of the radiators but they are away again today. What we really need is drains. The plasterer also came back yesterday and fixed all the holes made for putting the lights in. They refused to do this as they put the plasterboards up so to do the wiring we had to make holes and find the wires again. Seems a stupid system.

We had to send Josh off to pick up the furniture we ordered. I was hoping it could stay in the warehouse but the girl rang and said the company was going into receivership so I had better get my stuff now. That got us moving! We have to work round the furniture but luckily it is all in boxes so gets protection from ceiling paint.

OTHER NEWS

Josh thinks he may have found some work in Perth so he can now afford to go back there and complete his qualification. He rang around people he knew and one guy says he thinks he has part time work for Josh to start with. This would be ideal. The trouble is that we will miss having his help. He is pretty handy on a building site.
Simon has started his treatment and so far says it is not too bad. He is well enough to carry on at work and get himself to the hospital every day at present. Bo is trying to settle the children down for the new school year. Ollie is so far ahead of his peers in maths that it is a problem.

I saw Al earlier in the week when I took some wood over to Don to get the edges straightened. Al has to find a new place to live and a new office because the house he is renting at present is being demolished in a few months time. The kids are worried by the sense of insecurity this causes but India is so enjoying her relationship with the new boy friend that she has other things to think about. She has now started her final year at school and will be 18 soon! If I did not see her regularly I would not believe it. I can clearly remember when she lived at our house as a baby and it does not seem that long ago!

14.2.2012

BUILDING NEWS

I completed the floor grouting last weekend. I was definitely getting better at doing it and I was not even getting sore by the end. Today I have started on the ceilings. Luckily I have our scaffold to work from so doing the edges is really easy. Josh started on the parapet waterproofing but came in and helped me when it got too hot on the roof. He is the only one of us tall enough to roll the ceilings from the floor so between us we made a good start.

There was lots of other activity. Steve has started on the ceiling framing of my cave shaped wet area and a plumber turned up and put on a radiator! Justin called round and is now going to draw up designs for the metal work gates and other screens. He does amazing artwork in metal so I am hoping we can get something nice done.

Edd started to bag up the latest round of rubbish because we have a hard rubbish collection any day now. It would be really helpful to get rid of stuff with out paying for a skip. The rubbish has rather taken over Edd’s shed again.

OTHER NEWS

I have a horrible idea that the goats might come into season early this year. Josh has build a new shed for the big horned buck, but the other two need moving to more secure areas where they can exercise in small crofts and receive visiting does. Once again there are just not enough workers here. How much I miss having Wwoofers. It will be so good when we get accommodation again and can get back in that system.

I am now sick of zucchinis. It always happens like this. Every year I look forward to eating them but they arrive so thick and fast that we tire of them very quickly. Cucumbers are more appreciated. They go well in lunchtime sandwiches and salads.

There are several pumpkins growing larger each day and the strawberries and peaches are still available but I have still not got my new grow beds in action so we have not got our winter supplies organised.