Friday 31 October 2008

New beginings

We're having an extension built on the back of our house, so this Monday the builders came along to make a start. Bye Bye went the conservatory-lean-to that was mainly used as storage space, and home to my tomatoes plants as seen here. Bye Bye went the coal shed, were rubbish and recycling hid and next doors mile-a-bleedin-minute (not official name just cursing because it grows and grows).

Outside consevatory from kitchen angle

Inside consevatory from inside dining room angle

Coal shed with Ivy and mile-a-(bleedin)minute


All gone to look like this



Day 1 (the Monday) very tidy nothing inside has been touched except large consumption of biscuits

Day 2 (the Tuesday) the trench was dug for the 1 metre foundations leaving us looking like we were surrounded by a moat and nothing but mud for the dog to bring in and the cat to walk her muddy prints all over the kitchen work surface and white tiles. There were muddy hand prints over the sugar jar, all over the hand towel that was neatly folded up to display only the clean areas. Tuesday also brought the snow and even less biscuits. Not that I'm complaining, we don't usually have biscuits in the house. Every night Jo makes me say my Mantra 'I must not eat the builders biscuits', it's not that bad she's allowed to pinch one when we get home and if I catch her at it she lets me have one too.


Day 3 (Wednesday) was waiting and waiting and a little bit more waiting for the building regulations guy (or lady but me thinks it was a guy) waiting in these minus degrees, snow melting temperature. Waiting until 3.30 for him to go come along and say yes 1 metre is sufficient (or some such thing) no work was done.

Day 4 (Thursday) the concrete went in wheel barrow by wheel barrow.

Day 5 (Friday) We came home to find the the ditch was now beginning to have a use, the foundation bricks went in. It's so much fun, in the morning we were able to step outside in our wellies and examine the mess. Mud lots of it and the cool thing is we can imagine where our extended house is going to be, we can imagine where the door to the kitchen will be (you need a big imagination but you can do it) stepping into the living room, switch on the tv. It's so exciting. It'll so bring the house into the garden as well, the garden has changed shape too (that might have something to do with the destruction of the coal shed, and Ivy and Camellia that was trialling all over it. But to our surprise the builders had rescued the baby Camellia plant like we had requested (that wasn't the surprise the surprise was that they had replanted it). Oh but the other surprise was that the mini digger had smashed up our concrete bottom of the fence post so we had to do a bit of man handling to get it out the way so Mr waggles couldn't escape. And the Rhododendron got squashed and split into 3, but that's not to bad eventually my chickens will go there. I will have chickens ! Must go I'm attempting to make green tomaote chutney "oh for the very first time" As the consevatory was being pulled down I had to murder my tomatoe plant and rescue the hundreds of green and red tomaotes that were still hanging from their vines of life.

Sunday 26 October 2008

Remembrance

Before I spend time sharing our wedding and all the things that have kept us busy there's some sad news I'd like to share.


Sadly after our wedding Jo's dad was taken into hospital, before being moved into a hospice where he spent his final days. A lot of Jo's time was taken up making the most of visiting him and helping out. The "Garden House" hospice was a wonderful place full of very helpful people, many of whom were volunteers.


Sadly he passed away on September 14th with his closest family by his side. His birthday would have been tomorrow the 27th October. We miss you.
Pictured here with a pint of his favourite "old speckled hen"

Mike Kirkby 27/10/47 - 14/09/08

Thursday 16 October 2008

It's me


Yes it's me, I have sooooo much to write about and bore anyone who wants to read. Unfortunelty it's not right now I'll be back asap I promise, for now you can look at my pretty notice, made by my fair hands. The only thing (proper thing) I've drawn with illustrator, I never have enough time, so it has been used to death, but I love it.
I'll love and leave you with this qoute:-
"You may be the best at what you do, but it's variety that keeps you fresh"
Jim Davies -Design Week