All About ... Home, Garden and Garage

I'm still working through Einaudi's L'Onde ... practice makes perfect!

 

Today's task is to reclaim my music room. Guess which idiot thought it would be a good idea to use the room as a dumping ground in the lead up to Christmas and now has to sort it all out? It would have been so much easier to do it properly in the first place and now there's a sense of urgency as I want to resume piano lessons as soon as possible so need to return the room to a space that's conducive to learning. I'll be phoning the music school where I'd like to have face-to-face lessons later today and hopefully will be able to get a lesson slot arranged.

So, plans for my home in 2023 is really a continuation of dealing with the tolerations and silent to-do lists. The bits I did last year have made a tremendous difference to how I feel and how I use my home so I am keen to continue and get these lists finished which inevitably means it's going to be another expensive year, but it will be money well spent.

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I need a new mattress so that's been chosen and I will reorder as soon as I know which day I'm committed to piano lessons. I also need to replace the oven but am hesitating about placing the order. I have chosen the model I want, which I can afford but the installation costs (the part I can't do myself) will add an additional £120 to the cost and I can't afford that at present. I have the option of asking nephew A or neighbour S but don't know if either of them can deal with the electrical side of the installation ... I suppose I just need to swallow my pride and ask one or both of them and then I'll know! The washing machine is also on its way out but I won't replace it until absolutely necessary.

I still need to get the heating checked as three radiators aren't working, but they are in rooms I'm not heating. I'm plenty warm enough so will wait until the boiler service and ask the engineer to sort out the radiators at the same time. He is also going to improve the water flow to the external tap on the back wall of the house which needs to be done before I have to resume watering duties again, and while he is looking at water flow and pressure I will ask him to check the taps in the family bathroom as the flow to the sink is poor. 

To finish off in the house, the spare bedroom still has to be decorated (not a priority but it will be nice to get it done) and in the hall to cover up where there was a water leak right at the start of the very first lockdown. I'd love to replace/ upgrade the kitchen to get rid of the glossy cabinets and swap round the positions of the sink and the washing machine but I can't see that happening this year.  

Next the garage. This is an easy one. The garage door is scheduled to be replaced next week and the money came from last year's budget, but I may have to reschedule as my next eye appointment has come through for the same day. I'm hoping to change the hospital appointment but if not, the garage door will have to wait. Once that's done the only thing to do in the garage is to improve the lighting which S has already said he'll do for me ... the electrics are in place, I just have to buy the fittings.

And finally, the garden. The pergola will be constructed this year and I'm assuming they will wait until the warmer weather and apart from that there is the unknown cost of replacing the plants that didn't survive the snow and buying whatever I decide to put in the three planters as well as choosing this year's annuals. 

Well done if you've got this far. Sorry, I went on a bit but it is nice to write it all down and get it sorted in my mind! 

Changing the subject completely, I realised I hadn't included one of my photos in my monthly challenge post so have gone back and added it ... under M, a photo of the King for monarch or majesty.