Catching Up From Last Week and Starting Stage 2 of the Renovations

Last week was very busy, and today is the first day when I can pause and collect my thoughts.

The social side of things hasn't gone as well as I'd hoped, due again to illness, but in the past week I managed a planned visit to Silver Cinema to watch One Battle After Another, though friend L was poorly so I went with Niall instead. 

Yesterday we bought some last minute tickets to the Wiltshire Music Centre for an afternoon concert by the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band. I love a brass band and Brighouse and Rastrick are one of the best, both nationally and worldwide. The concert was brilliant, and I ended up realising just how much I miss playing myself ... nowhere near that level of playing though!! I treated myself to a couple of their CDs and bought a B&R teddy bear to join my little collection of bears.

Most of the busyness of the past week was to do with obtaining quotes for the next stage of the renovations. It's taken up a lots of time but I have narrowed it down to the people I want to use, and the work will be starting tomorrow,

The preparation for decorating starts tomorrow, with work on the first two bedrooms. This is the bedroom I will use myself and the other bedroom at the front of the bungalow which I intend to use for a lodger. I've chosen the only person who gave me confidence that he will be able to manage the work to a high standard, and for a reasonable price. He listened to what I wanted and actually consulted with me instead of ignoring me and talking to Niall, which is what a lot of the tradesmen tend to do, so I think things will be fine. He is starting tomorrow which is sooner than I expected, but I'm not complaining!

The builder came to quote for capping the chimney, sorting out the leak on the chimney breast/external wall, filling in brickwork where an extractor fan was removed, and enlarging the fireplace in the living room to fit an inset electric fire. I have to choose the fire before he can finalise the quote but I have given the go ahead for the rest of the work. I'll be ordering the fire this week and then he can complete his quote and we can agree a date for the work to start.

The flooring has been chosen and will be scheduled as soon as this first stage of the decorating is completed. I'm buying room size remnants for the two bedrooms and vinyl flooring for the kitchen. As soon as the kitchen flooring is down I'll ask my BiL and nephew's FiL back to finish off the last few bits in the kitchen. 

I have to ask the electrician to return to add a couple more sockets and a sensor light, and once he's done that the other bedroom, hall and living room can be decorated. Then it'll just be the rest of the flooring, curtains and blinds to sort out. And then it'll all be done ... phew!