Daydream fund challenge part 4

Davesnave

Dave hasn't been saying much about elks, or anything else, 'cos he's been running around like a mad person, trying to keep ahead of the game here.

Unfortunately, I've recently found it's not possible to let others to make basic decisions or check building regs etc, so I'm being much more 'hands-on' and specific about what's done. No doubt I've become one of those nightmare people that tradesmen love to hate, but if they c0ck-up significantly a couple of times, then it's fair.

I'll say little more, but some problems have just come to light which mean that one of our 'finished' rooms isn't really finished, because it might need some re-doing after our builder has left the site. Being a friend, we don't want to upset him, especially as he's gone beyond the call of duty in other respects, but a beautifully built pig's ear is still a pig's ear!

The above was also our fault, as we changed our thinking and didn't have cast iron plans of what we wanted, just a 2D sketch. Fatal.

On the positive front, we've narrowed-down the kitchen to one of two designs from two local suppliers, not a chain, and both will undertake the fitting, only taking the final main payment when we are happy. The best news is that I like it too, and it's almost what I wanted all along.

Fay

Davesnave wrote: »

Twisted foliage might indicate poisoning with glyphosate, Fay, especially if the plant yellows. Have you been using weedkiller near the affected plants? Or could a neighbour have been using it nearby? Slight spray drift won't kill plants, but it can set them back.

Apart from that, twisted foliage can come with a virus, but these are normally species specific, or a fungus, but again, I wouldn't expect this to cross easily between different species.

It's a mystery.:(

Thanks Dave, update this morning. I've removed the bleeding heart-no vine weevils. It has now spread to another small bleeding heart in the same border, 2 dahlias that had only just got going and the slugs had had a go at a way, a sedum, pointellia (sp?), and strangely a dogwood also looks effected, but not in the same border, off to the left.
I said to my husband this morning it's only happened since green thumbs came on Tuesday, but I've had them for years with no problems. But I also wondered if it was something to do with s weed killer as that's all I could find today on Google about epinasty (fancy name for twisting) either that or flooding...but no flooding. I haven't used any weed killers but maybe a neighbour has-although it would have had to drift over a 15 for hedge or 6 foot fence.

I'm thinking of joining the hrs and sending a photo in lol

Thanks again. I will just wait I think and see what happens. I've isolated the bleeding heart so will see what happens.

Davesnave

Green Thumb would use weedkiller specific to broad leaved plants, similar to those I use in the field to hit the docks & thistles. Doesn't affect the grass.

It's favourite as culprit, because so many species are affected.

choille

Davesnave wrote: »

Dave hasn't been saying much about elks, or anything else, 'cos he's been running around like a mad person, trying to keep ahead of the game here.

Unfortunately, I've recently found it's not possible to let others to make basic decisions or check building regs etc, so I'm being much more 'hands-on' and specific about what's done. No doubt I've become one of those nightmare people that tradesmen love to hate, but if they c0ck-up significantly a couple of times, then it's fair.

I'll say little more, but some problems have just come to light which mean that one of our 'finished' rooms isn't really finished, because it might need some re-doing after our builder has left the site. Being a friend, we don't want to upset him, especially as he's gone beyond the call of duty in other respects, but a beautifully built pig's ear is still a pig's ear!

I have a similar thing going on with a plasterer friend of OH's & it's snapping me in two. I just am horse from shouting at OH about it - it's doing me in. It's such a thing I can't look up when I go in the kitchen or I feel like screaming. OH says it'll be fixed but each room is turning out the same & I feel I have enough on with sheep & other stuff. I don't see why I should be paying for someone to make a mess & then paying them to spend ages sorting it, but not properly - it's creeping throughout the house. I spent ages in the downstairs loo sanding & filling when really that should have been done by the plasterer.

Sorry but I am stressed to snapping point at the mo.

alfie_1

hi all....


well its def raining here.... how can it change so ...


Choille......... maybe when your house is furnished the things that are irking now may not be so prominent and easier on the eye ????


dave....... ooops ! but good news re kitchen...


fay, ...... id be tempted to shift all affected plants to individual pots as if it is in the soil it will give them a chance to recuperate...?? bit like a blood transfer ...


well my work today on the railway has hit a wall with this weather ! hope to go later as its the open day tomorrow and tracks needs cleaning....... and I am NOT working anywhere but home this weekend !


sons girlfiend arrives from Canada sunday evening for 2 weeks, so at least I know cat will be fussed when im away...


right off to first job of the day, sees ya later

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

I I spent ages in the downstairs loo sanding & filling when really that should have been done by the plasterer.

Sorry but I am stressed to snapping point at the mo.

Funnily enough, my first melt-down was over the cloakroom, where builder saved us a few bob by buying ply rather than MDF to build the enclosure for the stack pipe. Great, but the ply was rubbish and we spent many hours filling and sanding; in fact we're still at it. :mad:

That won't happen again; I've hidden the rest!

The 'men' are half way through removing the Aga. Their boss thinks it's a Rayburn he's bought......I'm not accepting returns! :eek:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

As long as it wasn't called a Rayburn in the listing, don't think he has a leg to stand on...

Dull and grey weather here, but given it nice for tomorrow...

Davesnave.. Do you, or have you sold pinks?? Were/ are they popular?

ferretkeeper

Flipping builders!

We too are having similar problems with people not listening or understanding no matter how many times I say or explain... the kitchen is all plastered but it wasn't til the builders cleared out yesterday and hubby had a tidy up that I could get in to a good look and noticed some problems. Like you dave and choille, we will end up undoing things that have only just been done and making a flipping mess!

There's a bit of boxing in of pipes in one corner of the kitchen which sticks out a lot. It annoys the hell out of me. There were no wall units there previously but we are having them this time, so I said we needed to slim down that boxing as much as possible so we won't need to chop cupboards about too much.

However I spotted that the builders have used the old bits of batten and it's exactly the same as before. I just wanted to take a hammer to it! But I'll probably wait til the kitchen fitter comes and he can remove what he needs to, and I'll mention it to the builders next week, see what they suggest for minimum faff.

Also the builders suggested we have vented a cooker hood, and priced to drill etc but I had a feeling there was already a hole we could use. As the builders stripped the kitchen walls back sure enough we found the hole. Brilliant, saves a mornings drilling and knocks £50 off the bill. But they've gone and plastered over it again!!! Why???? Now we've got to guess where it is and cut out the plasterboard without messing up the rest of the wall.

The builders were originally going to fit the kitchen but tbh they are so expensive and so cagey about pricing, so we asked a carpenter we used before. He charges £100 per day, works a slightly shorter day, but he can do the job in 5 days...end of. the builders price was about double that, judging by the original estimate minus what I've just paid them. They obviously stopped thinking about what would happen when they leave when I said they werent finishing the job.

I have a thing about sockets between the worktop and the cupboards, I don't want to see them, I can't be bothered tiling or painting round them, it's just messy. Plus I have a mad idea to design and make my own splash back, either mosaic or glass, and this will be easier if the wall is completely clear. To that end I've bought lights and sockets that tuck away under the wall units.

While I was at the show last weekend the electrician was here, now he and hubby both know I don't want ANY visible switches or sockets, we discussed this at great length several times. So when I looked in yesterday there's a light switch back box in the middle of one wall by the new back door, and the boiler controls and some random cables sticking out the middle of another wall!

I wasn't that angry, more sad because it's immensely disappointing and frustrating. I just need to hogget the electrician back to explain what's what, and to get the builder or carpenter to tell me how we fix the rest with minimum fuss.

Anyway....it'll be worth it in the end!!!

choille

The plumber has been told to come back as that is what will make us be able to move into the house. OH won't get his operation until we are in the house. OH has gotten he really can only shuffle now & is in constant pain. He has taken to sleeping on a settee in the house as he wakes me every few minutes
The plumber & the plasterer are not great friends. The giant who is helping with the build has chased down the plumber for us & said - look you really need to get back & finish off. The plumber is doing this to everyone. He is totally tolllying us around. It's preventing so much finishing off of everywhere.

FK - kitchens are remarkably easy to assemble with a re-chargable drill. A very satisfying job.

Plumber is supposed to be here Monday. OH & I off out for the day as it's so depressing at the mo. Lambs are rudely healthy - touch wood.

What a whinger I am. Feels like we are so near yet so far..............

I_have_spoken

it's only happened since green thumbs came on Tuesday

99% certain they are the cause, even inadvertently by using a strong glyphosate elsewhere and having traces on their clothing