22 Foxhole East

f0xh0les

Well what have I been up to? I hear you ask (well, the voices in my head were asking anyway).  Absolutely nothing.  I have tried and failed to book a holiday that everyone agrees with, and for dates that suit DH, in accommodation that suits DH - and I am waiting on the £270 refund on the place I booked, that was fine with DH, but yet  10 hours later, he decided he hated so much he would not come with us.  So it looks like I am not going anywhere.  Boo! Very unimpressed.  I can see me and DS3 and DS4 heading off on our own in October Hols if it keeps on like this.

So I just sent an email on spec to my employer saying thanks for hiring me, I still exist, and am ready for work whenever and wherever you want me.   Nothing ventured and all that.   Even the odd one or two days work will make a difference to my funds.   I have a week of work booked in next month, but after that  I have nothing until a week in February. There are usually a few odd days of work going in Autumn.

No news on DH going off to the Land of the Cuckoo clock next year.  No doubt that will curtail my work wanderings. Just aware that it is nearly the end of the school holidays, and C-word will be on us before we know it.  

No quote back from the 'original roofer', or the 'two first builders' - very annoying behaviour.

KajiKita

The holiday vacillations sound frustrating! I think I would just get on and book something for you, DS3 and 4. As I recall Dr FH does go away in quite a few jaunts of his own through the year anyway? 

Good tactics on the email 😊👏 Hope it bears fruit.

Your builders seem to be resistant to getting jobs …. What is so challenging about your project that makes them all flinch? 🤷‍♀️🤔

Hows your backyard garden btw? You described it so clearly during spring and early summer, I have a visual image of it in my head 😊

KK

f0xh0les

The passiflora is climbing the whole length of the shiny white wall, mixed in with a solanum and a honeysuckle.  So far I have had one flower 🧐. The gladioli have gone bonkers but no flowers yet.... I have harvested tomatoes and beans and mint and parsley. Dr FH has harvested some spuds. The fuchsias are all loving the wet and warm weather, as are the geraniums and the lavender and nasturtiums and verbena. So I have lots of bees about the place, the big dozy ones that come in the house and then look all confused when you ask them politely to leave.  Silly buff bottomed fools. 
The gherkins and cucumbers decided they were too good for this postcode and refused to appear.  Snobs. 

KajiKita

I was drowning in cucumbers last year. This year, it’s august and I *finally* have ONE shyly hiding away at the very bottom of the plant that is almost, nearly, ready, so you are not alone. 

Maybe the passiflora and the honeysuckle will flower next after the sun has ripened their stems this year? Bees are a big compliment to your hard work - I love big dozy bees 😊❤️

KK

f0xh0les

I end the day with £32 of free money which  can only be used at Tesc0.  £25 gift card from Kwasi Kwartang's Postal Panel, and £7 from cl0bcard last month I had forgotten about .  So tomorrow I am going 'free shopping'.

I have cleaned the living room today. Damp dusted and everything. Would have got a lot more done, but I fell into the football match against Australia when I came home from Morri$$ons.  I spent the rest of my cash budget for the week in there. Then got my points reward this afternoon.  So I will do 'stocking up' pantry shopping, which will no doubt get eaten by the hungry ghosts that live in my house and haunt the pantry at midnight.  They will get diabetes with the amount of sugar they are eating.  The freezer is a pit of despair, so might fill that up as well.

3 loads of laundry washed and dried on the lovely washing line.

f0xh0les

I have contacted Mr Builder about doing the roof extension dormer thing. 

AIMS FOR BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2023

New Roof

Loft Extension giving me an extra bedroom

Solar Panels and battery

Solar PV hot water and new central heating system

One (maybe 2) new bathrooms completely fitted out and in use.

After that I can do carpets.  

Mr Builder is going to get back to me next week with a provisional start date, so there will be something in the diary. At flippin' last! - the Architect first came in February. 

f0xh0les

The ground floor stuff is just too expensive.  For a 1m x3m squaring off of the back of the house.

I will still knock two walls down, but keep everything else where it is, and tart it up a lot.

teapot2

Exciting plans

beanielou

Exciting times ahead. 

KajiKita

Did you not have any luck at getting better quotes for the ground floor?

Yaay for having a start date!! 👏😊🤩

KK