"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

No clear answer from the drain chap whether he needs to come out and look first. I'll drop him another note/call him and ask him exactly what's needed (if it involved a plumber as well as an electrician then there is no chance of getting them all to turn up and do the job at the same time). 

Decorator is priming the doors. Stinky and I have been for a cold, miserable walk, and now we are back the sun is out so I might go and hang the washing out and sow some peas in the bed I cleared yesterday. I'm hoping the battery will charge up fully as the next few days don't look great for sunshine. 

We had frost last night, and it looks like we'll have frost for the rest of the week, so time to think about locating the rest of my winter clothes - I struggled to find gloves earlier today. And I also need to sort out the utility room, as there has to be some way of organising it so that I can bring the dog in and out through it and leave him there if he's muddy. The cats won't like it, but that's not the issue. The issue is that the litter trays live in there, and although they rarely use them, I can't get rid of them as the cat flap is locked at night. I suppose I could cut down to one though... 

I have a tree and four roses waiting to be planted, and masses of bulbs arriving today. And the rest of the onions and garlic to deal with. 

greenbee

Washing is out, peas are sown (with lots of sticks round them to discourage cats from digging). Rain due at 2pm so I'll need to keep an eye out and bring it in before then. 

greenbee

There is a horrible smell in the bathroom. Worse when the heating is on, so probably under the floor/to do with the pipework. It's incredibly strong - but until recently there was always a background smell in the house similar to this - primarily in the bedroom I'm now in, but that's gone since I've been sleeping in it.

No clue what to do about it - bathroom is unusable with the heating on as it's so unpleasant. But that towel rail is also the heat dump from the upstairs zone to stop the system overheating. As the boiler flow temp is at about 60c and I have the TRVs on about 2, the bathroom is hot... 

Upstairs heating, downstairs radiators, and utility room UFH all seem to be working well and could cope with lower flow temps (it'll help when the thermostat is back in the right place, and I can adjust TRVs currently wrapped in tape). However, the garden room is struggling a bit as the UFH is effectively trying to heat the kitchen as well. I really need to get that worked out. Although I may lower the boiler temperature anyway. I might actually check the flow and return temps tomorrow. 

greenbee

Messaged the plumber about the smell. He's read the message but not responded. If it's still here next week hopefully the builder can locate/fix it before fixing the landing floor down. Decorator agrees a. the smell is there and b. he has never smelled it here before - so new as far as he is concerned. 

Stinky vomited his breakfast up (possibly over-excitement as the decorator (who he adores) arrived while he was eating breakfast, so he may have bolted it (again) in order to go and see him. Dog walker will keep an eye on him. I have therefore started my day clearing up dog vomit and scrubbing the (cheap, synthetic, huge but washable) rug in the kitchen. I need it to dry so that I can hoover it and then wash the whole thing properly as it's filthy. Obviously I should have done it in the summer, outside, with the pressure washer, but it would just have needed doing again anyway!

Waiting for a call from the hospital from anaesthetics for my pre-op assessment, so can't really do much (at least, I need to be near my phone) and for a new work laptop to be delivered (no one knows where it is... should have been delivered on Monday but it wasn't collected on Friday, so was expecting it yesterday) so can't do any work... 

I guess I can do dog lick mats and kongs then, and maybe deal with the vast amount of squash in the kitchen, some of which are showing signs of needing to be used. 

Jessy103

Finger crossed you find the cause of the smell and get it resolved ASAP!

Watty1

eeek!  Unresolved smells in bathrooms are awful. 

(Mine turned out to be a valve that blocks regularly and has been changed twice in the last two years and finally thanks to you tube I realise it is in too low a position but there is nothing I can do about that because that is where the pipe ends and I would have to rip out and rebuild an entire wall to fix the issue)

i also have another smell which has something to do with the drain/sewer outside but no one is quite sure what despite many cameras and visits and it only happens on really hot days when I can open the windows and so ignore.

May yours be so much more easily resolved.

greenbee

Thanks Watty Septic tank smells were resolved by a replacement cover (ancient, rusty, diamond-shaped Klargester cover replaced with a new square manhole cover that fits). This isn't a sewage smell - it's almost like solvent. And is definitely linked to the heating coming on (and worse when heating is hotter). 

Still nothing from the plumber. 

Drain man has been to check pump details and once he has them I'll liaise with the electricians who have already said 1st Dec would be good. I should probably arrange for the tank to be emptied in the meantime (it's probably due as it's been 13 months). 

I'm currently on a break from getting my new work laptop up and running.

Stinky has sore paws after daycare yesterday - scrapes on his pads/feet, and an upset tummy (but no puking). So a short walk, wearing boots (he was unimpressed, but got on with running about - I need practice getting them to stay on... and he needs to remember they don't grip like claws do!). I'm not sure how to stop him damaging himself when he's out with his friends. But more cross that the dog walker isn't checking him regularly as she knows he doesn't squeak when he's hurt. 

Also need to clear up for cleaner, but I'm not actually sure what she can get to today!

greenbee

Handyman has identified bathroom smell as one of the types of silicone he had to use for the shower (which is why only one bathroom smells. Not sure how long it will take for the smell to go, but at least we know now.

Decorator is almost finished. It looks fabulous It's just a pity the floor/carpet won't be done for another 10 days. 

Outside taps have been turned off and drained. Cardboard from shed has been laid in the veg plot (not the original plan), and we've put the big bits of garden furniture (which had dried out in the open garage) into the shed. The rest can be moved slowly. 

Roses and a crab apple (replacement for the wrong variety provided last year) are being planted (by gardener, not me!). One rose was the wrong one, so is being planted elsewhere and the suppliers are shipping the correct one (and have confirmed I can keep the one they sent in error). 

Vine eyes and wire ordered so we can start training the fig and blackberry along the veg plot fence. 

It's been lovely and sunny until about 5 minutes ago, so cleaning cloths are on a hot wash (maybe that's what made the sun go in!). Battery is full (I did top it up overnight), hot water is hot (mostly gas, but some solar) and I've also got some chicken wings in the SC for the dog and cats. 

I'll have to get on and do something about work in a minute, but wanted to make the most of the sunshine (so Stinky and I had a lovely walk). 

beanielou

Glad that the smell has been identified. At least it will go away. Not long til the carpets now. 

greenbee

Decorator's bill is already in and I've finally reached the bottom of my 'cashflow' savings account (not quite enough to pay him... so it'll be tight to get to the end of next week with dog walker, cleaner, and gardener to pay (the latter twice). So I have to decide whether to take a chunk out of my cash ISA - and if so how much (waiting for builder and plumber to send bills, and then there will be another carpet fitting bill). I expect there will be another bill from the electricians too, for the time spent trying to fix the switching for the hall lights.