Cheery's country living adventure

Cheery_Daff

Certainly have! 

Face ache has settled this morning, and all seems fine so far. Nice builder apprentice turned up to collect a few tools - I really liked her, and didn't say goodbye properly last week as I assumed she'd be back on Monday so I'm glad she called in. Plasterer and his apprentice are here, and I've put on my brave pants and had conversations about moving the lights, which they were (of course) fine about.

Getting on with some work now (well, actually talking to you lot 😂). It's windy up here today which always ruffles my feathers and makes me unsettled, even when I'm inside. I've got my YouTube 'library ambience' on which is SO helpful for working at home, especially with other people in the house. This one is a Victoria office library thing, so there's the noise of a fire, rain (and wind 😂), and a pen scratching across paper. Evens out the real life noises nicely.

Did an electricity meter reading this morning, I don't think their estimate was too far out but given all the upheaval at the minute figured it was better to have an exact reading in the system. We were in credit by £62 after our last payment, and I anticipate we'll have used most of that this month. Let's see how that pans out. 

Right, best get on.

themadvix

Glad your tooth is feeling better today.

It's always nice to hear that other people have these issues with putting big girl pants on - we all have these insecurities (maybe not all?) and yet we are so conditioned not to admit to them! It's madness! Glad it worked out OK though and they'll do it how you want it.

Hope your work is going well and the Victorian ambience is drowning out wind and builders!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Cheery_Daff said:

Certainly have! 

Face ache has settled this morning, and all seems fine so far. Nice builder apprentice turned up to collect a few tools - I really liked her, and didn't say goodbye properly last week as I assumed she'd be back on Monday so I'm glad she called in. Plasterer and his apprentice are here, and I've put on my brave pants and had conversations about moving the lights, which they were (of course) fine about.

Getting on with some work now (well, actually talking to you lot 😂). It's windy up here today which always ruffles my feathers and makes me unsettled, even when I'm inside. I've got my YouTube 'library ambience' on which is SO helpful for working at home, especially with other people in the house. This one is a Victoria office library thing, so there's the noise of a fire, rain (and wind 😂), and a pen scratching across paper. Evens out the real life noises nicely.

Did an electricity meter reading this morning, I don't think their estimate was too far out but given all the upheaval at the minute figured it was better to have an exact reading in the system. We were in credit by £62 after our last payment, and I anticipate we'll have used most of that this month. Let's see how that pans out. 

Right, best get on.

Hi Cheery, 

I love Ytube for the ambience music and vids. Last year I used to put on virtual fish tank for relaxation. Dentist never good but needs must. Best wishes on the building work. 

Cheery_Daff

Glad it's not just me Vix! Well, I'm not, I'm much rather we were all mature and brave and uncomplicated but given that we're not, I'm glad it's not just me 😂😂

Plasterers have left - upstairs is all prepared ready for plastering tomorrow. Light fittings are moved, hooray! So I think tomorrow should make a real difference up there 😁😁 Four days of plastering upstairs (because he's on his own again, not sure where cheery young chap from today is going to be!) and then they'll love downstairs, which will presumably be another week and a half.

Mr Cheery's pal is on the way over. His partner has dementia, and he brings her occasionally as an outing. It's quiet here, and they can talk about music, and do a bit of singing, and she can relax a little. Mr Cheery finds it hard, as his mum had early onset dementia when she was younger than he is now, so not an easy afternoon in store 🙄 But I know his pal so much appreciates being able to pop out here.

Internet is being a menace today, wafting in and out 🙄 I'd forgotten how annoying it was trying to upload recoded videos! I think I'll definitely be doing them in the office from now on!

themadvix

Sounds like excellent progress upstairs - and so exciting too - I love the smell of fresh plaster and it's so transformational, such an art form. It'll be so lovely once it's done!

Being somewhere quiet for Mr Cheery's pal and his wife to visit sounds like a wonderful thing. I can totally see why he'd appreciate it. But I completely understand that it must be really hard for Mr Cheery, so good on him for coping with it (and you for helping with the coping, I suspect!).

Cheery_Daff

Thanks Vix 😊 they were only here for an hour or so in the end, but they did some singing, she's always loved to hear Mr Cheery sing 😊 so that was nice. Made her partner cry though 😢

I think it's pretty exciting. Mr Cheery thinks it's turning into a square box - but really, they have tried SO hard to follow the wonkiness of the walls with the plasterboard, and we've got the occasional curvy corner etc, but at the end of the day, yes, it will all be plastered upstairs and you won't see any of the stone (just like most of the other rooms!) At least we'll get a bit of stone still visible round one of the windows downstairs. 

I'll just be grateful when the whole thing is over and we stop having to think about it 🙄

Speaking of which... made some decisions about appliances tonight. In total they'll be £1107 - with the hob being most expensive as we've gone for an induction hob with knows rather than buttons, which is quite rare 🙄 should be able to get a bit of cashback through Quidco, and I'll put the whole lot on the credit card which is giving 5% cashback til mid October so that's something at least.

Have emailed the links to the kitchen geezers to check they'll fit before we order them. They should do, they're standard sizes, but best to check!

Karmacat

I'm sure the whole place is oozing character, Cheery - but it must be odd to see it changing so rapidly with so much being done, when you're not used to employing workmen.  

The afternoon visit sounds like it went as well as it possibly could, though difficult for nearly everyone except the lady concerned.  Singing is a brilliant idea, especially as Mr Cheery and his voice are already familiar - any kind of conversation, even the most innocuous, can quickly go very strange and stressful with somebody with dementia, as I've found in my family before now.  

In the meantime, here's a glass to stopping having to think about the building work  

Cheery_Daff

I think it's difficult for the lady in question too sadly 🙄 She did seem quite confused much of the time, especially when we were just chatting. But Mr Cheery and his pals did a lot of singing and playing, and her eyes light up and she sings along, so that's what we do when they come.

You're absolutely right about things changing quickly. I'm excited, but Mr Cheery has really struggled, and I think will continue to do so, and I suspect whatever they do, he'll wish something slightly different had happened at the end 🙄 I think this is just one of those phases of life that we'll just have to get through 🙄

beanielou

I so admire you.

Cheery_Daff

Well thank you Beanie 😊  although I'm not sure why! 

Builder texted to say the plasterer has called in sick today 🙄 Upstairs is all boarded and ready for skimming and I confess I'm very tempted to offer to do it myself over the weekend 😂😂 I can't imagine they'll be impressed... and I certainly wouldn't attempt the ceiling, but given he's been struggling to get someone to come with him, and has has already had some time off so is behind with his other customers... maybe he'd thank me?! Would certainly save us a few quid, and plastering is the one bit I can actually do with relative ease...

Hmmm... 

Still, at least it gives us a day without anyone in the house, so we can let the chickens out 😁