Moving forward and upwards

MovingForwards

Thank you LW2G and Skinty. Definitely got loads done between us today.

Apparently I wasn't supposed to be doing it all 🤨 he's happy to do the ceilings and help with the walls! I'm pleased he is doing the ceiling as I didnt like going up the ladder by the windows 😬

I seem to have mastered caulking, and using the trigger contraption, and feel confident taking the old stuff from the windows and putting new in the new year. Will also be redoing round the decorative frames and I must order the replacement trickle vents and door fittings!

I've put the one picture back in its original position and relocated the other to a much better place. That's saved me buying one.

Pizza was good, we both gave cat some topping 🤫

I ordered TomBo's gift, need to buy and post a few cards off. Will do the bulk of Christmas related things when I break up and have some free time.

doingitanyway

Well done with the decorating. I bet your home is looking amazing. It's nice when you can put your own mark on a place. I was disappointed not to get the home I wanted but now I am starting to think I might quite like to do somewhere up myself. You've made me think...

Good luck with getting the meters sorted and I hope you have a nice reward lined up for all your hard work.

MovingForwards

Thank you DIA, I think a home is more personal with a bit of painting done. I often describe it as an honest home, because what I see is what I got, I couldn't guarantee that freshly decorated property wasn't hiding things underneath (I am that cynical). White is boring to some, but to me it's a classic, timeless blank canvas. It certainly doesn't look like the flat I viewed and this temporary makeover has given the lounge a whole new look!

My hips are hurting, one more than the other, but it's worth it. Only doing standing / sitting painting today 🤗

I've set myself a little project for the first week I break up! Paint the 'porch' and hallway walls and ceilings, in theory it's a couple of days although I could run it alongside the lounge makeover 😊
I'm going to use the special paint on the inside of the front door, again just a temporary makeover as I save for a new one. I've been looking online a ideas for the front door and found a few from the right era, which just happened to have the glass panel above the frame too. 

Irenadler

You are going great guns, Babs, so glad that Tombo has pitched in. Your determination is obviously catching! I can see both the hallway/porch/lounge will be finished before Xmas.... a nice Christmas present to yourself.

MovingForwards

Thank you Ren, I want the lounge finished so I can put everything back in their places rather than having things scattered everywhere 🙈

It will be nice presents to me for cake day and in time for Christmas! 

I'm agonising over what lampshade and floor lamp, what silly dilemmas to have 🤫

Irenadler

Not silly! If you are staring at them all day, every day, and compromise on them, it would annoy you more.... I went for more neutral/ok boring ones, so that they don't stand out and could blend with anything, if that helps....

MovingForwards

I'm torn between art deco original for the ceiling, or just a shade; negligible price difference.
The floor lamp I'm torn between T1ffany, a modern chrome uplighter or an art deco; price difference is more than my car originally cost me!

MovingForwards

Let's dispel a few myths! 

After my accident my life pretty much stopped, I gave up the outdoor life, the band I was in and any other active things. I just couldn't physically do it anymore.

I could hold down my then job as it was mentally challenging and sitting down all day, I just had to get in. Then I had to be wife when home, try and cook, clean.  I had to find a few things I could do hence getting back into photography, which I enjoyed as a kid. 

I'm not superhuman, I do push myself hard and pay the price. I take a lot of breaks while doing tasks, even if it's 5 minutes to stop the burning pain due to one of my conditions not liking painting, trying to time my pain meds with tasks, rather than if it was a regular day.
 

I won't feel better if I write about crying like a baby in the shower when I do have one, not being able to brush my hair, that I've only dressed properly a few times since lockdown started and when I've been in the garden it's things I can slip on / off without help. How I have to sit down after washing a few cups up, before starting on something else. The way I clean the bathroom in stages. I've tried to keep posting light-hearted since moving where I can, if I'm on the sofa reading I'm stuck on it and was lucky to get out of bed 😂

If I was working in the office, there's no way I could do any of the decorating, I function or exist.  At home I roll out of bed in time to start work. I know the commute is going to make the fatigue worse than it is. I'm seriously worried, but will hopefully be doing office and home, as that's the direction the company are looking at; they're in no rush for us to go in. 

It was my determination to buy a home which has helped me get through since starting over. That fight, fire inside me, is awakening when I do the decorating. I feel human, alive and not just a shell that breathes.

The start of lockdown was bad, anyone reading or speaking to me at the time saw that. I never want to be in that mind-frame again. Being happy also has a huge impact on my pain levels.

Hope is free, as are dreams, plans, goals, inspiration and talking. Sharing ideas, hints, tips, seeking and offering guidance and support. Every one I read provides ideas, which I adapt to my circumstances. That's what I get out of diaries and I know you all do too.

savingholmes

You have made amazing progress despite any pain or health limitations. 

MovingForwards

Now I've cleared the air and got that off my chest.

Today I've glossed the door frame twice, glossed two units once. Hands are not steady enough to do the door today (see, I'm human!). Decided to focus on the units this week and gloss the door next weekend. I probably should have got two tins of gloss as I've got through a lot today 😮

TomBo is doing the ceiling this week while I'm working; he will probably do the remaining skirting and walls at the same time due to having the furniture pulled out.

Once the lounge is finished the Christmas decorations can go up 🤗

My overall goal is to do the entire temporary makeover of the flat by March, which should be achievable. The lounge is the hardest part because of the units.

Moved some money to savings. Not putting anything else into the 'missing' O/Ps until I get paid again; same day I break up so have to be very careful with spending as that a huge gap before January's pay.

Having pork and veg later.