Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 4 - The Aftermath

DancingInTheRain

Looking fab, you've achieved so much these last few weeks, very inspiring! (Back to lurking... )

crazy_cat_lady

Aw thanks you lot.... it's been the encouragement from you that kicked my backside - and hello to all the lurkers.
Wood paintwork all washed. Masking tape down. Satin finish wood paint out of the cupboard ready for an early start in the morning (kitten permitting - he chased my scrubby cloth when I was washing the skirting boards and door frames).
I've spent an unhealthy amount of time looking for heating that might fit in a space that is only 35cm wide and 12cm deep. 

Buffythedebtslayer

Amazing wardrobes  
Do you mean a radiator to add to central heating? 
If not there must be an oil filled radiator that is that small? 
xxx

triple_choc_chip

Love the wardrobes!
You’re inspiring me to finish my decorating but I haven’t done anything yet because I’m still doing the garden whilst you’re whizzing about all over. 🚀
Do you mean this sort of thing? https://www.radiatoroutlet.co.uk/1600-x-236mm-white-single-oval-tube-vertical-radiator  only 8.5 cm deep.

Tescodealqueen

Brilliant work with the wardrobes CCL. You have done a brilliant job xx

badmemory

If you mean central heating radiators, have you tried BnQ column radiators?  How high can it go?  Some are 2 metres tall but only 30cm wide.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all
I would love it to be a central heating radiator, but I don't know how easy it would be to add the pipework and attach it in the central heating. It's getting expensive... I had been thinking about a plug in, oil filled radiator, just to keep it dry more than anything else. I've managed without heating there for 16 years but clearly the exterior wall doesn't like it. I suppose if I save up then I have a gas engineer friend who I can get to fit it for me. I'll think about it but I'm not going to lie - the money is definitely running out. Especially after yesterday's hilarity...
Let me explain. I got up early yesterday morning and was absolutely determined to start the woodwork painting. I'd bought trade paint in the hope that I might get away with fewer coats on the doors and skirtings. Anyway, I worked really hard to get stuff done and managed to do the downstairs doors, all the skirtings and the bannister. And I was shattered, because I hate the wood painting, and I hate the paint, and I hate the chemicals in the paint because they're bad for you and smell awful. However, the trade satinwood did cover the skirtings well enough that I think I can get away with one coat - not the doors or the bannister. So I was having a little rest and making lunch, when ds came downstairs saying that he hated the smell of the paint, and I then realised that it was more chemically than the paint - like diesel or kerosene. So I went investigating and realised the smell was coming from the cooker, which was a bit worrying. I couldn't find any melting plastic or anything that looked suspicious but it was definitely coming from the oven. I did what I do best, and hoped it was a one off - the smell went as soon as the oven went off and then came back as soon as the oven came back on. So I googled, and found criticism of my oven cleaning, potential melting wires etc. None of which made any sense at all so I decided that the time had come to replace the cooker pretty urgently. It has needed doing for at least 10 years but I could never be bothered with it and it never felt important. It's rubbish at its job but it works and was safe until yesterday... After much research (gas because I don't know if we have access to equivalent electricity supply, fits in the space I have in the kitchen and as cheap as possible), I have a new cooker being delivered and fitted on Saturday. Cooker reasonably cheap - 4 burners, 1 oven and 2 shelves - however £120 for fitting and recycling the old one!!! Jeez. So I got curious and wanted to know what on Earth the smell was so kept googling, and eventually stumbled on a tradesman website where someone had posted the same problem. Loads of tradespeople had then responded with 'Have you just painted?' Apparently gloss paint reacts with the chemical they put in the gas to make it smell and it smells like kerosene.  Well. Probably could have managed without the cooker, but I needed it replacing sooner or later so might as well go ahead. At least I know that we will be properly safe soon and that'll be one less thing to replace when it fully breaks and that I can use it in the meantime. Strangely enough, no smell today and no extra painting from me because I'm too lazy!!!
I've done other stuff today... been into work to collect my laptop now we have the new IT systems. Put a couple of pictures up in my room, hung the new curtains that my mam bought for me, and did a bit of crochet. Then took the kitten to the vet to register him - that took ages because he was basically so cute that the nurse showed him to everyone (cat only vet) and they were fussing over him for ages while I waited outside. Lots of little frogs - but by the time I sat down it was pittling with rain and not good weather to get high VOC paint to dry. I have a meeting tomorrow that starts at 9.30 so I'm hoping for an early night tonight and to get a coat of paint on the doors before that starts tomorrow. We shall see - I know I keep making excuses but tomorrow is rain all day so I don't know how hopeful I am that the satin paint will dry very well - plus the kitten now has a white paw and a white ear  
Now I'm finally getting the stairs done I can also see how desperate the kitchen is as well. UGH!

f0xh0les

The bottom step (except for your 2 door dispensation) is where you stop and put all those other jobs on a different list.  You need to finish up what jobs you have started so you can head off to work next month knowing you have done everything up to ________ (insert the place).  The rest can be done as and when you have the funds, and after you have given it a good thinking about.  Or as a reward for paying down X amount of debt.  Or as a thank god 2020 is finally over! present to yourself.  Or when you come into some unexpected money, or even next year's exam money!  Then you can pounce when you see a bargain, and you  will know exactly what you want.   Leave yourself something to do!  A kitchen takes planning.

beanielou

I think crazy cat lady means painting the kitchen? 

f0xh0les

It starts with 'I'll just paint the walls' ... next thing you know, you have invaded Poland.