+++ Divide By Cucumber Error. Please Reinstall Universe And Reboot +++

PennysIntoPounds

Very impressed with you seeing a job and *doing it*
👀😁

Cherryfudge

I expect that old door is full of character and replacing it might detract from the general appearance. I remember neighbours when I was a child who got rid of a very ancient door and I still think it was a loss!

Mind you, I'm with @EssexHebridean on needing stuff around (minimal makes me shrink in on myself: I need stimuli) and plenty of books, preferably ones that have recipes in or are so well read that some pages are loose, and I'm with @greenbee on hating going to the tip. DH kindly calls it 'the recycling centre' so I don't get upset.

Takes all sorts and I so admire you @redofromstart for all the progress you are making!

greenbee

Do you have a curtain you can hang over the front door? If not, I have a couple of very long, very heavy, lined and interlined, full length, eyelet curtains that you're welcome to... 

rtandon27

I always thought that curtains over doors were such a funny concept until we lived in a place where we had a visible draft in the winter at a place we rented.  We put up curtains over our front and back door every winter now, even though we have double glazed doors - and it makes a huge difference to how much warmth stays in the house!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hi @rtandon27,

Have loved reading your new diary. Your house sounds amazing but a lot of work especially with all the decluttering and all the emotions that come with it. When I moved to the place we are in now I didn't want to move, it was more a necessity rather than a desire to move. We just got the movers in to box everything up as it was and 2 years on, am now thinking its time to make a start on decluttering to "move in properly". 

The curtain at door is something I quite like the sound of, quite fancy mustard yellow heavy velvet curtains. 

Cherryfudge

Queen_of_the_Hive said:

The curtain at door is something I quite like the sound of, quite fancy mustard yellow heavy velvet curtains. 

Funnily enough we have a door curtain exactly like that! It's over a modern double glazed door but as the door is all glass, the curtain gives us privacy and we feel snug. It also keeps out the drafts from the old wooden floor and skirting.

We bought it as one of a pair in Dunelm some years ago - at the moment the ones most like ours are several times what we paid but you never know, they may come round again (and it has worn extremally well).

redofromstart

Home improvements:
The door repair has worked and has dried out nicely.  I need to go back and sand it.  There is indeed a thermal curtain over the front door which is why I hadn't noticed the split before, and a small (and very cold!) porch before another original door.  I have draped a spare curtain over the second door as a temporary solution and this has helped with the draught.  I used to have a tension rod mounted curtain covering that door in but we removed it when we refurbished the middle hall.  That needs to be re-instated.

The worm damaged drawers have been broken up and removed (via my bedroom window) and my friend took the wood to the tip for me rather than sit in my car for a week until I can go for myself.  It as a hard mental adjustment for me to accept help from anyone but it is the only way I will get this mess sorted.

The paint I want is on 3 for 2 at the big orange place plus I have 15% cashback via my bank account.  Just trying to work out how much I need given that the plan is to just use it on everything to simplify the job.

Positives:
A call from the window fitters to say that they are starting again tomorrow regardless of the weather
I am reliably informed that the house no longer noticeably smells of damp as you walk in so all that money on the damp treatment is starting to pay off
An old friend who is vaguely local, and willing and able to tactfully help without upsetting me (or anyone else - it is a rather political decision on my part)
Starting to see real progress and clear spaces because of the work I did over the last year emptying out cupboards and storage spaces

in_need_of_direction

Your determination to get things done has me in awe. You are amazing 

rtandon27

Well done on finding a tactful friend to help out - they can be few and far between! I cannot think of a single close friend who would be counted as tactful!

beanielou

Great start. Be proud.