MOVING DATE

We have a moving date😀😀😀😀😍😍😍😍😍

On the 27th June Andy is moving home, 2 years and 10months exactly since he walked out to go to his operation. Whilst life is never going to be the same, it's changed beyond recognition in some senses and yet it's the same in other senses, we are looking forward to being reunited together and to working out family life together. 

17 - No more problems; hopefully!

As I write this blog I'm hoping to be able to declare that we are now problem free. Well, at least 'major problem' free. We now have concrete flooring down in the old part of the house and also we have the floor coverings down too - mostly😂

When the concrete was put in it was levelled off with the lounge but as it meets the extension it has to slope slightly but you can't slope laminate flooring so we've had to creatively think how to solve that one as the flooring in the bedroom and hallway is luxury vinyl. We are now waiting for the finishing touches, such as skirting boards to be put on, and the 'snagging' list to be looked at.

16 - Yet more problems!!😁😩😕

The builders have started the process of digging out the floorboards and making entry points into the new parts from the old parts but, as always it seems, there is another problem with unforeseen costs involved to us. Basically the flooring was wooden with space underneath before the concrete bottom and in the spaces were electrical wiring and pipes for the radiator. The mains water pipe sits obstructively in the new entrance between old and new. In short this needs dealing with before concrete can go in.

In some ways I'm frustrated and in other ways I feel a bit like "C'est la vie" we seem to be getting used to mishaps along the way. One of the builders remarked today about us having had one of the highest number of skips on a build such as ours!!

The old destroyed kitchen showing the various pipes and wires in amongst the rubble! 

15a - kitchen picture

The kitchen is now a little further along and a bit cluttered too!!

15 - Kitchen picture.

So, this is the kitchen starting to take shape. The gap where the clothes horse is situated is the

Gap that is too small, but big enough for a new cupboard that I've ordered.

14 - More problems, more solutions!

I wrote in earlier posts (12 & 8c) about knocking the back wall down and leaving a great big opening between the old house and new house which has now been done and looks fabulous. I'm so pleased with what it's done for that whole room. I will post pictures of it soon - promise!

As a result of some of the changes we've made as we've been going along, some necessary and some creative, it turned out the kitchen measurements weren't as accurate as they were when we ordered the kitchen, so as the kitchen fitters were measuring up they discovered that the units wouldn't all fit in, this isn't the fault of the kitchen store, more my fault or 'just how it goes'. Anyway, basically, we had a 400mm cupboard to fit in a gap of 370mm because pipe work I hadn't accounted for and plasterboard has taken 50mm of space it wasn't supposed too! The issue was resolved by buying a 300mm cupboard instead and finding a convenient space for the 400mm.

The kitchen is in the middle of being fitted now and it'll look amazing. I feel like I must be getting old as I'm looking forward to organising the kitchen and putting everything where I want it to go and then changing it a few times to find the perfect way - and then changing it again!!

The big thing now for Andy and I is choosing the colour..........

Pictures to follow.

13 - GOOD NEWS, FANTASTIC NEWS!!

So the good news is that we have enough money to go ahead with the more expensive option of completely concreting the floor in the old kitchen/diner. 

This means we don't have to worry in the long term about the floor and it being capable of taking Andy's wheelchair weight - phew!

Thankyou to everyone who donated, it really is much appreciated.