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Saturday 27 September 2008

Each day is Valentine’s Day

Well, it certainly is when I'm using my cordless screwdriver :) Hubby gave me my lovely power screwdriver for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. We were "doing" the kitchen at the time. I think it's one of the best Valentine's gifts I've ever received. You, dear reader, may conclude that I've never been given any really wonderful Valentine's gifts. But I'd retort that every girl needs a power screwdriver. It's the mutt's nuts, it really is. I don't like power tools especially. I had to drill some holes today. I didn't really like it. But once I'd drilled the holes, I got to fix screws in them with my cordless screwdriver. That was more fun.

Maybe the fumes from the tile paint and the tile cement really have gone to my head. Why else would I be writing a eulogy to my power screwdriver?! As you may have already guessed, the bathroom still isn't finished, but we're on the home straight. We hardly did anything through the week, but we need to get it all finished for next weekend because Sunday is the local braderie and we'll have a house full. So I need an operational bathroom. And for the dining room not to be a building site annexe. Photos soon, I promise!

That screwdriver really is excellent you know.

Sunday 21 September 2008

I remember when I lost my mind

I haven't really lost my mind it just feels that way. I think it's the paint fumes. Anyway just thought I'd pop in and say hello to anyone who's out there.

Am enjoying everyone's blogs but I'm too lazy to comment. Well, that's not entirely true. Last week Dad was here and so we were in full-on bathroom mode. I'm hoping that by next weekend my normal routine of slothing around will be restored.

Wednesday 10 September 2008

Coming, colours in the air

That's it we've got the bathroom paint. We're having sort of dirty white and sort of dirty. No actually the colour scheme is called "Exotic Spice" and we ended up choosing the colour mixing option because it definitely matched better to the bathroom cupboard doors.

So I'm pretty pleased about that and looking forward to painting that on. Also have special durable tile paint for the shower enclosure. Yay.

Wednesday 3 September 2008

It might as well rain until September

Well it pretty much did rain all the way through August until September. But what can you do?

Here at the house of horrors we've been busy with the bathroom project. Of course as fate would have it on what was easily the loveliest weekend weather-wise all month, we spent our time trudging from one DIY store to the other, looking at tiles and tile glue and particle board and thermostatic radiator valves. Then finished stripping off that awful vinyl wallpaper, sanded the wallpaper glue off the tiles (with the scary sander - I'm semi-mesmerised by it and keep thinking how easily I could just veer it off the wall and onto sanding my forearms instead. Power tools are scary) and cleaned them with acetone. Hubby wisely invested in some rather expensive dust/vapour masks and they work a treat. Worth every penny.

So once the tiles were stripped bare and I'd sanded all the grouting down to what could be considered a reasonable level (seriously, whoever tiled our bathroom must have used three times more grout than necessary - see left), I was looking forward to painting on the primer. Painting is my favourite part of DIY. I don't really like all the "big" stuff involving power tools and what have you. I like tiling and painting. So I eagerly dug out the tin of primer and my brand new paintbrush (specific glycero-based type paintbrush). And was struck by a sudden moment of wisdom so I read the label before popping off the lid. It's a good thing I did but I wished I hadn't! It says to apply the finish coat at least 24 hours but no more than 72 hours later to guarantee adherence. Bugger! I couldn't paint because I haven't got my emulsion yet have I? I was a bit gutted.

Still, on Monday Hubby got busy with the jigsaw and fitted the wall panels (because, ah yes, when we ripped out all the old panelling we were delighted to find the walls are only tiled half way down!), which I got to tile after work. I like tiling. That pretty much made up for the primer disappointment. I haven't done it all but I'm waiting for me Dad to get here with his tile saw because some cutting is required.

Yesterday not much happened in the bathroom. Hubby went to the Comet-type store (called Boulanger - as in a baker's - but they sell home electricals! I know ...) and set up a 3-month's interest-free credit thing for the TV we bought on Saturday. Because our telly converted itself to a radio (as in sound but no picture) on Saturday. Thank heavens for 3-month's interest-free credit is all I can say because that's how everything gets bought!

Today the bathroom bits were delivered! As I type, Hubby is busily fitting the shower. The shower tray is in place, he's fitting the glass door things now. I'm staying well away unless he asks for help because he likes a security cordon of about 100m around him when he's DIYing.

[long pause while Lis is called away to hold things and get drilled into]

Right I think it's bedtime. Will finish this post with photos tomorrow. Nighty-night all xx