Archive for March, 2008
I’m still here
And about time too
So I have been glaringly absent from blogging for some time for a multitude of reasons and, I must confess to having missed it to.
It all went a bit haywire during the final push and the lead up to Christmas was very stressful indeed. The turkey came to pass after a mammoth effort by Barry and Calum to get the kitchen in. It looked almost too good to use and the concealed oven was and is a thing of wonderment. A few negative responses to the cooker hood, mainly from my family who (asked many times) why we had chosen to install our boiler above the hob. Obviously will not be coming again unless written apologies are received.
Generally, we have had a gratifyingly warm response to our efforts but some unwelcome remarks have been mentally logged for future vengence and others for mere comedy value:
“Striking only in it's bareness” - Sister in law re garden.
“Remind me why you bought this house?” - brother re everything.
“In Jamaica, people would not keep cows in a place like this” - Daniel at start of project.
“You could buy an executive home in Chelmsford for half of that”- friends husband.
” I'm not being funny but this is a right shithole”- said on two occasions by two separate people.
” The problem is you are just not used to hard work” - lovely Antonio the plasterer as I attempted to knock out a fireplace.
” I've just seen you having the sand delivered so I thought I would come and take some” - pensioner across the road when I asked why she was going back and forth to her gaff with MY materials. I was too amused to stop her and guess that she must have removed about half a ton during the course of the day.
” This is amazing and so stylish - I would never have thought that you would have a house like this (as you are so obviously a hideous frump from hell with no taste)” - mother of daughters friend.
” This hallway is crying out for brass reproduction door chimes” - Alan the electrician lamenting my choice of bell box.
” When are the carpets coming?” - various pensioners following our days of floorboard sanding.
“I've got a lovely plastic lace cloth that size” - lovely elderly friend feeling sorry for us having seen the new walnut table which we had just taken delivery of.
” If only it were in Dulwich Village……sigh….poor you blah blah blah” - virtually everyone in the world who refuse to believe we actually like East Dulwich.
” How's that house of yours coming on ?- I'll lend you a bbq for your turkey you know” - the lovely Dave at William Rose Butchers.
” Let me take you to lunch - hang the expense let's make it The Harvester” - George.
And so they went on.