September 2020 – Counting Down the Days!

September 2020 – Counting Down the Days!

Oh dear, oh dear – I was in such big trouble with SWhoMBO on the evening of 30 September when the blog was not ready to roll. Very patiently, I tried to explain to her that WordPress has moved into the next century with a new block editor format (which is not all intuitive, at least not to me) but she was having none of that. I also pointed out that she was not around when I needed her input most, because she had swanned off with Mr Rod and friends to enjoy herself. But, this too fell on deaf ears. ‘Moses’ was not a name she used together with any kind words for a few days.

Of course, Mr Rod and the Young Master did not help the situation on Wednesday by maintaining to SWhoMBO that it was really of very little consequence if the September blog was not published in September. I am sure you can imagine that this assertion did not go down particularly well (especially as it was the first time this has happened!)

Am I bothered? Not really, I only care about being fed!

Anyway, onwards and upwards. I am pleased to report that the dust has now settled. There are so many more new decisions to be made that SWhoMBO has not got the leisure of time to be cross with me for long.  

Well, I am delighted too report that we are now all daring to start to count down the days to move in. At the beginning of September, the ground floor painting started – far easier than on the first floor because the ceilings are so much lower.

10 September – Ground Floor Painting (1)

                                                     10 September – Ground Floor Painting (2)

And ground floor tiling expended by the day to become an ocean. It then needed to be covered with a protective cloth so that the kitchen units could be stored prior to be fitted. 

                                                          10 September – Utility Room Tiling 

                                              10 September – Ground Floor Tiling with Cover (1)

10 September – Ground Floor Tiling with Cover (2)

 10 September – Ground Floor Tiling with Cover (3)

10 September – Ground Floor Tiling with Cover (4)

Thursday 17 September was a most auspicious day, with so many deliveries that the ‘Oh dear, what can the matter be?’ visitor arrival tune was called into action more times than any of us could count. In the late morning, I spied some white vans and wandered over to see what was happening – the units for the kitchen, pantry and utility room had arrived.

17 September – Kitchen etc Units Arrive (1)

                                                    17 September – Kitchen etc Units Arrive (2)

17 September – Mr Rod Checks off the Kitchen Units

17 September – Kitchen Units etc Arrive (3)

Once in situ, they will be painted – pale (‘Swedish’) blue for the tall kitchen units and the utility room, and darker (‘Baize’) blue for the island unit and the pantry. A gazebo has been erected outside in the garden to do the spraying there.

I have to say that I reserve judgement about this. For once, I agree with Layla (and she is never one to hold back on the barbed comments) that perhaps next time Mr Rod should miss out the middle man and put the cash straight into the bin!

17 September – Gazebo for painting the kitchen (1)

17 September – Gazebo for painting the kitchen (2)

The electricity used for the various trades in the house had previously gone to the small ‘tea shed’ outside. At last, electricity would be connected directly to the house. The saga about how difficult SSE have made this (seemingly simple task) could run and run.

  17 Sept – Final trench to connect electricity to house (1)

17 Sept – Final trench to connect electricity to house (2)

17 Sept – Final trench to connect electricity to house (3)

I can report that Monday 21 September also proved to be a very busy day indeed.

                                         21 September – Ready for the Cabinets & Appliances (1)

                                       21 September – Ready for the Cabinets & Appliances (2)

21 September – Kitchen Cabinets Revealed (1)

21 September – Kitchen Cabinets Revealed (2)

21 September – Kitchen Cabinets Revealed (3)

21 September – Kitchen Appliances Arrive (1)

21 September – Kitchen Appliances Arrive (2)

                                              21 September – First Floor Wooden Flooring Arrives

26 September – Kitchen Starts to Take Shape (1)

26 September – Kitchen Starts to Take Shape (2)

26 September – Kitchen Start to Take Shape (3)

After all the beams were covered up earlier in the year (as above), after being cleaned but before plastering and painting, it was so exciting to see the first floor oak revealed once again in all its glory. 

26 September – First Floor Reveal (Scandi Bedroom) 1

                                               26 Sept – First Floor Reveal (Scandi Bedroom) 2

26 September – First Floor Reveal (Scandi Dressing Room)

26 September – First Floor Reveal (Oriental Bedroom)

26 September – First Floor Reveal (Towards Oriental Bathroom)

26 September – First Floor Reveal (Oriental Bathroom – 1)

26 September – First Floor Reveal (Oriental Bathroom – 2)

September Post Bag

Thank you so very much to everyone who sent such supportive messages of sympathy about SWhoMBO’s special friend Julia. A large number of you reminded her that, despite being unable to share any more lunches, visits or laughter together, she still has all those wonderful memories about those ‘fun times’ that will keep Julia firmly in her mind.

First out of the bag in September was this from Maidstone Mister: “Dear Freddie, Thank you so much for the most interesting tour in August. I thought the diagram for the ground source heating was in fact Mr Rod’s computer wiring to improve his sunflower’s even more! “

I see what he means!!!!

But HongKong Buddy was also most intrigued about the ground source heating plan, as you will see: “Hello Freddie, so excited to read all about the news at Hazels. It seems much has been achieved in August – no doubt SWhoMBO must be cracking her whips!!!! The Ground Source Heating Pipe Plan baffles me – why do you have to heat up the whole of Surrey before heating up Hazels?!! I I am also intrigued to know what is Floor Decoupling Membrane ?! I must get in touch with the 22nd Century technology !!!! Please convey my congratulations to Mr Rod for his magnificent garden …. I am so envious of all the homegrown vegetables not to mention the Olympic size Sunflowers !!!!! Hope all is well with Humans and Felines at Hazels?“

I do hope I can reassure Hong Kong Buddy by confirming that the Ground Source Heating System takes the solar heat stored in the ground and amplifies it to heat the house (the opposite of a fridge). Also, a decoupling membrane is always recommended where there is a large area of tiling, to stop the tiles from cracking if the foundations expand or contract.

SWhoMBO was also delighted to receive from Hong Kong Buddy this photo of her 60th birthday supper with ‘the girls’ in Bel and the Dragon. How little did we realise that this sort of gathering would be illegal only five years on!

No more than 6 permitted now!

(And this was the birthday girl in September 2019)

Puttenham Pal always makes lovely comments that make Mr Rod’s head swell: “I just wanted to say what wonderful Sunflowers! Well done Boss!”

Guildford Girl was not far behind with: “Dear Freddie What a huge step (paw?) forward with everything at Hazels. So exciting that the plastering and floor tiling are all but now complete, but sad that Mr Rod’s sunflowers have bitten the dust for another year. A month of highs and very sad lows. But perhaps the fact that the end is getting closer, will cheer everyone up.“

The Picket Pieces (formerly Folkestone Friends) kindly sent this ‘blast from the past’ photo:

Hand or Push Plate

This plate once adorned a door in the old Hazels – great to see it used again in more sympathetic surroundings. (Apparently, a push plate should be positioned with one edge 1 1/2 inches from the outer edge of the door and approximately 42 inches from the floor – I will closely question Brother John about this when I next see him!)

Mikal’s Mate sent another stunning Helsinki sunrise photo with the message: “Really glad to see the progress inside the house – and the cornucopia of Rod’s vegetable garden.”

Finally, from the Surrey Foundling: “Another great update and home is looking great with tiles now down and paintwork getting done. Almost there!”

The World According To Moses

I am disappointed to report that I do not have many entertaining pictures illustrating our current times to include for you. (Whilst there were some very amusing jokes – mainly from Mr Rod’s Andorra ski friends and Lady MeadowStray – most of these were firmly vetoed by SWhoMBO!)

So, that’s how you do it!

Undoubtedly a grape experience!

 I was very amused by one of the gifts SWhoMBO received for her birthday!

Putney Playmate drew this charming picture of ‘birthday relaxation’

For some reason, many people send SWhoMBO birthday cards with cats on the front. Why is this? 

I do not remember posing for this card!

This one captures my wide-eyed and innocent look……… 

What Happens In October?

• Kitchen units and appliances fitted and units painted
• Electrics completed
• Laying of first floor wooden flooring completed
• Bathrooms completed
• Sauna ordered
• The Pinnochio room in the barn continues to fill up with purchases for the house

• Mr Rod and SWhoMBO make final plans for moving in by the end of November, so they really will be counting the days!

“Wake me up when it is all over!”