Author: Franco

Plastered Again

This morning was quite busy once more with our jolly Plumbers Mates in to test their new underfloor pipework. A damn good idea before burying it in flooring compound, I thought. That meant them filing the system and then firing

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

50 Shades of White

We will be having three large vertical radiators fitted: one in the dining area, one in the kitchen area and the third in the hallway, where it will replace two smaller conventional radiators. The two larger ones weigh 40kg so

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Reach for the Ceiling

I frequently refer to plastering as what I consider to be the most skilful job in the building trade [and I just learnt that all my life I’ve been misspelling skilful with a double “L” – live and learn]. So,

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

High and Low

Our building site has been a bit crowded today. With all the services in the ceiling space now fitted and/or fixed, our Builder Men have been fixing the plasterboard for the new ceiling (which will NOT have bloody Artex on

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Piccadilly Circus

Builder Men had wanted to fix our new ceiling this morning. However, while the ceiling was down making all services readily accessible, I was keen to have our Plumber Men renew a few bath tub water supply joints. I had

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Sparky Serenade

New week, new tradesman. Our electrician arrived at 08:45 on Monday to begin sorting out lights and power sockets. He’s a chirpy chappy. First he very sensibly revisited our requirements; the hiatus caused by lockdown dulls the memory, after all.

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Knockdown Cooking

We’re having the weekend to ourselves in the building site. Before our Men arrived last Monday to begin demolition, we needed to get our fridge to safety; somewhere it could still be used. Francine and I emptied it and managed

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Beam me up

Subtitled: Return of the Gremlins. Yesterday and the half of the preceding day had gone very smoothly. After Main Man had removed our cooker circuit fuse both we and they enjoyed uninterrupted service. This morning Francine was up at her

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Swapping Windows

I’m delighted to say that we seemed to have been glitch free today. Our brave Men were out this morning in torrential rain mixing up mortar and bricking up our old side kitchen window on the outside, having done the

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown

Block Work

Our day’s glitch was early coming. No sooner had Man #1 arrived than my PC began suffering brief power interruptions. It went, came back, went away again, came back again, then went away and stayed away. No lights anywhere, no

Posted in 2020 Covid-19 Knockdown