Perspective

Monday, June 29, 2009 ~ 3 comments so far

Is it wrong that a little part of me is a tad disappointed I didn’t quite manage to clock up 80 hours at work last week?

Is it wrong that when faced with a proper cooked dinner, served at approximately the normal time for said meal, that I wonder how on earth I’m going to eat it and couldn’t I just have a roll and ham, then some crisps, then some chocolate, then some more crisps, a few digestives (or whatever else I can find lying around)?

Is it wrong that I’ve spent a large part of today wondering what I’ve forgotten?

Is it wrong that because I’ve been working so much I’ve now got even more things to do? Things I didn’t get done at home, and things that cropped up last week at work that I didn’t have time for (and this week I’ve only, currently, got one morning and one afternoon to myself as it is).

And is it wrong that I’ve spent the last hour daydreaming of retiring early and going to live on a beach somewhere?

No, I don’t think it is either.

Taking a break

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 ~ 1 comment so far

I’m in the midst of a hectic, hectic week so I’m taking a wee break from this here blog. I’ll be back at the weekend. (Of course I won’t be completely silent)

Until I return, here is a picture of Oll-E doing what he does best and what I’ll manage little of in the coming few days.

New Bathroom

Sunday, June 21, 2009 ~ No comments yet

With only one minor hiccup, our new bathroom is now complete and usable and already stocked with new towels and other such things. It’s not big, or flash but it’s been long overdue and leaves only one more major job to get done before we have the entire house properly modernised.

Colour and smiles

Thursday, June 18, 2009 ~ No comments yet

The sun was shining when I left work, a great brilliant light, dazzling me as we started to commute home. I’d been in a foul mood shortly before but there is something about that light that lifts my spirits no end. Even sitting in the traffic jam in the one way system in Paisley I was still smiling away to myself.

Looking up at the skies, in the direction of home, there was nothing but grey clouds, big deep dark clouds that threatened rain, and the closer we got the darker they grew until the first few big fat spots started to fall. My smile vanished, my mood returned to grey.

It didn’t turn into more than a quick deluge but it was enough to soak the roads and, driving with the sun behind us, brought a wonderful, beautiful effect of nature into play.

Not only was there a bright and vivid rainbow overhead, but from the spray of each car in front of us a tiny fragment of colour flashed and glinted. It was quite mesmerising and beautiful.

At one point it even looked like the car in front of us had driven THROUGH the end of the rainbow, such was the brilliance of the colours. The smile was soon back on my face as I tried my best to capture this wonderful moment so I could repeat it later, but sometimes words just aren’t enough, nor are photos (Louise did try with her mobile phone though).

It’s a shame, I’d loved to have shared it with you.

So, with a spring in my step I fair bounded through the front door to find that our new bathroom has progressed well. Tiles on the walls, shower installed, units built and installed, new radiator in place and the new counter top basin in place, with the taps installed on the right of the sink.

Arse.

We asked for the taps to go on the left.

Fucksticks.

The countertop was the last one in stock, the nearest other place that does them is in Edinburgh, but hey, that’s not my problem but will, no doubt, delay the job. The bathroom certainly won’t be finished tomorrow, and even Saturday might be pushing it.

Wankfucks.

Still, that rainbow was really something.

Dust covered

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 ~ 2 comments so far

Home last night to view the latest bathroom work and we now have gyproc’d walls, floorboards and a bath. A great big, deep, long, WHITE, bath with centre mounted taps.

We also have a very dusty cat.

Whilst part of me knows that cliches are such because they are, usually, true, there is no doubting the fact that curiosity is very much in the nature of a cat. I think he’s explored every single inch of the stripped out bathroom that he can reach, including clambering up onto the windowsill to stick his head up the gap where the pipe work disappears into the loft and if he’d been able to I’ve no doubt he’d have clambered up in there.

He’s obviously a little stressed too with men in the house all day, thumping and crashing about, not to mention all the new smells and that big climbing frame that is currently in the hall (the stack of boxes containing tiles, sinks and other bathroom parts).

Oll-E does two things when he’s a bit stressed, he sleeps a lot and becomes a right wee sook *.

Whilst most nights he’ll sleep, well anywhere he wants really, including the occasionally venture onto the foot of the bed, last night found me lying on my side with a small black furry creature, purring loudly enough to wake the dead (but not Louise) curled up in the gap between my stomach and the edge of the bed.

Which is very cute but makes rolling over a tad tricky!

Half Landing*

Saturday, June 13, 2009 ~ 2 comments so far

I may have mentioned this before, or at the very least hinted at it, but I’m big on planning. I research things, figure things out, make sure I understand them and then progress. If money is involved then I’m always keen to get the best I can, or something unique and original.

So when it comes to a major bit of house renovation like, say, getting a new bathroom fitted, obviously I’m going to spend a lot of time preparing for something like that, right? Well I should’ve but, truth be told, the bathroom is small, there aren’t many options (or at least I didn’t think there were) so after receiving some quotes we decided to go ahead.

Which means that tomorrow the plumber arrives to rip out the current bathroom and on Monday they’ll come in and starting tiling. We’ve chosen the wall and floor tiles, as well as some ‘effect’ tiles. We’ve picked out the bath, shower, lights, sink and w/c but, as of yet, we’ve yet to decide what goes along with them.

We’ll either get some built-in units under the sink (boxed in alongside the w/c) or we might just decide not to bother. We have a small cabinet which holds plenty so don’t really need any more storage. So we might end up with a nice wooden counter top and just get the rest boxed in.

It’s all been a bit of a rush since we got back from our holiday and I can feel my stress levels rising every time something else comes up to be discussed. Frankly I’m teetering near the “fuck it” stage.

It’ll all work out in the end of course, same as it did, eventually, for the kitchen. Hopefully we won’t be without a bathroom for a month though, that’d be a bit awkward… and smelly.

* The post title is in tribute to my prim and proper wee Granny. The bathroom in my parents house is on the half landing and rather than say she was going to the loo she always referred to it as “visiting the half landing”. I do miss her.

Panic!

Monday, May 25, 2009 ~ 5 comments so far

There is a sense of mild, but controlled, panic in the air.

I’ve only just realised that, a week today, we’ll be flying to Spain for a week in the sun. Don’t quite know how this has taken me by surprise but there you have it. All of a sudden I’m in the “pre-holiday zone” where every choice of t-shirt needs to be carefully considered, and the locating of cables, chargers and other sundry essentials starts in earnest.

That said, we are taking hand luggage only, and all I’ll need are:

• 7 Books - already stacked and ready to go.
• 5 t-shirts - I have so many t-shirts that I’ll just take whatever I pick up on Monday morning
• 4 pairs of shorts - 2 longer ones for the evenings, 2 shorter ones for the sunbathing
• 5 pairs of socks
• 5 pairs of boxer shorts
• 1 iPhone + cable
• Speakers for iPhone
• 1 Camera + battery charger
• Mains USB socket
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Passport + Money
• Toothbrush

Thankfully I’m pretty well organised to I can leave all of my packing until Monday morning. So the only real panic is deciding what music and movies to put on my iPhone. I mean, I’ve only got a week!!