ToadyI have been mainly Vol. 7

The final result will be worth it Ella but the aggravation at the time makes me doubt it? Only another week and a half to go.

kitty Ella I would love to have the decorators in I would make them endless cups of tea and bacon butties. Anything is better than OH doing it I really do lose the will to live once he starts, he takes forever. He refuses point blank to have any help what so ever. Our bedroom took over 3 months and that was simply repainting the walls, ceiling and woodwork. The stress is unbearable. [tearing hair out emoticon]

My ex worked on the house constantly [never quite finishing a job either]. There was never any pleasure in having a room decorated and any estimate of the time a job would take had to be trebled [at least]. We were without a bathroom for weeks and the loft conversion to make a playroom for the kids was completed just before they left for uni. I now have a decorator, realising that he gets paint at cost price, always has plenty of white paint for ceilings, filler etc and I don't have all the nuisance of cleaning brushes, so it doesn't actually cost me much more than if I did the job myself. My ex did agree to someone fitting a new kitchen and to see it all installed and ready to use in a few days was a joy. He's now working on another house somehwere else [the ex, that is]. He used to start drilling or sanding down at about 10 in the evening when the kids were trying to go to sleep, and couldn't understand why I sometimes used to burst into tears when he did so. Never put any dust sheets down, either [left me to clear up any mess]. It's a wonder I'm sane now [if I am that is].

Tegan Just reading your post made my blood pressure rise, my next door neighbour always starts something noisy at ten pm on a Sat night!

Perhaps it's him ...

No, he's a singleton and never been kissed!

Tegan When we moved into our present home the surveyor said that it was the worst modern (circa1968) property he had ever surveyed but the surrounding area made it a worthwhile investment. OH said not to worry I promise you I will have it finished within 2 years. I'm still waiting 27 years later.

However (you may remember a previous posting) 200 bricks from his precious collection have recently been sold. Our neighbour offered to buy them, they were made in the village early last century and they are renovating an old barn. The price made me although I would have willingly given the damned things away. DH is now having therapy

Sook that made me smile!
My Dad kept small amounts of paint in rusting tins. When we moved, many years ago, he proudly said that as we were moving to a new house, we would need paint so we could have his tins. We couldn't understand why the tins rattled. Then we opened them, no paint left just flakes of rust!
P.S. Still waiting for the OG to 'finish off' the stairway..... a year later!

I am now awaiting the return of the three ring circus that left about two hours ago - Grandpa, DS and DDiL and two DGDs, plus bikes, to ride part of the Tarka trail. It is now pouring with rain...

Ariadne the weather here in East Devon is slightly overcast but still warm and, as yet, no sign of rain. I hope the rain stays away from here as it's washday and I will be upset if I can't dry the things outdoors.

I spoke to DS on the phone this evening after he had had spoken to his Dad. He sounded very down to me.
I asked him if he was alright and he said "Oh! I am bit tired" I don't think I believe him. I am sure there has been a lot wrong with his relationship for years.
I am now wondering what to do about it and whether iwill be springing awake at 3am worrying. I can't deal with this stuff at night. I might ask others for their views on how to deal with this in another thread in the morning.

The two little DGDs were due to go sailing this morning with their older cousins (DG1 is a qualified instructor) but it is too windy today, so everyone has gone back to bed. Except for me - once awake, always awake! Hey ho..

Oh nellie, what a worry for you. [blue]

Ariadne, I hope you are doing something useful with your time - a spot of ironing, cleaning

Yesterday, I went to court for a morning trial and eventually left at 3.30, the previous day's course was irrelevant and the witness I was supporting ran away . Hey ho!

OGM until I joined gransnet I thought that OH was unique, now I am beginning to realise he is just one of many clones out there

Nellie my nan used to say that when your children were small they made your arms ache and when they had grown they made your heartache. (((hugs)))

Kitty As if!!

Today I have been mainly recovering from yesterday. I must be getting old (getting?)

I have a Florentine Stitch panel (aka Bargello work) which I did some years ago. DH and I stretched and framed it, as far as we knew how. DH never did anything by halves, so it was stretched over a nice strong piece of MDF, and the backing behind it was another piece of MDF, the whole framed in one of Ikea's readymade wooden frames. Result - when it was lifted by the top of the frame to be hung up, the frame was not up to the weight and started to come apart. Ok, maybe lifting it by the top was not a good idea.

The whole thing was then leant against the wall in the corner of the bedroom for a couple of years, while DH was ill and not up to re-stretching it. A few weeks ago I took a closer look at it. Disaster! Sixteen holes made in the wool by moths, which had crept into the sagging frame.

So I investigated how I should have stretched it. I should have attached a strip of quarter-inch by one-inch wood around a piece of cardboard and stapled the edge of the canvas to the wood - not so heavy. I had the canvas but no wood, so set off for B & Q - no direct bus so an hour there, an hour back, with a good walk from bus-stop to store. Found wood, took it for free cutting.

While waiting my turn, investigated box of free offcuts. found a lovely piece, narrow stripwood finish, just right for floorboards or wood-panelling effect for the dollshouse/miniature house, but too big to carry in one piece. No idea of what size pieces I would need, so persuaded them to keep it behind the counter for me until the afternoon. Came home, ate, measured, went out again.

Collected offcut, had it cut on lovely machine into accurate pieces, put them into large bag, carried said heavy bag some distance to bus stop, then from my own stop to the house (uphill) Time for tea and a sit-down. Total - four hours on bus or walking with heavy load.

Now have sixteen holes to mend, stretching frame to make and use, outer frame to make and fill, panelling to attach to little house and stain/varnish.

Crikey, Elegran! I thought I'd been busy having 2 under twos for 4 hours. I'm exhausted but I think you should have long sit down and a nice and .

I'm tired just reading that!

I think two under-2s would be the end of me now. to think I used to take it in my stride.

While I was struggling to the bus, I did remember the person who said on a thread here that people without a car had no excuse for not taking their unwanted goods to a charity shop, they could go on the bus. Probably someone who had never taken a bus in their lives, or not with anything in their hands anyway.

Same with the long strips of wood that needed cut - with a car I could have taken them home and cut them through myself. Not so sure about cutting up a large rectangle of plywood into smaller rectangles though! I am not competent with power tools, and a hand saw would have been a marathon. B&Qs cutting machine is awesome.

First Cub night after the summer hols. Why do I suddenly feel tired?

Can't imagine why, thatbags. could it be that you are getting older not so young too?

We had a wonderfull day, hired pedal bikes and had a wonderful 9 mile bike ride with all the family , through woods, lanes etc, brilliant !!!

The day started well, with an hour long telephone call from my daughter in New Zealand, full of good news about all her children. Then I had my hair cut in the village beauty shop - she just wets it and cuts it very short so it goes into natural waves. She charges me only €14 and I go every three months - that is the limit of my spending on 'beauty'!
I had to wait an hour for my appointment, so I found some little lanes around the village that I had not walked before - there are always new places to explore and I like to look at the different chalets and gardens.

I always cut my own hair , have done since the year dot !

It looks very nice too , even though I say it myself !

Nonu! How can you see round the back?