Repairs, keen, atmospheric

1. Two windows (one properly broken, the other with a broken seal) and our front door (gradually cracking up in the sun!) have been replaced.

2. Our two summer students are working out well. Both are enthusiastic and intelligent, which makes it a joy to work with them.

3. The clouds were brooding around the fells as I drove home from Keswick this evening. There was still enough light to make them bright white as they nestled in the valleys and sat on the tops. A striking contrast to the dark fellsides.

Domestic improvements

We've made some more progress today: 
- while I scrubbed the back yard and cut back the overgrown plants, A started painting the bathroom.  It was trying to rain while I was outside but it still felt good to spend some time outdoors.
- I added a 2nd coat of paint in the bathroom while he made tea this evening; the 3rd coat will go on tomorrow and the previous blue shade will be only a memory.
- I've finished A's first knitted slipper, which meant ripping back a few rows to get the size closer to his foot.  It's a bit wide at the toes but good enough.  Now to make its pair... 

More small steps, and some progress

1. The oil-drum is empty and back with our neighbour. I was amazed how quickly we could get through the garden rubbish, and we saved a few hours of shredding too.
2. I've finally put some wallpaper in the corner of our bedroom. Hopefully once it's painted it will blend in ok.
3. The moebius cowl is finished! It's turned out to be quite a good length and I'm pleased with how it looks. I don't think it can be blocked though... too tricky for a twisted loop.

Busy(ish) day

We've finally papered the chimney breast in our bedroom, after starting to redecorate last September. The joins to the neighbouring sections are pretty ropey but we're still happy with it. Our first attempt at papering on our own!

We also managed to get through a few loads of washing & ironing (well, Andrew did), the weekly shop and one car's clean (outside & in).

Still to do...
- patch the missing wallpaper in the far corner where there used to be a fitted chest of drawers
- paint that corner and the window alcove
- replace the window
- try to fix the curtain rail a bit more securely (I'm sure it's going to fall down again after yesterday's attempt)

Saturday jobs and relaxing

1. A very slow start to the day... and our only chance for some time. It felt good to take it easy and stay indoors on a stormy day (even if I was reading a work-related book for some of the time). We popped out at teatime, but not for too long...

2. I spent a short while filling some of the holes in the wall plaster in the bedroom, so it's almost ready to paper now. Just some sanding needed first - perhaps I'll get round to it next weekend. That's another baby-step taken anyway...

3. I've finally seen the last episode of Sherlock. Even after the spoiler on the radio yesterday I don't know how the final twist was done. Just have to wait for series 3 I suppose.

A good end to the week

1. Housegroup yesterday was good - we had time to catch up with each other and to have a proper discussion. I didn't play in the end, but will make sure I'm prepared for next week.

2. The bathroom floor has been fitted. It took a bit longer than I'd hoped and hopefully the noise didn't annoy the neighbours too much. We're happy with the result though - now I'm itching to get some fresh paint on the walls.

3. Our first knit and natter of 2012. 5 of us were there and it was just a lovely way to end the week. One lady couldn't get over the small dpns I was using...

first week back...

• quite busy at work
• but I've been encouraged that we've been able to get on well together while pushing to do better.  I love feeling that I know so many people there and that when I walk around there are lots of smiles.  We work hard, but it's a good place to be.
• back to the routines (mostly)
• my prayer triplet met again for the first time in 3 weeks, and I was back to my Pilates class too; thankfully our teacher was quite gentle on us for the first session after Christmas - next year may be tougher!
• we had friends over for tea last night
• Andrew made beef in Stilton sauce, which was delicious
• Caroline had made a German apple cake - also delicious!
• and today we set up some more bits and pieces for the house
• a roofer to look at our roof and the rendering at the front of the house
• new curtains for our spare room
• more old stuff cleared out which was hidden in the desk drawers
• the skip is arriving on Monday to start clearing our garden of rubbish
• and I also got new headlamps for the car - they hadn't failed, but they looked pretty close!

Moving forward

I started the day feeling quite low - I'm not keen to get back onto the treadmill of working full-time and trying to keep up with life... But we took another baby-step forward by arranging to sort out our bathroom floor, and we've sorted out a load more stuff to move on. As much as possible is going to charity shops but some of it is just beyond usefulness. Now we just need to work out what the crack is behind my bit of the wardrobe... (and replace the cladding on the front of the house, and fix 2 windows, and get the roof checked out...)

One step at a time...

painting, chatting and good to be inside!

1. I've started my contribution to the bedroom painting
• the walls are mostly green now
• some wallpaper to patch in the corner before painting
• patterned wallpaper still to go on the chimney breast
• very good to see some progress!
2. Good to chat with an old friend on the phone
• an hour passes quickly when there's a lot to catch up on
3. The weather was dramatic this afternoon
• the wind and rain suddenly picked up
• flurries that were so violent they looked like fog!

Grace for today...

• wobbly start to the day... but lots of words at church about the way God looks after us
• lay down the burden and rest in Him
• wave from Daniel at the back (wearing PA headphones and looking v cool)
• prayer and support from friends

"Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest..."

• Connect4F1 at Tom & Becca's
• yummy lunch
• good company to share the race with

• standing room only!
• Andrew is making short work of stripping the old wallpaper from the bedroom chimneybreast.
• I'm grateful for his hard work, and keeping me out of the way while he pushes on...
• the mirror tiles have gone!
• I'm still working on the crocheted stegosaurus hat for Daniel
• I've ripped it back twice to take out rows of increases
• still probably a bit big, but hopefully not too bad... I don't think he'll mind too much

end of the week

1. Glad to be home on Thursday evening - it's been a long week!
• the training course was good, and I'm glad I went
• long days mean I'm ready for some sleep
• it's good to be home again
2. Returned home to find Andrew has started redecorating our bedroom
• part of me wishes I'd been able to help but deep down I'm delighted to find he's broken the back of the work & I've not had to do anything
3. Car to the garage on Friday morning to try to find the reason for the "Check Emissions" warning light
• courtesy car provided
• warning message gone when I collect car (after they cleaned computer connections and re-replaced the sensor)
• no bill!