src/content/blog/year2023-1.mdx

@@ -16,38 +16,37 @@ import YTVideo from "../../components/YTVideo.astro";
 import Quote from "../../components/Quote.astro";
 
 
-House news back again after another extended break. We just don't have enough left to do to make a more regular post!
+House news! Back again! After another extended break. 
+
+It seems that we've slowed down enough to where we just don't have enough left to do to make a more regular post!  (That's probably a good thing)
 
 ## Hallway
 
-The hallway has been our major project this year. From our front door all the way to the top of the house, the hallway walls have been covered in off-white woodchip wallpaper. Sound familiar, anyone? Yes, we had this at Harrow too.
+The hallway has been our major project this year. From our front door all the way to the top of the house the walls have been covered in off-white woodchip wallpaper. Sound familiar, anyone? Yes, we had this at Harrow too.
 
 When we were dealing with the off-white woodchip in our Harrow flat, we found one wall was very stuck on. It was so frustrating to remove that we ended up leaving it in a half-removed glue-y state for almost a year before caving and getting plasterers in to skim it.
 
-This time we were determined that we would not want it left in an awful state for any extended period, so we got Simon and Will back again to redecorate it for us. This hallway is in constant use and we wanted any inconveniences to happen quickly and then be gone. Plus, it's an enormous surface area to decorate with high ceilings over stairs, and they could work on it full time with the proper equipment.
+<Solocard title="What we're trying to avoid 🤮" src={s("harrow-hallway.jpg")} />
 
+This time we were determined that it would not be left in such an awful state for any extended period, so we got Simon and Will back again to redecorate it for us. This hallway is in constant use and we wanted any inconveniences to happen quickly and then be gone. 
+
+Plus, it's an enormous surface area to decorate with high ceilings over stairs, and they could work on it full time with the proper equipment (or the 'proper equipment').
+
+Here's a little reminder of what we started with.
 
 <Cards images={[
     {title: "Before", src: s("hallfront-before.jpg")},
     {title: "Before", src: s("hallback-before.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
+Not too terrible
+
 
 #### Removal of the wallpaper and carpet
 
-For the first week, we had Will only as Simon was on holiday in Sicily. We suspect this was deliberate so he could get out of steaming wallpaper. However, this was the same week as the European heatwave where the temps were getting into the 40-50 range and the airport Simon wanted to leave out of burned down. He really really really wanted to avoid the woodchip.
+For the first week, Simon was on holiday in Sicily 🏝️ so we only had Will. We suspect this was a deliberate plan so he could get out of steaming wallpaper. Karma came back to bite him in the form of temperatures in the 40-50 range and his airport burning down just before he was due back. He must have really really really wanted to avoid the woodchip.
-
-As the woodchip started disappearing up the house, we heard a big 'SHIT' from the hallway - with so much steam and dripping water, Will managed to get water into our bathroom thermostat controller, which then caught on fire. Luckily the worst was that the thermostat was fried and nothing more than that - but it was a nice opportunity to ask them to replace it with a white one which then would match better with the hallway.
-
-
-<Cards images={[
-    {title: "Carefully masked off", src: s("zapped-thermostat-tape.jpg")},
-    {title: "But not enough it seems", src: s("zapped-thermostat.jpg")},
-]} />
-
-
-We were pleasantly surprised with just how quickly the woodchip went, but what was left was dark and dingy and not in a good way (unlike our lower hallway). The feeling it gave us every time we entered the house while it was in this state, confirmed our colour choices and we were very sure we wanted it light and airy.
 
+Simon shouldn't have worried so much though - We were pleasantly surprised with just how quickly the woodchip went, but what was left was dark and dingy and not in a good way (unlike our lower hallway). The feeling it gave us every time we entered the house helped confirmed our colour choices as we were very sure we wanted it light and airy.
 
 <Cards images={[
     {title: "During", src: s("hallfront-during.jpg")},
@@ -57,10 +56,22 @@ We were pleasantly surprised with just how quickly the woodchip went, but what w
     {title: "During", src: s("hall-stripped1.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
+Whilst Simon was off in Sciliy potentially commiting airport arson, we had our own little emergency back home. As the woodchip started disappearing up the house, we heard a big 'SHIT' from the hallway - with so much steam and dripping water, Will managed to get water into our bathroom thermostat controller, which then caught on fire 🔥
+
+<Solocard title="⚡+ 💦 = 🔥 (+ horrible smells)" src={s("zapped-thermostat.jpg")} />
+
+
+Luckily the only damage was to the thermostat and that was easily replaced - but it was a nice opportunity to ask them to replace it with a white one which then would match better with the hallway.  (Previously we had a black one that would have matched the master bathroom fittings, had it been inside the master bathroom 🤦)
+
+Once Simon got back and Will had explained what happened we were treated to a few trademan's stories of fires in lath-and-plaster walls that were started by plumbers soldering, or electrical faults 😬. Apparently it's very hard to put out a fire you can't access.  Fortunately, Bath stone is less flamable, but it did make us go and check that we knew where our fire extinguisher was 🧯
+
+<Cards images={[
+    {title: "Lesson learned - Carefully masked off **and** disconnected at the consumer unit", src: s("zapped-thermostat-tape.jpg")}
+]} />
 
 #### Making it pretty
 
-Next the walls started getting spruced back up. They were covered in a thin layer of plaster filler to even out all the lumps and bumps, then started getting their base coats of paint. 
+Once all the paper had been remove, the next thing to do was to get the walls spruced back up. They were covered in a thin layer of plaster filler and then sanded to even out all the lumps and bumps, and then started getting their base coats of paint. 
 
 The aforementioned 'Proper Equipment' ended up being Simon on a stepladder which Will held up. They started off a lot safer, building sturdy platforms out of battens and ply, but slowly descended into madness.
 
@@ -70,43 +81,64 @@ The aforementioned 'Proper Equipment' ended up being Simon on a stepladder which
     {title: "Definitely safe", src: s("hall-safety2.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
-One of the biggest issues we wanted sorted was a particular step on the top flight, which appeared to have pulled away from the wall and had far too much flex in it. It also corresponded to a large crack in the plaster and the wood all the way around the stairs. Simon cut a hole in the plaster to have a better look at what was going on. We found out the stair was actually very firmly attached to the wall, but the issue seemed to be that it wasn't very firmly attached to the other steps next to it and so was flexing at a different rate. He put a load of beefy screws in to make sure the steps flexed together and we're much more confident they won't all fall down. We will keep an eye on it and if the cracks return we will get someone proper to have a look.
+#### The Upper Stairs
+
+Ever since we moved in we've noticed that one or two of the stairs on the upper staircase were a bit more mobile than the others.  It appeared to have pulled away from the wall and was in an area where the water leaks down when the gutters are blocked.  Given that mobility isn't a feature we look for in a staircase we asked Simon and Will to have a look at it whilst they were here.
+
+<Solocard title="Cracking stuff" src={s("stair-crack.jpg")} />
+
+Simon cut a hole in the plaster to have a better look at what was going on. And we found out that the construction of the stairs was a lot more beeft that we had suspected.  The stair was actually very firmly attached to the wall, but the issue seemed to be that it wasn't very firmly attached to the other steps next to it and so was flexing at a different rate. Simon put a load of beefy screws in to make sure the steps flexed together and we're much more confident they won't all fall down. We will keep an eye on it and if the cracks return we will get someone proper to have a look.
 
 <Cards images={[
-    {title: "Cracking stuff", src: s("stair-crack.jpg")},
     {title: "Investigate and beefily screw", src: s("stair-crack-hole.jpg")},
     {title: "Cover up and leave it", src: s("stair-crack-fix.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
+#### Other fittings 💡
+
+We spent a while searching for some lights we liked and eventually settled for lantern style pendants that we found online. 
 
-We spent a while searching for some lights we liked, we eventually settled for lantern style pendants. We found some but they had chrome where we would rather have them black. We picked up some black spray paint and got to work. We weren't sure it would work very well but it turned out fine. Most people aren't going to be looking too closely anyway.
 
 <Cards images={[
-    {title: "Building a scale model to check sizes", src: s("proto-lights-2.jpg")},
+    {title: "Building a model to check the scale", src: s("proto-lights.jpg")},
-    {title: "Spray painting the chrome off", src: s("hall-lights-before.jpg")},
+    {title: "Can't even tell them apart!", src: s("proto-lights-2.jpg")},
-    {title: "Better", src: s("hall-lights-after.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
-
+The inside of the pendant was only available in chrome, which isn't what we wanted, so Nikki picked up some black spray paint and got to work. 
-Prettier radiators. Plumber man recommended by Simon so we will probably try to use them in future rather than our nightmare boiler people.
-
-We went with the same people to do the carpet as with the lower hallway. Bit of a mixup with the whipping so we got a partial refund. Nice to walk on, squishy underlay. Looks good but new carpet smells a bit funny. They managed to get all the carpet done in one day, except for 6 steps which they had to return another day to finish off.
 
 <Cards images={[
-    {title: "Carpet!", src: s("carpet-during-2.jpg")},
+    {title: "🎶I see a chrome light and I want it painted black🎶", src: s("hall-lights-before.jpg")},
-    {title: "The sorts of decisions you have to make", src: s("carpet-2.jpg")},
+    {title: "🎶No colours anymore, I want them to turn black🎶", src: s("hall-lights-after.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
+We weren't sure it would work very well but it turned out fine so long as you're careful when you touch them. Most people aren't going to be looking too closely anyway 👀
 
-We think it looks so smart and beautiful but currently very bare and impersonal. It is a blank canvas on which to add photos, pictures and knick-knacks - which we are bad at getting around to putting up.
+#### Other fittings 🌡️
+
+Prettier radiators!  Simon and Will have finally found a decent plumber that they're happy to work with.  We got them in to do the radiators and they did a smashing job 😁 No stain marks on the ceiling, no leaky hot water tanks. We'll definitely be using them in future rather than our nightmare boiler people.
+
+#### Carpet
+
+We went with the same people to do the carpet as with the lower hallway and they managed to get it all done in one day...
+
+<Solocard title="Well, nearly all" src={s("carpet-during-2.jpg")} />
+
+They ran out of carpet for the last 5 steps and had to come back the next day to finish it off.
+
+We're pretty pleased with it.  It's nice to walk on, squishy underlay, looks good but new carpet smells a bit funny. 
+
+<Solocard title="The sorts of decisions you have to make" src={s("carpet-2.jpg")} />
+
+
+We think it looks so smart and beautiful but currently very bare and impersonal. It's a blank canvas on which to add photos, pictures and knick-knacks - which we are bad at getting around to putting up.
 
 <Cards images={[
-    {title: "Looks lovely", src: s("hall-done-1.jpg")},
+    {title: "Looks lovely 😄", src: s("hall-done-1.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
 ## Garden
 
-Since getting some gardeners to help cut back the overgrowth, we have had them back semi-regularly for maintenance. Unfortunately some of the plants were too far gone and had to be removed, so we have been investigating the local garden centres (and their cafes!) for new plants. These have now been planted and we hope in future to have some jasmine nicely trained around the patio and wisteria on our archway.
+Since getting some gardeners to help cut back the overgrowth, we've had them back semi-regularly for maintenance. Unfortunately we some of our trees didn't survive the winter and had to be removed, so we have been investigating the local garden centres (and their cafes! 🍰) for new plants. These have now been planted and we hope in future to have some jasmine nicely trained around the patio and wisteria on our archway.
 
 
 <Cards images={[
@@ -117,15 +149,12 @@ Since getting some gardeners to help cut back the overgrowth, we have had them b
 
 Whilst at the garden centre, we bought some herbs for the kitchen balconet 'breakfast bar'. They are doing amazingly well so far, but we will see if we can keep up the watering schedule long term. It's really convenient to have fresh herbs readily available when cooking.
 
+<Cards images={[
+    {title: "Herbedacious!", src: s("herbedacious.jpg")},
+    {title: "The 🪄 water wizards 🪄 that look after our plants when we're away", src: s("water-wizards.jpg")},
+]} />
 
-<Solocard title="Herbedacious" src={s("herbedacious.jpg")} />
+Our garden gate has been getting steadily less and less secure. The lock was dangling by a single screw in a slowly rotting screwhole and would probably have given way with a good shove or a particularly gusty day. We thought this less than ideal, so we bought a new garden gate lock. It was a bit annoying to install, avoiding existing rusty screws and holes and the doorframe, but we managed it with (on average) half our tempers lost. 
-
-
--- water wizards
-
-One of the other improvements we have made is to improve the wifi signal at the back of the house. Originally we would have little to no signal in the garden due to our very thick walls. It now works so well that we sometimes end up connected to the wrong wifi depending on whether we enter the house from the front or the back.
-
-Our garden gate has been getting steadily less and less secure. The lock was dangling by a single screw in a slowly rotting screwhole. It would probably have given way with a good shove or a particularly gusty day. We thought this less than ideal, so we bought a new garden gate lock. It was a bit annoying to install, avoiding existing rusty screws and holes and the doorframe, but we managed it with (on average) half our tempers lost. 
 
 
 <Cards images={[
@@ -133,10 +162,6 @@ Our garden gate has been getting steadily less and less secure. The lock was dan
     {title: "More secure", src: s("gardengate2.jpg")},
 ]} />
 
-    - cam
-    - garden hose
-
-
 ## Shoe storage
 
 Last time, we said that:
@@ -157,18 +182,22 @@ Ozzy still picks his shoes up and goes upstairs to put his shoes on. Habits are
 
 The 3d printer has come in clutch many times during our house renovation - see the wifi backbox (link?) - but it also has uses for the frivolous. On the list of prints has been proper tusks for our elephant toilet who has been dealing with split ends for a long time.
 
-<Solocard title="Printing" src={s("tusks.jpg")} />
+<Cards images={[
+    {title: "Printing", src: s("tusks.jpg")},
+    {title: "#todo", src: s("gardengate2.jpg")},
+]} />
 
+Every so often I wonder whether the 3d printer was worth it and do some sort of cost-benefit analysis of printing vs buying.  Now that I can print elephant tusks I think I've covered the entire cost of the printer in a single print 🐘
 
 ## Kayaks
 
-Two years ago after Nikki got Covid, she bought an inflatable tandem kayak while looking forward to getting back outside and having adventures. We have used this kayak quite a few times now, on the river near us and on Windermere, but there are certain aspects of it which mean we don't use it as much as we like.
+Two years ago, after Nikki got Covid, she bought an inflatable tandem kayak while dreaming of getting back outside and having adventures. We've used this kayak quite a few times now, on the river near us and on Windermere, but there are certain aspects of it which mean we don't use it as much as we like.
 
-First off: Ozzy grew up a keen kayaker and his paddling technique is very good - if you are in a proper kayak. If you are in an inflatable one with no splash deck then it is less good and the kayak ends up with a layer of cold water at the bottom that you have to sit in. The water was conspicuously absent when Nikki tried the kayak with a different copilot. We have solved this issue by getting two single kayaks and Ozzy can have a closed cockpit one by himself.
+First off: Ozzy grew up a keen kayaker and his paddling technique is very good - if you are in a proper kayak. If you are in an inflatable one with no spraydeck then it is less good and the kayak ends up with a layer of cold water at the bottom that you have to sit in. This water was conspicuously absent when Nikki tried the kayak with a different copilot. We solved this issue by getting two single kayaks and Ozzy can have a closed cockpit one by himself.
 
 Second off: Inflatable kayaks are a little wider than normal kayaks and don't track as well. They track a lot better than a cardboard box would but not as well as a nicer kayak. Ozzy, as a keen kayaker, actually notices the difference.
 
-Third off: we saw these awesome looking origami kayaks and we couldn't stop wanting to get one. We would go through repeated phases of 'can't justify the price', 'do we use the kayak enough', 'let's not buy them', 'they look so cool though'.
+Third off: we saw these awesome origami kayaks and we couldn't stop wanting to get one. We would go through repeated phases of 'can't justify the price', 'do we use the kayak enough', 'let's not buy them', 'they look so cool though'.
 
 So we bought some anyway with our personal fun money.
 
@@ -184,32 +213,14 @@ The biggest downside so far is that they are so cool that everyone we pass in th
 
 This also means we have a spare inflatable tandem kayak if anyone wants to come join us in a flotilla down the river!
 
+## Closing Thoughts
 
+It's been really interesting having people round again to do work.  I must admit that my patience for them has gone down considerably compared to the last major projects.  I think this is because 1) They were very much in the way all the time, and 2) There were no interesting techniques or cool tools
 
+As a final sign-off, Nikki will be running the Bath Half Marathon this October and her runner's kit has just arrived in the post.  If you feel like sponsoring her, she's raising money for <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/page/nicola-osborne-1692702949098">the Brain Tumor charity</a> in memory of Laurie Brokenshire.
 
+<Solocard title="Looks all official and stuff #todo" src={s("tusks.jpg")} />
 
-
+See you next time!
-
-- new tusks
-  - Cost/benefit analysis of 3d printer
-
-- hallway
-    - light fittings
-        - painting and cardboard
-    - minor electrical fire
-        - complete with stories of lath and plaster walls
-    - compare with previous house hallway
-    - only will for the first week
-        - simon stuck in sicily
-        - airport burned down
-- kayaks
-- shoe rack
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 
 <NextPrev prev="year2022-end" />