WOULD YOU EMPLOY A PLUMBER WHO DID THIS?

We went out for the day and the plumber who was meant to be fitting the bathroom suite wrote on the wall which is meant to be tiled - how disrespectful! (But really funny - I added the 'To Friday's' for him as a little treat for tomorrow, who knows what might get drawn on the floor tomorrow in response!?!

ALSO POPPED A FENCE UP!

Here is the fence at the side of the house...

Also the one at the front with the new wider gateway.

Ok have to confess that we paid someone to put the fence up as nobody seems to put their own fencing up here due to the amount of wind that they endure (DIY fencing blows down!)

Still we are pleased with it and it is nice to have a bit of a wall from what has been a bit of a gold fish bowl!

We've been building walls

Sorry for the lack of pictures but we've been building a few walls for the borders and they've taken a while - N.B I HAVEN'T BEEN WINDSURFING FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS!


This one is 16 metres long and now rendered - ready to paint it white and put a few lights in it (not my idea - might have planes landing here soon!)

WE'VE BEEN BUILDING AW

We still love your veiwings

Sorry we haven't posted much but we've been building a wall and had a few problems - weather etc. A few more pics should follow tomorrow, as long as we finish it!!!

BACK to BERKSHIRE

It was HOWLING down here today so made the trip up to Berkshire to windsurf for some shelter (oh and a social and a roast sunday lunch). Here is a picture - although there isn't much action as the camera could only come out when it wasn't raining (lack of wind too).

I've been told I should start a windsurf blog by a few people so maybe I'll stop boring you all!

CAR SURFING

Here's a little picture from yesterday dodging the rain! We did go and play in the sea after this though! Think I need a camper van and then we could have huddled round the gas burner...

FOUND IT!

Ok here is the picture of when we bought the house - it doesn't look like that any more!

DIGGIN...

Ok I got the picture the wrong way round but you get the idea. Ross was so excited that he had a skip to fill and 'diggin' to do, which is his favourite hobby. So he woke up at five and when it was nearly light (6am ish) he went out and started (I did moan about no picture as we have actually pulled up quite a lot of lawn (shall look for pictures)

Just a fence to put up now then dig another border out and a few other bits then the ten tonnes of stone can be delivered for the drive (man thats going to be a hard day).

Still WINDS UP TOMORROW!

BRRRR!

Came back from a few days in Berkshire really excited about our new heating but it still isn't going to be working until Monday - MAN ITS COLD!!!

NEW FIREPLACE!!!

As you might remember the old fireplace dilema - well we chose the save money route on this one as everything else has been over budget so we comprimised...

We're REALLY pleased with what we have done although it isn't the wall hung beauty that we really wanted, however rather than costing nearly £1,000 which was what we wanted it cost just under £300 so finally a saving - of course there were loads of complications mainly the need to get rid of a gas pipe by the kitchen door which made us have to install an electric fire (after we had bought a gas one and had it fitted)

AND YES it does have our touch of being a bit different the flame effect is blue - maybe not a warm colour but very different and we think it looks GREAT! Not such a busy weekend really as had Jules to stay one night and Julie and Daisy for two.

Fingers crossed for big winds (sorry)

BAD WINDSURFING TRIP

Got down to Hayling for a days windsurfing with people on their way down from Berkshire - howling wind all night then dropped to nothing - here's a picture of the beach with what the previous nights wind had done. Very depressed - going shopping!

CARPETS

Now ordered a carpet for Lou's room and the lounge - HOW EXCITING

NO DIY TODAY!

Dad and I had a lovely day after a couple of hard days DIY (sorry no photos as haven't quite finished the fireplace yet). We had a lovely sail with glorious sunshine and the magic ingredient - WIND. Here is a picture at anchor at newtown creek (Isle of Wight for those who don't know)

Quite a weekend ahead - Jules and Jay down Sat night - Windsurfing at Hayling for me on Sunday with a group from Berkshire - Julie and Daisy down on Sunday night then a couple of days DIY whilst the new heating system is put in. I am taking the camera on Sunday so should have some action shots!!!

INVITE TO STAY

I think we've spoken to most people but if not - if you want to come to visit you're all invited (no formal invites I'm afraid). Just let us know and we can organise a weekend or day trip. At the moment, Lou's just left, Jules and Jay are down in a couple of weeks, Julie in a couple of weeks, Kate C in November, Bugsy pending, Neil and Else pending so lots going on, Leah and Dom pending. (Pending = organising)

Ok DINNER

SORRY - I've been neglecting the blog!

Here is why - turned this:


Into this:

Only needs a new carpet and the fireplace sorted out. Couple of things to note

• The bay window hasn't got curtains as I said cut them 9cm shorter than the short pair that you see??? But what I meant was 9cm shorter than their current length (HUGE mistake but is being sorted.
• The short curtains won't have those ties on them as they look silly but didn't make it to buy new tie backs today.
• The colour of the walls do look really nice but took the picture in the dark so looks funny.

If that wasn't enough the hall is painted and the gloss work in Lou's room is half done but when it got dark tonight I couldn't see.

And to top it all off Ross was ill yesterday and at work today so guess who did the work - ME.

Also have a new light up in the hall (it looks great).

Thats all for now - very tired and need to cook dinner (alongside all of this is the usual washing, ironing, cleaning, paperwork, phone calls etc etc - we must have come from Krypton).

And their was wind today and I stayed at home to do jobs (only because the wind is better on Sunday and Monday so probably won't be gettting much done on the house then)

Blog duty completed!

N.B

If you zoom in on the pictures it's not bad pointing - thats how you get smooth lines you have to brush the concrete afterwards (Let me know if you ever need to lay a patio Neil and I'll tell you how!)

NOW I'M GOING TO GLOAT!

WHILE ROSS WAS AWAY PLAYING PONIES aka working. I layed the rest of the paving and pointed it all. Took me the WHOLE day and sorry the pictures aren't better but YES I finished IN THE DARK!





It does look better than the pictures and MAN MY BACK HURTS NOW - Still only 9 horses to see tomorrow...

We've had visitors

So Rachel and Sarah finally made it down to see us - we had a fab lunch in the Rising Sun and this photo was taken just outside the pub (I was there, the one behind the camera, which is why you can't see me!)

NEW WINDOWS & SIDE GARDEN

Got new windows! Just need to sort the planning out and get rid of the velux and turn it into a dorma...


Mr 'Jobs to do' aka Ross has nearly finished his secret side garden at the front - Yes I did help I even have pictures to prove it of me weilding a circular saw wearing eye and ear protectors. If anyone can be bothered to register to comment then you could let me know (Hint).

MY 1 WINDSURFING PICTURE

Well our instructor came up trumps and sent the picture of us in Dahab. Here is the only one of me that he took (must have been off playing in the distance the rest of the time - or too fast for him to catch me!) Still can't blame him he was hung over (mind you he was every day of the week so that shouldn't matter). I have the requested the original so shall show it to you again!!!

WINDSURFING

Sorry its a naff action picture! Here is Gavin and I windsurfing in Egypt on the Tandam (man its hard to organise two sails on one board). Sorry its not a better picture but it was a disposable camera and all the better ones are like a pin on the horizon.

I'm the one at the back (the novice compared to the experienced windsurfer at the front and yet I had a bigger sail to manage and got on the board last - must be a pro in the making - NOT)

Went windsurfing today whilst Ross worked SO SO hard in the garden - now I feel bad he can hardly walk!

GOT ROSS ON A BOAT!!!

So after planting all of that lot we took a trip on a boat to Hamble - well as you can see its not a proper boat and unfortunately doesn't run after 6pm which is a shame as Hamble has a few nice restaurants - still it is only 15 mins by car.

Picture 2 shows lots of floating caravans - you'd think they would all be out on them as they cost so much to keep!

And Whilst I was gone...

And whilst I was gone someone had made a secret garden at the front of the house - all rotovated and fencing put up. Here comes the 'Good Life' its going to be a vegetable plot - self sufficent or what!

So I thought that I should at least help with the planting (yes there are plants in it - hundreds of them but they are only babies - have to you seen the cost of grown up ones?)

BACK FROM BEING A BEACH BUM IN EGYPT!

A quick view of the beach:


And just to bore you look at all the exciting kit that we had to choose from...

Sorry no action shot (we're hoping that they are going to be e mailed on to us - shall bore you if I get them! Otherwise Kate Craven is happy to be dragged to the beach here to take pictures of me)

A TRIP TO SPINNAKER TOWER WITH LOU

A little day trip to Portsmouth and you have to see the sights once (here's Lou walking over the glass floor - she wasn't that sure about it though!)


Here is a view of very dark clouds and Gosport marina.

Be prepared to be bored by windsurfing pictures in a week Gavin!

WHAT DO YOU ALL DO IN THE EVENING?

Come on own up - who goes out after dinner at eight o clock to do a spot of weeding so the neighbours don't think that we aren't looking after the place (honestly if you saw the rest of it this is our ONLY looked after flower bed!)

Still haven't got very far with the fireplace but we have just been away for a week and then me a couple of days on the boat, still only a week then I'm off to Egypt windsurfing for a week while Ross enjoys the peace and quiet at home and writes more of his book.

Thats all for now, shall bore you all with windsurfing pictures in a couple of weeks.

Oh yeh Lou - your ceiling is plastered and painted, wallpaper stripped, walls filled - CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO COME AND PAINT THE REST OF IT NEXT WEEK!

Stop laughing Jay you'll have to do the same when we get onto yours!

Fireplace nightmare

We totally agree with you!

But need to think about it - based on the whole cost v's effect thing

We'll sort it out soon!!!

G and R

FIREPLACE DILEMA???

Here is the dilema - the fire itself is black but only three months old - therefore not really worth replacing (which would cost about £500 to do). However the bricks are nasty. The really cheap and horrid option is to paint the bricks. We were thinking of a light grey slate effect tile to cover the nasty brick surround and a simple modern mantle piece (the modern mantle pieces are about £600). If anyone has any other ideas then we would really appreciate it .

We are trying to turn an ugly but new fire into a modern masterpiece at a fraction of the cost - also going to look for white coals. Not like the fire in the last house we know but comprimises have to be made somewhere!!!

WHILST I WAS OUT PLAYING LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!!

Ok so off I went for a play in a force six in the solent on the yacht to Bembridge (Gavin and George's second home) - which I would of loved to have seen but as they know you only have a couple of hours before you HAVE to get out otherwise you hit the bottom (i.e NO WATER!).

And what do I arrive to - Our new workshop!


As you can see somebody has already been busy - not me. Tools on the right and on the left is my very own, sail and windsurf storage area (once the alarm is put in, for now they are in Jay's bedroom)

Ok so I may have one sail in it but my precious new windsurf kit is on the bed for now.

We need a bit of input on the fireplace design so will post a few pictures and ideas (please keep cost in mind as we are trying to save money on it) - hope to do it after dinner as long as I don't have winch arms from the boat...

A RELAXING SUNDAY

We started with this at the side of the house - very rotten but still didn't want to come down easily.

Then an angry man decided it had to go (well both of us actually, its just he can't work the camera!)

Then in a couple of hours - car port has been beamed up to space and the concrete pressure washed, guttering and sofits all cleaned. All this before Midday, so a spot of lunch and then what can we do to relax a little more of a Sunday.

hmmm lets think - I know lets try and kill the bathroom next...

Well it had this horrid wallpaper so lets get rid of it...

Ok it didn't quite stop there - got rid of the carpet, bashed a few tiles about before the ceilings are skimmed this week. Still wasn't relaxing enough so filled about 100 holes in the walls around the house and now awaiting the new workshop that is being put up tomorrow in place of the car port.

Not bad for a relaxing Sunday really!

N.B

Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge them...

LOOK AT THE STORM THAT'S ON ITS WAY UP TO YOU ALL

Here is another photo of me playing with the new camera. I have to say that the cloud that comes in quite spectacular.

I promise to update the blog a bit more now that I have the new camera to play with, the only difficulty is that it takes me about half an hour to sign into the blog because I can remember the password but struggle with the user name - yes I would write it down but once again I don't know how I got into it.

Shall keep trying!

FINALLY MANAGED TO GET BACK INTO THE BLOG!

OUR FIRST FINISHED FLOWER BED (YES MAINLY ROSS BUT I DID THE PLANTING!)
I WENT WINDSURFING AT HAYLING ISLAND FOR A FEW HOURS AND LOOK WHAT I CAME BACK TO! LOOK AT THE MESS IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW!

MIND YOU I WAS PROBABLY LONGER THAN I THOUGHT AS GOT TALKING TO A LOVELY LADY CALLED DEBORAH.

SUNDAY 3rd Aug

The debut windsurfing trip at Hill Head is today! Hopefully if Ross and Julie manage to drag themselves away from the outlet centre at Gunwarf Quays then you may even have a picture (how dull for you all I know but I'm excited)

Okay getting the hang of the blog thing, this is a picture of the house when we went to see it - move in two days!

All packed in boxes now just the TV/DVD and we're done.

Oh I do like to be beside the sea side oh I do like to be beside the sea........

Who knows what is going on with the new blog

TEST FOR THE BLOG

Just a little test to see that the blog works before it goes live!
We are moving in a few days