Hallway Vision (and forthcoming mission!)

Ok, a little later than I hoped but I think I am ready to put some of my plans for the hallway down on paper (or blog anyway). I have been googling like mad these past couple of weeks to try to put together a plan and I think I'm nearly there.

So this is the vision...

And this is the current reality...(well move in day but nothings changed in these spaces since then except for the clutter!)

So not too far off then really?! Hmmm. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going with the landing really but it will become obvious as I get going with the hallway which I'm now pretty clear about.

I've found a few suppliers of Victorian Floor Tiles, one of which is based in the Medway Towns where I grew up so I have a natural lean towards that one currently, I need to compare some prices first. In the meantime I've collected a few phone numbers of decent plasterers from my neighbour. I need to book an electrician...2 light replacements, 1 light to be moved, 1 Light to be installed and 4 light switches to be replaced - they better be fast workers. 

Joinery - well it is tempting to give next door a knock again and ask him to put the picture rail up and replace the skirtings but I think I might get brave this time and attempt it myself. I've watched him a few times now - its not that hard! ;-) He will be required to replace the staircase up to the loft though - I'm not that adventurous/stupid! 

The radiator needs replacing with a smaller one so that a cover can be fitted over it, and the pipes need moving to the other side of the internal door frame - luckily I have a friend who's a plumber - well at least something will be cheap!

I've not decided on colours yet but it will be something light and neutral so that the floor stands out. The floor is the one thing I won't retract on - it's what I've wanted since I bought the place, I don't care how much it costs or how long it takes me either. 

There's still more to plan but I am getting quite excited about it all. I think the year off really helped and I might even make a start this weekend...maybe. I do hope you now understand why I said this project would take me all year - I wasn't just being lazy!

Back to Reality

Missed me? Yes...well...damn work! January 7th was a little painful. I worked from home - spent the first 20 minutes trying to remember my password for the network, and then the next 15 trying to remember what I do at work, and then I opened my emails - 289 in my inbox! That's 289 bits of disorganisation in my view. By the end of the day I was down to about 130. The 8th January was tough too....I had to actually go to work. I then spent the evenings of the 8th, 9th and 10th working too. Welcome back to reality. Anyway things are now a bit more under control so I have the time to blog again.

Everything else is returning to normal aka I spend various evenings picking up and delivering members of the nest here, there and everywhere. 

Child #2 was 13 yesterday so, despite being stroppy for the last 3 years (at least), she can now officially be stroppy. She had a good day - went off to Chester to spend birthday money, then went to Pizza Hut with 9 of her friends to celebrate. She had organised the Pizza Hut thing herself but I had to slightly interfere and deliver 3 balloons (one in the shape of Nemo) and a cake (Fireman Sam) in advance of her going as a surprise. I deliberately picked childish items just to remind her that she isn't that grown up yet! She loved them all anyway - and Child #3 has since negotiated temporary custody of Nemo (hence no pictures at present).  Some birthday pictures...

My birthday girl!

Note the 'Re-lighting' candles. Unfortunately I didn't note this when I bought them and apparently caused a little chaos in Pizza Hut due to excessive smoke! 

So what else? Well all of this arrived this week!...

Oh the possibilities! I have also gained a pack of pretty decent colouring pencils. They sent the wrong item (clearly not Fimo) and when I pointed this out I was told to keep the colouring pencils and they would send out the correct items again. Can't really complain at that.

I love a bargain, but FREE is even better!

I finished some little heart bunting (no pictures to hand sorry) for Child #2's room too - this was another little attempt at using up the wool basket stock. It's not going well...I seem to have more in there now than I did before I started using it up!

I have also fallen off the wagon a little when it comes to new projects I think - well maybe anyway - I have slightly lost track, but anyway my February knitting magazine arrived and I just couldn't resist the Nordic bed socks so I started those yesterday...

I'm a little addicted to them anyway, so they shouldn't take long! I stopped at 12:30 am last night and I've already done another row this morning.

So before I return to the knitting, here are some other pictures from the week. I took some out of my attic window early one morning, the rest are just a little bit random.

I did have plans to take the camera a little further but its since turned a bit cold...and you'll know from my earlier post that below a certain temperature I have no desire to leave the house!! 

I might blog again later and tell you about my plans for the hallway - I have fitted in a lot of research over the week - (mostly while eating soup or waiting for government websites to upload data) I have a vision, and a little motivation, I just need to get January over so that I have some funds too!

Fun with Fimo and Photography

I have been enjoying my last few days off before I return to the normal routine next week. This has consisted mostly of photography, cooking, wool projects and...Fimo!

Ok, let's start with the Fimo. As I've mentioned, I follow a few other blogs, one of which is Attic24. This is a fellow crocheter and, on a few occasions, her pictures have included her crochet hooks. They are fab little red and white spotty handled hooks that I was rather keen on. More recently she included a link to let us know where to buy them (A lady on Etsy). I had a look and found that this woman makes these quirky crochet hooks to order using polymer clay. (Still following?...good) The cogs began turning. Slowly. I have Fimo, I think, well at least I used to (another story), but I just needed to find it. An hour later, with the landing now covered in opened boxes and various other items that had previously been neatly stacked under the stairs to the loft, I found 6 packs of Fimo! Of course, whilst I had Fimo, I had never actually used the stuff before. Some quick googling provided 'an idiots guide' and I was soon on my way to creating my first customised hook. It was then baked, cooled and varnished and turned out like this...

I was pretty pleased with my first attempt so I dug out my only other 2 metal hooks, made a cuppa and did a couple more...

And look at these results (and the enhanced quality in the photographs)...

Of course, I have now ordered more hooks and Fimo from Amazon, so that's next weekend sorted!

Do you like the photos? (I know they are flash ones but its mid winter - it will get better!)

Pictures will not now be containing pictures of my hands for a while either as we are currently enduring a short period of 'Giving the cat 2 pills per day'. Its day 3 - pill number 5, and I have about 7 scratches on my left hand already. Oscar likes to fight with local cats but does come off worse sometimes. On Christmas day he arrived home with head wounds but appeared to be ok initially. Then his head swelled up! The vet said 'Just give him 2 of these per day" (this was after witnessing his reaction to being examined and potentially shaved (which the vet gave up on in the end)!), and then added 'Oh, and could you just bathe his head wound daily too'. The said vet had obviously been to vet school for years and was a pro at this, and yet wasn't really attempting any of this himself either! I, on the other hand, mess about with data and reports all day at work...not exactly experienced in the whole vet skills thing.  'Just' - is he taking the mic?! Anyway, I love that cat, hence I am persevering! Its not pretty to say the least, and Oscar is not the least bit impressed with the whole ordeal (you can just about see the hole in his head on this picture)!

Cooking. Well - I have been cooking and I have been learning. I have mostly been learning that when a recipe states 'the curry will be hot if you use the whole chillies and to reduce this you should....' you shouldn't really disregard this, thinking 'bah...what they class as hot and what I do are probably different'. They are right. It was hot! Very hot! Child #3 managed to eat the chickpea curry only with the aid of 3 glasses of milk throughout. Child #2 only ate half of it, and then drank half a pint of milk. Oh well - I kinda liked it hot!  I also made lentil soup, and salsa too this week...

Ok, just to finish off, here are some random pictures, the ones I like most, from the many that I have taken over the past couple of days...

Yes...this is a knitted tomato...I like knitting!!

I love the close up stuff at the moment, I'll play with the landscape options over the next couple of days outside.

Goodnight for now.

'Mum! Get one of me in the air!'

Its official...my Mother and Step Father are wonderful! They bought a new camera and donated their old one to me! It arrived this morning and consequently I have spent much of today playing with it. I'll not bore you with all of the shots (yet) but have a look at these that I took of Child #3 today, the very last one is my favourite ever picture of him and it makes me smile every time I look at it...

His favourite picture! 

I did take the picture as requested but it should be noted that following the A&E visit a few months ago BOTH wheels off the ground at the same time still  scare me a lot ...does make for a great picture though!

Completely adorable!!

I'll be back with a general update about the cooking, growing, stitching, trip to the vets, and anything else that crops up, plus plenty more pictures soon.