Is it possible to be nice to the builder?

and mean it?

Well honestly fantastic builder I take my hat off to him - well according to my family I should never wear a hat! But, when we started on this project and spent a long time getting planning through and sourcing the builder, we have gone from him wanting to build the kitchen the bedroom furniture - sourcing mood lighting etc etc etc. So now we have had someone doing the roof, someone else doing the blockwork, it is so easy at the start of these projects to feel impressed by the confidence the builder shows and think it will be okay. What you cannot do is legislate for builders going sick, wind and rain being so poor that work has to be halted outside, but at least that gets the inside moved on again, hindsight is a great thing. I don't think we would have used another builder because he is brilliant but if ever there is a question to be answered he will ask me and then ask his nibs. No I am not phased by that attitude at all am I?
Who the bloody hell does he think he is, basically he should know by now that I have a budget for the interior and what I say goes. His nibs doesn't bother at all, up until 3 years ago he wouldn't even know where or when we were going on holiday, he would never of noticed if I had decorated a room. He didn't even know that I had moved no2 daughter to another school in year 3! So now he is getting quite wound up about the builder going behind my back it doesn't nothing to help relations at all.
So thanks, much better for ranting it really does help. So 67 sleeps left - hoping to move back in over the last week end of March, the stairs have gone in and look great I have offered to wax all the spindles which will start tomorrow - I bet I get that wrong.

Yesterday was lovely for the weather is was nearly warm well sort off. At present sourcing low energy lamps and fitting, hardly anything decent about, but we'll get there you have to have 25% of fittings low energy to pass building regs, but I am happy with that we are hoping to go along the green tourism route so is anyone has had experience themselves we would welcome any imput.
First born rang today very upset - feeling pressured by some uni girls to take the smallest bedroom right by the front door for her second year house share at uni. Mum wont do needs dad so he told her to pull out and stay in halls, it seems there are a few others who will be doing the same, it is horrible when she isn't here but needs a loving arm. Anyway she is happy now hopefully the row with the particular girl will blow over.
What will tomorrow bring?

Windy, but it wasn't the beans!

Well folks having spent the first part of the morning, battening down the hatches, we keep an eye on the weather forecast but it seems the wind is about to blow quite severly. I am sure anyone living on the west side of the country will also be feeling a little worried. We have secured as much as we can and have airbeds in reserve if we need to decamp to the barn from the caravan again. Having looked at the met office weather forecast it appears the worst is through the evening and over by midnight. Maybe a few glugs of red will let me sleep through the night.
The second part of the morning was spent getting a late breakfast at Smokey Joe's transport cafe, all went well until having ordered and had a long wait when the food finally came I felt light headed, had a couple of mouthfuls and decided to wait in the car, I felt a bit mean but his nibs and the boys ate quickly because they were worried about me.
I feel fine now, I just think things are beginning to tell on me a bit. As previously posted his nibs is a wurling dervish and his mouth is the worst culprit, he offloads from the minute he wakes up until he goes to sleep at night and even then he has been known to talk in his sleep. Sometimes I wrote things down so as not to forget, in the past there was quite a bit of swearing he must have felt so stressed nowadays it's more of him organising himself. So consequently I will blame his nibs for 'going on too much'. I also feel the need for a leisurely bath and a lie-in, which just isn't possible in the caravan it is so noisy in there without insulation. Still 70 odd sleeps left in the van it's downhill all the way now yippee. The stairs are still waiting to be installed lying on the kitchen floor I keep tilting my head to work out how they will look when put in place.
I hope everyone stays safe in the wind, have a good weekend whatever you have planned.

Brassed off!

I'm sure everyone is suffering with the brass weather at present, myself included!
Just had a small row with his nibs, he thinks I am making something out of nothing but I thought that he could have been a little bit more supportive. We have not had water since yesterday morning, so half way through washing my hair in the shower yesterday the water went, it returned slightly so 17 year old managed a quick shower last night. Today water frozen again, it's fine for the boys they don't care, but I look like ???? I am running out of knickers, can't do the washing, dishwasher will have to be unloaded and washed by hand. Sorry should I go on? At some point I will need to go out for supplies water, food, and the car showing -7c and to top it all I need air in one of my tyres! All I wanted was his nibs to say darling let me book you and the kids into a hotel for a couple of nights, Ha Ha, trouble is I look like a homeless person at present, so cold and wearing anything that is warm and clean, his nibs says if I kept busy I wouldn't feel the cold, don't you just love him?
The good news is it's meant to be getting warmer tomorrow, hopefully that might let the blockworkers back to keep putting the walls up, it has been so cold that even with stuff in the mix the cement was freezing before they could put it on the blocks.
Sorry to be ranting, it's just everytime I have a mole hill to climb it suddenly turns into mountain.
The good news is - yes there is some of that, the chickens are freezing their vents off, but coming back in to lay! Mathilda is definatly looking pregnant, exciting stuff looking forward to the spring - i seem to spend my life looking forward, I suppose it's because I can see my house coming along and all I want is to wake up in a morning, put my slippers on, pad downstairs and make a coffee, take it back upstairs and have a lovely hot shower, get dried with warm fluffy towels, do hair and make-up whilst being a TOG and then get dressed into smart clothes that match and that are clean and ironed I might even wear some jewels, they have been stored for 3 years now!
Oh well, onwards and upwards....

Piggy in the dog house!

For all you dirty minded bloggers, no I have not been having sex in the dog kennel!

Piggy is our Jack Russell, we got hime because we live on a farm and wanted a ratter! That is if the need arose, however we are currently setting up our holiday business, through the summer we had caravans coming on holiday and come spring we will have two cottages ready for letting.

This is the dilemma, piggy will not stop stealing the builders food! The guys came to work on the roof yesterday - yes Sunday, put there tiffin bags in the house and shut the door, not good enough he went in the back way and stole all their lunches.... They lock up food he finds a way in can anyone give me some advice, how can we stop him stealing off barbcues, going into the accomodations and stealing someones dinner? He is still a baby and I think he just wants some attention, so an early New Years resolution is to train the dog to come and stay and get him up to scratch by the end of March, else his nibs says piggy has to go!

First born is really feeling the strain of living away from home, really doesn't want to go back to uni, it's knowing she can come home that keeps her there, unfortunatley until we are back in the house there is absolutly nowhere for her to stay - more problems! My friend I walk the donkeys with has children older than mine and she says that the worry hasn't stopped even for her - hey ho just have to get on with things.

On a different note I have bought a heater for the laundry room, it helps dry the washing and keeps me warm whilst on the pc. I went mad yesterday and bought sn electric blanket for my side of the bed, his nibs never feels the cold. I'm sure our heating bills will be greatly reduced when we do get into the house, we are so cold in the caravan that tonight I might wear a woolly hat, we will be so warm in our fully lined, insulated house!



Christmas Day was not the best, turkey was boned, rolled and stuffed for me and everything else was from M and S ready done. Trouble is I love to cook and hardly use salt so of course by Christmas night we were all thirsty ended up drinking water - great bundle of laughs we were. We got invited to a 70s party on Saturday night it was a great laugh with lots of party games people are so friendly here in Cornwall, however youngest had rugby training on Sunday morning so I deceided to drive and let hubby have a few drinks so I dropped himoff at the rugby and went to a supermarket as a treat - yes readers we realy did need more food.
Hope Christmas was good for you all and looking forward to New Year not sure about anyone else but I like the idea of everything starting off afresh on the 1st!

Biggin up my roof!

Is it really that time already?
The builders have gone, but only until Monday, yes folks builders need work and the money and I NEED my house back!

We have already taken two bookings for the holiday cottages, great I know but one cottage not finished and the other one we are using to cook and live in, so, builders have gone on their Christmas Lunch, off to the local pub for drinks and a meal, it's for all the self-employed workers in the village so they have taken hubby too! I know, I here you asking what about me aren't I self employed? Not according to them I didn't get a look-in, however head builder asked if I was around this morning I asked if it was important he said yes okay said I, I will be here, good said he, as it's our last day can we have bacon and egg butties at crib time 10.00am? As he had made sure I was here I had very little choice, they did enjoy them.
So I have waited for the bus to drop off my little darlings and thought I would suggest footy on the beach - no offence mum but you can't really kick a ball, not even the thought of hot chocolate would encourage them, there is an alternative we could always clean the chickens out, lead balloon effect I am afraid.

So christmas hair appointment on Tuesday, should have had nails done tomorrow, but feeling really low and can't be bothered so cancelled that.
I am sure by the end of March I will be happy again No-one is ill or died and the sun is shining, I just feel a little low and need a good belly laugh, I would blog more but sitting in a cold room doesn't help to cheer me, so onwards and upwards - shouldn't but need to rush through christmas so I can get into my house roof is coming on and looking fab, walls going up inside and the heart is going back into the house. Merry Christmas to all out there whether you are a doer or a reader, no matter what your situation
love Frankie

Just exactly whose idea was this?

So the roof has come off, the builders are really cooking on gas, well they would be if we had gas in this neck of the woods! We had some delays, namely the wind, nowt to do with the builders but that from above. I lay in our bed in the depths of the duvet over the past few nights and said a little prayer along the lines of please don't rip the lid off my home, it really would be the final straw. So far so good, and the forecast shows a drop in the wind over the next few days. Normally- as in the old days when I had a proper home with central heating, a bath or two and everywhere in it's home type of home, who and I kidding it was always untidy, the kids would still fight etc, BUT I could potter about. I really miss my pottering, if I go into the laundry room that is where the washing machine is living and the only place my lap top works, it's freezing my fingers get cold, do fingerless gloves really work?
So it goes dark about 5.00pm i have to pick up daughter from bus I then finish tea off so the kids can eat If I have left washing or something needs ironing in the laundry room I have to go through the building site to get it I can't carry a torch and washing at the same time, his nibs suggested a hat with a light attached - yes I know it's a good idea but he just doesn't get it, I then take the clothes for the children living in the deluxe centrally heated barn with lovely new kitchen and power shower I then go back and get the washing for his nibs and myself and our youngest child who all sleep in the cold, damp miserable caravan - sorry caravan it's not your fault , you have kept your lid on for me! all my pottering is outdoors and I am hating it, the gas bottle has finished in the caravan so I can't have warm water to even wash my hands!
If I haven't had a shower before the builders arrive then I have to dress in the caravan and undress in the barn for a shower i hope you don't mind me offloading but this life is feeling uck right now I know it will get better - and before you ask or suggest I potter in the day it's difficult because the builders are driving dumpers, diggers today the scaffolders are here again and yesterday the roof trusses arrived. I can't even park close to unpack shopping as my car gets in the way and I practically shop everyday because I don't have the storage to keep enough food for all off us.
Right, thanks for that everyone, feeling a bit better, it's good to talk.

Everything is beautiful!

Well I think so, it's because the birds are singing, the builders are building and his nibs has gone on a course about sustainable tourism! He has to give a presentation about our business etc, and explain where we see ouselves on the green side. What these people won't know is that his nibs is a very successful ex MD of a Recruitment Business and he won most of the work by the skill of his presenting! Sorry if I sound trumpet blowing, but credit where it is due, he may be a ***ser most of the timebut I would love to have been a fly on the wall when he spoke! Der of 'im, as they say here in Cornwall, or bless, to the rest of you.
So I am allowed on computer to look, to buy, to blog, whatever I desire, his nibs says I can go on at night but it means putting on a coat wellies with a tourch trying not to fall over the builders rubble, you get the picture, it's hard enough to put a coat on just so I can walk from the lovely warm barn and go to bed in the not so warm caravan, bliss. One month down 5 months to go.
I sat in the hairdressers today, i go every 7 weeks, so hopefully after 3 more hairdresser appointments I shall move back into house, wonder if the builders will mind? especially if they haven't finished.
So FIFTEEN well what can i say, just go it is fab, i love my food and so does my friend, who incidently got better to enjoy a lovely tasting lunch. Hopefully as a family we will go between Christmas and New Year and hope it remains the same.
First born coming home on Friday can't wait, wonder where the plates will disappear, she reckons she has changed - she would have had too I only packed one plate, one cup ete etc.
So the day is beautiful in my opinion, who knows about tormorrow.