It sort of crept up on us. We’d talked about which day, what needed doing first and beer and wine supply but it was still a shock to drive away from St Fraigne on Sunday morning knowing we wouldn’t sleep there that night.
Saturday night had been a dinner party, with Mick and Kathy in “ ‘Couples’ Come Dine With Me” style. Carl and I are not currently a couple.
Our prawn cocktail starters received the lowest marks of the three courses which I’m a bit bitter about obviously, since none of the other competitors had built their kitchen shortly before beginning the food prep.
I know I’m whinging, however: Fridge space being at a premium, we chucked our spare one in the van to make it into a catering wagon. Chilled the glasses and ingredients, drove to the venue and plugged it back in on the extension lead - fridge van. - No points for all that?
Anyway.
Built a bed for me in the bungalow and then spent a pointless half hour vacuuming carpet which blocked the Henry twice with dog hair before I gave up. The mutt must be bald by now.
We lit the kitchen stove which got hot enough to overcook the rice and heated up left over curry Adam had frozen for us on Friday. Odd feeling, being so familiar with the spaces but never having been in them at night. I could put my hand on each light switch in the dark but had never had to do so before which felt odd.
Carl slept in Thalia’s ‘Maisons du Monde’ catalogue room and reported not waking up believing himself to be - (A) - John Lennon. (B) - Dead, or (C) - Both. Going to bed, alone in this strange house mostly in darkness, the mirror behind her door gave him a surprise when a hairy, unkempt bloke suddenly appeared at his side.
In the other bedroom, demolition of a quite nasty wardrobe revealed this magnificence painted on the wall:
You have to wonder.
Another determined session working on the shower still failed to get it into action. Has anyone installed one in less than a month? Monday was the day we finally got naked in the bathroom and it was glorious. (Not together, obviously.)
Floor is mostly down and the toilet and sink are in and plumbed but not fixed yet since the leak list has grown again: Shower valve (different place) basin waste and upstairs toilet cistern. All good news if you like plumbing, sort of, they will be tackled one by one.
Carl’s last day today as he fly's home this afternoon after a great fortnight. Here’s a piece of his handiwork -
a repair beautifully matching the pattern in the render, ready for painting. Are you ready for some outdoor roller action Mr Hoggarth?