House Renovations: the Saga Continues

I have now started on the work of tearing down the glassfibre papering. And have revealed that most of the room which was my dining area was covered in a charming wallpaper. Perhaps not my choice of colours - but who knows how much they have changed over time - not to mention being covered by some sort of glue. I am also taking close-ups (will get posted later) because I'm inclined to try making something inspired by the pattern.

As far as I understood the paper has got to be removed too before the painter can start putting up the new glassfibre papering - which will be untextured. Yay! for getting rid of the old!

I have finished my wall-bashing - the final bits will probably be safer in the hands of someone who knows how much to keep. And I wasn't feeling too energetic today, so hardly anything happened - excepting the attic hatch which is now in place!

This can be opened with a stick - and comes down and then there's a folding ladder on the hatch! No more the stepladder to open the hatch, then outside to bring in the garden ladder to prop in the hole before being able to skibble up! Nope, no sirree! Just yank once - and flipfoldskibble!

And even though the room hasn't been emptied of everything - these pics from the same points as the earlier ones should give a good impression of just how much has been lugged out - and what the end result is going to be.

And I am fairly certain I have decided upon the colour - it seems lighter on my test patch - but that may simply be it's in a much lighter place and the current surface may be affecting it. So the overall effect should be the slightly darker tone I am coveting. And this also means I'm actually not adding a new colour to the house - it's the same as in the utility room.

Project House renovations

Oh my! I've been pretty busy the last few months. Decisions, phone calls, money maths.

Dad was pretty firm about the roof needing fixing. I wanted to have something done which would be noticeable in my everyday life. My parents wanted to help me financially, I was too doggone proud. However, things were investigated, thought over, opinons and advice sought and recieved.

End result is a whole long range of things going on over the summer. So far the roof has been relaid and strange concrete blocks removed. The attic windows will be replaced sometime later. I've been busy emptying the dining area and kitchen for complete new floor. The two semi-walls are going. And now I've decided that re-papering (or re-glassfibrecovering) will have to happen - and opted for not painting the room myself. The attic hatch renewal will start tomorrow - instead of having to climb up the stepladder to open the hatch, then down and out to bring in the garden ladder in through the lousy kitchen door and carefully not knocking anything over while propping up the ladder, I will now have a hatch which should open downwards and has its own ladder attached!

The kitchen door is going too - major source of cold air seeping in, warm air flowing out - and the handle broke off on the inside a few weeks back. Instead I'll have a window - and this means a nice corner for working surface possibilities!

This is what the room looked like in the middle of May as seen from my bedroom doorway. Dining area in front, kitchen at the end.

This is the view from the opposite end taken from the archway.

And that's the fantastic cellar hatch - which is going to be absolutely marvellous once it gets the hinges moved, new flooring on - and is done well.


Most of all the stuff inside is now gone - an area 2/5 of the house squished into the rest. The pics of the room will be taken tomorrow I hope. I am happy I've had help with all this - but I'm also happy to say I have done a good bit myself.

Unoriginality strikes again!

Yeah - this is the obligatory first post of a brand new year. With the same old, same old type of looking at all the things the new year will bring with it. Not very original, I know.

I am once more a Hogwarts pupil, currently operating as a 6 1/2 year Ravenclaw. Yeah, 1/2year. Because I spent last term on sabbatical and didn't hand anything in. So I could have gone up with my old class mates and been a 7th year - but that felt wrong, not having handed anything in, so I'm now dorming with the class under.

I have already completed Detention and made homework for Herbology though they haven't been handed in yet. And have started working on Charms. I am going to try to combine my stash-busting effort with preparing for the Christmas booth mum and I plan to have at the Christmas fair in Ærøskøbing early December.

So, what other things do I have planned for 2013? Well, perhaps trying to make notes of what I'm reading, getting those better eating habits sorted out again, picking up my languages from their languishing positions, get the garden into something resembling my dreams, having my own hens and eggs and possibly home-grown roast chicken, control over my financial situation, figure out what my new computer should be, get the house looking tidier on a regular basis, hoard less of everything, get even better at giving away things which I really don't need, finally succeeding in doing Christmas according to plan, getting back into NaNoing and editing my old stories. sigh

Actually, this isn't so much new as unoriginal same old, same old.

Being original would mean actually getting something of all this to happen.

Let us count the improvements

Often as the end of the year approaches and the subsequent beginning of the next, new, fresh, shiny following year it is customary to set up any number of Resolutions to Improve Oneself and become a Better Person. Which is all rather good, I mean, wanting to improve and develop oneself is not a bad thing.

But what about the possible improvements made during the year which is now fading? Shouldn't they be allowed to shine a bit and get a spot on centre stage for a bit? I am painfully aware that a number of the changes I had hoped to get done in 2012 didn't really happen - but I also know that some things DID!

I DID begin to eat more fruit and veg on a regular basis. Yeah, I know it rather slipped when Misao disappeared, but I did get into the habit of sneaking in the odd extra natural source of vitamins into my diet. I even managed to get sort of into it again towards the end. Never mind it wasn't quite were it had been - it was still better than last year.

I also DID manage to start eating smaller portions. That too slipped, but is also in the process of getting back on track.

I DID bang a hole in the wall of preserving my childhood, and some of my toys have now left me for ever. And it is not petrifying me. Yeah, it isn't exactly easy either, but I am adjusting my mind and mentally packing some things to leave me next year. (I really think it was a brainwave to think of giving the things in a more direct way.)

Certain areas in my home are generally much neater on a regular basis than during previous years. And I have been able to go help friends and make their lives a wee bit easier. I have started throwing away clothes without agony. I managed to curb my yarn-buying. I have even been able to give away some of my yarn! I walked 10 km in one go!! (Let's ignore the blisters and pains for now, ok?)

Now, I know perfectly well that there are still lots of things which I can't do or can't manage, I still behave like a selfish bastard, I can't stop wanting All The Things (especially the Yarn! And Lego!) But I would be a seriously stupid git if I don't also appreciate that I am a stronger, wiser and better person now than a year ago.

So - how did you improve yourself this year?

On plans and planning - and the difficulty in sticking to them

It has struck me on more than one occasion that my fascination and need of plans is at times bordering on the absurd. Especially when one considers how challenging I seem to find it to stick to the plans and go through with them.

I guess it is the inherent need in me for structured conditions so I know where I stand rather than float around in the air wherever the wind takes me which collides with my rebellious and anti-authoritarian streak, which refuses to let me be tied down to Rules and Regulations and Norms and This Is The Way To Do This (even if it is myself who has so decreed).

And then there's the whole matter of making realistic plans. As in: plans which are actually achievable by real, ordinary people restricted by real, ordinary limitations such as Time At One's Disposal and Time Required To Do This Job. Which are some of the limitations I most frequently run straight into.

I seem to be getting better at it - but it seems like it's more on the scale of only putting down some 50-100 % more than is feasible, rather than the 200-300% more than is feasible of past years.

And then there is the whole issue of Planning Things To Death.

Should any Planning Experts out there who are reading this they are most welcome to share their secrets to Planning Succes. Meanwhile, I plan (ha ha) to keep trying to figure out where the balance between Too Much and Too Little lies. And to carry on laying plans because at least I can say I have tried to do something.

What-ho for the new year

I am going to be making my usual million plans for the new year. However, I'm going to have them looked over for a reality check. This is my attempt at learning from past mistakes, picking up things I've learned and putting them to good use and making succes more likely.

The most important step of all is probably to get a grip of my own finances during 2013 and getting to doing it all on my own.

And then there's all the plans of stashing down - not just yarn, but preferably other areas as well; getting into better shape so the Julemærke march isn't as painful and so I can fit into some of my old clothes; getting my foot into animal husbandry; doing something about all my garden dreams. And all the other things.

I think I must keep telling myself that all the messes I am in haven't happened over one day, or week, month or year. They have been steadily growing over many years. I am still not in good mental condition, though I am heaps better than I've been for a long time. Therefore, there is no shame in not being able to deal with all these matters all at once. Nor in not approaching a level of perfection in any. My goal must be to simply get things better.

Perhaps this should also include the finances. Meaning it might perhaps be ok if I don't look over my insurances and pensions and such things. It wouldn't be bad if I get those things done, but it isn't absolutely necessary for the taking over of my own finances to be a succes.

New Beginnings

Trying to learn more about the internet and its workings - and challenging myself at teh same time. Want to try to set up a blog and try to write on a regular basis. Get teh events of the event settled and uncover what was learned. Ao the first few posts will be rather experimental I guess