18th January

It's a horrid grey day today. It's quite mild, about 50 degrees but everywhere is wet and muddy. The worst kind of weather if you have dogs. Well the worst for them going in the garden anyway. I am used to wet paws but muddy paws were a thing of the past in the old house because we had the astro turf. Here it is real lawn. Calling it a lawn is a bit optimistic! It was lawn when we got here but the dogs are rapidly churning it all up. They come in with great clods between their toes and then protest when I wash and dry their paws.

They are finally able to enjoy the garden now the fence has made it safe. They also have a very large pile of trees and rubbish to investigate which is proving quite fun. I do wish they would stop forcing their way through the middle though. I am worried about Alfie getting something in his eye. His eye still isn't right and we need to see the vet I think as the salt water isn't doing the trick.

I took some photos this morning.

The fence man is coming back tomorrow to finish that last bit up to the house. You can see it in the photo. 

Then a skip should be coming in the next few days to take away the rubbish. Those trees are mostly Leilandi and a couple of lilacs. I wasn't sorry to see the Leilandi go but the Lilacs were a shame. They had to go though as they were right on the boundary and the roots were where the fence needed to go. Still it does mean that I can now choose shrubs that I like. It will be a gradual work in process as it will be quite pricey.

So far today I have painted the other side of the door and stuck up the various wallpapers and painted 2 colour swatches on each. I still have to do at least 1 more coat on the door. It is chaos and I hate chaos. I have lost the phone for that room. It is in there somewhere. I even rang it and I can here it ringing but still can't find it!

Here are the 6 textured wallpapers. I don't know how well you will be able to see them. Maybe on Zoom. The cream colour is going on all walls except the chimney breast. We are going to use the dark mink colour just on the chimney breast. You can vote for which wallpaper you like best in my poll. I have already ruled out 3. Of the remaining 3 I think I know which one I like but I want to see what Simon says.

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We have had the wood for the wardrobes delivered this morning. We got it from Branch Brothers and they have cut it all to size according to Simon’s plans. There were a gazillion bits. Some huge some tiny. The delivery man looked like he was about 70 and his lorry was too big to get right up on the drive. Well I think you could have done it but he was a bit worried about hitting the gates so he gave up. I helped him carry it all in as I felt a bit sorry for him being on his own.

Now the wood is here I must order the sliding doors. We are having mirrored ones like we had before. Simon has told me the last few days to get them ordered as they have 10% off at the moment. Must do it this afternoon. They aren't needed yet as it will take a while for Simon to get everything built.

Right time for me to go and get another coat on that door. Simon is going to re-sand the radiator tonight and then give it another coat. You know I have realised that my eyes are worse than I knew as the radiator looked perfect without my glasses on but with my glasses I could see a few runs and a few bits of dust. It is not good. I have to get my eyes tested again. I know they are worse. Mind you the advantage is I can't see the dust!

Did I mention that my sister and her husband gave me a pack of dusters and a feather duster for Christmas? They did! It was a joke present. I couldn't stop laughing when I opened it. I am keeping them beautifully clean ready for when they next visit.

Off to do more painting.