Before and After

When I first started this diary back in September 2006 I had just retired and one of my early posts mentioned that I was going to redecorate my breakfast room which for the past five years had become an office when I was forced to work from home (another civil service cost saving excercise). So I thought I would show you the final transformation. You can see the empty room back in October when I was preparing it for decorating here

I had my computer desk under the window for daylight and I could keep it wide open when it was very warm. I always thought computers made for a paperless environment. I assure anyone thinking about working from home this is NOT the case.



As you can see my table was taken over with reference material and in these photos you cannot see all the filed material in stacking boxes around the room and on my dresser.





Having seen the before; this is what it looks like now in a view looking from the kitchen. It's rather a dark room that gets no sunlight so it's not the most inviting room in the house.




This is the view from the other end looking down towards the kitchen. I feel that I have erased the office image although I did keep a filing cabinet which has to remain until I find another home for it. I wonder how long it will remain uncluttered but at least for now I can sit and have a leisurely breakfast while reading the paper- this is the life I'll enjoy it while I can.

Anxiety

I spent a lovely morning having coffee and catching up with a friend whom I haven't seen for a few weeks and of course it gave me a good excuse to bake a cake.
So you may wonder why I'm feeling anxious. Do you recall back when I started this blog I was trying to get my breakfast room decorated. Having got the room stripped and ready for papering a friend was asking her decorator to contact me. Well I waited and waited for him to ring and when he finally called the conversation went something like this:

Him: Mrs L said you wanted some decorating done, when did you want it done.

Me: Well the room has been ready for ages so as soon as possible.

Him: I'm in the middle of doing a room for Mrs L's friend... do you know her?

Me: No I don't know her. I realise you are very busy but I really do want it done before Christmas and I'm quite anxious as there's not much time left.

Him: When I finish what I'm doing I am having a few days hol. You do know I have a heart condition and so I don't work long days.

Me: Yes I do understand about your health. This is not a big job and there's no woodwork to paint. Can you fit it in I really need to know as I have been waiting a long time for your call and it's going to be difficult to find anyone else to do it at this late stage.

Him: I didn't ring because Mrs L said you were on holiday.

Me : We got back a couple of weeks ago. (Bit of a pause and I felt he looking for a way out)

Him: I have another job to do for the same lady.

Me: So what you're saying is you don't think you can fit me in before Christmas.

Him (quickly): No I can't really do it until the New Year.

Me: Well thank you for calling anyway, I appreciate it and I always prefer people to be honest (I was very polite whilst fuming really as I had wasted so much time waiting for this guy).

Then as you know I went to visit Beccy and then had the week in Spain which effectively took another 3 weeks out. You might ask what about Mike; no he doesn't organise the decorating and cannot hang wallpaper. He will paint and to be fair he painted the ceiling and did some of the filling and sanding. So it's down to me to do the papering. I am no expert and haven't done any papering for over 20 years but I'm getting it done albeit slowly. Next problem is the chap who always fits our carpets is also fully booked until Christmas so unless I can find someone else (highly unlikely with only ten days to go) I will not get my new carpet until the New Year.

As Beccy said they are coming to see us not a nicely decorated room with new carpet. I know that's true, however, I wanted a nice fresh room and I don't relish the though of putting all the furniture back only to move it all out again a week later. But I guess this is what will be happening.

To look on the positive side I've saved myself the decorating fees: now do I feel another holiday coming on....lead me to the travel agents!! and more importantly I will be able to give some extra money to Menu for Hope 111.

Nothing Special

Today has been miserable, dark and gloomy with far too much rain definitely a day to stay home. So I could no longer find any excuse to prevent me starting the decorating preparation. I spent the morning clearing the room and moving furniture. My hall now looks as though I am having a table-top sale as its full of china, and the pine dresser is now in the dining room, all very cluttered, I am sure you get the picture. After lunch I started peeling off wall paper and thought I would soon have the walls clean but it didn't quite work out as planned. I'm suffering with a frozen shoulder and after a couple of hours I stiffened up and could no longer raise my arms above shoulder height. I also found a damp patch and had to treat some mould. That's the trouble with old houses, this one was built in 1851, and its always a case of one job leading to another.

Anyway here's the picture to prove I have made a start
I think a little celebration is called for and the bottle of champagne I have on ice is calling me; so is Mike who would like his dinner so bye for today.