Saturday 1 January 2011

Resolved

Jan 1st 2011: We will finish the shower room this week. We will.

We have made a start.



I caved in, copped out, abandoned my principles fanciful notions, and went for cheap-in-the-sales laminate planks (bathroom-grade 'Colorado Oak') instead of the painstakingly-restored and painted wooden floor that I had set my heart on.

This was probably the most practical option, given the amount of preparation that would have been needed before the floor was paintable, and the need to let Richie get on with the plumbing, only delayed because he had flu. It should also give a clean crisp look to the room that may appeal to the prospective buyer rather more than the gappy old painted floor that I love. I try not to think about Gwen and John of the astonishing and inspiring Desideratum, and of how short I fall of my own meagre standards, but in my next home I will have no laminate, that's for sure.

The Lovely Son has pressed on; he has had some help from the usual inspectors.





He's now sitting in front of the tv, rapt, looking about 10, watching Indiana Jones, while I cook a garlicky roast chicken for dinner. He's going to kill me for showing his Builder's Bum.


We have no other New Year Resolutions so far. I have no memory of ever keeping them anyway, so this year, as for several previous years, I've saved myself the trouble of thinking them up in the first place.

But the shower room will get finished....

Apropos of nothing: some pink things. My birthday present from the Lovely Son, who clearly sees me as a Serious Person, and Christmas presents belonging to Flossie, who knows that we don't do Serious for long in this house. The pink heart emits loud, hysterical yelps when chomped. The two cats just think deep and meaningful thoughts, silently.




Hoping 2011 will be a wonderful year for us all, deep and meaningful maybe, hysterically yelping definitely not.

10 comments:

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Ah , I knew I should have added a son to my trio of daughters . I'd happily roast a chicken for any of my charming and capable children .... but one who could negotiate floor-laying would warrant a fatted calf , at least .
As for laminate , it will probably be a great selling point when you put the house on the market again . People love it ,oddly , finding it very modern .

Lucille said...

I hope you've got in your supplies of Fenjal, Badedas and Radox. Can you still get soap-on-a-rope? It would amuse The Others.

Rattling On said...

We had painted boards in the bathroom (as we do in several rooms) but have just tiled over them. What a relief, the wear and tear on the paint was just too much. Maybe in a second bathroom it'd be ok, but I think you've been sensible, and it's warmer with flooring down...

Hazel said...

You WILL finish the shower room...I am sure. I like the shower screen by the way. Very swish.

Marcheline said...

Happy New Year!!!

the veg artist said...

How wonderful to have a son-who-does. I have a husband-who-can-do, but that is nowhere near as useful in reaching 'Done'.
Flossie still looks a bit peaky, or is that just disdain over the pink?

Anonymous said...

It's looking good!! We had stripped and varnished floorboards in the sitting room of our Victorian house - looked good but very draughty!! We have laminate in 3 rooms in this house (put in by previous owner), but it is posh stuff and most people think it's floorboards. Isn't it funny that no matter how old our boys get, we cook for them and generally spoil them when they come 'home'!!

judy in ky said...

I haven't had much luck keeping my New Year's resolutions either, Rachel.

Gwen Buchanan said...

oh no Rachel. after we do some of out "projects" we realize why these odd pieces of artifacts, we try to incorporate, were left behind by others... they had lives to live, (haha) and we somehow forgot to include that part in our plans... but once in the middle of using such things it is hard to turn back cause of the time already invested.. oh someday when funds allow, we will learn...

Your new Bath is going to be beautiful and so comfortable!!!...and I'm loving seeing your progress... Good things do take time but will be so worth it!! sure is nice to see your lovely son making it happen... John and I had a chuckle when we read about the "builder's bum" .. cute!!

Pam said...

That's a very useful son you have there. One in a million.

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