Newly painted front doors at the Shoebox and the Matchbox
Yes, the end of this refurbishment project is in sight. With the repainting of the front doors and the finishing of paintwork round the windows (needless to say, there has been a last-minute discovery of some hitherto undetected rot in a sill) we shall be in a position by the end of the week to ask for the scaffolders to come along and remove the structure that has covered the façade of both houses for over three months. Phew.
Not that that spells the end of everything: the new bathroom in No. 7 is in the process of being installed, and bookshelves constructed for my study; after which floors have to be sanded and oiled and the new bathroom redecorated; then carpets go down on halls and stairs - and then - wonder of wonders - we shall be able to move back in. It looks like the end of February. After all this time it is difficult to believe it is going to fall into place: but my optimism is such that I've even been looking at some lastminute.com offers for a city break in March. We've not been out of the UK since the end of May last year, and haven't been away from Hastings much either, so need a break, however short.
The trouble with building work is that it is totally absorbing: we have been living in what I describe as "builders' warp", in the sense that nothing seems to have any importance or relevance other than the immediate task, combined with keeping builders happy with tea and coffee etc. and at the same time trying to keep track of costs. Every now and again an important event in the outside world breaks through, but generally we live in a capsule apart. The sooner we manage to enlarge our horizons the better.
"How are the dogs coping?" some people ask. As you can see from the picture below, Oscar for one is overcome by stress.
Antony Mair
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