Friday 24 July 2015

Well it started off cooler

Pretty tired this evening and it's very late for me to be starting to do this update so it'll probably be a short one once more; we've discussed that maybe I'm not doing enough physical exercise as I'm being so focused with the mental effort for my paid work so from now and I'm going to try and do something physical every day to get me properly tired, not just brain-tired.

Super tasty omelette
Super tasty omelette
So to last night and it was a lovely relaxing one though I didn't sleep that early in the end. The omelette we had was really very tasty indeed; just the perfect meal for how we were both feeling, and we enjoyed it very much. After eating I helped with the watering round and then headed to bed but as I say I couldn't drop off so I read mainly. There was also a wedding going on in the valley which sounded really loud because of the breeze and this kept both of us awake for a bit. We got to watch their fireworks which was nice and finally we both dozed off. We had left the bedroom door open (risking being eaten alive) and not turned the fan on and actually stayed cool enough all night so that will now be a plan.

A cloudier, cooler start to the day
A cloudier, cooler start to the day
When we woke (again, A before me and taking the girls out, then me joining her on the balcony for a brew) the weather was really much cooler. There was a lot of cloud around and the breeze was cool; it was about 23 degrees according to our digital thermometer though when the sun did spear through the clouds it was very warm on our skin. I was feeling pretty rubbish and so when A left to go collect the men I headed back to bed. I was still there, though I hadn't really slept, when she returned. The puppies had been lovely with Louise in particular cuddling up to me; it's almost like they knew I wasn't feeling great.

The bits for our sink stand
The bits for our sink stand
Noggined to the max
Noggined to the max
I always struggle to laze around when the men are here and today was no exception so I dragged myself out of bed pretty soon after they got there and went to work. I was working today because of being away on Tuesday sorting Julian and I had several hours to make up. Despite my brain feeling like mush I did make some good progress today and actually cleared a few issues. Bekir was very close to finishing preparations for putting the final plasterboard up and I did think he may even begin that today but the first thing was to find the height at which the over-mirror light above the sink will need to be at. We unpacked the sink and stand and got it all measured up so he set to putting extra noggins in to fix things to.

Lots and lots of beer bottles
Lots and lots of beer bottles
We had agreed we would sweep out Room 13 today to get ready for painting with betonkontakt so we are ready next week to start laying tiles *scared face* and so I went in mid morning to do the first part of this cleaning and gather together all the beer bottles stacked up in there and needing burning. We aren't alcoholics, honest! This is a pile that has built up over a few weeks.

A sliver of metal
A sliver of metal
A little later we went out the back and set a burn going which I started with one match, once we had matches that would actually strike. The old drum out the back is really starting to flake badly and I'm starting to think if we continue needing that drum out front for water we may need to buy another to replace this sooner rather than later. It survived today though.

The Old School view 1
The Old School view 1
The Old School view 2
The Old School view 2
While we were up there I realised it is a long time since I've taken a picture of the building so I snapped a couple of shots in a faux-panorama. Lovely. The girls were having a great time running around and Louise actually disappearing off round the corner. They are loving the open spaces as that longer they stay here the more they explore. We will need to get out and double check the integrity of the fence pretty soon I think.

Bridge porn for my dad, part 1
Bridge porn for my dad, part 1
The large part of the day, other than working, was taken with trips to town to sort chores out. First off all we had to go have kebab. On the way over we saw that the new bridge is taking really good shape. today they had a huge crane lifting huge structures into place. We can't wait for this to be completed as it should bring water with it, fingers crossed.

Exploded kebab
Exploded kebab
We picked up our new meat slicer (picture of this tomorrow when I try and use it) from ekont and then went and parked up near the kebab shop. She recognised us and asked us if we wanted our usual but unfortunately picked the wrong "usual"; we would normally have a "sandwich" not a "plate" however it was still really tasty and well appreciated. After this we had a very successful half hour paying the car tax and house tax (Julian isn't on their system yet so we were told to go back in 2 weeks) and then I went to get my letter notarised for the accountant and finally we took it to the post office.

Part of the bridge under transport
Part of the bridge under transport
We headed back via the hardware shop to get more joint tape for Bekir and Sally and on the way back after that we were caught up behind two huge lorries carrying massive concrete sections for the new bridge. How exciting, and a slight variation on the bridge porn for my dad. We got back and I did a bit more work to finish my hours while A swept Room 13. We then headed back out the door as we had to get the preglets for Lucy and Thomas. When we got to the garage The Other Brother was there having just had his car done which was lovely and he explained who we are to the owners and they were super friendly after that. Both cars passed which was good and so we now have fully legal vehicles again.

Assembling the big windows for the top corridor
Assembling the big windows for the top corridor
The kitchen windows are in the correct holes now
The kitchen windows are in the correct holes now
There was no rest for the wicked when we got back as the men were getting ready for an early finish as Bekir had suddenly been invited to Greece with some of his friends. As we were pulling out of the drive the window people arrived as well so Bekir explained I'd be back soon and off we shot. His mates were waiting at the bottom of his cheren put and he hopped out there while I took Sally up to the shop where we normally drop them. Then it was scooting home and dealing with the window people. They had largely come to drop off the windows already fabricated and double check the dimensions for the kitchen patio door. I took the opportunity as well to ask them to add the internal double kitchen door and we had some fun chatting around how it would be fitted and I think we're all happy with the outcome. They also swapped the window in the kitchen into the correct hole. We did think it was very late for them to arrive and sure enough they left pretty early saying they'd be back on Tuesday.

Puppies will play
Puppies will play
With the window people gone we settled down on the balcony. I lay down on my recliner and half dozed and half read while A was doing something inside. A little later she joined me with Thelma running along dragging her strip of Rambo's old bed with her. She really loves this, never mind all the toys we've bought her, and so does Louise.

Saying goodbye to the sun again
Saying goodbye to the sun again
It was a gorgeous sunset this evening and I handed the camera to A to take the pictures. We then had the long conversation eluded to earlier about the basketball court (I've decided to put that off again, much as I don't want to) and the fact that I'm so tired probably because of a lack of exercise.

The Tank sleeping on my chest
The Tank sleeping on my chest
While we were sat there Rambo went on his rounds which he hasn't done for ages. We were saying hello to him and Thelma went and started barking and growling at him so we told her off a lot; she's started to get a bit more vocal which we don't want to encourage. After this she lay on my chest and huffed for a bit while I dozed on and off so a picture had to be taken.

And so we came inside just before it got dark, did the watering round, put the chooks away, I did a bit of humanure as we had a full waste food collector, I then set to doing this update while a pizza and some garlic bread was cooking as a late dinner. It's now time for me to publish this and then head to bed as it's getting close to 11 and for me that's too late, with our early starts. And yes, while today started off cooler, it hit above 35 degrees during the afternoon which is getting towards the hottest we've seen so far this year.

2 comments:

  1. We know what you mean about being tired - here in SWFrance we have the combo of dealing with the smallholding ( built up from nothing during the past 6 years here ), the heat, renovating the house ( no help, all DIY and still some heavy work to do ) AND that dreaded interruption, w.o.r.k. which involves sitting at the computer. I ( wife ) put on weight while he goes to karate twice a week and that is making all the difference to his health. Still doesn't help his brain; spinning so many plates. But it is worth the magic when we sit outside surrounded by views and peace and harmony and the knowledge our food is the best we could wish for. Am following your venture and you may feel us nodding in agreement/sympathy/laughing/crying with you ! Bravo !

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    1. Awww thank you for your comment :) today has been another full on day (as you'll find when I get time to actually type about it) and my task of "get physically tired" has been well and truly attempted :D

      Good luck to you in your project as well :) cheers

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