Bekir returns and progress happens

We made it to another Friday and it's been another busy day for me and the men.

Bekir tying off the rope that will support him

Safe as houses, that

Halil maneuvers a sheet of plasterboard

Getting the back bank cut

More insultation installation

A fire burns down

The whole ceiling here is now boarded

It was great to see Bekir back today and I think Halil was happy too. With both working it was time to rig up a very dodgy looking (but safe - no one got hurt) sling supported scaffold that gave access to the ceiling above the stairs. Bekir fitted the spot light that I wanted and also did the insulation installation while Halil (who had no intention of walking on that contraption) did things he could reach for safe access points, and also cut the plasterboard and generally assisted. At lunch I got the mower out and mowed until I ran out of fuel, getting a fair amount of the back bank done. After lunch Bekir had shifted the wooden beams to a different angle to access more of the ceiling and progress was really good. Halil even started joint stripping some of it. They also did a fire and burned some waste, to which I added a few bits and pieces as well. By the end of the day all the ceiling there is now insulated and boarded so Monday they can start plastering it. Very exciting!

Front lawns all mowed nicely

Up under the vine

Along the back bank

Ginger beer to celebrate

Curry and rice for dinner

I had to go get some more fuel and when I got back I continued with the mowing, getting pretty much everything done before again the push along started sputtering; I'll just need to do next to the driveway by the vehicle gate tomorrow or Sunday, weather permitting. I was pretty tired when I came in and my beer went down very well with curry and rice.

So there it is; another week done. Thanks for reading and back on Monday.

More solo work

Another day of only Halil today as Bekir continued his work at home. Let's get to it.

Some time with the puppies

Last night after various chores and hobbying I settled on the sofa with Thelma, Louise and Xena and watched Pale Rider which was awesome. It was nice to relax with the girls, and they needed the company as I'm busy during the days.

Partially boarded ceiling, squirty foamed edge

Doing the joint strips

Sharing the sun

A new unit, but not a chest of drawers

Ceiling section plastered

More boarding going on

As I said it was only Halil again today. He started the day filling the gaps at the edge of the plasterboard caused by none of the walls in this building being actually square and then got stuck into joint stripping the boards he'd fitted yesterday. With the joints done he then began plastering the same area. It isn't really possible for him to work on the rest of the ceiling as it's too high to work on your own. At lunch time I headed to the lounge and assembled one of the new units, I had ordered chests of drawers but only noticed last night that the company had delivered the wrong thing to me! The girls were sleeping in the sun and watching me and it didn't take all that long to put together. It is so heavy, though. Upstairs Halil finished the plastering and then moved to boarding the final little corner that he could reach. I hope Bekir is back tomorrow so this can be completed then.

Starting to cook my dinner

For dinner I cooked myself a random mix of stuff in the fridge that needed using up; bacon bits, a carrot, mushrooms, onions and a chili all fried together and then I had pasta that I cooked before breaking an egg into it then combining the lot. It was very nice indeed!

So there it is; another day done. Back tomorrow, and thanks for reading.

The girls head off

Our Big Trip has begun, with Angela and Rosie heading off after school to the airport to get a flight over to the UK; the next time I'll see them is in about 3 weeks or just under. I miss them already.

Rosie ready for school

Rosie was able to be in school all day today which was very good and she was very excited indeed about her flight. I had the pleasure of taking her and collecting her which was great.

Halil fits the insulation

Lifting plasterboard into place

Making good progress at the landing end

Today we only had Halil as Bekir had other work to do at their house, and he was kept busy all day. He made a start, early, putting insulation in then about 10am headed to the local mechanic with Maisie for her to get her service and check up before my big drive. It took hours for this to get done however apparently now everything is fine on the car so here's to a safe drive to the UK and back! As soon as he got back he went into the roof again and continued the insulation and then made lots of progress on the plasterboarding as well. I think he suggested that they should both be in tomorrow, which would be good, but we shall see.

If I hadn't sent Halil off for hours with Maisie he would probably have completed all the insulating and plaster board but that can be done tomorrow now. Thanks for reading and back tomorrow.

Plastering and Storms

Today started very much too early as Rosie woke me at 3:15am and I couldn't get back over so I just got out of bed and started work. I am now exhausted.

The climbing frames for the plants in place

Scraping the corners to get a better finish

Plastering is finished here now

Bekir moving on to the next wall

Now he's finishing off these walls

I'm really loving the space in the crawl-spaces

We only had Bekir again today and first thing he helped to lift the frames over and get them situated in the raised beds so tomorrow Angela can plant out the seedlings that will be growing up these frames. After this he was into the roof and plastering pretty much all day. He tidied up a lot of what Halil had done including scraping and putting another coat over the walls by the double doors, and then tidying the tops of the corridor walls which had been filled last week. I got a few minutes to head up and tidy the Christmas stuff that had just been brought up on the weekend and it fits in really well.

Water pouring off the balcony roof

Lots of hail on the hillside

As has been the case the past week or so we had a lovely sunny day until about 3:30 when the clouds rushed in and the thunder rattled the windows. This time the rain was truly torrential and we had a fair few blasts of hail; thank goodness for the car port! After it had passed the hills across from us were literally white with the hailstones.

So there you are. I'll be back tomorrow so until then, and thanks for reading.

My birthday and a garden frame

We're back to Monday and the men are back in so here's an update for you all. Let's start with the weekend.

Rosie chasing the bubbles

About to burst the bubble with her mouth

Making stickle bricks cars and houses

Usmivka calming Rosie

I think these first pictures are actually from Saturday and I can't really remember Friday other than I wasn't that well and I was very busy. Saturday I was a lot better and got to play with Rosie (Angela was making big bubbles with her while I watched and laughed and later on I did them a bit as well though not as good as Angela). We also got to go to the neighbours for the first time for ages. Rosie banged her head and got cuddles from Usmivka and finally cheered up a lot. We also did some sticklebrick making which was a lot of fun.

This was such a cool sight to wake up to

Thelma and Xena tearing up the wrapping paper

Camping stuff is in the crawl space

Rosie showing off her new glasses (still in the packing)

Riding on the lawnmower together

Birthday cake pleasures

Moon and stars at night

Sunday was my birthday; I was up just in time to capture a picture of the pretty cool sunrise; it faded very quickly afterwards. I received some lovely presents, and the puppies had all the fun with the wrapping paper. Angela and Rosie headed to the shops and I did a task I've been waiting to do for a while; I tidied and organised all the camping gear and the Christmas gear into the crawl space and there is LOADS of room! Finally in the afternoon I pulled the mower out and mowed all the lawns that I possibly could with it which was a great success. My birthday cake was lovely after dinner and just before bed I caught the moon rise which was also lovely.

Bekir grinding the rebar

Starting to weld the frame

One of the frames takes shape

Bekir is welding while thunder rumbles and rain falls

And so today. Halil was working on his flat in town so it was only Bekir today; we set him to a new short task to make some frames for climbing plants in the garden. They need to be movable so he used some rebar and welded it all together, with the steel mesh as walls for the plants to use. He was at it all day and built two of them, which is what we want. Tomorrow he has a little more to do on the bottom of the feet and then they can be put in place before Angela leaves on her holiday.

So there it is; another day done and we'll be back to it tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

A sad day

Today was a sad day; a tough day as well. I was unwell pretty much all day and Louise was trying to give birth which was Angela's focus. Unfortunately one pup was still born and when I took Louise to the vet he said that there were no more puppies in her so we lost her one and only pup. Very sad indeed.

Bekir about to fit pipes

Halil plastering the high wall

Skimming the floor

Lou Lou during labour

Stretching for the top

Breaking the old cement off

We did have the workmen in, they were a little late as they went to the shop for some bits. Bekir started off as planned by fitting the pipes along the back wall in the crawl space while Halil got stuck into more plastering. With the electrics done Bekir then applied the final skim to the floor inside that crawl space, which will now be ready for carpet. Louise was try her best, as I've said, but was not finding it easy - the puppy was too big and the sack burst a long time before she could push it free, which actually only happened in the end because Bekir helped. As you can tell, I am very sad about this. The rest of the day for the men was plastering and then getting started clearing old cement off the walls up the stairs.

So there it is; there's no men tomorrow so back on Monday I hope. Thanks for reading.