February Basils

So CD&E have been very busy and so have their team.
Walls have been stripped and re skimmed with plaster
The garage is no more
Floors have been sanded
Stain has been applied as has most top coats
The roof is due to be fixed ( hopefully this week )
The snug should be stripped this week.

And there will soon be a global shortage of grey paint, due to most of it being applied to a Victorian semi...

As predicted and well known from the UK to Australia, it is all being done very tastefully.

For before photos, see the previous blog entry

Pat and I went down on Friday and we met up with C&E to go and visit my Dad in his care home. He really enjoyed seeing C&E. Cath asked him if E was anything like me as a youngster - "More Intelligent" he said. 92 and still taking the mickey.

After the visit we got back to the Basils and Davey had picked up some curtain material, we all went for a pizza. Davey is intending to work his way through the Romana style menu and it's up to Rod and I to do our bit to help - better get in training for the summer Rod. It's a lively town which has a good feel to it and some good shops. The local fruit and veg stalls are pretty good ( I stocked up with tomatoes, aubergine, avocado, spring onions and radishes ).

Pat and I spent Saturday cleaning up the considerable amount of dust that managed to get everywhere. That was some job and CD&E had to go out and get more supplies for the decorator - who is doing a very good job. A nice girl, who has also worked for Ben and Rach.

Saturday night, John and Pat came round for a bite and to see the house. I offered to get something ready whilst CD&E were out, but Davey had it all under control (?) I don't know how he did it, but a lovely baked couscous and chicken dish was ready in no time at all. I had to smile though as Davey was going through the house move packing, to find his spices. All jars were carefully wrapped in paper and had to be unwrapped during the search.
We had a lovely evening and John and Pat have invited CD&E round to their house for lunch next Sunday - that will be great, as the workforce are back in over next weekend. It's nice to know that they are 10 minutes walk away. Hopefully Pat and I will be able to see more of them as well.


Anyway, enough rambling and on to the photos. Furniture has to be very mobile at the moment due to all the activity.

it can be a 3 or a big E, depending which way you look at it. The wrapping paper is for a present for Elvis, but E insisted on wrapping one of his toys as well, as a present to himself.



 

This will be the new ( reclaimed ) exterior side gate

 

Red paper comes off this week, I believe

 

Garage gone and replaced with a skip

A slow approach to breakfast, but we got there in the end. Davey cooked something for us..

 

We finished and then Nanny and the ever present Big Ben came in

 

Between photos, I got him to finish breakfast and then it was build time with Dad

We left them to it on Sunday morning and then took a drive to see Rob and Mai. It is good that they are now just 45 minutes away, via the Blackwall tunnel. It was lovely to see them as well and have lunch with them.They were in Japan for Christmas and have now booked their next trip for July.

To see so many family in one weekend is a big treat for us, which hopefully we can repeat regularly.

As I type this, I hear that this weeks tube disruption should be suspended. That will be a relief as they lead hectic enough lives anyway without having to cope with that.

Finally a photos of Taylor Senior from Christmas. You cant see it here, but the home had a laser light show in the room!