Sunday, March 18, 2007

Papering over the cracks

Things don't seem quite so bad now.

Friday was difficult when John Lewis were unable to get our sofabed into the flat properly. We do have a very narrow corridor but they refused to take it out of the packaging which was what was making it bulkier. The delivery men were like comedy villians - a tall thin one and a short fat one, but I wasn't laughing. It now has to be redelivered next week, dismantled and will be put together 'on-site'.

I am slightly concerned that we won't be able to have our choice of sofa for the lounge but the person we bought it off had a large sofa so it must be possible to get something in and out of there somehow. So we've paid for an access check to make sure before we order anything. But it may mean we'll be sat on deckchairs for a while.

Yesterday was better. The OH's parents came over. They didn't recoil in horror at the place but instead offered some practical advice on what to do with the walls. They then took us to Homebase and bought us a load of decorating materials and equipment, which I'm hugely grateful for. And we now have a plan of action. We are going to concentrate on doing the lounge and the bedroom before we move in and will leave the rest until after we are in. So I will have to live with a lilac corridor for now (I have an aversion to the colour lilac - too many mother-of-the-brides wear it and it suits hardly anyone). We've made a start now - cleaning the woodwork and sizing the walls (a new term to me!), and next weekend, they will return and the four of us will commence the decorating in earnest.

There are some things I'm very happy with. The kitchen and bathroom (although small) are modern, well-designed and don't need anything doing to them at all. The water pressure on the shower is fantastic. The lounge and bedroom have lovely high ceilings. What I assumed were dead plants in the garden, I've been assured by OH's mother are still very much alive and will blossom again (I have so much to learn!).

We haven't opened the champagne yet - we'll keep it on ice until we are moved in properly, but I was able to sleep last night and my enthusiasm for the 'project' has returned.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear you're feeling a bit more positive about it all now.

Imagine how exciting it will be to be able to transform the place (you'll have to do a 'before' and 'after')!

The vendors shouldn't have left their stuff in the garden - check the forms they filled in for solicitors as on mine it says it all has to be cleared.

hope you find something to sit on soon! x

SandDancer said...

Hello! Didn't expect to see you 'around here'!

I will check the contract although it will probably now be quicker to clear it ourselves and her behaviour throughout the buying process was rather difficult so I'm not that suprised to find so much junk.

Finding something to sit on is definitely the key to happiness!

Anonymous said...

Glad you are feeling much happier about things now - it'll all start to fall into place... Sizing walls - bleugh - that has got to be the most boring job in the world - I am always impatient to get to the painting bit!

SandDancer said...

I think a big part of my problem is my impatience to get to what I consider the fun parts of it - painting, choosing pictures, buying cushions etc. There isn't much fun to be had smoothing walls, washing woodwork and sitting around waiting for deliveries.