Friday/Saturday

So - I was up at 6am - and we were out by 6.40am and on our way to Bracknell.  Andy was going to work and me to Lissa's.

I got to Lissa about 9.15am - and got to see her new house!!  They have been there a while now but it was the first time I  have got to see it!  Its a lovely little house in Egham. More importantly its their own place to do what they like with! Not sharing with anybody etc.  They have been working with Antony's parents on the double garage they have at the bottom of the garden to turn it into a bar/xbox play room/gym.  Its an awesome extra space they have in addition to the house!

So - had a tour of the house, gave Lissa her pressies, drank coffee (received a call off our Bev, and she was gonna come and see us this weekend but I was at Lissa's!).  Then me and Lissa decided to go out for a run.  Lissa is an exercise addict - and I was getting behind on my running challenge.  She mentioned just running 5k around the streets - but i could see that Windsor |great park was only about 4 miles away - so we drove there to run.  We drove in and then realised we needed to pay to get out and we hadn't brought any money or bank cards with us! Luckily they had contactless which Lissa was able to use with her phone!

So - I had read that there was a route around the park which was about 7k - and we looked on the map when we got there (and took a pic of it) and decided our route!  I was crap to start with - just really struggled even at a slow pace - I was quite annoyed at myself....but it got a bit better after a few kilometres.  Then it started raining - then it started RAINING RAINING lol - torrential heavy flooding type rain - and thunder and lightening lol.  It was ace! haha loved it - made running even more fun!  We were trying to see the way on my phone but I was so soaked I couldn't get my phone to respond half the time!  So - we went the wrong way at one point - not far from the end - took us up a hill too - coming back and going the right way meant that in the end we ran 10.5km.  So we were really pleased that we'd ended up doing a long run! 

We got back to Lissa's, had a shower, got ready - sat down feeling good - and opened the prosecco!  After an hour or so Andy arrived in a taxi and we greeted him at the door with a cold cider!  Andy got the tour and made some suggestions in the man-cave lol.  Then a little while later Antony got back - with snack - which we all dug into - and then we played a game - and then cards and had loads of fun!!  I was just getting too tired in the end - which was annoying - but all in all - a great time - great to see them and catch up and see the house etc. (I have to say all nice things as Lissa is the only person that reads this blog!! haha) Just kidding! Everything was awesome - and we will do it again - be nice to do it when Andy has to go to Bracknell.  Even if Lissa has to work - I can keep myself occupied and meet her for lunch - and then we can stay over friday night and come back Saturday.  I don't know how she feel about it but we could do that fairly regularly (in case u r worried Lissa - it would be about every 4-6 weeks)

So - after not much sleep (cos I ended up on the couch cos Andy was snoring - then Lissa ended up there too cos Antony was snoring - then Lissa was throwing up haha)....they made us an awesome breakfast - then we headed home.  I tried and failed to sleep in the car - we got home and I tried to get some sleep - but got hardly any - then Helen and paul came around!

We played pool - got take out - had a good laugh - a good time as usual - and I got to bed about 1.30am.  That was good going cos when they turned up I was tired and felt a bit yuck - but I felt fine after a while.  I got the sleep I craved and didn't wake up until 10am! :-)

Monday - Thursday

Hi

Well I'm writing this on Sunday and I have no idea what I did Monday to Thursday.

here are a few of the things I remember!

I ripped up all the carpet in the games room - the carpet was horrible and stained and you can see where the old reception desk was because it was the only bit of the carpet that looked its original colour.  So I ripped it all up and took it to the tip.  Underneath was floor boards - all the same with no big boards in it - yay! However some have been stained dark and others have not - so all of it will have to be sanded back - a BIG job especially as the pool table is in there!  This is something that won't get done for ages!!

I also did one part of the tiling in the back porch! quite stressful but finally have some tiles actually down - and I'm really pleased with it!  I have another section to do - the main section - the biggest part!  Dreading it - and can't wait for it to be done at the same time.

I have been on the phone to my dad a lot too - as I was getting measurements again for the door that is to be fitted in the back annex room - leading to outside.  I think he has everything he needs now and he is coming to fit it in September.

I have been on to the plasterer about how he needs to stop prioritizing other jobs and come and get mine down as I've waited 4-5 weeks now and the floor will be fitted soon! 

I had a carpenter round about the boxing in needing doing in the bathroom, the door frame in the kitchen annex and a door fitting internally.

I've been testing more floor dyes trying to figure out what I am going to do in the hallway!

Thursday, I went out shopping for something to take to Lissa and Antony as a house warming pressie - I got them some outdoor plants (Rosemary, Oregano and Bay) a cat plant pot for outside, some fake roses for a vase, a bottle opener that goes on the wall and a sign, for their man-cave where they are having a bar and a couple of ornamental bottles! 

Thursday night we got ready to get up very early friday morning ....

Sunday - Totnes 10k

So - I was up at 8.30 - and we were out just after 9am - making our way to Totnes for a 10K run/race.  I thought I had received an email saying - if you are not used to hills you might want to do some training - but when I went back to try and find this - all I could find about the course was a statement saying 'mostly flat'.  So...I assumed the email about the hills must have been about another course.

It was difficult to tell when we got there as you could not see the course at all - where it was going to go or anything. 

I was nervous - it was very hot - probably the hottest I've ever run in and no clouds.  There were a lot of people - and most looked really fit and slim - like proper runners lol. 

We were off....we went across a field and out...straight to a standstill as there was gridlock! I thought straight away - well this isn't going to be a personal best! Once through it was quite narrow so you could only go the pace of the people in front.  It would widen out a bit and then go narrow again - and a few times we would be walking.  There were also steps that I had to walk (probably would anyway!).  It was gorgeous scenery! The trail would be rocky one minute, then huge tree roots - so not too easy to run - then there was a massive hill! Felt more like rock climbing rather than a run!!  The down hill bit - where I would normally try and make up time - was single file so i couldn't really run full pelt like I usually do.  It was fun! I say that now - I know at the time I didn't really think so hahah.  Eventually I started to be able to hear the guy on the microphone in the field at the finish line - and it sounded far away lol.  I was quite knackered and couldn't really manage much of a sprint on the way in - my time was 1hr 15m....quite bad! But not considering the queues and hills and terrain! 

So - I was still a little disappointed with my time - but quite happy too - that I had done it!

We wasted no time - got back to the car and back home!  I decided to have a lounge in the bath for a while - which was really nice.

We didn't really do much after that - watched a film in the evening....

Saturday

So today we had yet another lazy day...although we did spend quite a bot of time putting up and testing our new 65 inch TV which is massive!!

You can't really appreciate how big it is really - because the fireplace is massive too....

We then got some stuff together and hiked down to the bottom of the garden for a BBQ with Connor and Emily.  It was good and I was starving - but the wasps were a bit of a problem which is eird as they have never bothered us before!

After that we decided to play cards but not before playing pool as we left last nights games as a draw.  I think Andy and Connor won lol.  

We then played cards and a board game called Scrawl - and at 12.30 I went to bed cos I had to get up early the next day for a 10k run I was very worried about....

Thursday/Friday

Thursday - the little kitties seemed a lot better!

I carried on trying to do the tiling - and I have managed the last of the concrete - all that is left is to actually put the tiles in!  The only problem is that it is like a green house in the back porch and I am worried that the adhesive will dry too quickly!

I decided to go and do a 10K run because I've not done any running for ages (Sat 27th on the 10K race).  It was warm and humid out and I really struggled! I decided to take a little short cut home and ended up adding .5k to the distance - so I did 10.5k - in what was probably one of my slowest times ever - so i am really worried for the 10k race I have this Sunday in Totnes!!

Friday - I did very little - although I am constantly looking for decorating ideas for the annex bedroom and bathroom.

Emily got a job! It is a HR apprentice/intern job at Tauntons private school - it is only £16k a year - but HR is something that is really good to get into.  I sat down with them - basically making a plan for saving money.  I've said to them that they have until about February 2019 which is when I want the annex up and running - before then they should go and see a mortgage advisor and see if they could get a mortgage in their situation or if not, what they would have to do.  If they are unable to get a mortgage by Feb or shortly after - then they can rent cheaply and still save.  When I spoke to Andy about this later - he was saying - they could still be here while we have the annex - they'd just need to use our kitchen.  I'm surprised, lol, I thought Andy would be saying - they'll have been here long enough by then! However, he, like me, wants to help them out - and we would not just chuck them out come February - as long as they are working hard and working towards their goals, saving like mad and not pissing us off by then!

Was chatting to Lissa on messenger - she has been having work done on the double garage they have at the end of the garden - turning it into a bar - chill out area and gym - looks like it will be pretty awesome!

Friday night - I made Thai chicken curry - and we left it for later and played pool with Connor and Emily - me and Emily teamed up this time and won the first 4 games hahah - Connor was getting annoyed at playing so badly and Emily did a victory dance in his face everytime we won lol - which probably didn't help - but they eventually pulled it back ad we ended the night at 7 games each!

Wednesday - vets :-(

Well - last night we had the nightmare of not being able to let the cats have food after 10pm ready for their trip to the vets today (May and Mercky).

I got up early and had cuddles with Mercky - and then they were taken to the vets - I was tempted to cancel as I did not want to put them through it!!  I found it heart breaking - and I think the woman on reception who was making me sign forms saying I understand that anesthetic was a risk - could tell I was upset.  She said to me just before I left - don't worry they will get lots of love - and that was enough to set me off, I couldn't really speak and I rushed of barely keeping it together.  I got home and cried.

So now I am sat here updating this trying not to think of my poor babies!!  If anything bad happens I'll not cope because they are so lovely and sweet and affectionate!!!  I need to call them at 12 - and possibly collect them at 1pm.  It is now 10.30.

I need to get on with the work on the tiles.

Oh! I forgot to mention - Adam called me last night to say he has looked at jobs in taunton and realises that he could get a well paid HR job and Erika could commute to Bristol airport (they both currently work at Heathrow airport) and they could get so much more for their money in terms of a house! So...erika's flat is up for sale at the moment, and they are planning on moving here!!  That sounded awesome until he said - plus we want kids and you'd be around for child care!  I didn't say what I thought which was I DONT THINK SO!!!! Maybe I should have done - and set their expectations! As much as I want grandkids - I don't want to be looking after kids after doing that already for 20 years!  If Adam reads this - sorry!!  But its da truth!!

He also said - if I get a job down there before we sort the house out I've live with you Mon-Fri and come home at the weekend.  Oh.  Will you? He didn't ask or anything! I am sure we could accommodate - but with Connor and Emily here - and me wanting to sort out the holiday let it might be tricky!

So - I could end up with both Connor and Adam living close to me - which would be awesome - especially when they have their own homes lol.  Although Connor and Emily still want to be closer to Bristol.  Then there is Lissa....I wish wish wish that she would move here! We could go to fitness classes together and go running - and chat and have a really close relationship! BUT she went and bought a house in Surrey - and I really think that even in the future Antony would hold her back from moving here even if she wanted to.  I can't blame them - can't expect them to move so far away just because we did - but it would be really awesome if they did!!  To have them all around me would be great (just not all in my house! hahaha)

Anyway - I should go and do something before I have to collect my poor babies who dont understand why ppl are doing nasty things to them....

I'll update later

So I mixed some concrete and put it in the bigger hole where the tiles were to go - its not easy because it sets really quickly - I'm going to have to mix some more and put that on top - but I'll do that tomorrow...

So - we picked the the kitties at 3pm - they had both needed the hernia op as well as the spay - cost nearly £400!  Anyway - we couldn't really assess how they were until we got home - and they were so much worse than itsy and Bitsy had been!  They walked as if in pain, and were so quiet and obviously very uncomfortable - I felt SOOO BAD - I felt like a monster doing that to them! Mercky would not leave her scar alone so I had to put a collar on her, which she obviously hated.  They were very dozy so I tried to just let them sleep.  Their scars are right up the middle of their stomach - the others had scars on their flank - and I think this is worse!

I spent the afternoon - in the living room and Mercky went to sleep on me - she seemed in a really deep sleep so the anesthetic was still obviously in her system. 

We watched a film in the evening but I couldn't last - I'm obvs not used to getting up early!!

Tuesday

So - I decided that there was nothing but my own reluctance stopping me from trying to finish the restoration/tiling in the back porch - so I bit the bullet.  OMG....it turned into a nightmare.

Where the tiles needed to be put in - the ground was too high so the tiles stuck up - so I had to drill out the concrete from underneath - this had the effect of breaking some of the good tiles and dislodging some of them...the ones that came away would need tile adhesive to put them back in which would mean that they also would stick up too high so I had to drill out the concrete there too - which meant more would dislodge - so the area got bigger and bigger and so did the collateral damage!!  I then had to go out and buy concrete to lay back in the holes because I had got down to dirt and didn't know if tile adhesive would be stable enough on its own. 

So - initially as we took the carpet tiles up it looked like this:

You can see where bigger black tiles had been put in - and it was these and some broken ones i wanted to replace - at the moment it looks like this (be prepared to be shocked)

This is where a tile was dislodged - so now I have to get the concrete bit out from underneath:

and this is what happens!!!

So - it has basically been a nightmare!!!  I don't even know now if I have enough tiles to replace the ones that I have broken in this process - and even if I do I'm going to have to get the tile cutter out again as they are 1-2mm too big!!

I finished feeling quite disheartened and worried that I'm never going to get this done - or get it done well!!

I was supposed to go to running club and didn't bother - instead we drank gin and ordered take-out so all in all not a good day!