Before going out yesterday we set up the Christmas tree in anticipation of decorating it today. That was not to be.
We had to decant it into the garden.
Upon reflection it is a good thing that I was up at 6 a.m. this morning. Upon an early doorbell ringing I unlocked the front door to find the cheery face of Connor from Crestwood who had laid our kitchen floor at the beginning of 2018. He was here to lay a new sitting room floor. No-one had told us to expect him. He was to take three days over the work. My first thought was https://youtu.be/nR0lOtdvqyg
The next hour or so was spent trying to create clear areas for our craftsman to make a start.
My desk area in the hall gradually filled up; there was more to add after this; the kitchen and the stairs collected smaller items. Ascending the latter will be an assault course this evening, and there is no room to sit at the dining table
Connor moved the sofas. In the bottom right corner of this photograph can be seen the barcode on a random bit of beading which is a common feature of the work done by our predecessors.
Dismantling the wiring to our various internet devices was a major problem. Opining that I felt I was about to negotiate Birmingham in a car, I observed with phenomenal sang froid that I did not know how I was going to get it all back together again. For those who are not familiar with the so-called Spaghetti Junction of roads that surrounds that city this was a reference Connor well understood, having been there a couple of times.
He rather sensibly suggested that I should photograph all these
If these photographs are a little topsy-turvy that is because I didn’t know whether I was on my head or my heels. Please don’t look too closely at all the fluff.
What are the chances that this will make any sense to me in three days time?
Connor, on the other hand, knows exactly what he is doing. He began by taking up the old flooring;
then cutting sheets of ply to shape
and tacking it to the original floorboards
which, carefully applying a spirit level was covered with a screed which was then blown dry.
After lunch, having moved the sofas again he was ready to start on the other half of the room,
which he did with careful measuring.
There is only one thing to do when your kitchen is full of extraneous furniture and its table covered in nick-nacks. This evening we did it and dined at The ever friendly Wheel Inn. Jackie’s main course was a creamy mushroom and tomato linguin, followed by créme bruléei; mine was rib-eye steak, perfectly cooked medium rare as requested, chips, mushroom, tomato, and onion rings, followed by bread and butter pudding and custard. Mrs Knight drank Kaltenberg and I drank Ringwoods Best.
Nice to get the job done, but with all the disruption of Christmas anyway, the timing could have been a lot better!
🙂 Thanks very much, Leslie. You are right.
I’m glad it worked out that you were home when Connor arrived so unexpectedly. It’s a busy time of year, but at least he will be finished before Christmas, so you will have the present of a new floor! Good luck with the reconnections.
Many thanks, Merril. I doubt my ability with the reconnections.
Hopefully, it won’t be daunting as you think.
I am an optimist too 🙂
Well, I would not be happy if someone came to my house unannounced to rip up my floors. Doesn’t sound very professional but you seem to be taking it all with good humor and patience! Much better than I would have. Hahaha!
We have had Connor before. He is a first class worker – not his fault the administration faltered – otherwise we might have felt differently. Thanks very much, Lisa.
I had a feeling he was a good worker by the photos. That always make it easier!
🙂
The world turned upside down. Well done for remaining so calm. the photographs were a very good idea. Are you going to put the fluff back too? I can’t imagine computer wires without fluff.
🙂 I’m pretty certain to fluff it, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much.
Oh my, what timing! Well a meal out is a good thing no matter how you look at it. And good call taking pictures of all the wires. I’d never remember how to reassemble them!
🙂 Thanks very much, Pamela
A brave decision to have all that happening just before Christmas, Derrick. I wish you luck in reconfiguration of your spaghetti junction. I’ve had similar situations to deal with. Usually only resolved by calling in more computer savvy friends.
I suspect that is what I will be doing, Roland 🙂 Many thanks.
Best wishes to you and your family for Christmas Derrick.
Cheers, Ian. You, too.
Then you’ll have a lovely new flooring when it’s done 🙂
Yes. Thank very much, Arlene
Well, I’m happy Connor knew what he was doing. I like looking at the fluff!
Thanks very much, Jill. I got into trouble for showing that 🙂
🙂 I hope you’re not in the dog house!
Feigned shock it was.
In spite of the mayhem, you’ll love the new flooring.
True, Peggy. Jackie is already excited.
ALL i CAN SAY IS: BE BRAVE when reconnecting all the necessaries electronically for your life and enjoyment. This comes form a woman who was stumped that her printer wasn’t working and checked everything thrice– until I realized it was out of toner…
Nice one, Cynthia. Thank you very much.
Wow, amazing sang froid! I bet you’ll be fine reconnecting. Just take your time and look at the pictures. I bet it will come together if you don’t try to rush!! For some reason, I can’t like anyone posts anymore and am having tossing in again constantly to comment. So I like the post too, just can’t express it!
The inability to like any posts happened to me, too. I contact the WP people, who did something on the back end that solved the problem. On your admin pages, there’s a “?” at the bottom right — click that and it should open up a way to contact them.
Thanks! I’ll do that.
I have discovered that if you click on the Like star under the alert pictures it does register and your name goes on a list. At least it can be done but it is more an aid to liking without reading because you have to go back to it after you’ve read and decided you like it.
Interesting. Mostly I read and comment. Sometimes I just like when other people have said what I’d say, so that’s helpful.
Thanks very much, Lisa. For a while I was doing that, but you should now see how I manage it.
Connor looks like a real professional. Will the Christmas tree be okay outside until the flooring is done? 🌲
We hope so, Sylvia. Just a couple more days. Thanks very much.
I wish you the best of luck, Derrick! May this end soon and life return back to normal.
It will, Dolly. Life is like that. Thank you very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Given my recent move, I have more than the usual appreciation for your situation. Piles and piles of stuff are no fun. As for the electronics, I labeled all my wires in the process of taking them apart, but of course you were handicapped in that regard because of the need for quick action. Still, you seem to have great luck with workers. This one obviously knows what he’s doing, too — that’s the important thing.
It is, indeed, Linda. Thank you for the solidarity, and good luck.
Connecting electronics always makes my head spin.
At least he should be done before Christmas and you’ll have new flooring.
Quite so, More. And it will be a good talking point on Boxing Day (c20 family members). Thanks very much.
Oh yes will be good,
You’re welcome
What a disruptive surprise call! Nonetheless, the photography action was the best to take – it has helped me out more than once. You do not mention how long the wait has been for the flooring to be done, but it will be a pleasure to be ‘back to normal’ again.
The old flooring was a bodge up done by our predecessors more than 5 years ago. So it will be better than normal, Anne. 🙂 Many thanks.
Wow! This is quite an undertaking, Derrick. Good for you for remaining flexible. I hope you’ll still have time to decorate that gorgeous tree.
Thanks very much Alys. My flexibility knee-wise was sorely tested 🙂
All those wires make my head hurt, and I’m sure I’d never get them back right. BUT, I do like the Dave Clark Five:) It will be great when your work is all done!
Thanks very much, Becky. c20 relatives coming on Boxing Day 🙂
What q surprise today! A little has hassle
and chaos for a few weeks but so worth it as you’ll have such gleaming new wood floor!!
True, Gary. Thank very much
Best wishes! The new flooring will be wonderful!
Conner looks like he knows what he’s doing! 🙂
All the wires and connections and such…eek! 😮 The photos should help in getting everything set back up. I’d still need help. 🙂
I call fluff “dust bunnies” and I’ve named the dust bunnies who live under my furniture! 😉 😛
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Naming the dust bunnies is so you. X
I’m really glad Connor arrived today and not tomorrow when the tree was dressed and lit up and you were standing there with your hands on your hips like Winnie the Pooh thinking that was a job well done ……..
🙂 🙂 So are we, Pauline.
I kept thinking of that all day! I was 2mins away from getting started on the decs for the tree, (already thinking I had left it late!). Someone up there was looking after me.
Indeed!
Love the Dad’s Army clip.
Have you seen those little brightly coloured stickers, little dots? They are invaluable for colour coding spaghetti junctions! Probably a bit late now but could be useful for the future.
I used to label all our plugs too because although my husband was a super do-it-yourselfer and could turn his hand to most things, he was not very good at knowing what goes where when it came to the computer cables, television, Sky TV and DVD players, that was always left to me.
Would you like a trip down here, Sue? 🙂 Thanks very much
Yes, thecontentedcrafter is very wise. Connor could have arrived after you had done the Christmas tree. It is a total nightmare dismantling anything electronic, and the TV is pretty much the same. Just don’t do what I did the first time. I took pictures of the computer wiring and then transferred them into a file in the computer. Not my finest hour!
I’ll probably be able to top that, John. Thanks very much.
I’m glad you’ll have a new floor to accentuate your tree. 😉 Good timing, though!
By now it’s too late for Spaghetti Junction advice, but I almost always leave the wires plugged into the most bewildering box, even if it means I must transport the wires loosely bundled in a box-lid rather than neatly coiled and tied.
That is what I would normally do – but there was no time for finesse. Thanks very much, Jean
the song was pretty rocking – and wow – huge project – hope dinner at the Wheel w as awesome and hope all the pieces come together better than ever when done
They will, Yvette. Many thanks
😊🎄
That “Don’t Panic” video is a riot!! A great way for me to start my day (which in an hour or so means I’m out getting a chest x-ray), so a good laugh was perfect! Conrad seems to know what he’s doing and in the 3-days, maybe Jackie can get some rest from all that gourmet cooking she does !
A much appreciated point about the cooking, GP. I hope all will be well with the x-ray. Thanks very much.
Connor definitely looks like he knows what he’s doing. The photos are fun and a bit funny. Smart to take those of the wires, etc., but like you say, will you know what they heck they show you when it’s time to put everything together? But don’t panic, the tree is still waiting for you …. Keep the HAPPY in your holidays! 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Pamela
A good deserved dinner after the “panic” 😊
Thank you very much, Ribana
Holy cats, Derrick! What a time for a new floor. Seems to me it’s the perfect time to panic. 😉
🙂 Thank you very much, Laurie
The dreaded upheaval when any work is done in the house! I hope you are pleased with the new flooring?
We will be, for certain. Thanks very much, Helen.
Photographing the ‘Birmingham’ of wires was a brilliant idea suggested by the floorist (to coin a word). That’s was what I used to do while trying to tinker with the innards of my laptops years ago. I learned something new about Birmingham too! I am glad the Christmas tree will stand on a sparkling new floor.
Thank you very much, Uma. Floorist is good
In three days it will look perfect!
Thanks very much, Lavinia
Photographing hook ups was smart. New floor during holidays…not so much.
🙂 50% success then. Thanks very much, Flower
The floor is going to be beautiful. That will be so lovely. I think the floor is half of the look of a room at least. But all those cords. They make me start to panic!
I’m doing my best not to think about them, Luanne. Thanks very much.
I don’t blame you!
Love the Dads Army clip! 😀 … we always take photos of the electrical spaghetti when we install/uninstall new components too. 🙂
Thanks very much, Widders.
Oh boy, what a lot of work. Good thing your tree wasn’t already decorated. It looks like a nice one though. I can’t imagine crawling along on my knees like that. I’d soon be crippled, ha!
Thank you very much, Kelly
Oh dear, an unexpected Xmas present.
Thanks very much, Lindsey.
As someone who has survived numerous home renovations over the years, I feel your pain.
Thanks very much, Liz. All better now – until next time 🙂
🙂