Well it's now more than 8 weeks since the deluge and there's still no end in sight.
We went to see Warren at Total Interiors last Friday to choose kitchen colours - in a way this was a bad idea as it's made us more impatient to see the amazing kitchen he's going to create.
ChemDry have been back a couple of times and the house is now starting to dry out but some areas are not there yet.
We've decided that since Kumari's room is going to be decorated we might as well go the whole hog and have decided to replace the sink and vanity unit. We contacted a plumber and the sink has been removed ready to be replaced once the room is decorated.
We thought of replacing the sink in the spare room but it has a certain poignancy as this was the room of the young man immortalised in the Stereophonics number 'Local Boy in the Photograph' - I know this is true as I contacted Kelly Jones to ask after reading internet rumours and he confirmed it - the sink in there is the only thing left of the original room so I think we'll keep it. BTW - went to see the Stereophonics in the MEN in Manchester Sunday night - amazing.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Thursday 25 February 2010
Catch up time
Yet another week has passed. We're now living in John & Penny's cottage for the next few weeks. This is ideal as it is literally across the road from our house and we can pop across to be with the dogs more often. Sucha is now starting to play up and be naughty (Millie has been naughty since the day we got her). Sucha has always punished us if we've gone away on holiday eg peeing in the house - now she is starting to be disobedient so we know we are in trouble!
After the plaster disaster of last weekend we are waiting for the next calamity.
The man from ChemDry came back on Wednesday and put in even more machinery - the house is incredibly noisy now. He says the spare room is almost dry but the brickwork on the stairs, now visible after the plaster came off, is sopping wet. He estimates that it will take at least another month before the house may be dry - this will be 3 months after the flood!
Thursday - Rob from B&W came to check out the damage uncovered - he was quite reassuring and says they will completely replaster the hall and it will be 'as good as new'.
I had a call from Wayne, the kitchen designer to ask if we have chosen tiles for the hall floor yet - I tell him that, as we have no idea of when we will get the drying certificate I haven't even thought of interior decoration yet. We agree that I will call him next week to arrange to look at colours etc.
After the plaster disaster of last weekend we are waiting for the next calamity.
The man from ChemDry came back on Wednesday and put in even more machinery - the house is incredibly noisy now. He says the spare room is almost dry but the brickwork on the stairs, now visible after the plaster came off, is sopping wet. He estimates that it will take at least another month before the house may be dry - this will be 3 months after the flood!
Thursday - Rob from B&W came to check out the damage uncovered - he was quite reassuring and says they will completely replaster the hall and it will be 'as good as new'.
I had a call from Wayne, the kitchen designer to ask if we have chosen tiles for the hall floor yet - I tell him that, as we have no idea of when we will get the drying certificate I haven't even thought of interior decoration yet. We agree that I will call him next week to arrange to look at colours etc.
Friday 19 February 2010
Another week nearly over
The decorators have finally finished stripping the wallpaper - the hall ceiling and the dining room ceiling still have paper but they say they're not sure if they're supposed to strip those - we'll have to see what ChemDry say.
The dogs are starting to get in their sulky mode now - hopefully after tomorrow we'll be able to spend more time with them.
I'm really tired at the moment - it would help if we had any idea when the house will be finished but when I asked one of the decorators how long he thought it would be he said 'How long's a piece of string?'
The dogs are starting to get in their sulky mode now - hopefully after tomorrow we'll be able to spend more time with them.
I'm really tired at the moment - it would help if we had any idea when the house will be finished but when I asked one of the decorators how long he thought it would be he said 'How long's a piece of string?'
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Another week begins...........
Monday - go to the house after work - 2 decorators there today - the dining room has now been completely stripped of paper but the spare room is proving difficult - still some of the paper on the walls, determined to hang on.
I am finding all this living out of suitcases difficult - it's always a lot easier when the suitcases have been packed for a holiday in some sunny spot, rather than a forced sojourn to temporary lodgings. All the valuables have now been put safely into storage but the dogs are still living at home so this means visiting several times a day so they don't get too lonely. This would be a lot more pleasant if the house was a bit warmer - yesterday the decorator said he'd left the front door open while he was working to let a bit of warmer air in from outside!
I am finding all this living out of suitcases difficult - it's always a lot easier when the suitcases have been packed for a holiday in some sunny spot, rather than a forced sojourn to temporary lodgings. All the valuables have now been put safely into storage but the dogs are still living at home so this means visiting several times a day so they don't get too lonely. This would be a lot more pleasant if the house was a bit warmer - yesterday the decorator said he'd left the front door open while he was working to let a bit of warmer air in from outside!
Saturday 13 February 2010
Latest news
Another week has gone by, but what a week!
Monday 1 February - took contract in to B&W Builders - discovered that they are going to be decorating Kumari's room as well - they say it will have to be completely cleared. Louis phoned ChemDry to arrange for them to collect her furniture. Frantically packed all her stuff.
Wednesday 3 February- an assessor came to view the damaged carpets - they will issue a voucher for replacements.
Thursday - a skip (organised by ChemDry) was delivered.
Friday 5 February - met kitchen designer and talked over ideas for the new kitchen. Went off to work and left the builders ripping out the kichen. Came back from work to find a completely empty room where my kitchen used to be! The house is also freezing cold as the radiators have been removed from the kitchen, dining room and hall so the central heating system is off. Just what we need in this cold weather!
Saturday - spent the day at the house trying to sort out a few things - wearing plenty of layers but still freezing.
Busy week - rushing between the holiday cottage, home and work. The poor dogs don't know what's going on but I try and take them for a walk at least once a day.
Thursday 11 February - the decorators arrived to start stripping paper - not an easy job as we found out when we originally stripped Kumari's room.
Friday - bit of a shock when I got to the house - no kitchen ceiling! The decorators tell me it's one of the worst jobs they've had - the paper won't come off easily and the plaster is crumbling underneath. One of them is coming back tomorrow (Saturday) to try and finish off.
Saturday - came to the house early as our time at the cottage is over - the decorator was already at work. Sat in lounge watching TV with Kumari - heard what sounded like rubble falling from the hall - whan I have the nerve to look I find it was indeed what it sounded like! A whole section of plaster has come off the wall - the decorator said 'that doesn't usually happen when I put the steamer on'. That's reassuring.
When he removed the paper from the wall between the drawing room and lounge a huge crack was revealed - much worse than we feared. He advised me to speak to the builders on Monday as he thinks we need to get a surveyor in to assess it - what more can go wrong?
Monday 1 February - took contract in to B&W Builders - discovered that they are going to be decorating Kumari's room as well - they say it will have to be completely cleared. Louis phoned ChemDry to arrange for them to collect her furniture. Frantically packed all her stuff.
Wednesday 3 February- an assessor came to view the damaged carpets - they will issue a voucher for replacements.
Thursday - a skip (organised by ChemDry) was delivered.
Friday 5 February - met kitchen designer and talked over ideas for the new kitchen. Went off to work and left the builders ripping out the kichen. Came back from work to find a completely empty room where my kitchen used to be! The house is also freezing cold as the radiators have been removed from the kitchen, dining room and hall so the central heating system is off. Just what we need in this cold weather!
Saturday - spent the day at the house trying to sort out a few things - wearing plenty of layers but still freezing.
Busy week - rushing between the holiday cottage, home and work. The poor dogs don't know what's going on but I try and take them for a walk at least once a day.
Thursday 11 February - the decorators arrived to start stripping paper - not an easy job as we found out when we originally stripped Kumari's room.
Friday - bit of a shock when I got to the house - no kitchen ceiling! The decorators tell me it's one of the worst jobs they've had - the paper won't come off easily and the plaster is crumbling underneath. One of them is coming back tomorrow (Saturday) to try and finish off.
Saturday - came to the house early as our time at the cottage is over - the decorator was already at work. Sat in lounge watching TV with Kumari - heard what sounded like rubble falling from the hall - whan I have the nerve to look I find it was indeed what it sounded like! A whole section of plaster has come off the wall - the decorator said 'that doesn't usually happen when I put the steamer on'. That's reassuring.
When he removed the paper from the wall between the drawing room and lounge a huge crack was revealed - much worse than we feared. He advised me to speak to the builders on Monday as he thinks we need to get a surveyor in to assess it - what more can go wrong?
Saturday 6 February 2010
Catch up
Not had much chance to write on here lately. Anyway, the new laptop arrived - delivered to work for safety.
Thursday night - call at 5.30pm to say someone from ChemDry would be coming 9am Saturday morning to take some of our furniture into storage. Bit of a shock as we had no warning. Realised we need somewhere to stay when the work gets too much - found a holiday cottage for 2 weeks.
Spent Friday evening after work frantically packing books etc.
Saturday 30 January - ChemDry turned up with a tiny van - don't see how they're going to fit much in there. Anyway they got to work and also checked the drying process - still very wet. They tell me that the kitchen needs to be ripped out as soon as possible! I had to take our dog Sucha to be clipped so I left briefly to take her - when I got back the desk in the hall was gone - unfortunately I hadn't got round to emptying the drawers - but luckily I had moved the box with the keys to the garage etc the night before or we'd have been stuffed!
After they left I started emptying the kitchen cupboards - a major job.
More later...........................
Thursday night - call at 5.30pm to say someone from ChemDry would be coming 9am Saturday morning to take some of our furniture into storage. Bit of a shock as we had no warning. Realised we need somewhere to stay when the work gets too much - found a holiday cottage for 2 weeks.
Spent Friday evening after work frantically packing books etc.
Saturday 30 January - ChemDry turned up with a tiny van - don't see how they're going to fit much in there. Anyway they got to work and also checked the drying process - still very wet. They tell me that the kitchen needs to be ripped out as soon as possible! I had to take our dog Sucha to be clipped so I left briefly to take her - when I got back the desk in the hall was gone - unfortunately I hadn't got round to emptying the drawers - but luckily I had moved the box with the keys to the garage etc the night before or we'd have been stuffed!
After they left I started emptying the kitchen cupboards - a major job.
More later...........................
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Wednesday
While driving to work my mobile rang. When I pulled over and checked messages there was a voicemail from Bevalue, the company who will arrange to replace the electrical items. They left a message to call back. Unfortunately they gave the wrong number. Texted Carol Roberts to get the correct number. Then I phoned Bevalue, who told me they couldn't discuss it with me as they 'could only discuss matters with the policy holder' - I pointed out it was a joint policy but the woman refused to discuss matters. I texted Louis and asked him to call them as I have had enough.
Later in the day I got a call from Julie, who works with Louis (Louis was with a client) - she gave me details of the laptop which they were going to send as we had to approve it before accepting. I looked it up on the internet - it was certainly better than the one that was damaged so I phoned Bevalue and arranged for it to be delivered tomorrow - watch this space! They also gave me details of portable TV's to replace the damaged ones - I have to check on them and give my approval (which I am sure I will as the damaged ones were really old anyway).
Later in the day I got a call from Julie, who works with Louis (Louis was with a client) - she gave me details of the laptop which they were going to send as we had to approve it before accepting. I looked it up on the internet - it was certainly better than the one that was damaged so I phoned Bevalue and arranged for it to be delivered tomorrow - watch this space! They also gave me details of portable TV's to replace the damaged ones - I have to check on them and give my approval (which I am sure I will as the damaged ones were really old anyway).
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