My first video

ok, this is a second attempt to get this on, its fairly self explanatory. Hmmm, third go, the video was 238,000 KB which was much to big so I'm trying the compress option on a new video stich, ( I think this just means a video made by putting together all of the pictures taken)

I'm very proud of the work I have done to fix up the Kitchen, Living and dining rooms as well as decorating the toilet (downstairs bathroom) especially the plastering, but it has really taken a lot out of me, so I'm crashing alot and have had 2 days already this week where I physically could do almost nothing. It's a large job given the state of the walls and my trait of wanting to do it right instead of settling for FYI (G's phrase) but I think I will be happy with the results once it's done and it has encouraged G to get on board with improving the state of the house. As far as the future goes though... well, we'll see.

This picture is from the video, hence the poor quality, but I don't think you'll see it so here it is:

The Early Bird Gets The Worm

Well, having crashed last night at 7:30 and been put to bed by Geoff AND the kids I was up at 3:30 having not rested well at all, so I decided to get to work.
I spent over a hour on the phone with mom while I tidied my desk upstairs and then came down to find the catastrophe my hubby had left in the kitchen; open, raw and cooked food left out on nearly every surface so the next 1/2 to 3/4 hour were spent webcaming with Mom while I out the kitchen and dining room. I also webcammed with my brother who looked an hour from his deathbed due to an ugly bout of flu. Then I got really busy and hit two large patches of wall with plaster, as you will see below. This means that not only can I plaster walls now but also that I figured out how to do time lapse videos using my webcam, so I feel that I have earned big kudos points with my efforts today.

For the record, the rest of my efforts on Monday include: 3 loads of laundry treated and washed, 1 load + 1 comforter (duvet) on the line all of the above and more folded and sorted, 2 wallpapered walls (heavy texture) painted includeing edges, David walked around the chickens in the allotments. etc...

Plastering

Well, I feel I have earned the title "Polyfiller Queen" I can mix it, work it, and smoothy patch and rebuild walls with it. Sadly, I have used up all in the house, so yesterday Ruth & I hit a Building Supplies Shop and spent 64 pounds sterling (p.s.) buying more supplies including a bag of plaster (cheaper than polyfiller) a "floater" for spreading large amounts, self leveling concrete (18 p.s. ex. VAT) and tools.
Last night I was looking at the old external wall between the Living Room and Kitchen, which I have spent considerable time polyfilling, especially building the wall around the doorway frame which had huge gaps, and I thought what the hell I'll try skimming (plastering) the whole wall. Geoff misunderstood me when I announced this, then became very alarmed at the amount of plaster I was mixing. I did a 5 foot stretch of everything to the left of the doorframe; figuring that if it all went wrong I would simply pull it all off. An interesting experience where I learned as I went.
This morning I examined the results and by 4 pm I had skimmed the entire wall. At 3 pm I was trying to finish the last section at the bootom right side and needing to pick up Ruth from school. I finished up, popped into the kitchen for the keys and came out to find David "plastering" and the wall needing redoing. ARGHHHHH!!!!! So I tried to quickly reset it, afraid it would set badly by the time I got back from getting Ruth, threw David (with no underpants sor trousers on) and flew to get Ruth and get back to finish fixing it. I spent then next 30 min. working on that last 2 foot square section which isn't very good because I was badly overmixing the plaster and it wasn't sticking to the wall.
By 4:30 it was done and I was crashing badly, due to problems with sleep thoroughout the wek week, over working, and not having eaten yet that day. I fed myself and the kids ORTS (leftovers) from the fridge along with a fresh pineapple that was molding on the outside and Fabulous inside, and a fruited Malt loaf. We had fun cuddling and playing on the couch and watching Ratatoulie until G came home by which time I was losing it entirely. He ran me a bath and helped me upstairs and into it I tried to pull myself together while rereading Northhanger Abbey. A few minutes later the book was down and I slept until G pulled me out and into my bed where I had lovely cuddles with the kids while falling back to sleep.
Sadly it's now 11:30 pm and I'm wide awake and doing this. Hopefully I be able to sleep soon with the side affects of my bedtime drugs and I am looking forward to more work, painting up the rooms (but not the plastered wall untill its thoroughly dried) with the help of friends tomarrow.
God Bless you all

Forward progress

Before buying this house I had a chat with G about the work this house would need. He was generally not interested in DIY and this house would need a lot of it. I asked if he was really ready to put in the effort and work this house would need and he said yes. I stressed that we didn't have to buy this house so was he sure and again he said yes.
And year or so ago he admitted that he had not really been listening to me during that conversation and had not really been commiting himself. In the last few days I have come to realize that for years I had been waiting for G to take charge or at least be interested in improving that state of the house. Instead he has been dragging his feet and actively avoiding any work on the house. (BTW He's just read this and agrees to it's accuracy) Waiting for G was a big mistake and unfair to him.

The wait is over. With the help of Ben, a great friend who frequently helps us out, (around 1/week for the last year and a half) and a spontaneous conversation about where to get started while we were having a cuppa in the kitchen. I have torn the house apart and been peeling paper, plaastering holes and painting walls

The kitchen is 1/2 painted and started leaking thru the entrance way, old external wall just as the paint was drying so we know have 2 leaks in the kitchen. The toilet under the stairs just needs the cielings painting and a bit of touch up. The Living room has been getting major prep and 1 1/4 walls have had there first coat of paint (a creamy cinnamon colour with Mahogany varish on the doorways) and the dining room is waiting to be stripped. I'm getting excellent practice on plastering holes, cracks etc...

God Bless!

A start

Hello one and all. This is just a trial to see how easy it is, since Geoff is talking me through this on the phone from work. The most important thing I could ever say on this is that through all of my trials, especially my marriage and health, God is with me; supporting me and loving me. He is my savior and guide and I hope to reestablish my sadly neglected relationship with Him. That is my most important Goal this year and I hope that I do not lose track of it. Thank you for all of your prayers.
God Bless you all!
Chris