So since yesterday was one of those days of minor irritations that built up to the boiling point of just. one. more. thing and it’d be camel’s back stuff, here we are in a shiny new day.
I’ve shelved the drain mending plan for outside the showerroom for now until I’m certain of a decent weather day. In Ireland as in Scotland, not quite sure when that’ll be, but I’m hopeful to get a few hours worth of cement drying time at some point over the next few weeks!
Instead I’ll work indoors. My daughter Alice’s room needed a wee bit redecorating, and whilst doing so I noted the wooden window surround was woodwormed. So, to prevent it spreading, I (carefully!) ripped it out and plastered the space instead. Here is the Before:
And I’ll add the pics (when I take them!) of the plastered frame before I paint it, today. Bear in mind, I’m seriously no DIY expert but I did my best. It was actually lovely to see the stone “bones” of the walls and frame. This cottage is solidly built and I’m grateful for that. Back in north west Scotland, often the gales caused a great deal of damage to the house we lived in. The roof had to be repaired more than once. Here, the winds aren’t half so fierce but, as seen with the polytunnel, still enough to damage structures, so I’m happy to be living in a cottage with, to quote Capercaille, “four stone walls”.
I was VERY careful around the window itself. It’s still set sound in the frame and the outside is sealed, plus, I added a little extra sealant, especially in the corners. So today I paint the plaster then add sealant again inside and hope that’s all ok.
When we moved in, there were rats in the attic. The cottage has stood empty for around twenty years but the owners, a pair of lovely elderly sisters, had kept the house in great condition all that time. (In fact, they’ve been absolutely kindness itself to us, and I’ll tell that story soon).
So we got Rentokil in. I’m country born and bred, so I know that in the countryside, rats are inevitable, but if you can keep them outdoors, that’s better than giving them lodgings. So they’re gone now, the holes they’d chewed (through concrete even! Do rats have teeth of steel or what!?) have been sealed up with special steel mesh covered concrete.
But one of the holes they’d made to get into the living parts of the house whilst it was empty was in the airing cupboard, which I haven’t used til Rentokil did their stuff. Now that’s sorted, I’ll also paint the inside of the airing cupboard which is above the boiler so it’s lovely and warm, then I can use is *as* an airing cupboard and storage for blankets, sheets and towels, because it’s a large space and I’ve currently got all the bedding etc crammed into one very small wardrobe.
Frans goes to Carrick on Shannon today (fab place, if ye havenae been when you’re visiting Ireland, go! Also, has a great music shop) so when he returns hame, we’ll eat then I’ll do some music practice. Last night was windy and rain lashed the windows. When you’ve four strong walls around you, it’s a cosy feeling to lie in bed and listen to the storm outside and feel, for once, safe....
