First contact with CO

[Penners]

I think you can rely on him to make an appearance now and then, whenever forum contributors' linguistic sins rouse his ire.

Unless, of course, he's mellowing in his old age.*

*He is, of course, anonymous, but I'm making the assumption that he is old enough to have received a passable education in his native tongue. That must mean that he's well over 40 years of age.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well I do miss Mr P very much when he doesn't post. And hope he is well and being fed Kit Kats.

The CO's visit. Yes, very pleasant, enthusiastic about the house, couldn't believe it wasn't listed until this year, and pleased and surprised at comments like "we want to untank the kitchen". No problems with us wanting better skylights or a nice bronze casement in the little loo in place of the 1980s leaf patterned glass and timber casement. But, very sniffy about ideas of double glazing in the brek room, as chunky glazing bars are not liked in her department, very very sniffy about my idea of an extension to create a beautiful bathroom on the north side, which would need what's there knocking down, and a strong warning against applying to have reclaimed flagstones in the passageway, as they like new stone to look new to show the modern work. As for my terrible stone staircase, she said it's gone beyond being useful and practical. She thought the best idea was a filler for all the massive patches that have eroded away and new brass nosings where the old ones have been torn off. I think the steps will have to be repainted if we go down that route.

Good for her. I admire her principles. The one area I very strongly disagree with her is in the matter of using new stone in place of reclaimed flagstones. Aesthetically, they must have had lifetimes of use, as the lime plaster, door, coat hooks, and vaulted brick floored wine cellar adjacent to where the stones will be laid, are all original.

I feel so strongly about this that I would appeal, and appeal again, bringing in the strongest arguments I could for blending new work to harmonise with the age and character of the building.

But Grantham Council have laid Indian sandstone throughout the centre of town in an attempt to create Mediterranean cafe culture. It is a travesty, when the beautiful golden Ancaster stone, one of the prettiest kinds of stone in the UK in my opinion, is quarried just 6 miles away. Grrrrrr. Certainly not having any horrible Indian sandstone here.

 

[Flyfisher]

The real travesty is that Indian sandstone from halfway around the planet is probably cheaper than stone from six miles up the road. :roll:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

The CO's visit. Yes, very pleasant, enthusiastic about the house, couldn't believe it wasn't listed until this year,

blah
blah
blah

Grrrrrr. Certainly not having any horrible Indian sandstone here.

Yes, yes, all very interesting. But you haven't told us about the cake. Which did you go for, and how did she like it? 8)

 

[Flyfisher]

. . . and is there any left over?

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

But she didn't want any tea, or cake.

 

[Moo]

So there's lots for everyone!

 

[JoceAndChris]

There was, but Chris worked at home today to meet the CO. Appalled at the very girly lunch I served him ( watercress, coleslaw, hummous, a little bread), he ate the whole lot!

 

[JoceAndChris]

The real travesty is that Indian sandstone from halfway around the planet is probably cheaper than stone from six miles up the road. :roll:

That is so sad and so true.

I've just had the bright idea that I could get Rush Matters to make a lovely rush runner for the passageway and not need to have any kind of arguments over new or old stone.

 

[Zebra]

At the weekend I went to see the house of a friend of mine. Two years ago he bought a listed timber framed cottage in need of some care, and has finally got around to thinking about doing something about it, and wanted my opinion on rewiring. I had a good poke about, and shared the best of the knowledge I've gained on such matters as cement render, concrete floors, insulation, etc etc, but really urged him to seek the assistance and advice of the CO, so I hope he has as much success as you have had Joce. Also tried to heartily recommend the PP forum, without making an online community of like-minded enthusiasts sound like an utter geek-fest. Didn't advise on cake, his girlfriend had made a lovely coffee cake and I felt had nothing I could offer in that way.

 

[Feltwell]

without making an online community of like-minded enthusiasts sound like an utter geek-fest.

I had a software company come to see me at work today, and the chap they brought in to demonstate the system was called Mr Geekie. He said himself that he'd heard all the jokes - especially working in IT - trouble was, he really *really* lived up to his name.

 

[Flyfisher]

:lol:
Nominative determinism in action.

 

[LadyArowana]

I had a software company come to see me at work today, and the chap they brought in to demonstate the system was called Mr Geekie. He said himself that he'd heard all the jokes - especially working in IT - trouble was, he really *really* lived up to his name.

Then there are other people who end up in completely the wrong job...
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4653312/apple-worker-called-sam-sung.html

 

[Flyfisher]

:lol:
Nominative non-determinism in action.

 

[Penners]

a strong warning against applying to have reclaimed flagstones in the passageway

I'm sorry to stand on the opposite side of the fence (or ha-ha?) from you, Joce, but I entirely agree with your CO on this. I also feel that reclaimed oak beams should not be used to repair or modify timber-frame houses. Each step in a house's development, while being completely sympathetic to its character and style, should reflect the era in which the work was done, in my opinion.

I should also add that you may be surprised at how you react to the work, when it's done. There is little, I believe, as satisfying as standing back and seeing your own contribution to the house sitting obviously and proudly alongside the contributions of past generations of dwellers. So don't despair - I honestly think you'll be happy with it, when it's done.

 

[Penners]

:lol:
Nominative non-determinism in action.

Decades ago, when we lived near Sudbury, Suffolk, there was an undertaker in the nearby village of Bildeston called Mr Death. Truth - I promise!

 

[Feltwell]

there was an undertaker in the nearby village of Bildeston called Mr Death. Truth - I promise!

Mr De'ath, as in Monty Pyton's Meaning of Life, surely?

 

[skier-hughes]

a strong warning against applying to have reclaimed flagstones in the passageway

I'm sorry to stand on the opposite side of the fence (or ha-ha?) from you, Joce, but I entirely agree with your CO on this. I also feel that reclaimed oak beams should not be used to repair or modify timber-frame houses. Each step in a house's development, while being completely sympathetic to its character and style, should reflect the era in which the work was done, in my opinion.

I should also add that you may be surprised at how you react to the work, when it's done. There is little, I believe, as satisfying as standing back and seeing your own contribution to the house sitting obviously and proudly alongside the contributions of past generations of dwellers. So don't despair - I honestly think you'll be happy with it, when it's done.

Whereas, I feel in the past reclaimed products were most likely used to make repairs, alterations etc as the house grew up before my time, so I see no reason for using them now.

 

[Penners]

I see no reason for using them now.

I agree.

 

[skier-hughes]

Oooooooooops, I see no reason for NOT using them now I have used a mix of reclaimed materials and new. Some reclaimed oak, some new. All reclaimed bricks where I've needed to, as new ones just aren't the right size, reclaimed tiles to patch the floor in the lounge from when we took out the hideous fireplace, as they needed to match and we needed to extend the flooring.