Very nearly done...

[Keithj]

The workers who have been here since January left yesterday. The electrician has to come back to fit the (mandatory) mains-powered smoke alarm, and the plumber has to fit the cistern (the one supplied turned out to have a crack in it). There is some snagging to do, but to all intents and purposes we have our house back!

After some lively repartee on both sides, the builder has completed the external decoration as we would wish (within reason - I can always come up with more "I wanna"). From the outside it looks excellent.

It's wonderful to wander round a Tudor house and find stuff where we left it, no little piles of stuff, no stray tools, no muddy footprints.

Hopefully I'll put up loads of pictures on the website this weekend.

What a learning curve this has been, and thanks to all the fine people on this forum for good advice.

 

[Feltwell]

Congratulations Keith!

Now you're 99% done, if you're anything like me the final 1% will take even longer.... :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, I agree - the decorating is never over!

But well done Keith, how exciting for you. I'm looking forward to more pics.

 

[Penners]

It's wonderful to wander round a...house and find stuff where we left it, no little piles of stuff, no stray tools, no muddy footprints.

Then thank your lucky stars that you don't live in our house!

Great news, Keith! Lots of pictures, please!

 

[Keithj]

I've put up a selection of outside views here.
I dredged around in the photo folder and found some from last November that compare reasonably closely with today's. They do show what we've done.

I'm deliberately not asking if the whole job was worth what we spent on it.
I reckon that should be it with expensive repair works. I have a pot of lime putty and a hank of wool for plugging gaps.

Today, I painted two doors, twice. I reckon they need one more coat. Then I'll get on with moving furniture. I'm looking forward to getting the grandfather clocks and the Vienna regulator set up properly.

 

[Penners]

You can regulate Vienna?

I can't even regulate Mrs P.

 

[Keithj]

'Tis the psychology lessons that went with the bereavement counselling course, P. Remember where Siggy Freud came from!

When I get said Vienna Regulator set up and accling, I'll post a pic.

 

[Penners]

My aunt and uncle used to have a Vienna Regulator. It was mounted on the other side of the bedroom wall where I slept (or didn't!) when I went to stay with them. I swear the ticking sounded louder in my bedroom than it did if you were standing next to the clock.

As for the chiming... :evil:

 

[LadyArowana]

My aunt and uncle used to have a Vienna Regulator. It was mounted on the other side of the bedroom wall where I slept (or didn't!) when I went to stay with them. I swear the ticking sounded louder in my bedroom than it did if you were standing next to the clock.

As for the chiming... :evil:

We have a pendulum clock which ticks somewhat loudly. A maintainance chap summoned to look at an aircon unit nearby once spent a fruitless 1/ 2 hour looking for the source of the "dripping" noise! Even though we can hear it chime we are used to it now and sleep through...... and I have a cuckoo one in the kitchen too.

 

[Flyfisher]

I love loudly (and slowly) ticking clocks; they seem to impart life into a home.

I have a mantlepiece clock that chimes 'ships bells', which is always amusing when non-sailors hear it chime for the first time and struggle to understand how it indicates the time. Sadly, not a particularly loud ticker though.

 

[Keithj]

There's something about the slow tick of a grandfather clock that I find very soothing. Maybe it's because of the one in my grandmother's lounge.

I have two of them here - old family friends, almost.

 

[Penners]

My grandfather's clock was too tall for the shelf, so it stood ninety years on the floor.

 

[Keithj]

Y'know, Penners, I used to sing that song. Perhaps I should have a word with the choirmaster...