When we started this renovation endeavour I decided that Sunday would be a day off — a day to relax, spend time together as a family and maybe do something fun. It started well probably because we were so knackered after a week of physical work that we couldn’t cope without a day off! Since then it’s been harder and harder. James has work during the week so he wants to crack on with jobs at the weekend and usually, he wants some help. Then, if the weather is good it seems a shame not to get on with outside jobs. Also, if the kids are at home and we can get them to chip in we can get a lot more done. So my Sundays have dwindled into a mad scramble of trying to get more done before the new week. It won’t work long term though and I’m already starting to feel a bit worn down. So, I’m doing my best to claw back my Sunday. I did in fact make myself breakfast in bed and then I had a bath. I don’t know why but a bath in the morning feels extra luxurious to me. I can sit there in the bubbles and watch the sun streaming in through the leaves of the pear tree outside the window. Heavenly! Sadly now I have to get back to GCSE revision, ironing and jobs!
One of the things I’m struggling with at the moment is being pulled in too many directions. I really like to focus on one thing at a time and finish a job before starting a new one. What I’m learning is that with a house like this one that’s hardly ever possible. You start one thing but then you get held up waiting for something or someone and then something else becomes more urgent. Things that should be straightforward often aren’t and some things take a lot more time than you’d imagine. My problem is that I get really irritated by it. I get to the end of the day and I feel like I haven’t achieved much because I didn’t finish anything. I need to relax and learn to love the chaos a bit more!
So, what have we managed to get done? Well, we bought a new ladder which is much safer and sturdier than the old one I found in the shed! I’ve trimmed all the Boston Ivy into a neat shape on the front of the house. I’ve also cleared the flat roof, cleaned the windows out there and uncovered some drains. I fixed albeit temporarily the utility room sink and finished painting the airing cupboard. Out the back, I’ve cleared one flower bed. I met with a lovely gardener lady (who I hope will come and help me at some point) and she was talking about just doing a bit at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. The thought of that and getting some help has spurred me on. We’ve also employed a local lad from the village who has been chopping all the wood from the felled tree. He’s done an amazing job and we now have a very full log store.
The bit I’m not enjoying at the moment is getting quotes and finding tradespeople. I’m learning though! Sometimes you stumble across people who are professional, organised, great at what they do and a pleasure to work with. You hang on to them for dear life! Often though they have one or more of those characteristics lacking. I’m not saying everyone has to be perfect (I’m sure I’m not always the perfect client) but I’m learning to be a bit quicker at spotting the people who are going to waste my time and calling it quits before it goes on for too long. James is much better at this than I am so I’m learning from him too. Finding people and keeping up with admin is time-consuming and I don’t really enjoy it. Hopefully, it’ll get better as I figure out my own system.
So, I hope you don’t mind this brain dump of thoughts today. Next week I’ll get back to some house history or possibly reveal our plans for the old estate office. In the meantime, I hope you all have a lovely week and manage to enjoy some of this super weather.