panik: (TS - Shit!)
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There be BIG problems.

A simple enough act, you'd think, wiring in a new wall switch using the same wiring, the same type of switch as before. You would, wouldn't you? I know we did.

A mighty struggle ensued (as described in yesterday's post) but seemed to end well and we thought the trouble was fixed, last night everything was just fine. Woke this morning to find no lights and - most mysterious of all - no immersion heater, meaning both the 5a and the 30a circuits have gone down but no fuses have blown. This is decidedly strange - even the emergency electrician (who can't fit us in till Wednesday) is having trouble getting his head around it. Mark thinks he knows what the problem is but doesn't feel confident to fix it. It means he'll have to drive back over on Wednesday  to deal with Electrician Guy and lord alone knows how much that's going to cost.

Mercifully the 15a wall circuits are fine so we have table lamps and telly and all the important things (except hot water )o:)... But... But...

::hangs head and sighs::

So then I went down to complete (what I thought were) the last tasks, fixing a sink tile (done, sans complications thank GOD!) and cleaning off the hideous mozaic behind the stove so we can put up the new tiles (when they arrive).

Cue massive problem #2. There's a big hole in the chimney behind the grotty tiles. It looks like the old cement has dried and crumbled and some stones have fallen down into the chimney. At least this goes some way to explaining why the chimney's not been drawing well lately but - has to be fixed. Mark's got the fire cement and heavy-duty filler and is slowly, layer by layer,  patching up the hole so, finger's crossed - that's a problem we knew we had, but had no real explanation for, discovered and - plz? O All the Gods show mercy  - fixed? ::hardly dares to hope::

Anyway, I'm off to put the first coat of sealant on the stone floor. Pray for me.


Mood:: 'lethargic' lethargic
location: Beyond exhaustion
There are 19 comments on this entry. (Reply.)
 
posted by [identity profile] arnie1967.livejournal.com at 03:11pm on 28/09/2008
Urk! There are times when you get the impression it's *far* better to just wallpaper over everything just to keep it all in place. Hope both your problems get fixed quickly. Cold baths aren't fun.
 
Nah, we tried that and it didn't work. (o: All the wallpaper is now off, walls damp-sealed and re-plastered and painted and it's so much better, like you wouldn't believe.

Holes in chimneys, damp stone floors, walls at weird angles and etc. Tis the price you pay when you buy and old house. It's coming along though. It'll be worth it in the end (she kept telling herself with a brave smile and an optimistic heart) *g*
 
posted by [identity profile] laurie-ky.livejournal.com at 03:52pm on 28/09/2008
And just when you thought the worst was over. Be careful with that sealant, I remember when you did it before and it was pretty overpowering stuff, wasn't it?

Laurie
 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 04:39pm on 28/09/2008
It's slightly different stuff this time and goes on like a dream. The whole floor only took me 20 minutes. I have to go back at 9 and stick some more on.

Tomorrow, we stick on a layer of shiny stuff - that's new, never made the floor shiny before but I'm hoping it'll finally put the seal (ha!) on the problems we have with the floor getting stained and keep out the damp - fingers crossed anyway.
 
posted by [identity profile] luicat.livejournal.com at 04:11pm on 28/09/2008
Oh Lor! That's all you need. Hopefully the chimney problem is now sorted and fingers crossed the electric one will be on Wednesday. It's always the easy jobs that don't go as planned...

I hope you are okay after doing the floor and it hasn't caused you any more problems!
 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 04:36pm on 28/09/2008
Thanks for asking. (o:

Floor seal goes on like a veritable dream, quite the joy to apply. *g* It has to soak in and dry for 4 hours now so I get to sit around eating cheese sandwiches, fruit and cheesy poofs - because we can't walk on the kitchen floor I've made a nice little picnic for us in the bedroom including table cloth which we've spread on the bed. It's like a Famous Five book up here only we have wine instead of ginger beer.

The bad bit is we have to go back down again at 9, Mark to put another layer of gunk on the chimney, me to put 'nother layer on the floor. But it's coming along. if it weren't for the huge enormous electrical elephant causing annoyance I'd be feeling smugly satisfied and content.

 
posted by [identity profile] betagoddess.livejournal.com at 05:23pm on 28/09/2008

Keeping everything crossed for you that I can!!!

Good luck!!!

 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 03:19pm on 03/10/2008
Ooh. Don't cross too much hon, you may live to regret it!
 
posted by [identity profile] betagoddess.livejournal.com at 04:17pm on 03/10/2008

LOL. I wake up so stiff in the mornings, it's good to do a little crossing! *g*

ext_9226: (Default)
posted by [identity profile] snailbones.livejournal.com at 05:33pm on 28/09/2008


Oh lordy - the jobs are breeding and multiplying... is it too late to run away and hide?

Hope the floor stays sealed, the chimney stays fixed and that the fuses stop popping.

::crosses toes and hands over strong hooch::

 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 03:23pm on 03/10/2008
It's nearly, almost done now (she said with a sense of nagging doom).

Time will tell when the sweep comes Thursday and the stove gets lit. Will it be like Peter Serafinovich's Toilet Grenade? ::wibbles::
ext_9226: (Default)
posted by [identity profile] snailbones.livejournal.com at 03:39pm on 03/10/2008


Oh god - the toilet grenade is priceless, thanks! I want the travel version - there's a hotel in Plymouth I've sworn to have my revenge upon...

Good luck with the sweep - hope he's nothing like Dick Van Dyke... *grins and ducks*

 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 03:57pm on 03/10/2008
Ah. My sister and I have pretty much exhausted the 'Step in Time' gags. Our Dad does love Mary Poppins and watches it almost daily (this is not, repeat not an exaggeration). I swear to God, I was twenty years old before I realised DvD was supposed to be a cockney. |::shakes head in sorrow::

The toilet grenade is wonderful, isn't it? But have you tried the kitchen gunwhich is, if anything, even better. ::nods::

Happy Friday sugar bun!
ext_9226: (jimgood - snailbones)
posted by [identity profile] snailbones.livejournal.com at 04:21pm on 03/10/2008


"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag...", she warbled treacherously. Oh bless your dad - there are far worse things to be addicted to... the Sound of Music springs to mind *g*

Hee - the kitchen gun with night sight for after-dark cleaning - oh be still my beating heart. ::wants::

Happy weekend my sweet - keep humming and smiling, for 'tis wonderfully irritating, especially in supermarkets.

::blows kisses::

 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 06:25pm on 03/10/2008
I see you've met my Dad.
 
posted by [identity profile] snycock.livejournal.com at 12:13am on 29/09/2008
Oh, jeez, that sounds complicated - the electricity thing, I mean. Well, the chimney, too, but it sounds like you and Mark have that well in hand. I hope the electrician can figure things out... when he finally gets there... :-(
 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 03:25pm on 03/10/2008
It turned out to be, as Mark suspected, a broken circuit but tis all more or less fixed now for v little expense (so far)

Btw, did you get my email about the $$$ I owe you, hon? Plz to be letting me know hpw best to repay ou (and thanks, btw!)
 
posted by [identity profile] boogieshoes.livejournal.com at 12:50pm on 29/09/2008
owie. these are real buggers. good luck on the fix-up! -bs
 
posted by [identity profile] gillyp.livejournal.com at 03:26pm on 03/10/2008
Ah, we're almost there. ::crosses many digits and prays to all known deities:: *g*

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