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Housely Renovations 3.8 - So, I think we're pretty much done here.
We've been back at the house for a one-day trip
...to see Gary the Magnificent, aka Gary the electrician who fixed our troubles, fitted our switches, even put up the new stair lights (oh man, those things are bright, it's like facing down an oncoming train as you go up the stairs), fixed the pesky bathroom lights (which have always been a little temperamental) and found out why the immersion had gone off with the lights - because some damn fool had wired the immersion heater to the light circuit. Someone put an immersion heater on the 5a circuit.
Of course, i wasn't us, so it must've been done at least 21 years ago and it's always worked very well and given us no grief but nevertheless, it is, apparently, not legal He's advised us to use a bathroom-suitable plugboard to connect it to the regular wall circuits for the time being, which we're doing and - we now have hot water again! yay! (though the Aga's going back on next week anyway so it's a temporary solution anyway).
Total cost to Gary, £47. A diamond geezer if ever there was one.
All of this does explain why we could never fit a shower without it blowing the house to buggery and back (the water pressure here is shite due to the hot water tank being below even my head height - I know, I don't know what they were thinking, either) He's going to give us an estimate for putting everything right; wiring the immersion to the correct circuit, changing the aged meter that I'm sure is giving faulty readings, and fitting a bona fide shower (which would be heaven!) - it'll take a bit of jiggering and pokering because our bathroom is tiny and wee (we can't even get a full size bath in there) and there's a window in the way, but he's sure it can be done.
Of course, it means he'll have to drill holes and cut long, deep channels in most of the walls - the walls we've just finished re-plastering and decorating. Hey ho. It'll all be worth it in the end I guess whether we stay or sell.
There's a few more odd jobs here and there. Still, inch by inch, filling the holes in the chimney, still waiting for the Mexican tiles to go on the back of the stove, still waiting for Door-Joiner-Man to get back to us about the new doors for upstairs - all the carpets will have to be replaced, of course but that will have to wait for awhile. Next Thursday's going to be busy with the sweep in the morning and the double-glazing guys fitting the new back door (sobs for beloved old door!) in the afternoon. It's all costing a lot of £££. Money's bleeding out of the account at the moment. ::wibbles worriedly::
It'll all be worth it in the end ::she chanted like a mantra::
In other news, I dreamed about Cuba last night (this never happens) and so did Mark. O:
We're off in about an hour to look for a new wood-store, then back to Yorkshire for a few days. Another hell-ride on the M62. At least it's sunny :;she sighed with weary resignation::
...to see Gary the Magnificent, aka Gary the electrician who fixed our troubles, fitted our switches, even put up the new stair lights (oh man, those things are bright, it's like facing down an oncoming train as you go up the stairs), fixed the pesky bathroom lights (which have always been a little temperamental) and found out why the immersion had gone off with the lights - because some damn fool had wired the immersion heater to the light circuit. Someone put an immersion heater on the 5a circuit.
Of course, i wasn't us, so it must've been done at least 21 years ago and it's always worked very well and given us no grief but nevertheless, it is, apparently, not legal He's advised us to use a bathroom-suitable plugboard to connect it to the regular wall circuits for the time being, which we're doing and - we now have hot water again! yay! (though the Aga's going back on next week anyway so it's a temporary solution anyway).
Total cost to Gary, £47. A diamond geezer if ever there was one.
All of this does explain why we could never fit a shower without it blowing the house to buggery and back (the water pressure here is shite due to the hot water tank being below even my head height - I know, I don't know what they were thinking, either) He's going to give us an estimate for putting everything right; wiring the immersion to the correct circuit, changing the aged meter that I'm sure is giving faulty readings, and fitting a bona fide shower (which would be heaven!) - it'll take a bit of jiggering and pokering because our bathroom is tiny and wee (we can't even get a full size bath in there) and there's a window in the way, but he's sure it can be done.
Of course, it means he'll have to drill holes and cut long, deep channels in most of the walls - the walls we've just finished re-plastering and decorating. Hey ho. It'll all be worth it in the end I guess whether we stay or sell.
There's a few more odd jobs here and there. Still, inch by inch, filling the holes in the chimney, still waiting for the Mexican tiles to go on the back of the stove, still waiting for Door-Joiner-Man to get back to us about the new doors for upstairs - all the carpets will have to be replaced, of course but that will have to wait for awhile. Next Thursday's going to be busy with the sweep in the morning and the double-glazing guys fitting the new back door (sobs for beloved old door!) in the afternoon. It's all costing a lot of £££. Money's bleeding out of the account at the moment. ::wibbles worriedly::
It'll all be worth it in the end ::she chanted like a mantra::
In other news, I dreamed about Cuba last night (this never happens) and so did Mark. O:
We're off in about an hour to look for a new wood-store, then back to Yorkshire for a few days. Another hell-ride on the M62. At least it's sunny :;she sighed with weary resignation::
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(o: they'll have to be afters because I don;t think we have any befores. *g*
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I hope you get to enjoy it a bit before you do.
Laurie
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Oh - Gary sounds like the man of my dreams... is he spoken for? (she asked, eyeing dodgy earth connection to garage).
Yay! for hot water, and lights that don't go poof when you flush the loo, and Yay! for being almost done!
I dreamed about Cuba last night (this never happens) and so did Mark...
...and my friend brought round her Cuban baby grandson for me to meet for the first time today...
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He is a very treasure, I must say.
Cuban grandson? ::rubs chin ponderously:: Tell me more for I am strangely intrigued...
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You're still making me tired! LOL!
What a gem of an electrician!
Looks like there really IS light at the end of your renovation tunnel. Go you! *g*
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That's great! Hope he can! Then he will indeed be Superplumber! *g*
I don't know what I'd do without a full shower. With my arthritis, it would be a trial to lie down in a bath. *sigh*