Saturday 25 June 2016

Exterior, Interior and Obligatory Ranting


 


Morning campers!

You find me sat in my pyjamas surrounded by dust and boxes and furniture. The aim is to try and restore some order from the chaos of the past two weeks. Truthfully, right now I just can't be bothered. Marc has gone off to a sailing regatta, and I'm left at home feeling like a 1950s housewife. Olly has plonked himself in front of the tv and Sam and Alf are yet to surface from their respective middens. I'm trying to channel my inner Julie Andrews, but I fear that she's rebelled. She's swapped her dirndl for a mini and gone clubbing. Good for her. I'm hoping that gin, and Adele belting out a power ballad on the Pyramid stage at Glasonbury will sort me out later, but it's touch and go.

We have more or less finished the re-vamp, but are still awaiting the arrival of new sofas and the wood burner. I was hoping to show it all off a bit here, but maybe I'll slip some photos into a later post when all is finally finished. I have to say that I am beyond happy with what has been done so far. Once again our house is a beacon of white on the hill. I'm proud of my handsome looking house, but she was looking rather grubby and down at heel. Only the chimneys await a lick of paint, but we now have Mr and Mrs Seagull and their two babies nesting on the roof, so have had to retreat back down the ladders for a while.

Actually the babies seem to have taken up residence just below one of the velux windows in the roof of my bedroom. They flip flopped out of the nest, and found their way there last week. Now they can't get back, so are skittering about under the watchful eye of their parents. They like to play seagull slide up and down the velux at four in the morning, which is going down a treat here, as you can imagine. Olly and I lay in bed this morning, watching them clamber onto the window, scrabble up a little way and then slide down. "That looks like fun," Olly remarked.

Inside we have had the wooden flooring of the living room and convservatory sanded and re-varnished. I was going to white wash it, but in the end I chose a mat water based clear varnish. I was afraid white walls and floors would look rather stark and give off a kind of generic coastal home vibe, if that makes sense. Anyway I'm thrilled with how it has turned out. The floor looks like the colour of pale honey, and I have spent hours just staring at it. We opened up the old fireplace, which revealed a hideous (and huge) feature fire surround. It consisted of machine cut blocks of granite, and was probably installed in the seventies, judging by the crazy paving-esque design. However there was a beautiful curved granite lintel just above the fireplace itself. So the decision was taken to render the fireplace leaving this piece of granite exposed, and install a mantel above. The result is frankly a thing of beauty. The mantel is probably a little too high, but actually I really like it. A slate hearth has been added, and once the wood burner is installed, I may take up residence there and never leave its' side.

We have also painted all of the skirting boards and architraves white, which gives a clean, fresh finish to what was horrid varnished pine that had taken on that orange hue from years of sun exposure. It's amazing what a difference it makes to the room. We are lucky to live in a light house, but this just adds to it. The vile upvc patio doors that led from the living room into the conservatory have been riped out, and for the time being we have decided not to install any other doors. I love the flow of the whole space now. We have always used the conservatory throughout the year, but it just includes it into the downstairs space more, if that makes any sense. All of the walls have been given a lick of paint (white) and I may paint a feature wall in a different colour. Or I may not. I really like white walls, even if they show up the muddy paws that reside in this house.

As I write, I am very aware that all my interior decorating seems so trite in comparison to the events that have unfolded here in the UK. I was absolutely gutted by the referendum result. I was saddened and sickened by the senseless death of Jo Cox. Like many other people living in the UK, I am worried for the future of our country. I sometimes despair at the manipulation and scare mongering of our politicians and media. I wish Murdoch would butt out of our affairs. I cannot believe that inflated concerns surrounded immigration, have been twisted and used in such a perverse way. I can't say that I'm sad to see Cameron go, but I'm furious that Corbyn didn't have the balls to stand up and be counted. I really don't want to see Boris bufooning his way into no 10, any more than I could bear it if odious Gove snuck in the back door. I worry about our wonderful NHS. I worry about what the future holds for my three boys, and all the young people of this country. It just goes on and on and on at the moment.

You know what? I think I'm ready for a bit of furious scrubbing.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Hopefully normal service has been resumed.

Leanne xx






40 comments:

  1. All the house stuff sounds gorgeous. Please post some photos in due course. Love olly's seagull assessment ;-). I am with you on Europe for all the reasons you give but also because without the protection European laws have given it in recent years, our wildlife is in even more trouble. As if its case wasn't bad enough already. It's hard to see any good coming of this decision xx

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    1. Indeed CT, our wildlife too. The EU has been vilified for so long by press and politics, that we've lost touch with the good it does. We should work with not against, and negotiate for change from within. Too late now :(
      L xx

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  2. Can't wait to see some photos, it sounds so good. Does no good to worry about what they've done, possibly it can be undone, i saw where a 1,000,000 signature petition has called for a new referendum. If I sit and think about the politics in this country it makes me sick to my stomach, so I just don't.

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    1. I kept my own counsel throughout, but couldn't believe that Cornwall voted to leave! Our county receives so much eu funding! It won't help the plight of the fishermen, it'll make it worse.
      L x

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  3. It's hard to feel cheerful at the moment, I agree. But your house renovations do sound gorgeous. We must be living parallel lives. We've just launched into the bedroom here, including breaking into a boarded up fireplace. Sadly ours had been painted black, inside and out. That's going to be a horrible job to sort out and I'm tempted by your idea of rendering. At least we don't have seagulls!

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    1. The seagulls are a bit of a nuisance. The parents keep five bombing me whenever I go into the garden. Cheeky bleeders!
      L x

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  4. I am so envious of your house renovation; it sounds absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait for the full reveal. I am hoping to start on our living room soon - the exams (such as they were!) are finally over, so we can now get stuck in. A few days in Devon await first though, so cross your fingers for the weather. I hope we have baby seagulls on the roof! xx

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    1. I shall most definitely keep them crossed. Enjoy your break!
      L x

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  5. Renovations are so painful when they are happening, but worth it in the end. Yours sound wonderful, and I have to confess to being more than a bit jealous of your soon to be installed wood burner.

    As for what just happened in the UK, I am still in shock. And I'm just an outsider looking in. I can't begin to imagine how stressful this must be for all of you experiencing it firsthand. Hugs to you, Leanne.

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    1. Thanks Kristie. I think the enormity of what's happened is just sinking in. I guess you have to hope it will be ok in the end....
      L x

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  6. Don't feel badly about sharing your interior decorating, it is part of your life and no matter what else happens life will and must go on. So go on with your life. What we have to do now is pull together and get on with life and do our very best and make the very best of it, there isn't anything else we can do! The fire sounds delightful, can I come and share in the winter!! Might be a long drive!

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    1. Oh Amy do come! You can crochet and I can stoke the fire! I agree in hoping all will be well in the end. Maybe I'll enter politics life and help it along ;)
      L x

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  7. Oh Leanne, you should definitely be enjoying your newly renovated house no matter what. It sounds amazing btw and I can't wait to see photos. I love it light an airy and I am exited about our own plans. Mind you, we might have no money now as most of it is in an investment fund... The world is going to the dumps. I still feel sick. Imagine being in Scotland just now, the already noticeable anti English vibe in some parts of the country is just going to get worse now and the thought of another bomb ticking (not literally) makes we want to weep. We are a multinational family and although I am not immediately worried about being deported (smiles faintly), I do feel a bit anxious about the potential bureaucratic hurdles we might have to overcome to maintain our status quo in the country that we have adopted as our home and to which we contribute greatly. I got horribly drunk with my Northern Irish friend yesterday afternoon because it was all too much. Sobering up to a new scary future has is hard. Still, it is a lovely weekend, our summer holiday has started and even the sun has made a brief appearance. Lets enjoy the beauty around us and bury our heads in the sand for just a wee while. Christina xxx

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    1. I think I need to get horribly drunk with someone.
      L xx

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  8. I have this horrible vision of Donald Trump and Boris, both with bad hair days ruling the world! Word of warning on the stove front. Once lit you will definitely not leave it. You will SO enjoy :) Lovely vision of Julie Andrew in a mini, thank you. I never seem to find my inner Julie either. She must be a very busy lady. By the time you read this hopefully your house will be gleaming and just waiting for those finishing touches. Hope you have Marc's pipe and slippers waiting for when he arrives home :) B x

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    1. That thought makes me shudder. I'm thinking more along the lines of a rolling pin tbh :)
      L x

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  9. I'm with CT on the environmental worries, and agree with all you say about the past few days. All in all I'm devastated and very anxious about the future. It is an utter disaster. Can hardly bear to turn on the radio any more.

    Your decorations sound absolutely lovely, I shall look forward to seeing pictures. CJ xx

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    1. It's all so horrid isn't it, CJ? Thank the Lord for Adele.
      L x

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  10. Seagulls on the velux? That's an arthouse film title if I ever heard one. I can imagine the noise and the mess are a bit offputting but it still must be great to have them. Or not, perhaps...

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    1. They've been a bit of a nuisance. But fascinating too.
      L x

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  11. Nothing wrong with a bit of normality with the rest of the works going nuts. It's been a mental week. Adele is bringing me back down to earth with a big smile. She's hilarious. In other news I tried to persuade the husband to light our log burner this evening...one of the best things we've ever invested in, I LOVE it! Can't wait to see photos xxx

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  12. Frankly I would rather discuss your interior design projects than all of the other crazy shit that has happened this week. Our log burner very nearly was stoked up this evening. One of the best things we ever bought, you'll love it! Can't wait to see pictures of it all back together xx

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  13. Your renovations sound great and you will enjoy once its all finished ,go with the flow Leanne,iff i lived nearer we could get drunk together and decide who,s suitable to run the country !!!! Ha ha I think we could do the job with help from a few other bloggers! Right i,m off with camera to take some pics before it rains,and i might make some rhubarb shortbread ,fancy some with a cuppa ? xx

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    1. Oh I love putting the world to rights when inebriated! I can be an outspoken drunk lol. I really want to try the rhubarb shortbread recipe, but I'm the only person that would eat it. I'll swap you some for some elderflower gin?
      L x

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  14. We've been living in a sea of dust and paint fumes too, all a bit stressy and messy. Worth it in the end though!
    Jill

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    1. I must admit now everything is almost back to normal, I can't remember the mess!
      L xx

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  15. I'm in total agreement with you, I think. Yes, I am. I've gone from shocked to angry to worried / depressed now. I'm exhausted.

    Thank you for sharing your home projects with us. I love how happy these changes and improvements make you. (I stand at stare at my floor a lot too.) Xx

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    1. I've been through a whole range of emotions too. I'm now resigned, and hopeful the politicians can sort it out for the good of the country.
      L xx

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  16. I agree with all you say, sad and worrying times for us all, who knows where it will lead and for people to turn round and say they didnt' know what they were voting for and for the misleading politicians and newspapers, for our kids, for the future, I feel very sad.

    I am however looking forward to seeing the results of all your hard work int he house it sounds beautiful and my like my perfect place, take care and have a good week.
    ps. Adele was awesome at Glast, she's some woman, a comic with the voice of an angel x

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    1. Seems as if we are all like minded individuals here at least! I'll say it again; Adele for PM!
      L xx

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    2. Well we got a woman PM but not the one we wanted, hey ho, on with the CDs loud again :)

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  17. I am sure that everything is going to look wonderful!! Love that you have a new mantel to decorate!

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    1. Amy, my mantel is all that's keeping me going ;-)
      L xx

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  18. Totally agree with your last para – the whole referendum debacle was a time for Jeremy Corbyn to step up to the plate and shine. What a disappointment. The Labour party needs to Get A Grip and Sort Itself Out otherwise there'll be no credible opposition. I am hoping against hope that Conniving Boris doesn't become PM. Crikey. Anyway!! Your renovations sound wonderful and I'm pleased you're delighted with the results of all your efforts. It's times like these that we need to hang on to the good things – family, friends, music, flowers, cake, gin... Have a good week. Sam x

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    1. I'm wondering what you are thinking after all the resignations! Bloody ridiculous!
      L xx

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  19. your white house sounds like a haven of tranquility. a respite from the chaos of the world. I can't think about it, let alone write about how I feel, I am so saddened by the whole mess, I may make a quilt cave and never come out. except to buy gin.

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    1. I'll join you Tess. I have elderflower gin. Homemade.
      L c

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  20. Hope everything is ok Leanne, the politicians will get on with their business just as we get on with ours, don't worry. Your writing is your gift, and we all support YOU!

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  21. Your house sounds fantastic. We're in the process of painting the whole downstairs white as it's so very gloomy, particularly when the skies are so grey (practically every bloody day at the moment).
    I too am tired of all the political turmoil and scaremongering and not knowing what's going to happen. You're doing right: make your home into a haven, somewhere you can at least feel safe and comfortable and can exercise some kind of influence in this messed-up world!

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