Author: Bungalow Blogger

Day Two

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Well, I guess day one would be hard to trump for impact and dramatic change.  Today there was more clearing of the attic.  They were taking the insulation out, removing the rest of the ceiling and some of the floorboards are up now too. Here’s how it is looking today.

view from the back
view from the back
indulation still to go
insulation still to go
view from the back
view from the front

We spotted a couple of wasp bikes/nests in the eaves.  The are incredible, how on earth can the wasps make such a perfect structure? They are so delicate and fragile.  Not so keen on the inhabitants though, that’s for sure.

larger of the wasp bikes
larger of the wasp bikes

day 2 009

The most dramatic change today is the arrival of scaffolding at the front. It’s quite bizarre looking out of the first floor window and seeing someone standing there.

day 2 005

insulation removed today
insulation removed today

I have no idea where all this insulation has come from, especially since there is a massive amount still to come out.  The worst thing was the wind blowing it all over the place.  It did get covered up soon after I took this,  horrible stuff.

The stripping should be finished tomorrow and some of the prep for the steel beams will be done. I’m looking forward to seeing how they’re going to get them where they need to be!

The boys are just loving the building action and F is planning what he could do with one big room and an xbox setup. L was interested to  see where the wasps that often sat on his windowsill had come from.  Wee H is not so well this evening, I think she is a bit overwhelmed by the whole scenario and, knowing her, she’s probably worrying about it all.  She has the runny nose that a 5 year old is often plagued by at this time of year. Fingers crossed a good sleep will restore her sunny smile.

I joined Pinterest earlier to put ideas for the new look bungalow on.  Now I need to work out how to get a wee button on the blog to take you there.  I fear Pinterest may be a bit addictive.  We’ll see.

Day One

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Well, the day did arrive and so did the builders, or should I say the demolishers?  I had left for work before they arrived so when I got home to an open van full of debris in the drive I couldn’t wait to get in to see what they had been up to.  I was not disappointed.  What a day’s work.

Upstairs had, until today, the original rooms built in the 1930’s.  There was no stud partition used but simply timber and plywood with rough and ready nails through to the other side occasionally.  There was a large room to the front with an old dormer, a toilet (the throne itself had its own disgusting carpet platform) and a small room to the back which my Dad had as his hideaway study.  There was also a wee boilerhoose that was full of stuff.  Another story the boiler, all I’ll say for now is get a CO detector, nothing bad happened but our old one was leaking it and was immediately condemned.

Before

larger room before
larger room before
front window before
front window before
small room window
small room window
small room
small room
the delightful loo
the delightful loo

and After

Look at what I saw when I made it across the boardwalk and up the old stairs. I was totally stunned, it was nearly dark so it was hard to get a real impression of the new space.  The boardwalk is plywood stuff that has been put down in the hall to save the carpet I am desperate to get rid of, very thoughtful.  Simply a brilliant start and I am now so so excited about our new upstairs.

front window after
front window after
back right to front left
back right to front left
from front to back after small room was on lhs
from front to back after small room was on lhs

We did have a wee hiccup on the heating front but after a quick call the guys were back and had it sorted until tomorrow, what great service.

Lastly, here are some funny little things that are now gone forever.  The nails coming through the wall to the boilerhoose.

a handy nail cum hook
a handy nail cum hook

A really old piece of graffiti with a serious message, I did not always take heed and so frequently bumped my heid.

written a very long time ago on low timber beam leaving boilerhoose
written a very long time ago on low timber beam leaving boilerhoose. Duck unless you’re a pygmy

Finally for now, bit of colourful lino, love it.

old lino
old lino, great colours and pattern

Ready, at last

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After what seems like weeks of sorting, packing, moving and dumping things we have finally finished clearing the upstairs.  The 2 boys have made their home downstairs in amongst boxes, chairs and other interesting items. The work starts tomorrow morning.  Here’s a photo of the front room upstairs on Saturday afternoon just to give you an idea of what we have shifted since then.

Saturday 26 Jan
Saturday 26 Jan

That’s the first stage done and hopefully the most emotionally and physically demanding part too. Renovation is one of those things, you know, when you discuss something and agree on this and that and then you find yourself telling people what’s happening and, secretly, you feel that the time will never actually come.  Then the time does come and you need to face the music and you feel almost surprised this day has actually arrived. Or is that just me?  It has happened lots of times in my life, too many to mention at this time of night.

While his parents were busy busy on Saturday, our wonderfully talented boy F made a plasticine model of  the Titanic on its way down, like you do.  I promised to show the world his amazing creation so here it is.

titanic in plasticine by F
titanic in plasticine by F