Renovating beams.
28 November 2015, 06:59 PM
#61
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
28 November 2015, 07:06 PM
#62
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One friend couple called Julie and John kept large, constrictor sort of pythons as pets. They used to get them out of their glass box and put them all over in their house. Those friend are also still alive.
28 November 2015, 07:23 PM
#66
28 November 2015, 08:24 PM
#67
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh WOW, Jimbi! What a lovely nest you two have found for yourselves! 
Congratulations! May God, peace and much joy reside with you both in this new pad forever!
Now get a cute cat to guard your new house. That's all that's missing. 😻
Once again, enjoy the move in this Christmas.
Congratulations! May God, peace and much joy reside with you both in this new pad forever!
Now get a cute cat to guard your new house. That's all that's missing. 😻
Once again, enjoy the move in this Christmas.
28 November 2015, 08:45 PM
#68
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was originally a barn, Dunc', and the steps went up to the hay loft. When it was converted they were taken down, waterproofed and made building regs compliant, and then put back in using the original stone. The local authority insisted upon it remaining 'in character'. They may have to come down and go back up again if we decide to extend.
04 December 2015, 09:37 PM
#75
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right. Now tell us the date of your house warming party. We SNetters will turn up with some beer cans, no problem.
Also, post a picture of yourselves in the new house, or we won't believe that you're in it. Come on.
Also, post a picture of yourselves in the new house, or we won't believe that you're in it. Come on.
04 December 2015, 10:44 PM
#76
Scooby Senior
06 December 2015, 05:24 PM
#78
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you didn't know that before buying, then you should ask the sellers for some money back towards the sorting. Not that it would work, but you have to try. But if you bought 'sold as seen', then register yourself on a DIY course, and DIY the lot until you retire. I know people who buy historic ramshackles, and then spend their life time 'sorting' them for a hobby.
09 December 2015, 07:42 AM
#79
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you didn't know that before buying, then you should ask the sellers for some money back towards the sorting. Not that it would work, but you have to try. But if you bought 'sold as seen', then register yourself on a DIY course, and DIY the lot until you retire. I know people who buy historic ramshackles, and then spend their life time 'sorting' them for a hobby.
09 December 2015, 08:22 AM
#80
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A friend of mine has been doing his stunning barn conversion in Cheshire. His executive self is not very handy himself, but he's thoroughly enjoying doing the place up with his own speed. He can hire workers but he's liking giving personal touches himself so much that he says he can sleep in the master bedroom with his cat for as long as it takes for the rest to be completed. His house is his second child, as his cat is his first one.
It's all fun. Enjoy. 👍🏽
09 December 2015, 09:19 AM
#81
Scooby Regular
they really do work
10 December 2015, 06:20 AM
#82
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A friend of mine has been doing his stunning barn conversion in Cheshire. His executive self is not very handy himself, but he's thoroughly enjoying doing the place up with his own speed. He can hire workers but he's liking giving personal touches himself so much that he says he can sleep in the master bedroom with his cat for as long as it takes for the rest to be completed. His house is his second child, as his cat is his first one.
It's all fun. Enjoy. 👍🏽
It's all fun. Enjoy. 👍🏽
We washed most of the walls yesterday and cleaned and waxed most of the shelving and some of the doors. There are a few irritating things like drips where a stain's been badly applied and some paint on the exposed stone, but it can all be sorted when we move on to the prep' for decoration.
Yes, the missus has a packet, but I've not cracked them open. Will try one out today. Is it wrong that I'm looking forward to it?
10 December 2015, 05:20 PM
#84
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I renovated my kid's room last year before she came back from her post-uni travels. I worked really hard at it. I re-decorated the walls; painted the floor boards myself; re-fitted the curtain rails; dismantled and put back her wall-to-wall wardrobe; took heavy wardrobe doors down all by myself etc. I bought every bit of vintage furnishings myself and renovated them with my weird ideas
. I even spent days in developing a canvass with a nostalgic palatial backdrop for her wall. I couldn't wait for her to come and drop her jaw at the transformation! She certainly did and loved it, my labour of and for love was paid off with her approval and I felt brilliant with that. I never used to be handy till I married Stephen. He is quite hands on. We did the most of our pad up, so that unlocked my potential to DIY my house, I suppose. Imo one has to have a motivating force behind that enables the labour of love. For me, it's the sense of independece, autonomy and creativity for my DIY-ing. For my friend, I think it's the sense of achievement. Tbh, it must be all of that for him. And yes, I'm sure he loves his property that he invested his hard-earned income in. He's always in his overalls when he's not at work. I'm going to stitch an overall suit for his kitty as well, for Christmas.
Honestly, enjoy every minute of it. A glass of red or a beer each
in the evening will be well-earned after 4-5 hours of grafting at home as well, after work. Best wishes. 
11 December 2015, 09:48 PM
#85
Scooby Senior
yeah, that makes sense - no magic bullet just prep work, then a day or so of graft
personally I do (or attempt anyway) anything that is simply labour intensive - i.e. not much "skill/craft" involved
like painting, stripping,
as you say makes any renovation budget go further - better quality materials can be used
and in a way more satisfying too
although will attempt anything - I recently re-shafted an Axe, really satisfying and its still on one piece !!!!
personally I do (or attempt anyway) anything that is simply labour intensive - i.e. not much "skill/craft" involved
like painting, stripping,
as you say makes any renovation budget go further - better quality materials can be used
and in a way more satisfying too
although will attempt anything - I recently re-shafted an Axe, really satisfying and its still on one piece !!!!
I'm insulted.
17 December 2015, 09:15 AM
#88
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
17 December 2015, 12:39 PM
#89
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 48,539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh. 
In that case, I suggest you just learn to live with the mice you have. You may try other methods for getting rid of them e.g. mouse trap etc. But I hear that those ancient methods aren't as effective any more, as the mice have become extra-ordinarily alert these days. They will easily bypass your cheese trap; even if the cheese is the finest one from your favourite LIDL.
Edited to say: Didn't know you have had a new missus?? I wondered because you said 'this missus'. So, many congrats for that, too.
In that case, I suggest you just learn to live with the mice you have. You may try other methods for getting rid of them e.g. mouse trap etc. But I hear that those ancient methods aren't as effective any more, as the mice have become extra-ordinarily alert these days. They will easily bypass your cheese trap; even if the cheese is the finest one from your favourite LIDL.
Edited to say: Didn't know you have had a new missus?? I wondered because you said 'this missus'. So, many congrats for that, too.
Last edited by Turbohot; 17 December 2015 at 04:22 PM.
19 December 2015, 10:37 AM
#90
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh.
In that case, I suggest you just learn to live with the mice you have. You may try other methods for getting rid of them e.g. mouse trap etc. But I hear that those ancient methods aren't as effective any more, as the mice have become extra-ordinarily alert these days. They will easily bypass your cheese trap; even if the cheese is the finest one from your favourite LIDL.
Edited to say: Didn't know you have had a new missus?? I wondered because you said 'this missus'. So, many congrats for that, too.
In that case, I suggest you just learn to live with the mice you have. You may try other methods for getting rid of them e.g. mouse trap etc. But I hear that those ancient methods aren't as effective any more, as the mice have become extra-ordinarily alert these days. They will easily bypass your cheese trap; even if the cheese is the finest one from your favourite LIDL.
Edited to say: Didn't know you have had a new missus?? I wondered because you said 'this missus'. So, many congrats for that, too.
Anyway, the local authority anti-rodent squad are coming out in the next few days to try and get the little critters!
Have gotten rid of most of the previous occupant's chintz now. Also, was up late last night stripping the skirting to clean where they'd not caulked and dog-hair and dust and other assorted ming had accumulated. Lovely.
Bin-men took eighteen bags the other day, bless 'em. Still no telly, and I kind of like it! Also, no wi-fi or washing machine or freezer.
