That's "knackered" in Cockney rhyming slang, just FYI! Well my new floor is all done and I have to say I'm very pleased with Saint Maclou yet again. They show up when they say they will, I stayed out of their hair as much as possible and they did a very good job. There has been a
slight problem with my "generic" skirting boards in the living room though because my original tile skirting boards were larger than standard so they had to put the generic on top, and they're not really deep enough! I actually don't mind too much but in some places there is a gap at the top of the skirting board where the new ones don't meet the wall completely, so I will have to put some kind of foam down there to fill the gap. For the time being though, I just want to get everything cleaned up and back into some kind of order! But otherwise, I'm very happy with them again. What with getting the new heating put in, then emptying and cleaning out the kitchen and now this, I don't think I'll be getting any more home improvements done before the spring (bathrooms, I'm looking at you). And this week I've given my exercise classes a miss as I wanted to be here on site and I'm just too tired anyway. Next week I'll be back at it though! All I want to do right now though is sleep!
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The kitchen is actually very nice - but it still needs painting and decluttering (again)!
Glad I chose the mosaic style though!
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As I mentioned previously, my friend and I went down to the local "old fogies" fair in town on Sunday as we wanted to pick up the latest prospectus from GAL Voyages. Next year they are putting on quite a few trips, Norway/Denmark being of big interest, Holland in the spring (in time for the tulips), Slovenia in autumn (that's a maybe), Brittany …. plus loads of day trips. Right at the moment I haven't got the energy to start figuring out what I want to do but a couple of days of no hassle and I'll be back bouncing around like a kid on too many "E" numbers I expect!
There was another fair going on at the same time with fancy wine, cheeses and sausages (from Italy), organic stuff and the the ubiquitous salesmen trying to "invest" my pension money (sorry mate, I've just spent it all - you can stop by and see my new floor though if you like)! My friend and I just headed out of Dodge once we got to that end of the fair.
But on our way back home I saw the "homeless" guy who was hassling me the other night and his "poor leg" that required that I drive him in to town and give him money looked pretty good to me - in fact I don't think I could have kept up with him if I tried. My friend said she'd seen him around quite a lot and he can be a pain, although I would say that was an understatement!
Moving on, I was saddened today to hear of the premature death of popular British chef, Gary Rhodes, at the young age of only 59. As far as I know he wasn't ill so at the moment it's a bit of a mystery what happened, but still, 59 is way too young as far as I'm concerned. I have a couple of his cook books but to me they were probably a bit too "intricate", particularly when I was working. Having a 12-hour working day/commute I just didn't have the time or the inclination to put more hours into cooking, but the few recipes I did try turned out very well. But still, very sad all the same!
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| Gary Rhodes |
And then just yesterday we heard of the death of a colleague, also 59, who died on Saturday of cancer of the liver!!! Bloody hell! He was a nice guy and a "health nut" - didn't drink or smoke, clean living, a runner, and here he is gone in just four months start to finish! I tell you, T's death hit a little too close to home. He will be missed as he genuinely was a nice guy!
And finally, on a more pleasant note, to all my US friends out there, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and get to enjoy being with your loved ones. I know I'm probably a grinch but as I get older I enjoy "formal" celebrations less and less and informal, spontaneous get-togethers all the more. I guess there's less pressure for everything to be perfect isn't there! But still, enjoy that turkey (yumm), pumpkin pie (berk, sorry, just can't do it), and enjoy the company of those you love!
I love your kitchen floor. It looks like it would not show every speck that falls on it. You are right, 59 is too young to die.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy with it too (better still when I get the kitchen cleaned up/painted). I guess I'm finally learning to go with my gut instinct. And yep 59 huh???? WWAAAAYYY too young - I'm only just getting into the swing of this retirement business!!
DeleteThe new flooring looks great and I love your kitchen and the french doors to outside! that is very sad about the deaths so young. My grandma smoked (up until she was like age 50), ate whatever she wanted (but didn't drink, other than a bit of wine), didn't exercise and she lived to 95. You just never know how long you got on this earth.
ReplyDeleteI think that generation were just generally fitter because they didn't have the "conveniences" we have (and they didn't eat as much). My granny was 86, dad 85 and mom 94 so there are good genes there but it's right, you don't know do you!
DeleteYour floor looks wonderful. I wish you many more years of retirement to enjoy it! Sad to hear about Gary Rhodes and tonight Clive Anderson. I feel there has been an epidemic of death around me lately, its very depressing at times. To get back to cheerier subjects though, I agree with you about pumpkin pie, who thought that was a good idea! I wish we had a thanksgiving day, it would be nice to have a holiday thats not as commercialised as all the others seem to be. That said, do you think its ironic that Americans will spend tomorrow being thankful for all they have and the day after they all go mad shopping!! lol. x
ReplyDeleteYep all this death is depressing isn't it. But we used to have harvest festival at school didn't we, although nothing like Thanksgiving. And I agree with you, spend one day giving thanks and the next knocking each other over in the sales. I always feel that way on New Year's Eve actually. Everyone wishing everyone a happy new year and then yelling at them the next day to "get off the road ya moron"! Do you think I'm getting cynical???
Delete59 is no age. I was really shocked by the news. The floor looks lovely both in the lounge and kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tania, and you're right 59 is young. I was always "aiming" at 60-ish as my retirement date and something like this makes you think twice doesn't it!
DeleteDid I comment already? Short memory. 59 is so young-it makes me not begrudge spending anything on things that bring me and my family true joy-travel, visits over a nice glass of wine, not more stuff. The floors look great. Are they hardwood or the vinyl planking? We have the planking in our lower family room and just love it, but hardwood on main floor, which now needs a sand and a varnish as it got scratched.
ReplyDeleteNope you're not losing it. You're right about being sensible with your time and money so that you can enjoy it while you still can. As they say, there are no pockets in shrouds are there. As for the flooring, it used to be really nice terracotta tiles but since the kitchen got flooded it all had to go so now it's vinyl. They recommended that as being easier to keep clean (and water resistant). Enjoy your Thanksgiving tomorrow!
DeleteThat pattern on the kitchen floor looks terrific! Was it sheet or planks? If it's planks,I'm curious as to how they did the pattern match.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not really counting tomorrow as a holiday since I get to work the weekend. Still, I will make sure it's a relaxing day off.
I knew the "technical" questions would come from Dave! It was sheets I guess so while he had to work to get them matched I don't think it was as difficult as if it had been planks. And enjoy your "day off" - I hope you don't get hammered on Good Friday as I'm sure you could do without it!
DeleteLove your kitchen floor. True, it's very busy but it's stylin' as the young folks say, it will hide lots of sins and it just works with your cabinets.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sluggy. It already hides a multitude of sins!
DeleteI have laughed at your 59 and getting into retirement.. I retired 3 times and eventually stopped working at 64.. so these days several years on, my DH and I do enjoy our time and are using our money to make ourselves comfortable. We moved here to Suffolk 2 1/2 years ago, its not a French chateau but a very nice Victorian villa and we 've had everything done, kitchen, bathroom, and decorating and we love it. So we're enjoying living happily and comfortably. So you spend your money on what you want and like.. Ciao (I read you went to Italian classes as have we for some time)
ReplyDeleteHi Christine, and thanks for stopping by my blog. Yeah, a French château would have sounded wonderful 30 years ago (as would running a restaurant), but now? Not so much!!! And good for you for retiring and spending your money to make your life comfortable. I don't know Suffolk well (my brother lived in Bury and Thetford for a while) but the little bits I have seen I found to be very pretty!
DeleteLooks good. We replaced many of our painted skirting boards with oak ones not so long ago and ended up with gaps between the boards and walls in places -turned out the walls aren't as straight or smooth as we thought!
ReplyDeleteYou're right about walls not being straight but I think my problem is more that the original tile/brick skirting boards are just too wide. Not to worry, I'll fill in the gaps with foam at some point - but more like spring before I get round to it I suspect!
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