Parents and DIY

11.08.00pm GMT Sat 11th Mar 2006

My home has the red window frames

My parents are up visiting this weekend, so they and I have been doing some DIY on my house. I never realised when I bought my house how much time, effort and money would be expended on it - don't get me wrong I love my house it has got character that a 'new build' wouldn't have but it is very frustrating at times.

It was great to see my parents, and the video they brought up of Emily (they had just been on holiday with my brother, sister-in-law and niece) I feel a little guilty about putting them to work but they did offer! They came up Friday and will return to London on Monday, so as well as DIY I hope to spend some time with them - sadly I will miss out on an important event in Birmingham on Sunday (will post separately about that), but it is the price you have to pay.

Whilst it does not sound a lot my dad and I finished all the stripping (which has gone on for ages) that needs to be done and did some drilling, put up a mirror, mended some locks and other little jobs we attempted to put up some blinds but failed as we could not removed a strange object on my window frames. My mum mainly cleaned up after us, but also gave my plants some TLC that I often fail to do. There was also a trip to the tip thanks to Mr. Lawrence's camper van. This follows a week with a new boiler - the house may just be coming together!

The next things that need to be done are the plastering - I now have a plasterer it is just sorting the date for that and then painting. More importantly the blinds need to go up - anyone who is dab hand with IKEA blinds and removing odd objects please contact me! Also a new shower needs to be fitted and the bathroom decorated. When the weather improves I need to tackle the garden, or get one of the two people who have offered to come and tackle it in return for food/drink/favours...

Sadly lack of time and money probably means the next spurt will not be after the local elections. I would like to have the newly plastered rooms decorated, effectively a new bathroom and a garden make-over before the first anniversary of owning the house. Talking of owning the house I have had my second mortgage statement (I get them every three months which seems excessive) I now just owe £300 more than when I took out the mortgage, i.e. less of the house - next statement I may start to own a little bit!