Author Archive: braggadmin

So Shaun is coming back early!

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So Shaun is coming back earlier than we expected so we have had to bring forward work that was planned to be done at a leisurely pace during his original planned 1 – 2 year working holiday.

So we have started at the top of the house as this was desparate for work to be done.

Lots of filling, lots of plasterboard to be screwed back in. Even some floorboard sections needed cutting out and replaced to sit sections on the joists so that the boards did not “float”.

Then one board was lifted up to find corroded stop cocks so a plumber had to be brought in to sort the problem. Plumber turned out to be a nice guy and he and the decorater, Glen, exchanged telephone numbers so they could help each other – I tried to get a commission but they just laughed at me!

I am trying to sort out a banister post that is so loose that when you hold it, it floats all over the place. Using corner braces on the floor. Luckily it is over a joist so I have a nice firm footing to fix it to.

We are having a new hand rail fitted and that will be stained light oak with a satin finish, with satin fittings, and the bannister top rail is going to match. Should look good.

Had to put in more sockets and have a big bank of them at the position where the desk is going. Added some USB ones too, so guests have charging facilities.

And my knees are killing me!

The upstairs airing cupboard now has a filing cabinet in it and Shaun’s room is full up with stuff, as is the upstairs toilet.

Current status pictures:

    

    

How to spend money in retirement!

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Well we've finally got around to spending pots of money on the house and garden.

We've had a firm doing maintenance work on the outside of the house, hiding network cables, power cables, cleaning soffits, finally sorting the exterior pipe work on the dorma (people who built it used grey piping attached to the original black and then painted it black!).

Also we've decided to get the pond sorted as it was leaking as apparently a heron had been pecking at the lining whilst trying to get to the fish.  Was it this guy? :

The guy that originally tried repairing the lining, Richard, with patches obviously could not find all the holes as despite piles of patchwork it still leaked!

So he's back....., well Richard and also the Heron!  Manda looked out of Shaun's window today to see the heron sitting on the side of the paddling pool, which is the fishes new home.

Richard has been stripping the pond, relining it and sorting out some of the stonework.

We've also asked him to sort the patio out as some of the stones were floating and some were cracked/broken.  We don't think he expected to do as much as he has had to do, and we also hope that the bill is not going up too much!  His discovered a large crack in the cement under the stones, which is why they had moved.

So far this is stage we are at:

What a mess!

The relined pond - has'nt leaked yet!

More mess!

The fishes new temporary home!

Next door neighbours, who would have them!

The next door neighbour has taken it upon herself to block what sun we get in the garden, by putting up a 6ft fence!

Manda is planning to put some climbing plants in front of the fence on our side to hide it a bit.

I said to the guys putting the fence up that I hoped they had treated it well as we were never going to touch it!  "Sorry mate we are only doing what we are told"

Next thing was that they said our shed was partially on the neighbours property.  The shed has been there 30 years (well maintained this shed!) and had never bothered anyone before.  It turns out that the end of one of the apex's was stopping one fence panel going up in line with the rest!

So we have had the faff of having to move the shed forward a couple of inches and I had to cut the end off (as the acctress said to the Bishop).

Doing my bit

In order to show willing and to "add my bit" I too have put the paint stained rags on, leather gloves and so on and re-painted the utility room base with bitumen paint.

It took longer than I thought it would as I had to dig out all the drainage stones where the ground is above the damp course.  Got to now wash these before putting back!

Also whilst wirebrushing the area some of the pointing started to disintegrate so I also ended up having to re-point parts too.  So what was meant to be a couple of hours job has turned into a 2 day job.

Some before and afters .....

I also got blagged by Manda into moving a tree in the left hand "pod" in the garden.  She wanted it centred so smaller plants could go in front.

That was back breaking work!  No need for gym workouts this week......

The shape of the pod is being changed too.  Before it looked a bith like a number "7" but with moving the tree we are going to make that area more like a shallow "U", you can just see parts of the edging stones sticking out in one of the images above.

Having pulled the edging stone out I then had to clean them up by removing the mortar that on them as Dean was all for use using new ones, when the ones we have a fine, especially now they are cleaned up.

Some of the other work done; and to be done…

Here are images of some of the other work already done, not by me but by Dean of DP Maintenance......

As said at the beginning the exterior pipe work still has to be done and the next job after the pipe work etc is the retaining wall running along the left side of the garden is to gain a "hat", which is the cheaper way of repairing the top bricks that are breaking up a bit (£600 compared to over £900).  It will have one of these on the top of it:

The plan is to use the sand colour

Ireland Day 5 – Athy

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Day 5

Athy has a local heritage centre.  Part of which is dedicated to Ernest Shackleton, who was born quite close by.

So we decided to visit this and went in about 11am.  The first part consisted of three videos to watch in their little theatre.  One was on the canal system feeding Dublin, now pressty much closed down in Dublin itself but still working in places like Athy, one on Ernest Shackleton and one on the Irish rebellion.

All pretty interesting in their own way.  Martin (cousin) would have been interested in the canal one….

   

   

   

Canal images courtesy and copyright of Gerry Hill.

The images above show the bridge in Athy and the Keep at the top end of the bridge, built to keep raisers out etc.  The third picture shows the resident tour boat and the old library in the background.  The library has now moved to St Dominic’s church as they left:

 

More of this premises on Day 7……

And so back to Foxhill for a steak dinner cooked by SMB

Ireland Day 4 – Jameson Tour

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Day 4 we decided to do a tour of the old Jameson distillary in Dublin.

Brian wanted to do the tour as well so we (he) drove up to the outskirts of Dublin and we caught the Luas (pronounced Lewis – yes I know!) into the city centre.  See HERE.

We had a good tour with an Aussie as a guide!  Well she did claim to really be Irish, but who knows!

We also had a whiskey tasting session with the guide explaining to us the differences between Jameson, Bourbon and Scotch Whiskey….

Before we started

The tasting table

 

Why so serious Brian!

Free Drink After!

After the Jameson tour we went for a quick lunch, caught the Luas back to the car and we went to a shopping outlet somewhere near Athy to have a look about.  Well Manda and I did.  Brian stayed in the car and had a kip!

The shopping outlet was all branded good at ‘special’ outlet prices, suposedly discounted.  We did check some prices out and they did seem a bite cheaper.  I bought a new pair of trainers for the Gym and we had a look at some Le Creuset stuff, but thought better of it.

After our look around we went back to the car and gave Brian the shock of his life by tapping on the window of the car!

   

   

It was a bit like Port Merrrion (the village in The Prisoner) in the sense that it was all so new and pristine.

Back to Foxhill and we all went out for an Asian dinner at the local restuarant.

Ireland – Day 3 – Powerscourt Falls and House Trip

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Day 3…..

We finally got off out butts and planned a day out.

We went to Powerscourt Falls and Powerscourt House.  We originally planned to take in Glendalough (pronounced Glenda Loch) but as it was raining when we got there we did not fancy doing a walk in the rain so carried on to the falls.

We drove there over the Wicklow ‘mountains’ through Wicklow pass, which was pretty scenic.  The original plan was to do a route in a circle but we changed our mind and came back the way we went.

The route through the Wicklow Gap

Wicklow ‘Mountains’

Looking down the ‘Gap’ from the Glendasan Valley Lead Mines

 

Powerscourt Waterfall

   

   

   

It was an interesting waterfall, very tall!  And in really rainy weather probably would run more and a lot faster.  We stopped and had a coffee at the cafe on site.

Powerscourt House and Gardens

This house has a long history.  See HERE.

It burnt down on the ’70’s and had to be re-built by the family.

We started by having some lunch then explored the grounds, you cannot explore the house…  They provide you with a ‘dongle’ which has a commentry when you scan a card at certain places.  Quite interesting.  There is a nice Japanese garden as well….

   

   

    

 

Irish Arrival

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So we arrived in Ireland and spent the first hour, at least, stuck in Dublin traffic, trying to get out of the port and city to get on our way the Athy (Pronounced A th eye), which is where Brian and Kathleen live.

Brian (pronounced Bryan) was with us, happily dozing off in the back seat of the car!

Once we broke the Dublin traffic and go onto the outskirts of the city getting down to Athy was quick quick. Though we did not actually arrive until nearly 8pm.

Kathleen had laid on dinner for us, which was nice. Honey roast ham, which was nice, with some ham left over for ham and eggs for breakfast on another day!

Kathleen is intending to start a Schauzer breeding business and we got met by a “Pack” of crazy Schnauzers!  6 dogs in total.  Pippa, Kasper, Stella, Holly, Bailey (a pup that is going to be the ‘master’ breeder!) and Cherri (I think this is how you spell it).

Here is one of the dogs:

This is Kasper who has this habit of “sleeping” on his back all the time!

These are some of the other dogs – image is a bit rubbish.  Bailey, Pippa (with cone on) and Holly (I think):

For Saturday and Sunday we pretty much just chilled out at their house, chatting and pottering about – Marian House, Foxhill:

We gave them this plaque for a house warming present…..

Connor….

Steve and Manda to Ireland

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As Shaun had gone to Australia and Brian our friend from Ireland had come over to see Shaun off we said to Brian not to get a return ticket as we would drive him home, back to Ireland.

The plan to stay for a few days and enjoy the “craic”.  It was agreed that we would stay for a week, or a bit more, until the 22nd, then drive back home.

After an over 6 hour trip to Holyhead we final boarded the ferry to Ireland…..

                  

I only have images of the ferry coming into port in Dublin!

 

Shaun Went to Australia

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Well Shaun went off to Australia…..

The trip was planned nearly two years ago and finally on Sept 13th off he went.  He was pretty nervous on the day and started to get concerned a couple of days before.  However once he met up with his group and broke the ice he seemed OK and went off happily enough.

The family saw him off at the airport and had breakfast with him.

Here are some images:

Shaun has since advise that he has started a blog.

You can go here to see his blog and catch up on his latest news:

braggingrights89.wordpress.com

Reuben’s Birthday Party

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Well to be more precise his and his friend’s Ant’s joint party.

Yes, yes, Reubens birthday is not until 25th October!

Anyway the party was held at Fairlands Community Centre, Zoe and friend hired the hall, but in the event as it was sunny and Planet Soccer had been hired to do a football theme most of the time was spent outside on the playing field with 13 or more maniacal children practising their football skills and generally charging about – playing tag to get warmed up.

Then they had a mini football tournament in teams of 4 with Reuben and Ant as joint captains of one team.

By all accounts all the children enjoyed themselves and there were not too many injuries!

Here are some images and videos of the fun and games:-

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