So since yesterday was one of those days of minor irritations that built up to the boiling point of just. one. more. thing and itâd be camelâs back stuff, here we are in a shiny new day.
Iâve shelved the drain mending plan for outside the showerroom for now until Iâm certain of a decent weather day. In Ireland as in Scotland, not quite sure when thatâll be, but Iâm hopeful to get a few hours worth of cement drying time at some point over the next few weeks!
Instead Iâll work indoors. My daughter Aliceâs room needed a wee bit redecorating, and whilst doing so I noted the wooden window surround was woodwormed. So, to prevent it spreading, I (carefully!) ripped it out and plastered the space instead. Here is the Before:
And Iâll add the pics (when I take them!) of the plastered frame before I paint it, today. Bear in mind, Iâm seriously no DIY expert but I did my best. It was actually lovely to see the stone âbonesâ of the walls and frame. This cottage is solidly built and Iâm grateful for that. Back in north west Scotland, often the gales caused a great deal of damage to the house we lived in. The roof had to be repaired more than once. Here, the winds arenât half so fierce but, as seen with the polytunnel, still enough to damage structures, so Iâm happy to be living in a cottage with, to quote Capercaille, âfour stone wallsâ.
I was VERY careful around the window itself. Itâs still set sound in the frame and the outside is sealed, plus, I added a little extra sealant, especially in the corners. So today I paint the plaster then add sealant again inside and hope thatâs all ok.
When we moved in, there were rats in the attic. The cottage has stood empty for around twenty years but the owners, a pair of lovely elderly sisters, had kept the house in great condition all that time. (In fact, theyâve been absolutely kindness itself to us, and Iâll tell that story soon).
So we got Rentokil in. Iâm country born and bred, so I know that in the countryside, rats are inevitable, but if you can keep them outdoors, thatâs better than giving them lodgings. So theyâre gone now, the holes theyâd chewed (through concrete even! Do rats have teeth of steel or what!?) have been sealed up with special steel mesh covered concrete.
But one of the holes theyâd made to get into the living parts of the house whilst it was empty was in the airing cupboard, which I havenât used til Rentokil did their stuff. Now thatâs sorted, Iâll also paint the inside of the airing cupboard which is above the boiler so itâs lovely and warm, then I can use is *as* an airing cupboard and storage for blankets, sheets and towels, because itâs a large space and Iâve currently got all the bedding etc crammed into one very small wardrobe.
Frans goes to Carrick on Shannon today (fab place, if ye havenae been when youâre visiting Ireland, go! Also, has a great music shop) so when he returns hame, weâll eat then Iâll do some music practice. Last night was windy and rain lashed the windows. When youâve four strong walls around you, itâs a cosy feeling to lie in bed and listen to the storm outside and feel, for once, safe....
