News from Limbo

 The beautiful boy and I are still at Hotel Grandma and whilst Grandma has earned her sainthood putting up with our mess and disruption we are both more than ready to be settling into our new home now; just a couple more weeks and we should be there!
Life continues to race along on it's up and down roller coaster and if I'm honest, this week I'm not much enjoying the ride. Some weeks seem to have dragged on for decades whilst others have whilstled past so fast I realise I have not visited you in a while.
Taking one day at a time is all well and good, and it's a great way to get by, but I feel well overdue for looking forward now, if I could only work out where 'forward' is.
I have baked the final single-number cake for my beautiful little boy. Next year I shall have to bake two cakes. The beautiful boy is delighted at this prospect!
 
 Much fun was had with friends - for the first time this year due to Life in Limbo, we opted for an organised party venue and my oh my why didn't I ever do this before?! So much easier and so much less to clear up afterwards! The beautiful boy was delighted to spend a couple of hours doing death defying circuits looking all grown up....
I find he looks much littler again if I plonk a full sized cricket helmet on his head....
....not completely all grown up yet I'm glad to say!
And finally last week it was time to ditch the crocs and tatty t-shirts and return to scritchy new blazer and tie and the tyranny of the school run, at least for my half of the time. Autumn is really here.
The air is crisp and I yearn to be on the sofa in front of the wood-burner snuggling with my boy and a book. And this is where that will be! Very soon our lovely new 7kw stove will be installed ready for action!
Our builder will be leaving site at the end of next week and has made a lot of changes in just a couple of months. Not least by adding eye-wateringly expensive lumps of steel to the collapsing floor that we discovered in the boy's bedroom (yes, the room with the aforementioned collapsing ceiling)!
 The plumber starts work this week and as soon as he's finished the house is ours - although I think the electrician is planning to pop back a few times to sort things I keep changing......and there will be much slopping around of Trade White emulsion ...... and boxes upon boxes of heaven knows what coming out of storage.... oh my!
I have been shopping 'til I drop at Screwfix, Jewsons and other such builders' merchants haggling prices down and trying to understand how many possible ways there are to fix a tap to a pipe!
The tinky kitschen
I feel the experience of going to the counter in these places must be somewhat akin to what a man feels when he walks into a womens' lingerie store to buy a gift for his girl. The next time you're hinting that you want your man to go shop for you at Agent Provocateur just pop along to your local Travis Perkins and see how it feels.
The new workroom (try not to notice what happened to the linoleum floor!)
I know. That's a little sexist, and I'm presuming that all my readers are women - which you aren't. Sorry.  And I'm sure there are men who are perfectly at home in lingerie stores and I'm sure you're not all as dim as me about plumbing sundries.... But my goodness, how was I to know when I ordered 40 tees and elbows that they came in packs of 5? I mean....really? And who said it was second nature to understand the pump requirements of a condensing boiler? And do I care? Pah!
So you are getting a feel for the grumpy in the kitschen today folks. Here's our little antidote to take the edge off of the building site that we call home!
A sort of normality will return. At the moment I have no idea what that will mean, but clearly a little re-invention is required for a fresh start. Watch this space. I'll be taking a deep breath and jumping off of the roller coaster one day soon!  t.xxx

PS: The old kitschen will be featured in Good Homes' November issue out soon. That will be a bit weird. And for those of you across the Atlantic watch out for a feature in an issue of Romantic Homes early in 2011!

Comments

MelMel said…
Glad things are gelling together, its all coming along I'll be sure to treat myself to that mag!xxx
Jenn M said…
Ooh, that's exciting about the magazine bit - I can't wait. I know how you feel being in limbo; just keep in mind in a few months this will all be a distant memory as you struggle to decide on paint chips and where all your lovely vintage treasures will go. And more importantly, what great memories you and your son will make in your new home. Chin up!
Jenn
Thedarkerside73 said…
Aww the blackboard says it all. A real cheer up.Sometimes children know just the right thing to do or say dont they.

Well as for plumbing and such like I am sure you are faring better than I would. I have absolutely no idea on that sort of thing.

I hope all will be cosy and right in your world very soon. And look forward to seeing how all the muck and disruption equates into the beautiful and loving home you and your boy deserve.

Take care.

MBB x
Mrs Whiffo said…
How exciting, it all seems to be coming together.
Unknown said…
What a huge transformation and you are both coming along in leaps and bounds.

Oh your beautiful little boy is tranforming into a very handsome young man!

So grown up in the Go-Kart. They grow up in a blink of an eye these days.

How wonderful to be in your own home very soon, cosying up in front of your fire, shutting the door on the world - it'll be snug and warm and bliss in the winter, just you wait and see.

Wishing you every happiness
xxxx
jessica daisy said…
Ha Ha, I became quite a regular at our local travis perkins a couple of years ago when we where having building work done, and I always made sure I took advantage of the free cappuccino and hot chocolate from their coffee machine. I almost felt a little sad when all the work was finished!
Jessx
For those of us not embroiled in the exhausting renovations, it all looks very exciting. I know it's going to look fabulous, absolutely fabulous Teena, so hang in there for the last leg of the marathon. Love Vanessa xxx
Lovely to see you posting. Aah yes I remember all that renovation stuff - I didn't understand any of it - utterly clueless and I can't say I learnt much - if it's not yarn related I don't retain it!
Good luck - nearly there :)
Lynn.
Planet Penny said…
Oh dear, Travis Perkins...I do feel for you, nothing kitsch in there! Never mind, it looks like the end is in sight and you can go back to the girly shopping, apart from the paint shops that is! Happy birthday to the BB, love Penny x
A time to dance said…
I actually like my bedroom since all the wall paper was taken off... It's very much like a toast catalogue!!! So hang in there pal..... I have been there and I know it's always always worth the wait .....
Gorgeous Things said…
I'm sure it's all going to look wonderful - very, very soon - and you'll be able to have cosy evenings by the fire. And the trauma of shopping at the builders merchants will be a distant memory.
Fingers crossed that it goes smoothly,
Gorgeous x
Pennyblossoms said…
Gosh, I haven't looked at your blog for ages, and cannot believe all that you have had to cope with. It seems the worst is nearly over and your world sounds like it is going to be wonderful. Enjoy!
Z xx
Rubyred said…
I think you're doing brilliantly! I wouldn't have a clue about the whole plumbing thing!
It's gotta be worth it when your beautiful boy leaves you notes like that!
Rachel x
A Thrifty Mrs said…
I'm not surprised he is pleased at the prospect of two cakes. TWO CAKES! Yeah!

You're doing really well, you're getting there.