Renovations

Recently, Elk's Street H.Q. underwent some renovation.

The idea was very simple; one room would have the walls spruced up, new flooring put in, and the sink and cupboards of what had, once upon a time, been a kitchen would be removed. A small, basic piece of decorating - nothing special. The idea was that Thomas and Henry would each get their own bedroom.

But... What happened?

"Could you just come here and have a look at this, please," said the head builder.

Yes, the builders had found some rotten wood - unfortunately, on some of the beams holding the whole house together. What started out as a minor decorating job ended up as major work costing many thousand Euros.

Where the former kitchen sink had been. Note the drain and, behind it, the grey-coloured wood.


One of the trouble-spots.


Temporary support to stop the ceiling of the living room falling in.


Some of the timbers awaiting transport to the tip. Note how little of the wood is healthy and able to support the walls and floor.



Work in progress in what is to become Thomas's room.

But all's well that ends well.

Below, some photos of the two 'new' rooms.

The 'middle room,' which was not to be touched in the original plan.


Another view of the 'middle room.'

The little bed is Thomas's former bed, which is there for the time-being and used as a sofa for the bedtime reading sessions.

View 1 of Thomas's 'new room.'


View 2 of Thomas's 'new room.'

Being a modern sort of guy, Thomas sleeps on a futon. And for those who want to know these things, the little wood-fired stove in what is now Thomas's room is from the company Morso. And yes, it is your correspondent's very own vanity project.

As regards the cost; you don't want to know.


To finish this post, a little treat for all house-owners; The Gasman Cometh by Flanders and Swann.





"Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do!

'Twas on a TUESDAY morning
The Carpenter came round;
He hammered and he chiselled and he said: 'Look what I've found!
Your joists are full of dry-rot
But I'll put it all to rights.'
Then he nailed right through a cable and out went all the lights.

Oh, it all makes work for the working man to do!

'Twas on a WEDNESDAY morning
..."