Thursday 8 November 2012

Oh what a good girl

It is just past six in the morning. Bools and Gus have been up to go to the loo, now they are back in bed again. I am not. I have lots to do. I am still trying to shift everything into the kitchen and Half Barn. I am knackered. I should be picking things up, and carrying them to somewhere else not known at this time. I have been intermittently doing this for four and half years. I am used to it. It is the life of renovators living on site. 

The dust will arrive on Saturday. The girl pig has two more weeks to enjoy life. She was supposed to be done on Saturday, but Jean Pierre arrives to start the ceilings on that day. Do not think it appropriate to be working on the girl pig at the same time as Jean Pierre makes holes in the walls to take the support beams, making dust storms as he does so. Then there is the dismantlement of the tarpaulin which has served as the temporary ceiling in the lounge / computer room. When that comes down that will make a super duper dust storm, it has, after all, been up for two years, and the house has kept shedding little bits of stones and mortar for all of this time. We know this, because we are still finding bits of house on our computer tables, and we hear bits of house falling on the tarp above our heads. We also hear the pitter patter of little feet as other beings race across the tarps. 

So over the next two days all has to be moved into the Half Barn. I have finished painting what I am going to paint for the moment, will carry on when we are moved. Will have to paint over our heads, but not to worry, I have found that vinegar and water remove the dried up paint splashes quite easily. It will be warmer in the Half Barn, although living in a caravan for three winters has toughened us up to the cold and we have still had no fires on, but then it has not been too cold here yet. 

The cow. Well, what a good girl she was last night. Instead of putting her on a rope and getting her into the Tall Barn, which has always been a bit of a task for Hubs because everyone else is romping from the field into the paddock at the same time, and Elise gets carried away in the rush towing Lester with such force that he almost flies off his feet, as if he were a kite trying to fly. Anyway, last night Hubs let her go off with everyone else. I stood just beyond the gate to stop any naughties from carrying on up the drive to snatch some morsels of grass. Up come the gang. Straight through the gate. The two red goats last, taking their time, hanging back, Elise with them. Goats through gate. Gate shut. Elise now by herself. Hubs behind, me in front. She stops, thinks, turns right, and with a smart lady-like trot takes herself across the drive, and into the Tall Barn. Oh what a good girl! 

'Tis no good. I am looking at the time, it is nearly seven, and I really do have to carry on with shifting things around. Would prefer to be outside on the farm. Can't. The plumber is coming in tomorrow to fix the plumbing for the dishwasher. Jean Pierre is here on Saturday to start work on the ceilings. The electrician is coming in on Monday to sort out the cabling for the Internet. I have to go off line for a few days as the computers are re-sited. When I come back on line  we shall be all sorted out. I hope!

8 comments:

Diane said...

Oh I know the feeling well of moving things from A to B and then back again. I still do not know where half the the the things are from the last move around for the upstairs. Apart from the bathroom and the changing of windows to double glaze we are pretty much there at last. I do expect though lots of mess in every room when the windows are done!! They are all being made in oak, of course nothing is standard size!
Glad all the animals were on good behaviour last night. Don't overdo it and take care Diane

Diane said...

Thanks for the picture and the info on Bicarb will have a look in our Intermarche I could not find it in LeClerc. Diane

John Going Gently said...

do you know vera
I want to come round with half a bottle of red, a foot spar and a girlfriend who would give you a few hours of vera pamper time.....
you work too hard x

rusty duck said...

It's all getting very exciting...
I hope all goes well with the work and the move.

Horst in Edmonton said...

Hope everything goes well with this bout of renovations. Great to hear that Elise is doing so well to get into her stall. It's amazing how the memory of being outside alone all night will motivate her to behave. You have a great weekend. Here in Edmonton Canada, we have just had 2 feet of snow and possibly more coming tomorrow. Stay warm and dry, Vera. Be well.

Vera said...

Diane, hope you do not have too much mess when you get your windows put in. We have a long time to wait until we get our 'proper' oak windows and doors, at the moment we have cheap and cheerful Brico ones!
As for the bicarb, I don't like Leclerc much, I don't think it is a cook's shop. Out of all the local supermarkets here I still prefer Intermarche because it seems to still cater for people who do actually make their own food. Hope you manage to find some. You can get it over the Internet by the way.

John, you absolute treasure! All the pampering I get is being in bed with the electric blanket full on!

Jessica, have almost finished shifting everything around. Hope your cold gets better soon.

Horst, oh snow! We still don't have our fires on, but we are wearing several layers of clothing! Hope you are nice and tucked up. Hope you have a great weekend.

DUTA said...

Jean Pierre again. I like the french name, maybe you can give us his picture too. Anyway, it seems he's an indispansable worker on your little farm

Vera said...

Duta, Jean Pierre is a diamond of a man, and we are lucky to have found him. Will post a picture of him in a couple of days time.