I'm back!!

Been quite busy of late hence the tumbleweed rolling across my page!!!

Goodwood Members Meeting this year was even better than last in terms of content, line up and evening entertainment if not the weather - bone chilling icy wind!!! but at least the rain kept away.
Its a pleasant departure from Revival and geared up very much for Members and their guests only which means fewer people and access all areas!

Turkey

Now here's a country I was never really interested in going to - but how wrong was I?!?!?!
What a wonderful place - very friendly people, good food and wine, plenty of restaurants, wonderful beaches and of course the weather was fab!!

Yes, you can do all the touristy stuff if you want but that's not really my bag. We stayed in Turunc on the south west corner of the country - a small village about 2 hours drive from Dalaman Airport
Would I go back?.....yes, - would I recommend it to others?....well..... yes, but not to too many people - don't want to spoil what is a very nice place!!

Goodwood revival 2014

Well, another Revival has drawn to a close. This is my 16th revival and it still enthuses me in the way the first one did!! The period atmosphere, clothes, music, cars, bikes, and general ephemera all combine to ignite a heady toxic wave of nostalgia...Mmmm,,,just lovely!

This year had many specific tributes, Jackie Stewart, the World of Vintage Maserati, and D Type Jags However, the most moving and poignant was the tribute to the role RAF Westhampnet  played in the air defence of the UK during WW2. A eulogy by Lord March and a parade of 100 WW2 vehicles and 400 personnel made for a cracking spectacle!!

The Goodwood Revival,with its trade mark attention to detail, authenticity and style, always delivers....... Long may that continue!

Venice

I never tire of Venice - with its intoxicating charm, its ability to exude beauty in decay and its unique haunting atmosphere. A City with a remarkable history that survives and revolves around and on the water, from the Grand Canal out onto the Lagoon.

Early mornings are best for tourist free wonderings, late evenings for eating, drinking and strolling. There are many sights, sounds and smells, but for me, two of the best, are the fish market -Pescheria and the vegetable and fruit market Erberia - operating out of the rear of the Rialto with their heavily laded barges unloading their wares early in the morning -  an activity that hasn't changed in centuries

People watching is also a must - stop for coffee just abut anywhere and well....... watch!!!!

Mille Miglia 2014

What a Week!!!!!!

Just back from what Enzo Ferrari called "the worlds most beautiful road race" Everything about 2014`s Mille Miglia was just perfect! - cars, drivers, organisation and above all... the weather - the complete opposite to 2013

This annual visit to the Brescia Motor Clubs most prestigious event is, for me, probably the most exciting and anticipated motor event of the year - second only to the Goodwood Revival. The usual number of famous faces were taking part including Brian Johnson (AC\DC), Jeremy Irons, Jodie Kidd, Jochen Mass, Bruno Senna, Martin Brundle.

However perhaps more importantly, there are  hundreds of individuals, many family members - fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, mothers, daughters who take on the Mille Miglia simply because of its history, its beauty and above all....their passion........and you can`t get better than that!!!

The winning car this year was a Lancia, driven of course, by an Italian pairing.

If you have never been to MM or are perhaps thinking about going ........don't dawdle .....get on and organise it!!!!!

Hello - I`m back!!!

Hello Everyone,

I`ve been absent for a while - after all that building work, Christmas and New Year I needed a break - but now I`m refreshed and ready to go - so watch this space over the next week!!

The Build Week 10 - The Finale!!

Well here we are, albeit very late we have week 10!!

When I last spoke to you we had a hole in the electrical ring main, second fix plumbing to complete and the worktop was about to come through the door!

Gareth fixed the ring main and left a nice little bill for the fitters, Malcolm finished the second fix – nice! - and the worktop went down well, mind you, the two chaps lifting the pieces of granite out of the van and into the kitchen looked more like weight lifters, tight large belts wrapped around the waist, powder on their hands and the pre-requisite body build!

Next, enter Gary our painter. He does/did a great job – as always. Loves white coffee (I say white because even after him working for us for over 15 years I still forget the milk!!!) and a chin wag – there’s always something going on in Gary’s life!!

How many grandchildren have you got now Joe, Gary asks, Four I say, the youngest being just 10 months – do they visit often Gary asks, yes quite often I reply - best have Dulux Endurance on those kitchen walls then says Gary – tougher than tough!!..............how right he was!!

Now that it’s all done, it does (even if I say so myself) look pretty good. It’s a relatively small space but makes a HUGE difference to us and I hope to those who visit us.

The whole project has been fun and a great learning experience for a novice building project manager – for what its worth, here are some items from my yet to be published “Little Book of Little Building Project Management” (they say it`ll never sell?!?!)

• Get as many of your chums as possible to help with demolition
• Always make sure one of hem looks like a YMCA member
• Never light a fire when the roofer is using a blow torch
• Always provide spectacles for your digger driver (in case he’s unable see bright blue water pipes)
• Make sure you can get EASY access to your mains water valve in the street
• If not, have a heavy hammer close by so that you can smash the cast iron cover
• Make sure you know where the valve is in the first place
• Never let you chum repair circular saws
• Stay on good terms with the building inspector by smiling lots, never disagreeing, let him walk in with muddy shoes, and pretend you know what he is talking about
• Tell kitchen fitters where the NO GO areas are in terms of electrical cables
• Hire grab lorries rather than skips – much cheaper
• Choose a builder with a flexible approach because YOU WILL change your mind lots!
• Order industrial quantities of tea!!


One foot note - Brock House has, however, despite all my best efforts become a shed again!! – will I ever get a space of my own I ask ….oh well better build another extension

See you all next time!!

The Build - Week 9

Well, we are very nearly there. Last week saw guttering and down pipes put up and then .......the soak away - a monumental hole in the ground ridiculously wide and deep (7 ft deep and 3 ft square) I know we are a wet country but really!!!! then its filled with rubble and finished off with some of the soil that came out of the hole - where is the rest of it going I hear you say.......good question I respond!!

Kitchen is nearly in - just waiting for a few bits that disappeared in transit between the order being made and the kit leaving the warehouse?????

Electricians arrived yesterday to complete second fix (for my readers in the US - Hello Carol! that means fitting plugs, switches etc)

All went well until time for testing......why is there a break in the ring main asked Gareth - search me said Pete - I’ll have a closer look said Gareth - bu**er he said the kitchen fitter as put a fixing bolt through the ring main!!!

Right said Joe have to take the cupboard down - (you know the rest of the song) - call out to fitters - awaiting reply.........

Second fix plumbing going well - hope I haven’t jinxed that one now!!!

Granite worktop being fitted this morning - what can go wrong with that.........??

All in all it’s not been a bad build with just a few niggles and snags - talking of which - SNAGGING - that’s the next job...

Let you know how that went next week!

The Build - Week 8

Week 8 and we are continue to gallop ahead!! - Phil has been here for the past 4 days and completed tiling the floor - the door in the dining room is in as are all the windows. Phew.....turn that heating down Karen!!- the draughts from the make shift plastic have now gone!

Its all begining to look habitable now.

We are still performing culinary delights with the microwave (art art form in itself!), washing up in the utility sink and occasionally find ourselves singing campfire songs!!

So....floors get sealed tomorrow, second fix plumbing and electrics start on Thursday morning, kitchen arrives on Thursday afternoon and gets installed on Monday and after that, the decorating starts - now comes the tricky bit......COLOURS!!!!!!

Outside, the soak away needs to be constructed (2 mtre hole filled with rubble and stuff) drain pipes and guttering to be put up, and a bit of hard landscaping to do ahead of the winter.

I`m not sure I really I want this to end - its becoming quite addictive - should I become a property developer?........I dont think so!

Be back in a week........

The Build - Week 7

Yes I know it`s a bit late but to be honest the work over the last two weeks has been productive but by its very nature ....slow! Plastering, Plumbing, knocking through walls oh...and...cleaning up - plenty of cleaning up!!!

Having said all that we are galloping toward the finishing post, rooms have now been plastered out (and very nice too!!!) thank you Lee and Steve!

Sink has now gone! so we are using the downstairs loo and utility room. The oven is just about functional (soon to see the skip!) but the dishwasher is still in perfect running order!!! mind you I do have to disconnect it every morning and then connect a temporary water supply up for the plasterers and then connect it up again in the evening for the washing up - such fun!!

Window frames are in, floor screeding next Tuesday, tiling on Thursday - and before all that the glass roof lantern on Monday.

Well it`s 6 pm and Lee is still here - he started at 7:30 so I1ve told him to go home and remind his 3 year old daughter who he is!!

Till next week then

The Build - Week 6

Well we have now re-started activity!!

Glass wall is in and looks pretty good - still nervous about scratches splashes and builders boots - so it spends most of its life folded back and covered up.Plaster board now on ceiling and lantern reveal - walls start tomorrow at 07:30

Big mess day on Saturday - cut out the new opening into hallway which now provides access to kitchen (by the way Tony the supports around the opening are not permanent) - despite covering everything with two layers, masking door jams, stuffing loft insulation into every crack and crevice the ground floor turned from cream to an interesting shade of Battleship Grey (that's concrete block dust to you and I)


Ever tried grey salt crystals on grey tomatoes with grey speckled bread, eaten off grey plates???

Red Cedar cladding arrives tomorrow - looking forward to that - if only for the smell of freshly sawn timber.

Somme conditions have returned to the garden following the rain - but hey I`m passed caring now

Windows nearly finished - scheduled for installation on the 19th

So, I hear you say, "has the time frame slipped?" - yes a little -"when do you expect the job to be finished you ask" I reckon end of October I say...... confidently!!!!!!

Oh!.. I forgot to say that during all that cutting business on Saturday Brock got very upset and made an attempt to leave the house for good - I promised him better times ahead - his own space in Brock House for example .......so he came back.....reluctantly!

More in week 7