Phase One Skimming finished!

Yeah, skimming phase one is finished and that includes the ceiling in the leant-to which we did this morning.  So, we can now put the skimming equipment away for a while - we've given Phil the Plaster his modified short trowel back.  I think, on the whole, we've quite enjoyed doing it, but are probably ready for a change now.  This afternoon we've finished the lime plaster first coat (needs a slightly smoother finishing coat before it can be limewashed) and re-pointed the little chimney in the kitchen.

The plumber didn't turn up on Tuesday (surprise, surprise), but we didn't know he wasn't coming until the end of the day, so instead of getting on with big jobs we did itsy bitsy things that we could easily stop when he got here.  Although it was a bit frustrating, it did mean that we got all sorts of bits and pieces done that we've been meaning to do for ages.  He had written the wrong 'Tuesday after the Bank Holiday'  down in his diary, so has promised he will be here next week.

So, next jobs will be to do that smoother coat on the lime plaster and then get a couple of coats of white limewash on it all.  We have ordered some yellow and red ochre pigments so we can tint the later coats of wash to give a slightly warmer cream colour.  Should be interesting - you really can't tell what colour it'll be until the next day when it's dry.  When you first put it on all you see is the pigment (so it'll look bright yellow!), but as it dries the white of the lime comes through and lightens it.  A bit of a leap of faith I think.  We will then be ready to lay some more floors.  In the kitchen we are re-using the original quarry tiles that were in there (supplemented by some we got from the salvage yard).  They've been stored outside for a year though, so we'll have to pressure wash them or something and then they'll need sorting.  As I said, I think these are original and there was quite a path worn in them from the doorway.  When we took them up, we didn't intend to put them back.  Had we decided in time, we could have labelled them in some way to re-lay them in the same place and keep the worn look which would have been lovely.  As it is, they are all mixed up and some are thicker than others, so it'll be quite a job to try to lay them so they look right and you don't trip over raised bits.  I'm dreading it to be honest, but hoping it'll be one of those jobs that isn't as bad as I fear!  Let you know.  We also need to order the floorboards for upstairs and get them laid . . . and lay the tiles in the hall and utility.  Then there is all the decorating to do and tiles to put on walls, window sills, etc.  The electrician is booked to do 2nd fix from 25 May, so got to get on!  Actually, he seems happy to come and do a day and then leave it a bit and do some more, which probably suits us best.



Bonny helping to remove the flowers
from the chives



Did you watch any of the Royal Wedding?  I have been a bit fed up with all the hype surrounding it, but was quite pleased that the 'have a cuppa while the plaster dries a bit' stage of the lean-to ceiling skimming coincided with the bride arriving at the abbey, so I watched that and then we saw the balcony bit when we had lunch.  It's all quite nice really - makes you quite proud to be British, we do pomp and ceremony very well don't we?  So, I've just raised a bottle of Crabbies Original Ginger Beer (my latest favourite tipple) in their honour . . . . . any excuse, eh!



Peggy relaxing on the bench



So, onto chickens.  Elvis is now laying properly again.  Bonny has seemed a bit off colour all day and has been moping around on her own.  We were sat on the beer bench with Phil, Ann and their son Andrew this afternoon (tea and coffee only I'm afraid) and were speculating as to what might be wrong when she started acting in a very peculiar way.  She was almost squatting and waddling up the slope with her wings out - quite alarming in a very funny way!  After a couple of minutes of this, a shell-less egg shot out and rolled off down the hill - amazing, I've never actually seen them lay an egg. 

Don't quite know what that was all about - she laid a normal one this morning, so no wonder she was feeling a bit off, so we told her that one a day was fine from now on and she perked up immediately.  What entertainment, eh?

We had a lovely afternoon yesterday with Jan and Arthur and then in the evening we went to Wrexham University . . . . . I had no idea Wrexham had  a uni!  I guess it's an off-shoot of the University of Wales or something.  Anyway, last week Bob had seen in the paper that the lead singer of a band we have seen before (Tim Booth from James, for those interested) was playing there.  We didn't expect to get tickets as we saw James at the NIA in Birmingham last year and it was absolutely packed - 1000s of people.  We went along on the off-chance - there were just 3 cars in the carpark and about 3 people in the lobby.  At the box office they said we could have the tickets half-price as it wasn't exactly a sell-out and gave us seats next to the centre aisle, 3 rows back!  There was less than 200 people there for the support band and a few more for the main act, but it was really good.  The audience were really enthusiastic and, as there were so few people he could wander around among the audience, sit on the edge of the stage for a chat and answer shouts from the audience.  Brilliant - I'm listening to the CD we bought after as I type.  We'll definitely keep an eye on who else plays there - what a bargain and only 15 miles away!

I'm so excited!!!



Newly decorated wall on the 'landing'
looking through to our bedroom

 So many things to be excited about . . . . . but, I have to admit, probably not that exciting for anyone else!

1.  I have been decorating - real decorating!  I know we've done the utility room and the bathroom, but they were plain, new walls.  In the last couple of days I have done the en-suite and the landing and they include old walls and ceilings with oak beams and purlins and it was so nice to see the way the new paint highlights the old, gnarly oak.  We do need to clean the oak up a bit to get rid of chalk and plaster marks, but it looks lovely already.

2.  Skimming phase one is coming on well - just a couple of panels in the kitchen ceiling, the long wall in the hall and a couple of little bits and pieces left to do.  We did the ceiling in the hall over the weekend.  I was dreading it, but it was nowhere near as bad as I thought and looks fine.

3.  Forgot to tell you in my postcard from our 'olidays that we saw an adder on our walk.  It was sunbathing on the path and jittered away as we got close, but we had a good chance to watch it before it disappeared into the grass.

4.  Also forgot to tell you that one of the monks at Samye Ling let me bang the gong outside the temple for the evening service - what a priviledge.

5.  Tomorrow, the plumber is supposed to be coming to connect the wastes on the bath and the shower tray.  We moved the bath into the bathroom in readiness - now that is exciting!  Course, the plumber is a bit unreliable, so he may not turn up, but fingers crossed!

6.  The wren is sitting on the nest in the lounge.  We haven't seen them for a while and just this morning we had decided that they'd given up on that nest and were using a different one.  The next time Bob went in there the wren flew out right across his face!  When I went in a bit later I could see a little face looking out at me, but it didn't fly away and was still there later on.  We actually had a wren in the caravan this morning - must have flown in one of the open windows and Bob had to help it out.  Also had a chicken in the caravan who'd managed to get in through the lounge door and then flew out, over the wire mesh we'd put across the kitchen door to keep them out!  The woodpacker/nuthatch drama seems to have ended as a bit of a non-event - we haven't seen anyone on the beech tree for ages, but have heard/seen the greater spotteds across the lane in the woods.

7.  We were invited to join Bill, Maggie, three fairly grown-up children and a girlfriend from America for their Easter meal yesterday - delicious roast dinner eaten in the garden under a parasol - followed by an egg hunt.  Maggie and I hid over a hundred eggs of various sizes and then promptly forgot where we'd put the special bigger ones - think they found all but half a dozen little ones though, so not bad.  They'll be a bonus for whoever next does the gardening I think.  All good fun and lovely weather too.

8.  We have visitors imminent - Bob's dad (Arthur) and stepmum (Jan) are coming on Thursday afternoon.  They haven't been since last summer, before we'd even started putting up the oak-frame bit of the extension, so they should see a huge difference.  It'll be nice to show them around and have a chat.  Then mum and dad are coming for a few days from Sunday (staying in the local Travelodge) - a few changes since they were here too.

9.  Elvis laid her first real egg for about 10 days today - she had a few days of laying them, but forgetting the shells before we went away, then hasn't laid one for about a week, but managed one with a shell today!

10. Finally in my excitement list is that Carol (my sister) managed to get Bob a pair of Levi 501s for just £25 on her recent holiday in Florida, wow, Bob won't have to wear patched jeans anymore!

NOT on my excitement list is that the caravan is currently being bombarded by may bugs (or cockchafers - that name for them makes Bob squirm!).  They are huge, very solid and just fly constantly at the windows, banging quite relentlessly and loudly on them for about half an hour each evening from about 10 o'clock.  We have to make sure all the windows are closed by then because if they get inside they are horrible - really big and flappy/buzzy, a bit scary really!

Postcard from our 'olidays

Well, we've had our summer holiday I think and both got a bit of Scottish sunburn!  That must be rare.

First stop (and an overnight stay) was Samye Ling Buddhist monastry to drop Laura off.  We got there just after lunch and carted all her 'stuff' up to her room and then went for a wander around.  I have already been, but we did a tour for Bob.  One of the monks kindly gave us a special tour of the building site.  They are building a huge new bit which will house accomodation, offices, multi-faith library and a college (they will be running degree courses in affiliation with Aberdeen uni I think).  It is a massive project and most impressive because so much of the work had been done by themselves and their volunteers.  It is most definitely a 'can-do' place and they take on some amazing things.  We went and chatted to the Tibetan monk who does all the statues - he was working on some very intricate statues for the new bit which he said take a long time to make . . . . . how long? . . . . a week!!!!  We were also taken to see the three yaks that live there and were able to stroke one of them (he likes a scratch behind the ears where he can't reach because of his massive horns).  We really enjoyed our short stay and it was nice to see how many people Laura knows there and how supportive they are - a new family for her for the next year. 

We then left Laura to it and went on to our B & B, stopping briefly at Dumfries on the way to buy a couple of maps.  Whenever we go away, we always seem to choose somewhere right on the edge of the map so we have to buy more than one!  We arrived at the farm just in time to see the cows ambling up the lane back to their field after milking - what a lovely peaceful sight.  This was the view from our bedroom window - you can just see a cow on the lane in the trees.  We had a lovely room with a massive bathroom which brought two questions to mind which I have never really found the answers to . . . . . . how do you actually use a bidet and why would you, really?  Anyway, the shower was amazing - it'd rinse the shampoo off in about 10 seconds and really gave you a pummelling. 

The village pub (complete with bar made out of an old boat hull) was an easy walk away - Bob had haggis.  I didn't!  On Tuesday we went for a walk along the clifftops - that's when the sun got us.  It was quite misty, so we really didn't notice it until later.  The waves were a bit disappointing - as in, there weren't any - the sea was like a millpond, so I'll have to wait for my crashing waves fix for another time.  At one point the path went down to the shore line and we were appalled by the rubbish on the beach.  Not rubbish that had been dumped on the beach, but from every other beach or boat around which had then been washed up here.  You can't begin to imagine how much there is in the sea as a whole - why do people do it?!!!  Aaarghh - one of my bugbears - sorry.  Anyway, on the whole we had a good day doing not very much at all. 

On the way home we made a bit of a detour to Hadrians Wall which neither of us have seen before.  In my view, more impressive than the wall itself, which has obviously been repaired once or twice since Hadrian was there, are the huge ditches and earth banks they'd made along the sides of the wall - what a lot of work!  Then the long slog back down the M6 in sweltering heat - what a way for Bob to spend his birthday! 

When we got back the chickens were so pleased to be let out for a leg stretch and a good long bath.  Some time ago Mum and Dad gave us this wooden frame with the intention that we should put copper tape round it to keep the slugs off seedlings, but the chickens immediately adopted it as their bath and so it has remained ever since!  We lit some wood in the brazier and sat outside with a glass of wine or two.  We dicovered that poppadums (left over from our takeaway) burn very well and give off a good light and you can make catherine wheels out of them if you spike them on a branch in the fire!  Bill and Maggie popped round with some delicious brownies for Bob's birthday and so we stayed outside until about 11pm - it was very dark by then, I wonder if they found their way home?  Back to work today though - skimming (of course) this morning and then we went round to Roy's to collect some pieces of Ash from a tree he'd had felled (plenty of chair legs in them) and then to another neighbour who'd promised Bob some of the walnut from a branch they'd had removed.  So the timber store is growing.

Neighbour's caravan saga - Part II

Do you remember the saga of the neighbour's caravan taking out another neighbours fence when being moved?  If not see 'So, what did happen on Sunday?' - 5 Feb 2011.  Well today we had the second part of the drama!

We had just about finished for the day and were wandering back up to the caravan when I noticed some very low dark clouds skidding across the sky . . . . . not clouds actually but billowing smoke!  Strange, because it didn't smell at all smokey.  So we went up to our woods from where you can look down onto Barb and Darren's house and, if necessary, it would be the quickest way for us to get there if they needed help.  When we got to the top we could see masses of leaping flames and smoke . . . just where the caravan had been and not much caravan left.  We were very relieved to see both of them walking around quite casually - no need to run down to the rescue then.  So, did they just get fed-up with a wonky caravan in their field and douse it with diesel and chuck a match at it, or were they trying to fix it and the welding went a bit too far?  Don't know and we were just speculating when we heard sirens in the distance - so, the fire brigade had been called . . . probably an accident then?  We could hear the sirens for ages and then nothing.  Probably lost as none of these cottages are very easy to find and sat navs just take you to the general area.  After a few minutes silence (probably stopped at the village pub to ask for directions!) they started again, went off into the distance and then got nearer again.  Then two men in hi-vis stuff appeared, donned yellow helmets and took charge of Darrens hosepipe - but only managed to get a trickle out of it until Darren showed them how to do it!  Then a fire engine with siren and blue flashing lights appeared, followed shortly by a second one.  By now the fire was just about out and there wasn't much for them to do.  So we left them to it.  Slight worry that if it had been a serious fire the time taken to find the place could have been a real problem - can you ring the fire brigade and get them to put directions on their 'system' in case they need them in the future do you think?  Later on Phil and Ann came by and stopped for a glass of wine.  They had witnessed the fire engines taking all sorts of wrong turnings from their vantage point further up the hill and had walked past the charred remains of the caravan . . . and the hedge!  So,that was today's excitement.

Earlier, at lunchtime, as we sat quitely having our lunch, there was quite a scrabbling and flapping from outside and then, all of a sudden, a chicken face appeared at the window peering in at us.  Bearing in mind that this is about 5 feet up, it was most unexpected and she looked very funny with her fixed 'yeah, so what are you looking at?' expression.  She stayed there for quite a few minutes looking in, but obiously hadn't quite thought through how to get down again and made a few attempts before making a very undignified leap.  This morning Bob and I had bought a square of wire mesh to put across the caravan door when it is open to stop them coming in (chicken version of a child stair gate), so I think she must have thought 'right, well if I can't get in through the door I'll find another way!'.  It is fun having chickens you know!

Whitewashing and window-washing

Blimey!  Nearly a whole week since I last wrote anything - sorry!  We've been fairly busy.  On Monday we went to Peterborough to collect Laura who has now packed up her old life into plastic boxes (quite a lot of plastic boxes) to be stored in various lofts and barns across the country.  On Sunday we are taking her to Scotland to start her new life as a Buddhist nun at Samye Ling (near Lockerbie).  In the meantime, we have put her to work here!  Bob has passed on his new-found skimming skills to the next generation.  She did really well and it has been inspected by Phil the Plaster and approved . . . . pity it's going to be hidden by the sink and tiles!  So, we have now skimmed the whole of the bedroom ceiling and half the walls, all the en-suite except one ceiling section, all of the landing, all the bathroom, all the utility room, half the kitchen walls and several kitchen ceiling sections.



A rare photo of us working together - synchronised
skimming (is that an olympic sport?)



We have also had a go at traditional whitewash - now that is a bit weird!  You scoop the putty lime out of the tub (where it is covered in water), mix it with a bit of water and it seems to take ages to get rid of the lumps.  You then seive the whole lot into another bucket and mix in some more water and then seive it again back into the first bucket.  Now, If you've just seived it once, you wouldn't expect there to be any lumps in it would you?  But, as if by magic, lumps appear and you have to push them through again.  You then add water until it looks like milk (we decided it would be full-fat because skimmed hadn't been invented in the days of limewash).  You then dampen down the walls with water and paint the 'milk' on.  It looks awfully thin and see-through, but as it dries it gradually goes a bit more solid looking . . . .  not very solid I have to say, but apparently the key to good limewashing is lots of thin coats, so we'll see.  We did the second coat today and, as soon as you spray it, it goes see-through again and you can't really tell where you've been.  I guess the theory is that it is gradually building up a solid coat.  We have also finished putting the strips of plasterboard on the kitchen ceiling between the new oak beams.  Just one more bit to do, but we can't work out how to attach it.  Most of them are screwed onto battens attached to the oak, a few have pipes and cables running along the oak and so we have had to improvise brackets out of bits of the metal studwork we used in the end bedroom, but this section is next to a random stone wall, narrow and has pipes and cables running along the wall.  Mmmmm, not easy to attach directly to the stone at the best of times, but with limited space for drilling and pipes to avoid as well it's a bit awkward.  No doubt we'll think of something.

Laura and I had a bit of a laugh this afternoon trying to clean the rooflight windows which had got filthy (almost green) over the winter.  A while ago we went to the Grand Designs Show at the NEC and impulse bought a magnetic window cleaner.  I knew it would be really awkward to get to the rooflights so it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Basically there are two very strong magnets (warnings all over saying not to put them together without glass between because they'd mysteriously pull your fingers in and trap them forever or something).  Each has a sponge at one end and a rubber blade at the other, so you dip them in soapy water, put one on the outside and the other on the inside and as you move the inside one around the other follows. the sponge end cleans and the blade follows and dries.  Probably excellent on big windows, but the glass in our rooflights is only slighty wider than the cleaner, so not much room for whizzing around scrubbing clean, but it's do-able.  Now we got these traditional rooflights from the 'Cast Iron Rooflight Company' and lovely they are too, but the name should have given me a clue!  When I tried to put the window cleaner on the outside of the glass it attached itself to the iron frame and , with soapy water running down my arm and my wrist being squashed by the wieght of the rooflight (haven't attached the winders for holding them open yet), it was jolly difficult to pull it off.  Very funny though!  Then when we'd finished they attached themselves to the stepladder and while they were drying on the draining board the tea caddy tin slid up and attached itself!  We'll have to watch these I can see!  Oh, you're not supposed to use them if you have a pacemaker fitted as they'll re-set it!

Chickens don't like Harleys!

Yesterday Bob did the oil change on his Harley and as soon as he wheeled it out of the barn the chickens started making a terrible hullabaloo.  When he started it up they ran a mile . . . . well, little Elvis didn't - she ran and hid behind the wheelie bin and wouldn't come out all afternoon!  Even when Bob tried to coax her out with treats she was very reluctant and wouldn't talk to him for ages!  It's strange because the day before he'd been using the angle grinder which does make an awful noise, but they just carried on pecking away at the grass nearby without a worry.

Today I did the grout in the bathroom.  Looks as though I'm on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor doesn't it - poor Cinders can't go to the ball!  I had to put the Marigolds on because the day before I'd been doing a top coat on the lime plaster and some got in through a hole in my gloves and dissolved a hole in my finger!  Usually it doesn't irritate me, but maybe it was a particularly caustic particle that got trapped.  It certainly makes a very sore sore I can tell you.  How the men who worked in the lime kilns must have felt I can't imagine - they must have been in agony. 

While I was doing the grout, Bob built the front of the step from the hall into the kitchen.  It just looks so much better and more finished with the lovely old bricks instead of concrete and pipes.  We'll probably top it with a piece of wood and have a split door (so it opens within the width of the wall instead of sticking out into the hall or kitchen).

It was such a lovely day that we took our lunch up to the woods and sat on the wall looking at the flowers.  It's at times like this that we realise just how lucky we are.  It was so lovely with birds singing away at the tops of their voices (just like the background track to an RSPB advert), a buzzard circling lazily just above the trees against a clear blue sky and a carpet of wild flowers at our feet.

Oh, I must update you on the woodpecker front!  There's going to be trouble you know.  The brief history is that in Spring 2009 a pair of greater spotted woodpeckers (the black, white and red ones) pecked out a hole in the beech tree trunk behind the caravan and raised a brood of very noisy chicks.  In 2010 a pair of nuthatches took it over and made it to fit by bringing mud and shaping the hole to their liking and they raised some very cute chicks.  This year, as I told you a green woodpecker has been taking an interest and pecking away for a couple of days.  Then yesterday we looked out to see a greater spotted pecking away at it.  We also saw the green one sitting very still just staring at the hole.  It must have been thinking 'I'm sure I didn't make it that shape' .  Now, today the nuthatches are back and have been busy back and forth doing something!  On closer inspection, one or the other of the woodpeckers has started a new hole, but either way it'll be a bit overcrowded if they all move in!  Watch this space.


Wood anenomes



Slate tiles

We have finished decorating!  Ha, ha - that sounds as though we're ready to move in doesn't it?  When I say finished decorating, I mean just the bathroom . . . . and only the paint, not the floor . . . . or the tiles . . . . . or the bath, toilet, sink or shower . . . . oh, and not the light or the switches . . . . or a door or anything like that.   So, a bit of an exaggeration I think!  We have done the three coats of paint though and we've laid the floor tiles - and that's another story.

Ages ago we bought some slate tiles from Homebase for the bathroom - 300mm square dark slate, as shown on their display and evident from the tile showing though the window in every box.  I had plans for a striking black floor, white everything else and brightened up by red towels, etc.  After I'd put the first coat of proper colour on the walls in the bathroom I opened a pack of tiles just to see what they'd look like.  Now, I know that slate is a natural product and you have to expect variations in colour, thickness, etc, but these were ridiculous.  There were clearly two different sorts of slate - pale greeny ones about 15mm thick and dark black/grey ones about 5mm thick!  What are you supposed to do with that?!  A chequerboard pattern and different thicknesses of adhesive to make them level?  We opened all the boxes and they all contained half and half.  We couldn't even hide all of one sort under the bath.  So, we took them back and they were actually very good about it (once we'd explained five times that ordering a new lot and making sure they were from the same batch number wouldn't help because they were mixed within the box) and they gave us our money back.  So, we went straight round to the place where we got the little tiles for the hall and bought some more (cheaper too).  I guess it'll look more coherent with the same flooring in the hall, utility and bathroom.

We have laid them in the bathroom and now need to seal them before grouting.  Of course, because they are mosaic tiles there's an awful lot of joints to grout so that'll be a job and a half!  They do look a bit like an optical illusion - if you stare at them they look like ridges and furrows and if you concentrate you can get the ridges and furrows to flip places.  When they are wet they are quite a nice dark green colour, so we will seal them with an oil based sealer to keep that colour.  Not sure how it fits in with the red towels idea - have to see when it's all done.  Also, the white tiles we liked for round the bath because they had the same texture as the floor tiles may not be right because these are smooth!  Oh, it's all so complicated.

We have, of course, been skimming all week too.  I forgot to tell you about doing the utility ceiling together.  As you can imagine doing a ceiling is a bit more messy than doing a wall.  I heard a curse and turned to see a huge blob of plaster slap bang in the middle of Bob's beard - he did look quite funny.  Oh, I wish I'd had the camera.  It took him ages to wash it all out and as soon as he got back on the job another blob plopped all over one lens of his glasses . . . he wasn't really amused, but I nearly wet myself!  Our work has been inspected and approved by Phil the Plaster when he and Ann came round for a cuppa - phew!  Ann said she'd put our certificate in the post!

The wrens are back in the lounge.  They go in and out by landing and walking under the door which is asking for trouble if a cat or similar realises what they are doing, so Bob dropped the bottom half of the door a bit so there was a gap half way up for them to fly through.  So now they squeeze through the smaller gap under the door!  Seems to defeat the point of moving it, so we've put it back as it was again - well, we tried!  I'm sure I saw one fly down the hall and out of the main door this afternoon.  Green woodpeckers have been investigating and modernising the old greater spotted woodpeckers nest in the beach tree behind the caravan (nuthatches used it last year), so we'll keep an eye on that to see if they move in.  The green haze on the trees is rapidly turning into real green and the hawthorn hedge is covered in real leaves.  We have quite a lot of blossom in the garden - the damsons are covered and there is actually blossom on the blackthorn which had been chopped right down before we moved here.  Maybe we'll be able to make some of our own sloe gin in the autumn!  Our sturdy little pear tree is absolutely covered in blossom buds - not sure it'll cope if they all turn into pears.  We went up to our little wood this evening and it is now covered in violets, primroses, sorrel and loads of wood anenomes.  When we went up there at the weekend, we struggled to find more that about four anenomes . . . where did they come from all of a sudden.  It is lovely though.  No doubt next time we go up there the nettles will have done the same and taken over!

We are both feeling a little weary so we're have a day off building work tomorrow.  Sainsburys/launderette and collecting light fittings, sockets and switches etc in the morning.  Then we might have lunch out and then not do much at all in the afternoon.  Bob wants to give his Harley a once over ready for summer riding and I might just get the deckchair out and read!  What a luxury!

Guess what we've been doing!

Very exciting today!!  Decorating, real decorating!!  We've put the first coat of paint on the bathroom and utility - they look like real rooms now!  Guess what colour . . . . . . . builders' standard . . . . magnolia.  It's actually quite a nice colour and probably would be good in most places, but I just can't bring myself to have it as the final colour - it's just such a cliche.  We bought a trade-size tub for base coats everywhere though - much cheaper than Dulux.  We thought it'd be really patchy after just one coat as the plaster just slurps it up, but it's done quite a good job - guess that's why the trade uses it. 

I got absolutely covered in paint spray from the roller and had to get the pan scrub to my arms to get it off!

We have the final paint for the bathroom.  It's one of Dulux's light-reflecting paints which is supposed to maximise the amount of light in dark rooms.  As there is just a rooflight and the tiny draft-hole we thought it may be a bit dim in there.  We used it in the old house when we were decorating ready to sell the house and several of the estate agents commented on how light and airy the bathroom was, so fingers crossed it'll work here too.

More skimming this afternoon - ooh, my right arm aches now!

The wrens were still in the nest in the 'lounge' for a couple of days, but we haven't seen them yesterday or today.  As I said, they have several nests to choose from each year, so maybe this one has been rejected again.  We'll have to keep an eye out and see if we can tell where they do actually nest, it was lovely last year to watch the babies leave the nest.  Bluetits are taking a lot of interest in the 'Quarry Workings Keep Out' sign across the lane (or rather in the pole it's mounted on).  There is a square hole in it half-way up and bluetits nested there last year - keep you posted.  Spring is definitely here - the daffodils are out at the side of the lane, our little wood is covered in violets, primroses and sorrel and the woods have taken on a bright green tinge.  The hawthorn has changed from having millions  balls of palest green all along its branchest to having tiny new and shiny leaves.  Everything seems full of promise - a really lovely time of year.