I've had my first week's holiday from work which has been lovely, but actually quite tiring as we've been really busy.  I was back at work today which was a joy of course!  Actually, it wasn't too bad - Sundays have a different atmosphere somehow.  I got called into the Manager's office this morning (gulp!) - apparently, a couple of weeks ago a mystery shopper visited the store and I served her on the till - just what you dread, but you obviously don't know who they are at the time.  Thankfully, she gave me a 100% score and so I was given a bottle of wine which is nice (and a relief).

Anyway, back to my relaxing week off.  The weather turned quite mild so we were able to mix up some lime mortar and point round the door frames on the outside.  This meant that we were then able to squirt expanding foam into the gaps from the inside which seals the holes and insulates.  It also has some adhesive properties and we saw a Grand Designs once where the only thing holding the window frames in was the squirty foam - don't think I'd trust it that far! 

When we put the first windows in the house 300 years ago, we hadn't used this foam before and didn't quite realise what a monster it is.  You squirt a bit in and it puffs up a bit, but you can't help putting a bit more in to fill the hole properly.  Then when you come back an hour or so later it has trebled in size and is all over the place.  Bob did that with one of the little draft hole windows in the extension and the foam ended up covering the whole window!  It was soooo funny! 

So, this is why we wanted to point one side first so it had something to stop it on one side at least.  It still goes everywhere, but at least it is only on one side.  Just look at this ridiculous Mr Whippy effect!  I'm sure this appeared overnight - surely we would have noticed it when we locked up for the night wouldn't we?  You can cut it off once it's hardened but you do have to spend a fair bit of time scraping the residue off the paintwork.  To finish off the sealing-up job we had to put silicone along the bottom edges of the thresholds so rain doesn't find its way in.  The black silicone looked rather stark and shiny, so once we had it sealed and before it went off, I went and swept up some concrete dust and scattered that on to camouflage it a bit.  Sounds a bit bonkers and I suppose on a new house you'd be glad of a sharp, shiny look for a while but it just didn't look right here.

We have also completely insulated the padded cell which means it no longer looks like a padded cell because the bubble-wrap-like tanking is all hidden away.  It took way longer than we expected to do the insulation, but what can you do eh?  This room has a very high ceiling so we have bought a chandalier for in there - thought a bit of blingy sparkly glass would be nice . . . . . erm, no actually we haven't really.  We have a three-headed fishermans light with an antique brass finish which hangs from a chain.  We decided to use a bit of old timber to make a new beam in there to hang the light from - so it is known as the light beam (or I like to think of it as our light sabre!).  I think it used to be a floor joist in the old house - there were only two or three remaining when we bought it - so it is nice to re-use it for something.

On Friday morning I vaguely heard a truck through my sleepy haze at 7.10am and groggily got up to peer out of the rooflight.  I'd completely forgotten that the plasterboard was being delivered and even if I had remembered, they never arrive that early!  So, in two seconds flat I'd pulled on some trousers and a sweatshirt (and nothing else!), dragged my hair into a ponytail and was outside helping the driver unload plasterboard while Bob got dressed properly.  Bob then invited him in for a cuppa and I had to sit there in my dishevelled state chatting about rally driving and rival builders merchants! 

So, we have also plasterboarded the ceiling in the end bedroom which is a real relief - I was dreading doing it.  I just thought it would be so awkward heaving boards up the scaffold tower and holding them in place while we fiddle around getting them to fit.  It was nowhere near as bad as I thought (as these things usually aren't once you get going) - I think we've learnt a lot as we've gone along and are actually getting better at it which makes things easier.  It actually cured the twingy back I've had all week too which is a bonus!  I held the boards in place which involved stretching with arms and legs braced and it obviously stretched the aches out of my back.  Maybe I should start a plasterboard back therapy clinic - could be the next big thing with the celebrities you know!  So, all in all, we had a very productive week and we really feel we've made progress. 

Not much time for socialising or relaxing, but when I have my fortnight off (after this week!) we are definitely going to factor in a couple of days off.  We did go to the Ironworks in Oswestry on Tuesday evening.  This is a pub/bar/venue which has a lot of bands on and we've been meaning to go since we moved here, but just never got round to it.  So this time we did and were really pleasantly surpised at what an amazing place it is.  I guess it must be the old ironworks (clue's in the name) and has fantastic beams, huge arched windows and loads of brickwork - a really nice building.  It's only small - I'd guess 200 max upstairs where the music is.  It was a good evening and they were brilliant musicians although quite forgetable at the same time.  Definitely keep an eye on who's on and go again sometime.  Our little mohican friend works behind the bar there although she was on holiday when we went.

We have Mum and Dad staying for a couple of days tomorrow - lets hope Mum doesn't come down with something nasty and have to spend the whole time in bed like she did last time they came!  So we had the afternoon off from building yesterday to have a major clean up in the house.  The insulation we used (and plasterboard) makes so much dust and it clings to your clothes and gradually drops off as you walk around.  You could see a pathway down the hall which our socks had cleaned with about an inch-thick of dust either side.  It would have been a waste of time cleaning up while we were in the middle of it, but it is so nice to have it cleaned up and mopped now - Henry and Bob did a fantastic job!

Still no mouse - and maybe it won't be able to get in anymore now we have sealed the gaps round the doors.