First the injury. I have had to be patient with my bod since returning from Europe. Although my weight has remained steady despite my enforced rest from training I have lost much of my strength and fitness. My diet has taken a turn for the worse too. No kitchen means I can't cook and that means bought sandwiches and take aways. Yesterday light emerged at the end of the tunnel however. For the first time in nearly 3 months I trained correctly and today I start to paint my new kitchen ceiling. Both my body and my house are now on the up and it feels like bumping into an old friend that hasn't changed.
Regarding my kitchen, I have had the builder here now for 2 weeks and starting from bear brick the walls have been waterproofed and replastered. The ceiling was shot due to water damage from the bathroom above so it has been replaced. All the electrical wiring has also been replaced. The old chimney breast has been opened upwards and this is where my new 5 ring gas hob and electric oven will be sited with the extractor fan blowing directly up the chimney. Regarding lighting I have opted for DC lighting as this produces a very pure white light that will show off of the thousands of pounds of fresh plaster, new white goods and stunning new kitchen units at their best. I have also played around (widened the door) with my pantry allowing my freestanding fridge freezer to be hidden within it which means I will be able to have table and chairs in my large kitchen. At last the ripping out and repair has ended and the beautification can start in ernest.
One thing that has came out of this work is that I have uncovered some secrets about my old (in fact very old) cottage. There is a plaque outside my house that suggests my house was built in 1904. When we ripped apart my kitchen we discovered that the outter skin of bricks was much later than the inner skin of bricks - strange we thought. I dug around for some old photographs and found a photo of my house the day after a fire had gutted the old place therefore requiring the re-build of 1904 but the walls remained intact so what you presently now see is older than 1904 - but there is more. As the layers of plaster and sometimes brick have been pulled away as part of my kitchen referbishment the story of my house's age becomes even more interesting. My walls are very thick. They are 3 courses thick and we now know that the outter skin is pre 1904. The inner 2 courses are considerably older however. The inner skin of bricks, which were the outter skin at some time, show that rather than square windows the house originally had arched windows. The arches remain but have been covered by the outer skin. The builder has suggested that he thinks the inner fabric of the house is at least a 100 years earlier in date. So now we are back to about 1800. No wonder the place is damp!
I have had always owned old houses. They have charachter and space that new builds cannot match. They are also traditionally build so when you put a shelf up, it stays up! They all also have a story. Through more luck than design it appears I have another interesting property with it's own story and I'm only just beginning to understand its history. In effect I am now the custodian of this history and that is pushing up my modernisation costs. The use of timber lintles means they have been replaced for concrete. The window arches were not removed. I have had them repaired and made safe so another owner can return the house to its original late Georgian appearence if they choose. Like my previous house I have the photos and these will pass to the next owner if and when I sell.
Older houses are like older people. They are an aquired taste. Few have the guts to take them on and when you do you never know what is underneath. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. My house has depth and has secret charms that are hidden. Some are hiding again now. Sometimes the cost of ownership is high but the character is always strong and interesting. My house has its integrity and is improving with age. That's important to me.
As the house moderisation get's into its stride my thoughts are also turning to France. Im off to Normandy again in a month. It's all booked up and I'm really starting to look forward to it. Haven't toured on a motorcycle for several years and getting the bike ready has been fun. New tyres, hard top box (very passenger friendly), higher handlebars and new break lines make the Kawasaki a real mile eater and I can't wait to see how fast I can go on the beautifully clear and well maintained French roads. Never done 160mph..... Bike will do 175 mph.....(300 km/hr). So far I have got her over 140mph on several occasions but due to my nagging shoulder (massive pain due to the fierce windblast at these speeds) injury I have not pushed her any further.... Any "coppers" reading? See you in France, catch me if you can.
More to follow.
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