Reflections on Post-Storm Renovations

We're having an interesting couple of months at Chez Archer and I've realised:

• Problems don't just come in groups of three.  They'll arrive in any darned number they like and probably at the least convenient time!
• and there really is a silver lining to some of them!  Not all, but some!

So a few weeks ago we had a big storm - nope, make that a BIG BIG storm!  It was centred right over our area and lightning and thunder were happening almost simultaneously. Frighteningly loud!

The gathering clouds

The temperature plummeted and we had a huge hail dump...

Almost looked like snow!

... and then the rain started.  Hail stones had clogged the gutters so the water had nowhere to go...

Overflowing gutters

So I'm running around taking photos (as you do!) when I found the water was coming into the house.  Back flowing from the gutters.

I put the camera down and started running around with buckets and towels.

The carpet was sodden.  And it's very very old so it got unpleasantly stinky as it was drying out.  We decided it needs replacing... actually it needed replacing 20 years ago when we moved here but we'd put it off and somehow time just trickled on.

It seemed silly to get new carpets without painting... and it seemed silly to paint without:

1. replacing the ghastly laminated ply on two walls.  And when that came off we saw the walls needed insulation and there were all sorts of interesting cracks that needed filling!
2. and stripping the equally ghastly wallpaper off the other walls.

The carpet's so old it has wrinkles!

This is Bob lounging about in the paddock while we worked

Now the new carpet has been ordered - it's a pale nutmeg colour called "burnt oak".  I hope we like a whole room of it as much as we liked the 1' by 1' sample square!

We're now mid renovation and I'm looking forward to seeing the end result. 

So that's our silver lining from the big storm.  

• The old carpet, which has always been pretty gross, is finally going to be replaced.
• The tired old walls are going to be gleaming under a lovely fresh coat of paint.

What "silver linings" have you found lately?  Do you enjoy renovations? And if you do enjoy them, please share your philosophy because I confess I am not a fan so any renovation "zen" would be most welcome!

Ponderings on Procrastination

Soooo, I’m making breakfast, the jug is on for a cup of tea.  Outside, the sky is grey and it looks like we will get the promised rain.  I’m tossing around thoughts for the blog post I’m doing today while I wait for the toast to pop.  Will I do a progress report on the bathroom (yep, it’s been a while!) or will I take you the gorgeous drive we did on Sunday (I’ve got pictures, lots of lovely pictures!)  

Suddenly, there’s a bright flash so closely followed by an enormous crash that it seems as though light and sound have raced each other to our house.  Then the room goes dim, the jug goes off, bread rises slowly out of the toaster.  

Power is out!

And then the rain starts, dropping from the lowering grey clouds in sheets, overwhelming the guttering.  Water splashes over the paving and garden foliage bows beneath the onslaught.

Uh-oh… the question now is not, “what will I blog about” but “will I be able to blog at all!”  Which makes me feel a bit guilty because I’ve known that this is my date for blogging so several days – I set up a calendar to send timely reminders!  

But even knowing that, have I scheduled the post? Nope! 

Why not?  

Well, I’ve been distracted, there’s lots going on at the moment. It’s a social time with Christmas around the corner, I’ve got a club newsletter to put together, I’m dabbing about at a de-clutter (now there’s a blog topic for another day!)… the list goes on… and on... and on.

And I realise that although there is lots on the to-do list, there’s not that much actually being “done”!  I’ve been procrastinating!  It’s annoying and inefficient – and I think it’s time it stopped.

So I’m asking you… do you procrastinate? Do you have any great tips for getting procrastination under control? 


Oh and you've probably noticed... the power has now come back on so I can chat today after all!