Coming together

Today, we scrimmed the kitchen and fireplace areas ready for Andy to plaster skim on Monday. The new concrete floor is curing well thanks to the humid atmosphere and the covering of plastic sheeting that we should be able to remove by the end of the weekend. It really is starting to feel like we have turned the corner of the kitchen renovation now and I can see how beautiful it is going to be.Andy recovered a lovely old piece of what I think is chestnut timber from the barn this afternoon which I sanded down before applying a coat of linseed oil which has really brought out the colour and grain. It is now in place above where the old sink was located.I also applied a coat of linseed oil to one of the oak kitchen unit doors to see what shade we would achieve and it has come out a wonderfully rich, warm colour enhancing the natural grain. Just beautiful! So, a busy week next week and I am hoping it will all be finished by the time mum and my brother come to visit in just under 2 weeks time!

On a different note, I pulled up 2 carrots from the potager this evening which were both notable for different reasons!!

Slab laid

It took most of the morning for us to set the levels for the new concrete slab and to accurately fix the rail for the tamping board. Nothing is ever straightforward here. Then, in the course of 3 hours this afternoon, the concrete was poured and the slab levelled. Physical work, but we will at last have a kitchen floor and wood-burner base that are level and damp-proofed. Probably a day off tomorrow and an outing on the mountain or road bike, then scrimming and plastering (for him) and hearth tiling (for me) on Saturday. Then next week, while Andy is constructing the kitchen unit carcasses, I will be painting and probably also laying the floor tiles.

Ready for concreting

Good progress today. Now ready for doing the concrete slab tomorrow. Nice to have a comparatively 'clean' space at last.

Progress 2

The delivery arrived late, not until early evening yesterday, but we were still able to get some plasterboards up before close of play. Today, more of the same plus the tricky construction of the frame that will support the plasterboard to the right of the window. 'Tricky' because, like every surface in the house, the walls are so uneven it is hard to get a level/even structure. There is also the question of the pipework for the washing machine and the waste to the exterior to consider. But by this evening, all of the plasterboard for the left hand section of the kitchen is up, the frame to the left of the window is up, all but a small section of the ceiling plasterboard is up, the lights and most of the electrical sockets all fitted and working and the plumbing in place (the sink waste pipes will obviously not be remaining in the position shown in the 2nd photo!).Tomorrow, we should be able to complete the plasterboarding, lay the floor membrane and put down the 're-bar' flooring reinforcement ready for a morning/day of concreting on Thursday.

Progress

When I got back from the Alps, the kitchen area was down to bare ceiling boards, bare stone walls and a bare concrete floor. The majority of the 'dirty work' had been done.By close of play today, we had completed first fix electrics, plumbing for the new sink placement and erected a new frame for the plasterboard walls. The fuse box is now firmly and correctly affixed to the wall as opposed to hanging on by a wing and a prayer by a couple of poorly placed screws. The new ceiling lights are firmly affixed in the new ceiling plasterboard above where the gas hob will be accommodated and the wiring for the new double sockets are in place behind the frameThe new sink will be situated below the windows which separate the kitchen from the porch, with the washing machine to the left. Tomorrow, plasterboard delivery and a delivery of sand and gravel for the new concrete floor which WILL be level! By the weekend, I would hope to have the new plasterboard walls and ceiling up, all sockets and lights connected, a waterproof membrane laid on the floor and a new concrete slab laid.

Homeward bound

Torrential rain today. More of the same tomorrow. So I will be headed home in the morning where I will re-assume my supporting role in the creation of the new kitchen! At least all of the filthy, destructive work is now out of the way and we can start laying the damp proof membrane on the floor and up the walls, attach the frame for the new plasterboard which is being delivered on Monday and put up the new ceiling and lights. Then early next week we will be laying the new concrete slab, fixing the walls etc etc. Still much to do, but the transformation will be impressive!

Getting the legs working

We had lovely weather here yesterday so Gem and I and our bikes took the Mont Chery lift up the hill and did a nice little 8km circuit along very pleasant and fun tracks and trails which was then followed by an interesting downhill route which was far too technical for my liking! Without full body armour, I am simply not brave enough to throw myself down such terrain which is littered with exposed tree routes, loose rocks and gravel, with tight turns and steep drop offs - and that was only a 'green'! So in the afternoon, I took myself off on a waymarked 15km cross country trail which included 300m of ascent. It was fantastic and afforded some great views of Mont Blancand of the high mountain pastures above les Gets ... just beautiful.By late afternoon, the storms had moved in and we had a lot of rain overnight. But I awoke to clear skies this morning. It took me a while to get going, but I eventually got myself onto the Mont Chery lift and headed up to the halfway station from where I ran/walked the 2.5km to the peak at the top which gave another stunning vistaall the way down to Morzine in the valley belowFrom the top, I picked up various waymarked paths and ran back down to les Gets (700m of descent) which was fun but steep in places. I got back just in time as more storms and heavy rain rolled in at lunchtime. Forecast is not fantastic for the next 2 days, but hopefully we will have enough clear weather to get in some more running or mountain biking action.