Crunch Corner

It’s finished, it’s finally finished! It feels like a miracle but it’s got tiled walls, a bamboo floor, a new funky toilet seat and all the other bits and bobs you’d expect a bathroom to have! Only two weeks late but who’s counting? If you’re bored enough to want to see the photos, click here.

Here’s an old photo so you can compare the difference…..

Well it turns out that when I fell off my bike not only did I break my bike helmet but also my new fancy camera! The screen is completely cracked, so you have to use the viewfinder! What’s one of those? Hmph…hoping that the insurance company will pay out and I can get a brand new one! Woo hoo! Here’s hoping!

Well it turns out that I hate bathrooms and everything to do with their refurbishment so I’m axing this popular section of my blog to move to happier, less moany items! I read an article in a magazine at the weekend that says positive thinking has a huge impact on how happy we are. So, no more moaning about tiles and toilets (or lack of) for me! Oh no, it’s rainbows and sunshine from now on. (“Phew!” I hear you sigh, “I couldn’t cope with anymore dull drivel about your bathroom. I want glamour and photos of anything other than walls!”) Now all I have to do is think of something upbeat to write about! Watch this space…

The major work begins!!!

Our handy man comes round to rip out the old suit;out with the old and in with the new. The floor boards go and the bathroom is ready for its facelift! The new toilet goes back in but not much else….so it’s washing my hair in the kitchen sink tomorrow morning! Oh and I forgot to mention they’ve had to turn the hot water off so I have to boil a kettle first! Grr!

Having moved to Cambridge about two years ago, I spent little time being a tourist and plunged straight into finding a job and somewhere to live. So it comes as no surprise that I haven’t seen all the good bits that people rave about, as I’ve been ‘too busy’!

 Using friends visiting as an excuse we decided to do a spot of punting and chose the route along the backs, as I’ve only punted once before and it was to Grantchester. So, here are the photos to prove that I have lived in Cambridge and I’m not a complete hermit! 

The first official stage in the bathroom saga was to change the water cylinder. The old one was leaking so we thought “Why not get one that will be compatible with solar panels, so we can be super green!” Unfortunately, after doing a bit of research it turns out that it’s really expensive to get solar panels to heat our hot water and although there are grants available it would still cost about £4,000! Money we just don’t have at the moment. So, we got the dual-coil cylinder anyway, so that hopefully one day we can get Dick Strawbridge and his band of merry men round to help us ‘be green’. (But not pea-green, that colour makes me think of snot, I’d prefer a deep, dark oak leaf green please.)

This day was pretty easy: 08:45 men arrive, 14:00 men depart leaving one huge water cylinder in place, pipe work redirected – job done!

After finding a plumber who’s not going to rip us off and will be able to complete the work before we move, we had to prepare the bathroom for him. This involved chipping off the first layer of brown tiles to reveal the pink ones underneath! The new tiles will then be stuck on top of these gorgeous pink ones!

The ceiling also needed to be taken down as it was made of polystyrene tiles, which not only looked rubbish but a little birdy told us that they are now illegal, as they are highly flammable! Doh! This process took Adrian an entire day because the bloody things were stuck to the ceiling with what seemed like super glue. Whilst working he managed to break my hairdryer and turned the bathroom into a relaxing steam room. (Alright, less of the relaxing but there was a lot of steam! All good for the pores!)

Once upon a time there was a dull and sad bathroom. It lived inside the McEwen Castle on St Thomas’s Square and was owned by the handsome prince Adrian. One day as the prince was wondering what to have in his sandwiches along came a beautiful princess who decided that it was time to cast out the brown 70’s tiles and transform the sad bathroom into a gleaming palace. She did not kiss the ugly decor instead she waved her imaginary wand over the interior and it transformed infront of their eyes…or did it?

The bathroom is currently in the process of being refit and I’ve decided to take you through the nightmare, day by day, as we are seeing it! Well, actually, you’ll be two days behind us because I have started this a little late but you’ll get the gist and everyday be able to find out what the bathroom throws at us and see the photos of its progress.

Matt’s reaction to the mojito!

Originally uploaded by rj_andreo

Three weeks to go and then we’re jetting off to the beautiful area of Piedmont, Italia!

So, in the spirit of things (any oportunity for a drink!) we met up with some friends at The Texas Embassy in London for a farewell meal. The food was good but I’d avoid the cocktails; they like their salt and not their sugar! Here’s matt’s reaction to the frozen margharita as proof! The rest of the photos are on my flickr site…enjoy!

On a warm summer day crowds gathered at the methodist church, Keswick, to witness the marriage of Scottie and Michelle.

Scottie used to be our housemate so we travelled up from Cambridge to where the wedding was set in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District. With a hotel that overlooked the lake and stunning mountain views, this wedding was beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a wedding that was so relaxed and enjoyable, not to mention romantic (but not in the ‘make you vomit’ kind of way!). The day was spent drinking pimms in the sunny grounds of the Lodore Falls Hotel, followed by an exquisite four course meal (whoever had the idea of a sausage and mash starter followed by a pink champagne sorbet is a genius!), which led to a boat trip on DerwentWater (more pimms!), after which the happy couple renewed their vows on the small jetty by the lake. This was all topped off with not one but two musical events in the forms of a jazz band and disco in the hotel. Much dancing was done and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, a nice waiter man fixed the glitter ball for me and then the party really began!!

I think it’s safe to say that everyone had an excellent day and if at any moment you weren’t enjoying yourself 100%, (perhaps the food wasn’t quite your cup of tea or you got a bit sea sick) all you had to do was to look at the bride and groom, who were so obviously in love that you couldn’t help but smile.

To see my photos of the wedding weekend click here.