DIY King and Queen

Well, good evening and happy weekend!  I barely know where to start to describe the mind numbing amount of work we have been able to get done this weekend. And now, 2 major things down on our list of things to do before the baby arrives. Yipeee

So, the major thing to get done this weekend was our poor flat roof extension repair.  When we first bought the house we were told it needed to be repaired in the survey of the property but alas it wasn't an 'essential' (comes well below house insurance that's for sure.)  We were given a quote of near £500 to have it re-felted and it has obviously since then (a year has passed) deteriorated some more.  So let's just say by yesterday it was looking like this:

And here's what we uncovered once we returned from Wickes with the new wood for the edges.

The photo just above was actually taken this morning around 9am but it shows the thoroughly rotten floorboard that we found in the middle. EEEK! But Neil was fully prepared to head off to Wickes last night at 7.30pm to pick up a final plank so we could do a proper repair.

Here he is working late last night whilst I pottered around with the lawn mower.  

I have to admit it has been somewhat interesting listening to him banging around up there with me banished to the ground due to pregnancy related risks associated with climbing big ladders.  Although I should point out that as I was leaning on our garden table taking measurements yesterday I managed to completely break the table and fell on bum! (I swear I am not a pregnant wale!!!) So really even a metre off the ground is dangerous enough for me.

Now whilst Neil was sizing up our roof repair I got to finally take a wire brush to our back garden wall.  We are in the strange position of being completely surrounded by walls but yet also living in an open area surround by acres of grassland. But I think it's clear to say that peeling paint across the whole of the back of the garden is a good look for no-one!

So after a quick wire brush of all the peeling paint I took to my tools!

We first saw this purple paint about a month ago and both really loved it and finally took the plunge yesterday.  I have to admit as painted the first bit I was somewhat alarmed by the colour as it's the first thing that hits you as soon as you open the back door.  But as I continued it really changed the garden from looking a bit neglected to looking like we were trying to make it look nice.

There's obviously still plenty to do in terms of the actual planting of the garden but here we have a nice shot of colour.

And the finished rooftop taken from the nursery window, look at those neat and dry corners.  And with that all finished by lunch time we headed to the tip with the broken garden table and old roof felt before heading to our local pub for roast dinner. 

(Hard working toes, yuck)

Lovely grub! (And now back to Downton Abbey)

We're missing New York

So we took Neils parents to Bodean's in Clapham:

Pulled pork? Yes Please! Key Lime Pie for dessert? Of course!

Grand Designs Show & Bathrooms

What an exhausting day we had yesterday sampling what Grand Designs Live @ The ExCel has to offer with some wonderful friends.  Obviously we've come back with an extensive amount of things we never knew we needed as well as lots of inspiration (and even a free manicure.)

We managed to get free tickets a few months ago and headed over today which was lovely as we haven't been for quite a few years.  (It's actually where Neil & I previously fell in love with the Vitamix. - soup and ice cream in seconds for a handsome price.) I predicted they'd be some 3D TV pushing (tick) and we very much enjoyed our seat on the sofa with our 3D glasses, and were then handed complimentary popcorn! Hell yes.

Neil and I also loved a the beach house which had been constructed and decorated in the exhibition hall, it looked like a lovely little hideaway perfect for two.  There was also lots and lots of lovely food to try, definitely enough to constitute a snacky lunch, cheese, biscuits, olives and even some vodka!  It was really yummy and because it was the last day of the show there were some good deals to be had.  As I walked in I had already been sold on a subscription the Grand Designs magazine with a free Joseph Joseph double dish.

I'm hoping the magazine will give me a few ideas that I can replicate at a much reduced price. mainly in our bathroom which is the next place we'll be tackling.  I was also amazed by a couple of diy tools, one which makes drilling screws in much easier and another that looked like a really easy way to cut tiles, including being able to cut out shapes which is always a nightmare.  We shall see if either of these are as easy to use at home as they appear during the demonstration!