The Last of the Summer Wine

I thought I would post slightly early this fortnight. I have Stuart and Janet Doyle visiting for Easter and I thought it would be a good idea to get this out of the way before they arrive later today (Friday).

I had to change my plans half way through the period. I started off resuming work on the main bathroom, while I waited for the quartz slabs for the kitchen counter tops to arrive from Calgary.

I ran all the wiring for the underfloor heating and then boxed in the bath and walls around it ready for tiling. I remembered to turn the water supply to the bath on just in time before sealing it in or I would have had to cut a hole in the fibre board, which I may do anyway.

That done I put the sink in. This is the same one as is in the two piece bathroom downstairs and it will match the colour scheme in here, which is going to be black and white.

I then cut and fitted the Schluter shower tray into the shower alcove and connected up the drain.

At this point Don, one of my neighbours, phoned to say that he was arriving a day early to install the slabs in the kitchen. I rose early the next day to move the car, ready for Don to back his truck up to the front door to make it easier to unload the slabs. While I was at it, I decided to take some rubbish down to the dump.

To cut a long story short, for a small price in bone, blood and flesh, I managed to retrieve this set of elk antlers from the bottom of the dumpster and they will go nicely on one of the walls of the cabin. Next time I tell this story I'll show the scars and will probably add a bit - like how I had to fight off a cougar and a bear to get them. I was never one to let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Anyway after a trip to the hospital to get patched up and sparing the Doctor in ER the truth about how I came about my injuries, I managed to get to the airport to pick up my neighbours, Luis and Nona, who had flown in from Mexico via Galgary and get back out to the cabin just in time to watch Don finish installing the slabs in the kitchen.

He did a splendid job, which is probably what you would expect from Don, who always aspires to the highest standards in whatever he does. 

I spent the next couple of days plumbing in the sink and the dishwasher, slowed down only a bit by bandages and splints. Bar the splash plate on the wall above the counters, the kitchen is now finished. The splash plate will have to wait until my hands are healed up.

To celebrate, I cooked myself my first proper meal in the kitchen, a stir fry - come on, what did you expect, a full roast!

I washed it down with the last of the summer wine.

Unable to resume work in the bathroom out of a need to keep my hands dry, I have started work on the 'home office' at the other end of the cabin. I have a few shelves built already and no doubt Stuart Doyle will help me stain them and fill them with books. I will probably build an angled desk in the corner.

Well that's it, the Doyle's will be here shortly. Until next time ….