When You're Tiling

It was a gloomy week weather-wise, but not to worry as we an action packed week with plenty to do inside and deliveries.

Monday saw the delivery of our kitchen units from IKEA (apres-midi, they said, but turned up at 7:30am and found us both still in bed!) We were both surprised and happy at the same time as we've heard lots of stories about deliveries not turning up at the agreed time. Wouter has checked all the boxes and made sure we have what we want (or rather we received what we ordered, so there's a start!)

The delivery also included some frames for the chairs we bought a couple of weeks ago - most of you know we are sort of camping until our container arrives, so we decided to get a chair each from IKEA so we could sit more comfortably in the evenings. The wooden chairs we have are fine for meals, but to sit and watch a movie or just relax they are not so nice any more. So off we went to the aisle and bay printed out by the lovely saleswoman, and picked the cushions and frames. It was the end of the day and we'd already been on the road a few hours, so we didn't think to check the serial number.... The next day I had a go at assembling them but found we had picked up child's frames, which are even too small for me - ha ha. So called IKEA who kindly put the correct frames in with the kitchen delivery. Monday morning I put these two together and we both sat there blissfully for 10 minutes to enjoy the luxury seating.

Tuesday was the start day for the electrician who is here to do a few things like put in more points for the new kitchen, replace the old wiring, make sure everything is in working order, etc. He is currently, pardon the pun, working in the kitchen and as soon as he's done there we (Wouter) will start assembling the units - that's after the tiling is done.

Tiles were delivered on Tuesday afternoon and tiling began in earnest on Thursday (a back breaking job and a half). The tiles were delivered all shrink wrapped so it was a surprise to find that after some rain the boxes were all wet inside the wrapping. Today I have been apprenticed as tile assistant, so I have learnt how to spread cement on the under side of tiles and deliver them to a waiting tiler.... the things you learn (a bit different from the University, that's for sure!)

Back to the electricity - it was necessary to cut grooves in the walls to reroute some of the wires and make some new points - alas, plaster on the other side of the wall fell out leaving some holes. However, looking on the bright side, this was the perfect opportunity to make a start with stripping the wallpaper in the hallway.

The next electrical thing we have to organise is the puissance (electrical loading) as every time we put on more than one item which uses a fair bit of power the fuse blows, meaning we have no electricity through the whole house. We will get this changed as Wouter needs heavy amperage for his workshop.

Wednesday we had the chimney sweep come and clean out the chimney - apparently it wasn't too bad, but we can really see the difference after having had it cleaned.

After the gloomy weather at the start of the week, today was a real stunner of a day - also quite warm, so perfect to do the tiling, finish early and end with the proverbial glass of wine.

Picture from last week of Pic Canigou with snowtop taken from the top of Cambieure: