Hacked Off.

For once that doesn't refer to me though I know I'm often complaining, too often probably. Today it was the opposite as the builders turned up at 8.30 to start work hacking off the old render. The original plan had been to keep and just repair the middle section where the two bedroom windows are but the recent rain had highlighted a number of cracks and damp areas indicating the whole lot was not in good condition and needed to come off.

Today would have been a perfect day to disappear down to the zoo but as my back has been twinging a lot I didn't think that would be a good idea. If only I hadn't woken with a headache which is simmering away still. You can't imagine the racket with four builders drilling away at every part of the wall. It was horrendous. In the end I escaped out to one of the benches on the cliff with a book, kindle and cup of coffee. It wasn't that warm and everything was wet so I wore waterproof over trousers as well as coat and woolly hat. That was at least better than staying at home. 

Now that the render is off these walls we can see what a poor job the window fitters made when they put in the new windows with insufficient foam filler around the sides. (The company has since closed down.) Interestingly it is clear that there used to be a normal sized window by the front door. There have been so many changes to the house since it was built and originally the kitchen would have been in the room behind the front door. 

The skip lorry turned up but must have brought the wrong sized skip as we are still waiting for the skip and then a sand delivery. Those concrete blocks form the stand for another water butt which will be useful for watering the troughs that go behind the wall. I'm still happy with my unconventional planting of montbretia in those troughs. 

Later in the afternoon I coated the birthday present truffles. I had a go at tempering the chocolate using Peter's meat thermometer. With such a small amount of chocolate the temperature dropped very quickly but I think I can detect a bit more of a sheen to the chocolate and the bits I taste tested seemed to have more of a crunch.

It was wet outside this morning so I had my early tea sitting in the doorway watching the gulls on their daily commute southwards.