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 We
have made it, finally, to the major part of
our house improvements we started, and
planned, just after we retired: the
replacement of the old lino in the back of
the house with new vinyl tiles.
"Cushionstone", because they look like slate
flooring but are neither as hard or as cold
underfoot as slate would be.
This was a great plan, but... having come to
the time for it to happen, it means that we
needed to remove everything from
the back of the house. Not only tables,
cupboards, and the entire contents of the
pantry; but also the kitchen sink
and all its cupboards, the bathroom basin,
and both toilets!
Some was straightforward, some was not.
After disconnecting the water inlet and the
waste outlet from the basin, and removing
the two bolts attaching it to the wall, it
would not budge; it turned out to have
masses of silicone sealant gluing it to the
wall. Eventually by running knives  down
behind it we got it free; then will all the
pulling we pulled it over, and on the way
down it hit Alison's head and my foot. I had
been wearing my safety bare feet, but my
foot then proceeded to get sorer and sorer,
leading to concerns that I'd broken
something in it. Not a good look having just
booked our next walk for just under two
months' time. Fortunately the next morning I
woke to find it much better, so we have both
intact bones and intact basin.
Next morning Nick arrived to start the job -
a little earlier than we had expected, but
this was not a problem. We had three last
things to move out - table, fridge, and the
second toilet. This I expected to be easy; I
was sure I'd removed the toilet before,
years ago. I was wrong.
After removing the screws holding it down,
and finding they were loose and only ~5mm
long, it still didn't budge. Silicone again!
Finally using mallet and chisel I persuaded
it to move, and found no holes at all
in the concrete beneath it. Held there by
silicone only!
 With
Nick able to go ahead now, I went out to my
friend the jackhammer and dug another fence
post hole. The plumber is finally due to
come and repair the holed sewer pipe
tomorrow (though the duct tape it's been
repaired with is doing an excellent job) and
then we can get on with finishing the fence.
I've even found a neighbour who has a nail
gun, so putting on the palings should be
quicker.
(Just after the flooring was laid, a
blue-tongue lizard came inside the house!
This has never happened before. We
had to shoo it out using two brooms.)
(2 weeks later)
Firstly, we remain very happy with the
floor. Just as well after the effort we put
in to have it done! We have mostly  re-installed
everything without too much
difficulty; the fence is done up to the
putting on the palings stage; and we've had
another trip down to Yuulong to discuss what
to do there. A couple of days away makes a
big difference.
Despite the long-range forecast in November
being for a cooler and wetter summer, it has
been hotter and dryer. For the past three
weeks the temperature has gone to the
mid-thirties most days, and there has been
no rain at all. We spend a lot of the
evenings out watering the garden trying to
keep things alive.
 And we
remain very happy to have retired. We went
and visited our GP yesterday and felt happy
to be there as patients, and not as doctors!
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