Week 22 of our new life

Monday, woke up to lovely sun and had my morning cuppa outside, stayed nice all day but did get a bit cloudy later on.  Met with Adrian just to go over another few things, I am leaving it to Douglas just now as I am finding things are irritating me so need to hold my tongue for a change (so Douglas says), the kitchen has had to be slightly rearranged as the hob would have had to be used with pots without handles!! so have had to move the oven, this is not the way I had hoped it to be but will now have to put up with it, don't know why this has worked out like this as was not the way of the plans. Definitely lost the will to live.  Angry really as the amount of money spent on the kitchen it should be the way we wanted it not fitted in to haphazard planning, but cannot start changing electrics etc again.  Went through a couple of other things, Adrian is doing snagging today as he is on his own, this is worrying with only two weeks to go until we move in just how far forward are we going to move !!  Had a busy day, went to get the silent closing hinges, this was really easy and the shop assistants have been very helpful with us.  Disappointed that we cant get any more lights, Adrian said we needed four for under the cupboards when in fact we needed six and they do not stock them now, so will just have to have four, hopefully it wont be too noticeable.  It is all these little things that are frustrating me, Douglas thinks no big deal, I think otherwise!!.  We managed to get the wall art for the kitchen column, finally ending up back at the shop we went to in the first place, nothing unusual there then. Had a phone call from the TV people regarding the Granite Shelves for the Blue Ray Player etc, oh god they need it bigger than what Adrian said, now I can only hope that Adrian can contact them in the morning to change the size before they cut it, one thing after another.  The Curtain people want to fit the curtains on Saturday, no chance, hoping they can do it the following week, just not sure how ready the house is going to be and certainly do not want curtains etc hung before all the work is finished inside.  The inside is just such a mess at the moment and I could cry!! Finally received my parcel today after it was sent from Devon to here, then sent back to Devon, then on to Reading and finally back to here, soooo excited it was like Christmas I had forgotten all the things that were in it, Douglas said it is the first time he has seen me smile for a few days. Another Beastie day today have spotted a Portuguese Millipede which from what I hear there is an infestation of in The Algarve at the moment and also an Ant carrying away a dried up Millipede, evidently once they die they curl up and go hard, so probably good ant food, disgusting!!!.

Portuguese Millipede

Breakfast time for Ant

Tuesday, another beastie today, certainly beastie time here in the Algarve never seen anything like them. The path to where we are staying has been extended and is now even more precarious, have to be in before dark as quite terrifying to negotiate.  Finally met with Luis today, after 4 weeks to sort out the Satellite dish, now we have to wait for him to go back to Alistair the TV guy to come back to us!! nothing is straightforward.  Also had a meeting with Carlos regarding blinds for the terrace, to stop the wind and rain coming in which will also let us sit outside when it is wet, well that is the idea anyway, Douglas doesn't want glass as it will end up like a greenhouse. Think Carlos can also give us a contact for the chimney and fire so perhaps we will get somewhere with that.  Arranged for James and Valentina to come and fit the curtains on the 9th November, so hopefully this will go to plan.  Have some furniture being delivered tomorrow and some on Friday, pity the house is still in so much of a mess.  We have also made the decision today that instead of having this lot of work finished and then starting again, we are just going to go ahead and get the rest done so that at least next year it can be over and done with, cannot bear the thought of having to go through this again just to get the outside done, so Sun Terrace and Pool Extension will be added on to this job. The Granite will be ready for the Kitchen on Thursday, my fingers are crossed that the kitchen will be ready for the Granite.  Adrian has been concentrating on the snagging that we had pointed out so by the end of this week bedrooms and bathrooms should be finished.  Keep reading.........

What is this!!!

The path gets better!

Wednesday, another lovely day, furniture delivery day as well.  The road is a disaster just now as the workmen are filling in and doing god knows what, but we managed to direct the delivery vehicle up to our drive to deliver the beds etc.  Adrian not quite finished our room but we had to just get them put in there, forgot to get plastic sheeting to put over everything and Adrian decides he is going to put the kitchen lights in the ceiling, dust dust dust just given up now will take what happens and cover it as we go, think I will be driven mad by the end of this project that or become an alcoholic!! After that it was dentist time, 2 fillings and a clean they said, one hour with the hygienist for a clean and one hour with the dentist for the fillings, think I can close my mouth now.  What an experience, I have never had such a good experience with a dentist before, I never felt anything from start to finish and it was such a thorough clean never in the UK have my teeth been cleaned like they were today and as for the fillings, they anaesthetised the 2 teeth they were filling and again I never felt a thing. But!!! 3 hours later I feel like somebody has punched me in the mouth full on and I don't have any teeth left, LOL I know this will last a wee while but then I will be back to normal, well will let you know tomorrow.   A bit more expensive than the UK but I would say a much better job and glad I went also don't have to go back until April.  We then went tile hunting for the pool terrace and sun terrace, have found really nice tiles which look like decking only they are ceramic, they are the ones I want!!!  Back to the house to see what has been achieved today, David has been doing the pillar for the front gate, what a job, looks good and it is not quite finished yet.  Adrian has been putting in the kitchen lights, well we have 9 holes for 6 lights, a case of finding the right bit to put them in!!!  Have given David the go ahead to do the Pool Terrace, he is going to get organised and start that on Monday. 9 days to move in time, Removal company have agreed to stage our delivery of all our stuff from Scotland so we will get one delivery on Monday 11th, one on Wednesday 13th and one on Friday 15th, we don't know what we will get on what day so it will be surprise surprise, it will make it a bit of fun that is for sure, I am betting the first day we will get all the garden equipment etc which will be totally useless and all the useful things like Fridge etc will come on the last day, I will keep you posted.

The Pyramid Wall

Thursday, after a sleepless night due to builders arguments in the middle of the night again, feeling very grumpy.  We had to get up and sort out what was yet another drunken brawl, bloody ridiculous, Douglas packed them off to sleep it off finally, and then we dealt with it this morning.  As it stands at the moment we have one builder removed from site and the other still here just now.  Grown men behaving like this is ludicrous when they have a bloody job to do and it makes us feel totally pissed off.  We cannot decide whether to get rid of them both and try and find someone else to finish the job or if they can sort out their differences get on with the job.  If they want to get on with the job then there will be no more alcohol on site, if we walk in and find either of them with alcohol then they get lost.  We are coming so near to the end now that to stop and try and find someone is going to be a nightmare, as it is not policy to take over any other persons job, so this is annoying me even more.  We have read the riot act to one and am waiting to see the other one to do the same.  This took up all of the morning, and we were supposed to go and order the tiles for the terraces today but neither of us could be bothered.  I was also trying to get Douglas new shoes for his birthday but cannot seem to find anything in his size, so will need to go out again tomorrow and try.  Will be an early night for both of us tonight.  Such a shame as the quality of construction work is good, and Adrian is also doing well albeit with a bit of a push, just a clash of personalities.  Halloween in Loule tonight with a lot going on around the square, some of the decorations are really good, although we wont get any trick or treaters as you cant see coming up our road and because the road is being dug up they are more liable to fall into a big hole.

Carly witch off to school

The Mask 1 in Loule

The mask 2 in Loule

Friday, early morning delivery of our dining room table and chairs, have to put them in to the master bedroom just now along with everything else.  Then off to Guia to get Douglas some shoes, success today managed to get him a nice pair, soft leather really comfortable and he didn't moan at the price, so that was a bonus.  Then off for lunch and to do the weekly shop.  The man with the Granite was meant to be coming in the late afternoon but then he phoned to say it would now be Tuesday.  Jwow and his team were up to do the pool and the garden, cannot top the pool up as we do not have much water left, cannot get a delivery until Tuesday, I somehow think it is a bank holiday this Monday!!  The garden is looking great and we got the last plants cut back from the garage as work is going to start on our pool extension on Tuesday and also all of the dead garden waste removed.  Also talked through with Jwow about a fence going up on our wall by the front gate, this will give a bit more privacy and the new irrigation system and planting, this will all come later now as there is no need for irrigation until after the winter.  Not sure when winter really starts as the weather at the moment is still lovely and warm although it gets chilly once the sun goes down about 6.00pm and then there is a need for a light cardigan.
Saturday, Douglas's birthday today, have booked a nice meal out with Mick and Pauline, we are staying at theirs for the weekend so we will have a few drinks and a meal tomorrow as well and then Douglas and Mick are playing golf on Monday, Went to pick paving slabs for going around the kitchen extension outside, just need to arrange delivery of 30 60 x 60 slabs, not going to be easy.  Back to house just to see how things are going, some of the kitchen units are back in place.  Chill out for an hour then get ready to go out.

Douglas's birthday pressies

Kitchen going in 1

Kitchen going in 2

Underneath Pool looking better

Looking a lot better

Sunday, first one up this morning again! Douglas, Mick and Pauline all having a lie in, nice cup of tea had a good walk around their garden checking out their fruit trees and flowers LOL.  Need to go up to our house for a couple of hours as expecting someone to come up and have a look at our fireplace.  Then we are going back to Mick and Paulines to continue Douglas's birthday celebrations.  Gorges finally turned up to have a look at the fireplace at 4.45pm, the news was not too bad, it is an old fire but should still serve us well, but we need a flue put in at the top of the chimney so that the rain does not come in.  The fans are in good working order, so we need to wait for the quote to put the flue in, meanwhile I need to but some good wire wool and blackening to clean it up.  Knew I would get a job out of it somewhere!!  Another wait, never mind, back to Mick and Paulines now to continue our weekend.
Thought I would give you a little laughter  this week so here goes:

The Intelligent Traveller (could possibly be me!!)

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.  Apparently, you cant go alone.  You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito.  I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane.  They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there.  I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I am not too much on physical activity any more.

I have also been in Doubt.  That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often when I am getting older.

One of my favourite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! at my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, and I dont remember what country I was in.  It's an age thing.

Think I will add something like this every week just to keep you reading.