A bathroom refresh

It’s been a fair while since we’ve done much work on our house, but we’ve been pondering a bit of a bathroom refresh for a little while. The last time we went to Grand Designs Live - that must have been May 2019, quite a while back! - we saw the most beautiful wall hung vanity unit. I’ve kept the photo, looked at the catalogue and now we’re at the point of actually making it happen, realised I don’t like the price anywhere near as much. Thankfully it was also too big for our space, and a pale blue which isn’t really our colour, though it would kind of work with the wallpaper that we’ve used as a continuing feature.

But the idea of a wall hung vanity unit was sown. And one that hasn’t gone away. So another one was sought, and found. And has since been delivered. Along with a new toilet and a new shower - just the shower bit, not the surround. The shower is no longer as hot as it once was, or should be and therefore is being replaced. We’ve a suspicion that the toilet is slowly leaking at the base, and our current basin, well it still works as a basin should (though sometimes it drains very slowly), the porcelain is starting to crack and it looks as if it has many veins appearing. Some porcelain just goes like that, but as all of this was put in in 2007 we’ve had good use out of all of this and so replacing the bits that are starting to ‘go’ isn’t exactly extravagant.

The other day it all arrived, on a pallet. We got our delivery slot - one of those all day slots, though being home based that’s less of an issue than it would have been if we were office based - and they were knocking on the door a good five minutes before the slot started. So that was a very good start, and before breakfast - we’ve got very bad at getting up since it’s been darker in the mornings and especially as we don’t need to get anywhere other than the dining room table - MOH was out in the drive unpacking the pallet. I was called for a bit of ‘to me, to you’ to bring the heavier items in, and then later up the spiral staircase. Since then our plumber has visited to check we have all the right bits, and so he can get what else is needed - we passed, phew - and now we’re booked in for a week or so’s time to have it all fitted.

Now it’s here, I can’t wait - though as luck would have it, the day it’s happening is one that I have booked off work. Not that it really makes much difference at the moment as it’s unlikely that I’ll have grand plans to go anywhere much. So by the middle of February our purchases should be installed, and I’ll be setting MOH some tasks mostly around painting - refreshing the woodwork and giving the ceiling a lick of paint, which to be fair he’s identified too. The final job will be to paint a cupboard we have in there - it’s currently a very darkly stained MDF custom-built affair. It works with what is in there now, but with our new unit being matt navy blue, I’ve a feeling it won’t work quite so well, so my plan is to have MOH repaint this a similar colour. I know it won’t take much to persuade him as he recently let on that he’s never been much of a fan of how it looks, it’s been there almost 14 years - he’s a very patient man (though I knew that already).

AREZZO WALL HUNG VANITY UNIT, VICTORIAN PLUMBING

Reflecting on my week #147

Before Christmas I had the forethought to book a few days off in January, and over the past few days that’s what’s been happening here. It’s been much needed, even though my company shuts over Christmas, and that was nice too. We haven’t done a huge amount - it’s still lockdown after all, but some bumbling around and not having to be at the dining room table has been nice.

We’ve walked into Greenwich, and into Blackheath and haven’t got wet. We’ve caught up with things at home, which are dull but need doing - fixing the shelf in the wardrobe where the Christmas decorations go, defrosting the freezer and that kind of thing. We’ve had days of domesticity with cake making, bread baking and some very fine food - and wine - being consumed. Fridge jenga is back after a trip to the butchers, our monthly online shop, a veg box delivery and a visit to the farmer’s market all within a few days of each other.

But best of all we’ve had some time to ourselves. Apart from each other I mean.

We probably do during the working week too, when MOH pops out on his bike. But usually I’m working, as he’ll leave here before dusk, and so I notice the alone time less, mainly because spending it working doesn’t count! And while there’s no one I’d rather spend lockdown(s) with than MOH, I’ve realised that I’ve also missed having some time to myself.

And I’m sure he has too. With (usually) busy social lives we’d often get an evening to ourselves, or solo nights out with friends, but as we all know life has been quite different to that for a while.

So these past few days I’ve found myself making a list of things to fill that time so when it happens I can make the most of it, even if that is enjoying the time without feeling the need to get things done.

1. My tax return - yes, I just need to get on with it, don’t I?

2. Reading my newest book

3. Picking up my crochet hook

4. Editing and sorting my photos - I’m up to December 2019

5. Planning and writing more blog posts

6. Catching up with TV recordings that MOH’s not keen on

7. Listening to podcast episodes I’ve tuned out of but enjoy

8. Sorting out my craft supplies, for my next and current projects including those I’ve not quite started yet

9. Joining a fitness or wellbeing session, either alone or online

10. Enjoying the silence and just being.

Each of them have their appeal and I know that having a variety of things will suit different days and different moods, and the one I think is important to include is the last. Sometimes enjoying the moment is just what’s needed and often what’s missing when we get caught up in the whirl of our daily lives.

So more of a reflective post from me this week, but I think that also ties in with the start of the year. I’ve already looked back at the top 10 posts here last year, and a word or maybe a phrase is starting to bubble in my head. For 2020 the word I chose was gumption and while the year didn’t turn out as anyone imagined, gumption was definitely something that was needed.

More on that another time though, and most likely once that tax return is submitted.

My top 10 posts of 2020

Once again in my yearly ritual I’m looking at the most viewed posts here last year. I’m sharing two lists again, the first of which shows the top ten posts created in 2020, the second list is the top ten posts created at any time, mainly just to continue what I’ve started and to satisfy my own inner data nerd.

So onto the top 10 posts created in 2020.

1 Lockdown Learnings #1

Well, how 2020 - in some ways I’m proud that this one is this year’s most viewed post. Though of course in plenty of ways I’d rather I’d never been able to write it at all. The irony isn’t lost on me either, as we’re back in national lockdown, and a lockdown in winter is nowhere like a lockdown in spring. The lunches are quite different too.

2 A growing pile of colourful crochet

Not long after the first lockdown finished I signed up for a six month subscription box of gorgeous yarn, and quickly grew a pile of colourful squares. I’ve received all the boxes now - and they were all fab - and I have the last delivery to make use of. Once I have I’ll be sharing how I got on on here too.

3 My new room crush

Back at the start of the year it seemed like we were out every weekend visiting gardens and houses. This room in Nymans became a new favourite, and it’s easy to see why isn’t it?

4 Azulejos, hand painted tiles

This post is a throwback to our holiday in Portugal the previous year, and a visit to a local tile factory that was just over the road from where we were staying. And oh, so many designs in their shop - and such great craftsmanship in all of the hand painted designs.

5 My garden in March

This is the only visit to my garden that made it onto the top 10 list this year, and it’s a great time of year for our garden. With lockdown we spent more time either in it or close by than usual this year, like many other people too.

6 The loo we couldn’t find at first

This was the loo in our hotel room on our only trip abroad in 2020. And to be honest we were lucky to get that, though a few days in Lyon in February might not be everyone’s choice, it was a great break. It was also the one where we cut it fine and almost missed the plane home, but thankfully we didn’t. Our most stressful airport experience ever, but also one of the quirkiest hotel room loos.

7 Lockdown learnings #2

The second lockdown learnings post, I’d planned a whole series but they never quite happened. Maybe I’ll restart them to complement this lockdown, who knows?

8 Starting another crochet project

The thread was part of the random bundle that I bought in Norfolk along with the tiny crochet hooks. I wanted something to take away with us for our cottage stay near Holt in October, which was also well timed taking place just before half-term and the additional restrictions. I also found a pouch, made by mum, which was pretty much made to measure to keep it all in.

9 A secluded spot

Another successful National Trust visit, this time to Standen on the August Bank Holiday. Quite a novelty as the house was actually open, with everyone required to wear face masks, quite a different experience, but one that everyone was happy to follow. This spot overlooks the terrace and would be the perfect spot to while away some time, and to people spot mostly unnoticed.

10 What a difference a month makes

This was from our trip to Barbados at the end of 2019, and shows off my new beach towel. It’s a great towel, and Barbados is a great place. It was a much needed holiday, and given everything that followed well timed. What we’d give to be able to do this now though.

So another year, and another interesting list. All I ever ask of my blog is that it reflects my life, and with the 2020 posts that have been viewed the most it certainly does that.

Now onto the second list

This list is posts created at any time but viewed in 2020, the year in brackets is the year it was originally posted. This year none from 2020 made the list, and that’s ok. There’s also been some movement which is fascinating, or fascinates me anyway!

1. Filling our gabion baskets (2017) (-)

2. Softening our gabion seating area with planting (2017) (+3)

3. Let’s talk Edwardian house decoration (2017) (+1)

4. My IKEA hack: HOL storage table to laundry basket (2015) (-2)

5. Sean Murray’s Great Chelsea Garden Challenge (2017) (-2)

6. 52 Cookbooks #36: Beef in easy tomato sauce (2014) (new)

7. Love this 47: Poppy brooch (2014) (new)

8. Fabulous outdoor planters (and more) from Cox & Cox (2016) (new)

9. Blinds and shutters with Thomas Sanderson (2018) (-3)

10. Storing logs in our gabion baskets (2017) (new)

It’s good to see the gabion baskets posts retain top spot and increase popularity. But to be honest though it’s interesting, it’s hardly a scientific study is it. Who knows what the year ahead will bring - we’ll have to wait and see.

I also plan to share my favourite posts from the year - I need to work out if I’ll take the same approach as i previous years or do something different, as I’m pretty sure there’s been less posts on my blog overall.