Scorching July, a fireplace and a birthday
Well the first one was wrong! Even forced to put the heating on for one or two evenings – global warming, my derrière!
Having filled the poly tunnel with tomatoes, parsnips, celeriac, melons, water cress, runner beans and cucumbers, the weather has changed and it’s been two weeks since mowing the lawn due to the rain. The watercress is in a tub of its own as a boggy soil is required and is ready for cropping. The tomatoes have developed air roots and limited fruits on lower trusses and some seeds have just failed to appear. However, these conditions seem perfect for the cucumbers which are almost growing as you watch. I’m glad I only planted 6 cucumber plants as they are up to the roof, trying to escape via the door and are heading to the floor for another escape route. Never grown them before and initially very pleased to see so many flowers. Shame said flowers are male – seems the LGBQT+ movement is not a new thing after all! However, the female flowers have finally started to form further along the growing triffid-like tendrils and the cucumbers are forming nicely. I found a 6-pack of runner bean plants in the garden centre reduced section and thought what the heck for 60p, I’ll give them a try. They are now growing along the tent roof, so more string will be needed to allow them to continue growing. It might be a case of taking the machete in-hand to fight my way out if I spent too long in there. It seems the poly tunnel is doing well, just need to start plants a bit earlier next year and get a watering system sorted.
Three years ago (28th July we moved in) – yes it’s been that long – we were undecided about the stone fireplace in the sitting room. As time passed it felt dark and overpowering in the room. I didn’t want to paint over it as it can’t be easily undone. So in an alcohol assisted conversation back at Easter when Mags and Steve were over, I decided to board over the fireplace so if we didn’t like it or whoever buys the place after our time, the stonework can be easily revealed. I constructed a stud frame with 50 x 75mm rough sawn, anchoring into the mortar where needed. Over this, I attached 12mm MDF and filled in the cracks and screw holes with plastic wood – much better than polyfilla as it happens. I constructed a mantlepiece with four layers of 12mm MDF that I routed various profiles to create a pleasing finish. I purchased the two corbels (the lumps of wood that hold up a mantlepiece) and glued/pinned the whole thing together. A coat of MDF primer, a couple of coats of paint and as if by magic – a new fireplace. The inside of the fireplace was given a coat of chalk paint to improve the look. I added a few bits of cable before putting on the MDF so if required, I could put Christmas lights above the fireplace without having dangling wires and also a low-voltage feed for some LED lighting in the alcove. We also ordered a new wood burner as the existing one has been a pain at times and the chimney pot needed replacing. This has added some complications to my over-cladding of the fireplace as there is exposed wood within 400mm of the fire and lights are verboten in a fireplace. The former issue is being sorted by the installers, the latter is being resolved by using 200C cable and me re-connecting the 12V LED light strip after the installation is signed off. The left side of the fireplace had a gap that used to hold the TV on a small table. For the princely sum of £30, I picked up a damaged sideboard that I dismantled, cut down, re-assembled and painted to fit into the gap. The TV now sits higher and the DVD player and PVR with all their leads and power supplies are hidden from view. On the other side of the fireplace, the small shelf unit has been replaced with a boxy storage unit – surplus after June’s bedroom makeover – repainted and repurposed to hold about a weeks worth of logs.
Well another July and another year older. Mags and Steve took us to Bistrot Pierre at Mumbles for a six course gourmet meal. The restaurant was lively as the date coincided with graduation week at Swansea University. The food was really good; Whipped Goats Cheese Tartine to start, followed by Bavette Steak, Raspberry Crème Brûlée, Duo du Fromage and Coffee & Chocolate. Just the right quantities, so not stuffed at the end of the night and a really relaxing evening, driving home well after our usual 9:00 curfew. Only issue was me thinking Steve was in the car before moving forward – just as well his dodgey foot was inside and I only moved a few inches!
