May update

Sunday Tea Club gathering. LtoR: Helen, Ian, Rueben, Crystal, Manu and Jackie. The 'Tea' in the name is because we normally drink Chinese tea, Sunday being a 'school night' for some of us. However we met in the London & North Western pub at New Street Station beforehand for a couple of beers and then headed over to the Chinese restaurant opposite (just behind Crystals head in this photo)

Wow, it’s a long time since I blogged, and Brian would do nothing, except Hadrians Wall, so I’ve got to try to catch up, though when he’s going to post it is another matter!

The couple who came to look at the house, loved it, but with one small child and another on the way decided it needs too much doing to it. We managed to drop keys in and sign a contract at the agent before we went to Harrogate so at least that got it all started. The Saturday we came back down south after the walk was first day of viewings, and she’d got eight in, which is pretty good going. We were delighted to get a call saying someone was very keen and would like to make an offer. Obviously we bit their hands off. Sadly midweek they too decided it needs too much doing to it. It’s really difficult to know what to do, it’s certainly tired after over ten years since we last saw it, with decorations and poorly fitted carpets in the interim leaving a lot to be desired. How much we do is the question, it’ll never be quite what a new owner wants, and at the moment it’s all go here. There were more viewings this weekend, but the fact we haven’t heard anything suggests there’s nothing to tell.

Brian went for a Parkrun last Saturday morning at Arrow Valley in Redditch, it was a fabulous morning, just a pity the running wasn't up to the day!

We got back on Saturday, washed, shopped, collected post, popped up to the Weighbridge for a quick pint or two as it was walking Brian’s 70th birthday. Sunday, I can’t actually remember, well it was a week ago now, but he was on his two day blog writing extravaganza, and I was still clearing shelves.

Parkruns have become hugely popular events, run all over the world now, every Saturday at 9:00am. This is everyone lined up at the start ready for the off. There were over 400 runners last Saturday, a bit different from the two I ran in the USA, one of those only had 39 of us running

Monday we went to see Jason, the IFA having realised that I was due to start receiving my pension on Saturday, that would be accompanied by a lump sum, we really want to know what to do with it. It was only as we were on the way that I realised I hadn’t actually heard from the BBC, which seemed a little strange. I rang when we got back, and apparently it’s a bit vague, they are accessing my AVC’s so it’ll all appear sometime soon. So I’m not strictly a pensioner yet, but I’m sure they’ll backdate it! In to Redditch to pay cheques in from mum’s accounts, and that’s Monday gone.

An almost empty bathroom. Plumbing mainly done, flooring yet to be fitted

Tuesday we were meant to be walking with John and Brian, but Brian was awake in the night thinking of all that needed doing before the carpet was laid in the front bedroom on Wednesday, like get the bathroom ordered! So we did that, and bought tiles. The bathroom was delivered on Friday (what a birthday present!) by the very nice Tim from Fallons on Stirchley High Street. We go in there, he tells us what we need, and then delivers it on his way home, as he drives through Alvechurch anyway.

First bedroom done (excuse the towels hanging over the end of the bed, towel rail yet to be fitted in the bathroom)

Wednesday then was the first of three visits to carpet upstairs. What was mum’s room, which we’ve now moved into. Don’t tell anyone, as Brian’s head will explode, he carpeted round the three huge Ikea wardrobes. Moving them would have been such a pain! It’s a great room, one down, three to go. We couldn’t just move in as the carpets are horrendous, no underlay makes them uncomfortable and turns what was grey carpet into black carpet where walking has taken place over 20 something years. Next, to try and fit two rooms and a bathroom suite into one bedroom, so clearing bedroom 2 for painting. Thursday Brian had floorboards up so he could put more lights into the kitchen, so I can actually see to cook. Painting done on Friday and Saturday. This is so after Tariq comes on Tuesday to rip out the bathroom, he can put down aqua board which will then be floored, before the suite goes on top of it. So that will be carpeting visit number 2. Hopefully next week. Why are we having a new bathroom? The old one worked just fine, except mum didn’t like tiles, and only ever bathed, so in order to shower we have had to put up a temporary curtain against the wall, to stop water appearing in the hall. The bath has a stupid lip on, so water gathers rather than running into the bath, so needed replacing. The toilet was as cheap as they come, and Brian has replaced the flush mechanism twice (shame he bought a spare last time that is still on the shelf), and for the tiniest bathroom to have a sink with a pedestal rather than a cupboard is stupid. So that’s a whole new suite then. Brian has spent today running electrics for the towel rail, the extractor and the lighted mirror, so that’s involved moving loads of stuff in the loft and clearing the shelves on the landing which has been a mammoth task. Charity shops may or may not want books, but you never know till you get there. Brian has now gone round to Birmingham Road to mow the jungle. He tried yesterday but the mower was broken, so that’s a new one of those then!

Out on our walk with Denise and Paul from Alvechurch to Barnt Green

It feels like we haven’t stopped, and really we haven’t. We went out for my birthday on Thursday night as I had a 50% discount at the Red Lion, about to expire, I popped in to John’s this morning to water the plants and watch the baby robins playing in the water. Tonight is Sunday Tea Club and Monday we walk with Denise and Paul, before the bathroom starts on Tuesday!

Walking along the canal in Alvechurch

It’s now Thursday. Where does time go?

Sunday Tea Club was a joy as ever, good old Crystal picking great food. We also came away with rhubarb from H&I and their allotment.

The old lock keepers cottage along the canal

We had a lovely walk with Denise and Paul on Monday afternoon, just a few miles along the canal and round the village (see our short Relive video with photos: click here). The weather was lovely as were the views. We stopped for a coffee in Barnt Green before getting back to the village and going to the Red Lion for dinner. Thoroughly good time, except for the phone call from Tariq saying he wasn’t coming on Tuesday. This however was a blessing in disguise. It meant Brian could run wires for the towel rail, and really be ready for him.

Look at this swan family, mum swan carrying one cygnet on her back and four others paddling on behind under the protection of dad swan

I’ll be there about 09.00 he’d said, so, strangely at 07.45 when he turned up we were still in bed. Happy to leap out though, and off he went. He did really well, ripped everything out, and got most of the pipe work in. Some insulation down, as the bathroom is over the passageway and we could see all the way through! Off he went and we leapt into action, three coats of paint later and we went to bed.

Paul checking his map with help from Jackie and Denise!

We’ve put insulation down the rest of the landing this morning and are just waiting for him to turn up. He’s left us with the toilet, but that’s all, so washing and teeth cleaning are downstairs and anything else is either at John’s or Birmingham Road. Handy having a spare house!

Along the canal with Bittel reservoir behind and the Lickey Hills in the distance. The canal acts as a dam at this point, holding back the waters of the reservoir

Walking back down towards the Withybed end of Alvechurch from Barnt Green

Brian, Denise and Jackie

One of the baby Robins with a berry in its beak that Jackie spotted while round at John's