A Shower in the Kitchen ?

It was always a concern, when we returned each time, that the condition of the house and the outbuildings would have deteriorated. The biggest problem was the large hangar on the side of the house - the intention was always to demolish it. It was unsightly and more to the point, unsafe. We used to watch the weather forecast from the UK, and worry that the winds would blow it into the road, and pull the cables down etc. I'm not sure what we would have done if we had the phone call to say this had happened, because its not exactly a 10 minute ride here ! Anyway, it didn't happen - but the worry was always there.

Originally the downstairs of the main house was split into two rooms - the kitchen and the 'other room'. I'm not sure what this 'other room' would have been used for, possibly a bedroom maybe. And we certainly used it for a bedroom for a while. There was a door between the two rooms, but our ultimate plan involved utilising the space in a different way, and we needed to block this middle doorway up, and create two doorways at either end. The easiest way was to demolish the entire wall, and rebuild a new one, and it was an exciting day when we did this, as it was the 'start' of our project and plans. Rather than visit and try and keep up with the maintenance, we were actually 'doing' something constructive.

As I've said in a previous blog, my photographs of all these early works and adventures disappeared in the blink of an eye - or rather in the crack of a CD !!!

After a few visits when we slept on an airbed, it was luxury to have a proper bed. Craig made a great frame, which we ended up using for a few years, and is still in use as a base for drying the onions and garlics. It is good to recall moments like this, as you soon forget how far we have come.

The kitchen started to evolve early on - we were determined that as this would be our main living area, that we would make it as comfortable and clean as we could. All that was here originally was a sink, a cooker/heater and a light. We moved the sink - well, we removed the old sink, and fitted a new sink in a completely different place. It wasn't easy, as it involved moving the pipes, and drilling through the outside walls - a metre thick !! Once sorted, the kitchen units could be built, and put in place, and things could move on - it all sounds quite easy, but I forget that we had to knock the old plaster off the walls, seal them, then stud and plaster board them first !!!

We are very proud of the cupboard doors, as the oak comes from the Althorp estate, where Princess Diana is buried, and close to our house in the UK. I've just remembered that when Joseph (our neighbour) came into the kitchen at this point to help Craig carry the old cooker into the van, he asked if we would be using the new tap as our shower...........maybe they don't have taps like this here !!

 

Our visits were busy, and tiring, and we had to remember that this was our 'holiday' from work. What happened to the long sunny days we would spend on the beach in Jamaica, with a good book and cocktails on tap......SIGH............!