We’ve an outdoor event for the bar coming up, so a portable-ish bar was needed.
It’s not quite finished, but …
We’ve an outdoor event for the bar coming up, so a portable-ish bar was needed.
It’s not quite finished, but …
On arrival at our hotel in Liverpool, we found that the van would actually scrape into our usual long stay car park. While not actually a case of scraping, the height clearance was scarily slight.
Our luck changed when we were told by our pet friendly hotel that the establishment was no longer pet friendly. This was something of a surprise, since our reservation, which included the dog, had been accepted the previous week.
Fortunately, on walking into the Adelphi, we were told that dogs were welcome.
We celebrated with a drink in the Head of Steam, knowing that the chain allowed dogs.
There was, however, something of a loss of productivity in both this bar and the hotel, since staff took time out to play with the dog.
Talking of the dog, she felt the need to pose with landmarks.
We ate at Down the Hatch, a really good veggie/vegan cafe, which also – yes – welcomes dogs.
Followed by a good night’s sleep
(another micropub might have been involved too).
The following morning, we breakfasted (the dog had eggs), then set off for Keswick. we stopped off at Lancaster to stretch our legs and take refreshments.
We stayed at Castlerigg, on a site close to where I’d stayed with my youngest child 21 years ago.
We were soon joined by another T2, a year younger than ours.
We only spent a couple of days in Keswick; we regretted not staying longer.
The dog seemed to have a good time.
Enjoying cake at the Theatre by the Lake.
She also discovered a gem of a micropub, the Crafty Baa.
It was also good to see that a once really terrible little bar had become an excellent veggie/vegan bar/restaurant/hotel.
Although the decor hadn’t changed in two decades (the other room was busy).
And, this morning, we returned home. in a roundabout sort of way.
Over the last couple of weeks, the van covered over 800 miles without a single problem. That was something of a surprise.
After a ridiculous amount of time, the first kitchen unit is almost complete – I just need to add the worktop.
Slow drying paint means that won’t happen this week (I’m back at the pub tomorrow).
At this rate, I should finish the kitchen by the end of 2023.
I’d so underestimated the amount of time I’d need to build a new kitchen from scratch.
Of course, I’ve only been working on it one day a week, some weeks not at all. But it’s still a very slow process.
I’ve only just finished building the first unit.
To be fair, I started with the most complicated unit. It’s huge too, impossible to lift. So the remaining units must be both easier and less time consuming. Surely?
I just need to sand this one down first. Then paint it and fit the worktop. And remove the existing unit.
My reduced, voluntary, hours at the Schooner means I’ve time to do things I’d planned for some time ago.
While I appreciate that this is going to be a lengthy project, likely to be interrupted by others, I’ve finally made a start on the kitchen.
Yes, the existing kitchen units look fine, but they were fitted 17 years ago and, on close inspection, are showing a lot of wear.
New doors would have been an easy option, but I really want to try to build some freestanding units.
After leaving the Civil Service, I’d planned several projects. Some were actually completed before buying into the Schooner, but some important ones weren’t started.
Now that I’ve pulled out of the pub, one small project has been completed. Wardrobes in the spare room.
Of course, the room now needs to be decorated before I can start something else. Around 18 months later than planned, the kitchen’s next.
I was recently asked if I could replace the blackboards outside my local (the old ones were suffering from rot).
I’m pretty happy with the end result.
They’re huge, so my second in command’s help was needed in erecting them.
We’ve been decorating and once more have a functional bedroom.
Furniture restorer is an incredible liquid, I have to say.
Today saw new floorboards in the spare room.
They run the full length of the room and we’re a bugger to lay. But we now have floors without gaps.