Today we have just rested and relaxed and ignored all the bother that has been going on in the bathroom. We couldn't even be whip up the energy to go out. It had been our intention to go out car hunting again today as the time grows closer when my old faithful work horse will need to be pensioned off for good. Winter has not been kind to her and her bright red paint work is mottled with dark brown rust patched. The fan belt screeches unbearable at any sign of damp or wet weather. It's needed adjusting each winter as it protests against the cold and damp.

At long last Spring seems to have arrived on our doorstep. There seems to be some controversy about the arrival of spring. When I was a kid it was always on the 21st March but some websites now seem to be saying the 20th and to confuse matters even more the Met office seems to call the beginning of March the beginning of Spring. Anyway the weather during this last week has definitely perked up and the warmer temperatures and sunshine had made all the spring plant grow at such an unusually rapid rate.

The little Daphne bush is in full bloom and its scent is just so delicious. The original bush I had on this site died one winter, was dug out and consigned to the plant graveyard. This shrub is self sown from one of the first plants little red berries. Its a miracle it managed to survive and grow each year from a tiny unprotected seedling, considering the cats that scratch in the garden and Daisy that rampages over and flattens any tender plants or just eats them.

........and so to Daisy we've heard some faint scratchings coming from her hibernation box this week, so today we decided it was time for her to emerge. Himself unburied her from the depths of the garage and we lifted her out into the daylight.

After a warm bath and her shell oiled she sat in the sun on the patio for a short time. I wonder how long it will take me to get her to eat this year. Some years it can be several weeks. I'll try her with her favorite food, grapes tomorrow.

Day Nineteen

Not allot of Shower room progress today. The basin conundrum hasn't been resolved. I came home this morning with a basin that the tap fits only to find that there was other fitting problems with this particular basin. Tony the Plumber's taken it back this time.

On a brighter note spring has finally surfaced this week and with a garden recorded temperature of 18 degrees yesterday green buds are appearing on the shrubs and we've finally got a daffodil in flower with all the others bending their buds ready to burst open. A little tour around the garden if now revealing the winter damage and the work that needs doing to recover it.

My bamboo plant actually flowered in 2008, so last year it looked very unhappy and I was convinced it was dying. A search into the habit of bamboo's on the horticultural sites told me that they mostly died after flowering which they do very infrequently. I don't think I can afford another bamboo at the present time as they are quite expensive so I need to research another plant that will like that position.

18 days and counting

The Bathroom Showroom guy told me they take eight days to complete a bathroom renovation as they like to get jobs done without delays and they do no more than three jobs a month. So were now on day 18 and have encountered yet another delay. The tap I chose will not fit the available hole in the sink. This guy just does not know his products. So now I need to take the basin and tap back to him in the morning and have it all out with him. I'm not good at confrontations. Miss Lee where are you when I need you?

At least we now have a loo albeit not useable until tomorrow when the sealer has gone off and set. Tony the Tiler wasn't able to come today because of Tony the Plumber taking up the workable space. I suppose I've gone past banging my head against a wall. It's too painful. I just have to bite my tongue and bide my time.

Pulling out the Stops.

Tony the Tiler returned this afternoon, worked his magic and laid the floor tiles in record time. Its beginning to feel as if my super new shower room will soon be completed

Just a loo and basin and we're in business, well except for some small snagging jobs. I decided to have a few more tiles on the wall and Tony's coming back to do that along with a special sealing coat for the grout to help prevent any mould occurring.

Over lapping work scheduals

We made some progress yesterday.

Tony the Plumber managed to get the cabinets to fit against our wonky walls and installed the super duper posh radiator 'Himself' and I had sourced and fetched from a Radiator Company near Leicester. I couldn't find a towel rail that would fit the area and that I liked so I searched the Internet for alternatives and came up with this.

I must admit it makes a statement and was worth the struggle Tony had to make it sit on our walls. He also sorted out the under floor plumbing ready for Tony the Tiler this morning.

So here comes the next delay......

Tony the plumber hadn't time last night to lay the ply wood across the floor boards for the tiles to sit on. Tony the tiler arrived promptly this morning expecting it done. So, now he has to source and fit the wood before tiling. Now, it's thrown his schedule out. Hopefully he will manage to get back this afternoon and get the timber down........and maybe the tiles. I also asked him to apply a treatment to the grout to help prevent mould that plagues tile grout in damp areas.

The Plumber back from Poland'

It's now the middle of the afternoon and I'm spitting feathers, desperate for a cup of tea. I've even considering skipping across to the cafe in Ferry Meadows for one. Tony the Plumber switched the water off and drained the system this morning before I came back from my swim. He never thought to make sure the kettle was full so I only had enough water for a mid morning coffee.

At lunch I managed to find a lonely can of Zero Coke lurking in the depths of the fridge. After lunch I took myself off into the garden to do the first bit of gardening of the year. It's a good job it's warmish and sunny as well as dry 'cos when I'd finished and came back in I realised, no water to wash hands. It's a good job I have some hospital style cleansing gel!

This is what I have to clamber over today to reach my bedroom or the study. Tony's popped out to get some more 'bits' so I thought I'd get some more 'progress' photos!

See, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Although I think it's still a fair way off yet. As you can see the sinks progressed from the spare bed to the office floor and the loo's still on the half landing of the stairs.

I had to cope with 'Himself' throwing a hissy fit last night when we discovered, as we thought, the Electrician had installed the lights that didn't look 'in line' I must admit I was also quite mad. However this morning 'Himself' got out the tape and discovered the lights are inline, the walls not, so it causes an optical illusion.

The neighbours have disappeared on their Annual Vacation so I can't beg a cupper there. Tony's '20 minutes' seems to have been greatly extended, so Ferry meadows it is!

so... now... where's the plumber?

The weekend saw us frantically painting so the Electrician and Plumber would have a clear run this Monday morning.

You wanted to know what the colour was like, so here it is. Forget raspberry pink, it's actually called Foxy. Cleaver name, hey, obviously not coined up from Reynard. Oh and thats not a pole dancing pole! but the chrome edge to my lovely glass shower screen.

.........a funky foxy colour.....

........and a lovely funky foxy shower rain head and controlls. No fiddling to get the water temperature right now.

Prompt at 8am this morning, recovered from his fall through a loft hatch, the Electrician turned up. Job done by 10.30. So now we have light.

But still no loo or basin. No sign of the plumber today and no luck with his cell phone. Now I'm wondering what else has gone wrong. Maybe he's not made it back from Poland........