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May 23, 2004
The work progresses
The Monk's new study area is small and functional - a landing next to the stairs.
At least my study is now becoming functional, but most of the books I use for reference are still in boxes because they will go into bookshelves in what will be my diningroom/guest room. It is taking quite a while to settle things and sort things, because I am having a combination boiler and central heating system installed. Drilling to put in the pipe runs is messy and dusty and means I cannot put some things into their places because it would be difficult to move them so the workman can get behind them to do his bits when he needs to.
I dare say that it would be quite a bit quicker to do this if I had someone who does this full time - but I have a friend and colleague who is doing it for me at less than half the full cost. It's worth putting up with the delay for that price.
Still, it will be nice when it is all finished, I can put things away permanently and get on with life. Only problem - once the heating is installed, I will have to get another guy in to install shelves in the cupboard where the geyser used to be! That will be my linen cupboard in future - complete with its own mini-radiator to ensure the linen stays dry and aired!
That is, of course, the next problem - I have to get in a carpenter to build some proper linen shelves (I am the pupil whose woodwork master wrote "please do not let this boy destroy any more wood in attempts at carpentry" in my end of year report.). This cannot be done until the massive electric watertank and its reservoir are removed. While we're at it, I will need some more shelves built in another cupboard which has had the gas pipes stripped out and can now be more usefully used as a grocery storage unit, so then I can also sort out some of my other storage arrangements more efficiently.
For now - I have the radiators on the walls! No pipework yet, but the boiler is in its position, the flue is installed, the gas pipes ready for connection! Progress! Once that is done I can start putting away the stuff that could not be unpacked untill all that wiork was complete - and then it's just a case of getting the place arranged comfortably.
It may not yet be the end, nor is it the beginning of the end - but it is the end of the beginning - to misappropriate the words of a much more famous author!
Posted by The Gray Monk at May 23, 2004 09:34 PM