Lockdown diaries, day sixteen, one step forward, two steps back

Ready to hang

Day sixteen, Saturday 14^th November 2020 

One step forward, two steps back

I was hoping to be able to report the wallpapering was going well, but at the end of play today it seems it’s House 1 Jac and Ade 0. In the new office/music room we did something we’d never done before and instead of steaming off the old paper (which we know results in plaster issues in this house) we just dry-pulled the top layer off, which left a backing layer in place. Although we weren’t convinced it would work, we did successfully manage to paper over it and it certainly made for a less soggy mess when preparing the walls. 

 

In the main landing outside the bedrooms we tried to do the same thing, but the northern, external wall wasn’t happy with that, so after a bit of head scratching today, it was back to the hot soapy water spray as we diligently scraped off all traces of the previous paper. Fingers crossed what we did hang will still be on the wall in the morning, when we’ll mix up some more paste and start all over again. 

 

The grot we had before

It would be easy to get despondent when things like this don’t go to plan. One of the reasons we have been reluctant to start jobs around here (for so many years) is that experience has taught us that in this house things rarely do stick to plan. However, we are more motivated now and it’s important we keep that motivation going and don’t succumb to panic. Covid-19 lockdown has certainly given us time, so once we’d cleared up the mess this afternoon, we turned our backs on it with purpose and with heads held high, set off on the bikes. An hour of fresh air and exercise, even with a keen wind from the west made all the difference. There is always tomorrow and if it isn’t finished this weekend, there is always next weekend too. On a more positive note, one thing I am pleased with is the colour, a pale grey with a hint of lilac, that will feel so much brighter than the mess we had before.

 

One of my favourite comfort meals, homemade veggie pizza

Dinner tonight will be homemade pizzas, topped with as many fresh veggies as I can pile on, comfort food at its best.