Ivy Villa Reprise

extra [unexpected]

steps...

SPRING 2009

After the New Year we were looking forward to a peaceful time, following all the worthwhile but exhausting efforts of the preceding 18 months.

However, we began to realise that the 'odd mouse' scuttling by in the background

had turned into an army, which no amount of vigilance could control.

For the first time we had no cat to assist us and so sought expert human help, which thankfully was forthcoming -

resulting in an expensive 8 week course of professional eradication by expert Gavin...

We have retained an ongoing check

'just in case' however!

e e k !!!

Eradicating the little horrors was only the beginning, however..

No sooner had we got that problem in hand than we were plunged into darkness !!!

This was not to be the end of our troubles, however! As a further act of 'vandalism' the mouse gang had been nibbling away at the electrical wiring - and before long plunged us into darkness!!!

We quickly had the severity of this revealed to us by marvellous Andy, the electrician friend who was introduced to us by our excellent builder (Brian) who swiftly came to our assistance.

However, we quickly realised that it was probably just as well that the mice had called our attention to the ancient electrics - which we were advised needed totally replacing

- a full house rewire was needed, in fact.

GOTCHA!

ONE OF THE CULPRITS !

Whilst the full horror of this new ordeal began to sink in, we were reassured that if we moved out (and had all our belongings removed and stored for a while) the Lads would make a good job of it all and whilst it would be "messy" they would try not to damage our newly plastered and decorated rooms - Brian would follow Andy and patch up any holes - and Steve would repaint over the repairs. And so they did bless 'em!

So, we contacted friends Clare and Dick of PAWS A WHILE - where we had stayed in the Yorkshire countryside before, and were offered the rent of their holiday cottage for two weeks.

Meaning also that Chez would be able to catch up with his friends Bonny and Clyde for a while !

And therefore our poor lovely restored house was packed up for the second time ... but the last time we hoped

SO - removal men got busy wrapping and packing with us working alongside over several weeks in April...

Remember; this was the second time, in less than two years, that we had packed all our belongings up - but this time [apart from the attics] all the rooms had to be EMPTIED!!!

And we all had to leave for a while ...

The reason attics alone escaped the uproar was because they could have the furniture all turned through 90 degrees and stuff piled up at one end of each room -and only half the floorboards lifted... Easy !

All this was very exhausting but with lots of help and support, we got through to our two week holiday at PAWS A WHILE

To see our restful escape click PAWS IN SPRING - our Holiday Blog

Halfway through our holiday escape we popped back one afternoon to see how things were going ...

here is a view of the Kitchen - midway!

By the end of our second week away we were keen to come home -

and begin the long job of sorting it all out again

As promised the Team of lads had done a first class job; all carpets back properly, all wiring renewed neatly, all areas replastered and made good. We had decided to have the dining room replastered now - instead of in the future - so soon it was to be Steve and Graeme's turn to join in and decorate through there and the kitchen

First though, the great team from Rainbow came in as planned and cleaned through the kitchen -

and some carpets that needed a spruce up

In due course work began, decorating the kitchen, and the dining room - which now also had fine new windows and a ceiling rose restored

Eventually we were able to start recovering our belongings which involved the removal firm bringing our many boxes of treasured books, ornaments and pictures back - in stages - and this time we had all the UN-packing to do alone -

it took WEEKS !