Cats and Concrete - not a good mix!

Home Expansion Day12


Looking at the pictures not a lot has happened in the last 9 days or so it would appear. The builders did a great job of leaving the site tidy and clean last weekend after pouring the concrete which is to become the floor of the extension.


We came home late last Thursday and opened the front door only to be met by Smudge (she of 4 paws) coming the other way at the speed of an exocet missile. "Wonder what's the matter with her" exclaimed Mrs CT? This was somewhat explained when opening the back door to examine the building progress to find that the cat flap had been nailed shut. Poor thing must have had all 4 paws crossed for some time. Why this sudden persecution of the cat by the builders - quite simple they had spent the afternoon pouring several toms of concrete and smoothing it to a fine finish - naturally they didn't want little marks all over it - oh dear, my brain was far too slow in computing this as Smudge came hurtling across the still wet and soft surface heading back for her now overdue tea. So now not only are there indentations all over the extension floor but there is by now a corresponding pattern in concrete splodges on our clean kitchen and hall floor. I wont repeat what Mrs CT said but needless to say it was all my fault! (Sometimes I do have to wonder at female logic).

Anyway back to the delays. It is all to do with bricks or the lack of them or to be more precise the lack of matching ones. The original builders of the house had used a job lot of since discontinued brick which were prooving hard to match. Hopefully they will be here sometime next week. In the meantime, Jack, the bricky had a couple of days off to "recharge his batteries" and the site was left empty. Over the last couple of days the patio has been relaid in its new position and I might even get a table and couple of chairs out tomorrow.

Onwards and upwards - I hope!


PS Does anyone want any replacement kitchen cupboard doors? We have quite a number to offer as our existing kitchen has to be demolished in the next couple of weeks. Good condition. Let me know and I will send details and pictures

Home Expansion - Day 3

Behold - the birth of a new kitchen breaking free from mother earth

Nothing much more to report really. The digger has gone so no more trenches thank goodness. Mrs CT deciding that London was not far enough away from the chaos has evacuated herself to Halifax - not too sure which is worse!

So that leaves just me and Smudge, who is still not happy at the state of her garden and even less so as the vet has told her that she is fat and needs to lose 2 kgs so is on a strict diet. If she meows at me for food once more, she might just find herself part of the foundations..............(not really!)

Home Expansion - Day 2

Where's my garden gone?

Looks like something out of Time Team. Any more trenches and I think I will be able to sell the lawn mower! whilst it is in this state I just hope the rain stays away.

Yet another truck with robotic arm greeted us at sunrise dumping all sorts of goodies onto the drive.

After yesterday's  initial shock to the system (picture above), Mrs CT has abandoned ship and gone to London. At least she wont see the devastation of her clean home as it happens. Smudge (the cat) still not happy as she now has a 1 foot leap to and from her cat flap.

Home Expansion - Day 1

So the day has finally arrived after 7 months of planning and research..............and we had somewhat forgotten. Only the sound of a lorry drawing up outside and the clanking of a mini-digger being unloaded provoked Mrs CT and myself into action............the builders were here!

There were cups of tea to be made, questions to be asked and reassurances sought. The slight drizzle that was now falling made me think that today was not going to be the tidiest or cleanest. Mrs CT, I am sure, still thought that all of this was going to be achieved with the minimum of mess and chaos............

.................this was soon rectified when Jack decided that the digger was not going to get into our back garden and proceeded to belt seven bells of whatsit out of the garden wall and back gate with a lump hammer..........the blood was already draining from Mrs CT's face.........as the wall was finally demolished and lay in a neat pile on the front lawn. "Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs" declared Jack. Sod the eggs it is the mud, muck and dust that Mrs CT is worried about.

As the day went on a large proportion of the back garden was dug out and transported to the front garden to be met by a over large Tonka toy with a grab bucket and neatly transported away. Surveying the trench that now surrounded the back door Mrs CT was now quite excited at the progress being made. "The concrete truck is on its way" someone declared at which she decided her sister's was beckoning as a safe refuge and would have a working toilet as 2 of ours had been disconnected.

So that was it, all that remained was me, the building team of 3 and Smudge the cat..............oh crikey I had forgotten about Smudge who with impeccable timing was making great muddy paw prints through the kitchen, hall and now was busy decorating the dining room window sill.

Oh well it least it wasn't me wrecking the house........this time!

Braised lamb shanks with crushed herb potatoes recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food
Good simple food - today’s lunch - looking forward to it.