Makeovers - long awaited

After travelling around Australia and New Zealand for three months, we returned home and decided that it was time to seriously complete the jobs that we had been talking about for the past year.   And putting off, of course.

Our new fence, after having given the plaster plenty of time for curing while we were travelling down under, needed a coat of paint to protect it from the elements.   And it was not difficult either, as three hours later I had finished the job.   No wonder I am smiling.   

We now have a new side fence, built and painted, a project that we have talked about for ten or more years.   Our neighbours are very happy, as we are too.

The kitchen cupboards, with contents re-organised after our last to trip to Australia, have now had a coat of white paint.   Or I should say four coats of white paint.  The job proved to be more difficult than we thought, even using the special paint for laminated surfaces.   Walter painted the top cupboards, and I painted the bottom cupboards, which involved much crawling around on the floor.  A bit hard on the knees.  

We then found that the existing paint on the walls looked very sickly against the white cupboards.   So of course we had to paint the walls.   And I became very keen and decided that I would paint the centre table a moss green, in order to give the kitchen a splash of colour.  

In the end the kitchen received a complete makeover, even down to new handles (from our favourite shop, Ikea).   I think Walter is gritting his teeth as he smiles at the camera.

But when we finally finished we were impressed with our efforts, as long as one does not look too closely at the brush marks on some of the cupboards.  A transformed kitchen, now to co-ordinate the colour of the appliances on the kitchen bench, or is that going a step too far!

I am very proud of Walter.    He managed to replace the toilet, all on his own.   Well, he did receive just a little bit of advice and help from Ken, who is a plumber.    But mostly the job was completed by Walter, and we now have a toilet, which has been designed well, and flushes easily, and has a cistern that does not fall apart when one presses the button.   

I know we have been complaining about this toilet ever since it was installed ten years ago, but finally the job has been completed, and I know our guests will be extremely grateful too.  

In the photograph Walter has removed the old toilet, and has just realised that there is no going back, the new toilet will have to be installed, otherwise we will have to book into a hotel for the night.

After staying in so many lovely houses in Australia and New Zealand we are keen to undertake some serious work on the hall and lounge room.    But unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, we are travelling again soon..