Logs and Bathroom progress

LOGS
With a lot of help from a friend we moved one trailer, in France it is called a remorque, of one metre logs that are cut into thirds.  Five stères, that is 5 cubic metres are waiting for collection.  I do this because they are a) a good price b) the supplier is known c) the logs are always three years old d) it gives me more exercise as if I don't have enough to do, and e) because I have not yet spoken to a supplier nearer to me.  It will take about 6 journeys but even with petrol costs it is cheaper than some suppliers of oak logs. Anyway the car makes that daily journey. They are being stacked with the 1.75 stères remaining from last winter. Stacking takes time.
N.B. Looking back at Mathematics that means I have burnt 8¼ steres during the last winter months.

BATHROOM
Very soon, we will complete the bathroom renovation.
Today, cleaned tiling, repeated jointing powder where it had not pushed into spaces, began to fix  floor skirting tiles, sanded doors.


The whereabouts of the electrician is unknown and now I will step up contact. The bathroom is flooded with light for most of the day  so I can always like candles at night. I think the positioning of the door into the bedroom will have to wait.

It has been a difficult project and every day my friend starts with huge motivation and energy, even telephoning an alarm call every day. Two rings. I shall miss those!  I know it has taken a long time but there have been very difficult plumbing, drainage and other matters.  In addition, the client, that is me, had ideas in her head, drawings on paper, but did not know how to do the behind-the-scenes technical stuff which has all taken time.

There was

• the three layered window.....installed to overcome the existing unattractive window which overlooks a neighbour.  Now they cannot see in nor hear. Nor can we see or hear them.
• the preparation and insulation of walls and floor ensuring a flat surface.
• floor tiling
• The connection of hot and cold water to existing pipes but altering position.
• Plumbing of water supply and waste water to and from shower, bath and sink, including installation of taps and shower head.
• Measuring....... oh my ....... so much had to be measured on a constant basis.
• Sometimes two heads were better than one as we would talk through how something would be done.
• Wall tiling/Bath panel tiling/ Sink shelf tiling.  I chose two different types of tiles. Firstly my design required a small amount of black and white mini tiles to go with the very large white tiles.  They were on display on the shop where I measured against the measurements  in the bathroom and worked out how many I needed, checked with the sales person. However, white tiles are ceramic and mini tiles are glass and they need different glue, different thickness of glue, different jointing technique and polishing afterwards. We have been round with a stanley blade trimming the jointing powder where it would not fit neatly between the tiles!!!!
• Eventually the plan changed ... new ideas are set to try us! :) .. and I had to purchase a LOT more mini-tiles and return a case of 15 white tiles. So up went the budget!  When you see the design you may understand how much time I spent assessing how many 12 x 12  tiles I required. I had cut them into lengths of 4 x 12 tiles and 3 x 12 tiles and we even used the leftover tiles to form strips! Another challenge was cutting the glass mini tiles when we realised that where they butt together they needed to be halved!  The mathematical process was time consuming and challenging!  I have no regrets and I know that my friend is really pleased with the result.
• Just purchasing what goes into a bathroom: window glass bricks and a double glazed unit, a bath, suspended toilet, shower, sink, tap units, floor tiles, wall tiles, lighting, switches, electric towel rail, and then paint, and plumbing fittings, wood, plasterboard, screws, washers, etc, etc, etc and this involved several shopping trips where it is a 60 mile round trip and takes most of a day!!!!!!
• We've worked through the warmth and cold of winter and despite days off my friend has by and large worked 4 days a week for about 5 to 6 hours each day. We've eaten well and had regular coffee and tea breaks with home-made cakes, bread, tarts, pies, lunches.