Russell took an odd pleasure in not finishing a job. I never did understand it and, since he died, I've wondered how it was that I coped with it at all, because I'm a finisher. I can take ages to start something because, once I do, I carry on to the end and it's the finishing that gives me satisfaction. It wasn't just that Russell lost interest, but that he actively wanted almost everything to need a small job done that he never had the least intention of carrying out. He'd stop a workman from finishing, telling him that he'd do it himself. He made sure I didn't do it or get someone else and undermine all my efforts - not throughout, just at the last.
The kitchen had two new oak windows put in, one each side of the Aga on the east wall. The only other window in the room was on the north wall, behind the sink and faces the laundry room, which is between my house and the annexe and is used by both houses. It was one of only two windows in the house that was not replaced when the house was refurbished, 40 years ago. It wasn't in poor condition, so I suppose I understand that, but the odder thing was that, when the deep windowsill was tiled - it must be about 50cm front to back - it ended up about three inches higher than the bottom of the window and there was a small gap at the back. And a few of the tiles were not grouted into place. Nor were the tiles on the left windowsill on the Aga wall. The ones on the right were. I was discouraged from doing it myself and that was that.
Today, I started removing the tiles behind the sink and, when I cleared enough to be able to lift the whole lot out, I discovered that there was wood and then chipboard and the old Formica surface that had been there previously was still in place. It looks so much better now that the whole window is exposed and makes the kitchen much lighter. I have no idea. None at all. I had a small baby and two other children to look after and didn't keep my eye on all the details and, when I asked, I was assured that it had been necessary.
I wish I had been the nagging sort. I despise nagging and Russell wouldn't have liked it at all, but it would have got results.
Anyway, though it is a lot of work and can be quite worrying, having to take responsibility for everything, at least it gets done as I want it. And if I make a mistake or leave anything unfinished, that's up to me.
I've ordered the skip for next Thursday and Friday.
1 comment:
We had pretty much the same thing here when we took off the top layer of tiles behind the sink - several other layers of tiles and rotting wood underneath. I guess that's how things were done years ago.
We were all so much less savvy years ago, and, as you say, I think that as a young Mum with so many things to look after, in a big house, it wasn't your top priority, and we all just get used to things over time and stop thinking about them, let alone questioning them, don't we?
Will one skip be enough? ;)
- BW
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