weekend away

The other weekend I had  a weekend away with a few other gents. I went south for a tournament on tie Friday night boat and was back up on the Sunday night boat, so only one night on dry land!

All in all I had a really good weekend away,won my tournament and collected a nice trophy for my troubles. It was strange though, as its probably the only time I've actually been away with out either the kids or wife as well. Yes I've had time at home without them, but then I've been busy doing DIY, so not much of a holiday.I was glad that it was a single bed, as I never seem to notice I'm sleeping on my own when I'm in a single bed. These days I find it weird to sleep alone in a double bed, as even when the wife is away at a conference or meeting I've usually got one of the bairns snuggling in! Yeah, they prob should get put back in there own beds, but its a lit easier just to let them snuggle in, plus they sleep better! The weekend away was good fun and I enjoyed the piece and quiet and uninterrupted sleep! It was nice to wake up without being jumped on! A nice long, leisurely shower to wake myself up was also good, a treat I don't usually get!

However, it still felt odd not having the kids around, not something in really use to. Although I enjoyed myself, I was glad to be home on the Monday morning and hearing the kids telling me all about their weekend and the parties that they were at. I can't say in in a hurry to go away again, at least not without the kids or wife.

A few years ago I would have loved the freedom, probably gone out and got blind drunk and eaten all sorts of questionable things from some dodge takeaway, these days I can't drink that way! Two pints and I'm done, dodgy kebabs are defiantly a thing of the past! I think I had one pint the whole weekend and didn't miss the beer at all!

Finishing rooms

Well, over the last couple of weeks I have been busy with the DIY. As a result 2 rooms are now pretty much finished and ready to use.

First up is the front room,that after many many months is now ready to use and indeed has been used most nights. I say nights as during the day its kept closed and a kid free zone! New carpets and all, not that it hasn't already suffered a spillage! The wife was on duty then, so I'm home free on That one! The room isn't quite finished as we still need. To get the liner put in the chimney, so we can finish off the wood burner. 

Its not quite finished in teams of furniture either, as the TV stand is missing. Its on order but its not arrived yet, a typical issue up here! Hopefully when it arrives, we'll get the TV set up and have a look at the stereo, this is the bit I'm looking forward too! It will be good to get my stereo back again and get the tunes blasting again!

The next roomto be completed will be the young ladies room.

As you can see there is a window in the roof. This was quite an undertaking, simple in many respects, the Velux instructions are actually very simple and easy to follow, but chopping through the roof was not a pleasant experience and getting the tiles off cause a few moments of stress! But its in and while I am not convinced the thing is 100% waterpreoof, in pretty pleased with it. Hopefully when I get the different and correct flashing kit (ordered the one I though I needed, but it was the wrong one). Hopefully by the time this goes up, ill have all of the bracing properly inplace and be starting on the plasterboard. With luck we'll be able to move the young lady in to her room in a couple of weeks. Going on past experience though, its likely to be the otherside of Christmas!