We did not overdo the festivities last night.
Well, you know my feelings on New Year.
I don't wait to see it come in.
I was proper mashed anyway after some more cleaning of boards.
Even though it was New Years Day today, that was no reason to lie abed doing nothing productive.......especially when there were floors to stain and varnish.
I have been going on something woeful......about getting the varnish for the floors.
I reckoned that until the floors were treated, there would be a chance of someone putting dirty boot prints on the pristine boards.
When I went over to the house today I spotted two partial foot prints by the door......so I was on the lookout for the culprit.
It definitely wasn't ME as I have been removing my outdoor footwear before stepping foot in the place......besides they were man sized prints......that left three suspects.....himself, Greg or Jason.
I was churlishly grumbling and mumbling under my breath about having to go over these boards again......that it wasn't fun, or even a mildly enjoyable pursuit.
That this strenuous work had left my bat wings and my oblique muscles sore.
Himself said 'OK.....OK, we'll go to B&Q and get the varnish'
He asked if I knew what I wanted?
Well, of course I did......light oak, Ronseal diamond finish.
We headed of to the big store and once inside couldn't find what we were looking for......we found the varnish, but not in the right shade.
Anyway a very pleasant young man helped us out.
We chose a pack and made for the till.
The price of the item was £49.98.We also picked out a little roller to do the finicky bits(I believe that this is known as 'cutting in').......a few rolls of masking tape to,protect the new skirting boards and that was us....done.
The girl on the till put our items through and it came to just a little less than £30.
Himself.....being an honest soul, said that this total must be wrong as the varnish was almost 50 quid.
The girl called the supervisor over to check......and she confirmed that the price was right, as the varnish was heavily discounted.
Himself was beaming with smiles and said that he would go and find another pack of the stuff.
That way we would be sure to have enough.
The whole bill came to less than we thought one pack of varnish was going to cost.
We decided that we would do the front room first...it is smaller, and as neither of us have any experience in varnishing floors, we thought it would be good to start small.
I was full,of trepidation. Himself is to DIY what Arthur Scargill is to diplomacy.
A long handled applicator came with the tray of varnish.....he dipped this into the murky looking liquid and proceeded to slosh it about on the floor.
I think my face said it all.
'What???' He said quizzically.'
'You don't do it like that' I said.
'How many floors have you varnished before' he asked pointedly.
'None' I said.......'but I know you don't slosh the stuff about like that. You are supposed to stroke it onto the boards' I said as i took the applicator off him.
From then on, I did the length of the boards and he did the edges.....the finicky bits.
It looked alright to me......though I am sure a professional would be able to find fault with it.
We put one coat on the front room, the vestibule and the lobby......then gave up as it was getting a bit gloomy.......and himself was complaining that his knees were giving him Gyp.
Tomorrow we are going to put a second coat on.
I don't know if this will be easier or harder.
What I do know is that when the floors are done we will have learned something......and we will be able to look at it and know that it was all our own work......a concerted effort.
Well, you know my feelings on New Year.
I don't wait to see it come in.
I was proper mashed anyway after some more cleaning of boards.
Even though it was New Years Day today, that was no reason to lie abed doing nothing productive.......especially when there were floors to stain and varnish.
I have been going on something woeful......about getting the varnish for the floors.
I reckoned that until the floors were treated, there would be a chance of someone putting dirty boot prints on the pristine boards.
When I went over to the house today I spotted two partial foot prints by the door......so I was on the lookout for the culprit.
It definitely wasn't ME as I have been removing my outdoor footwear before stepping foot in the place......besides they were man sized prints......that left three suspects.....himself, Greg or Jason.
I was churlishly grumbling and mumbling under my breath about having to go over these boards again......that it wasn't fun, or even a mildly enjoyable pursuit.
That this strenuous work had left my bat wings and my oblique muscles sore.
Himself said 'OK.....OK, we'll go to B&Q and get the varnish'
He asked if I knew what I wanted?
Well, of course I did......light oak, Ronseal diamond finish.
We headed of to the big store and once inside couldn't find what we were looking for......we found the varnish, but not in the right shade.
Anyway a very pleasant young man helped us out.
We chose a pack and made for the till.
The price of the item was £49.98.We also picked out a little roller to do the finicky bits(I believe that this is known as 'cutting in').......a few rolls of masking tape to,protect the new skirting boards and that was us....done.
The girl on the till put our items through and it came to just a little less than £30.
Himself.....being an honest soul, said that this total must be wrong as the varnish was almost 50 quid.
The girl called the supervisor over to check......and she confirmed that the price was right, as the varnish was heavily discounted.
Himself was beaming with smiles and said that he would go and find another pack of the stuff.
That way we would be sure to have enough.
The whole bill came to less than we thought one pack of varnish was going to cost.
We decided that we would do the front room first...it is smaller, and as neither of us have any experience in varnishing floors, we thought it would be good to start small.
I was full,of trepidation. Himself is to DIY what Arthur Scargill is to diplomacy.
A long handled applicator came with the tray of varnish.....he dipped this into the murky looking liquid and proceeded to slosh it about on the floor.
I think my face said it all.
'What???' He said quizzically.'
'You don't do it like that' I said.
'How many floors have you varnished before' he asked pointedly.
'None' I said.......'but I know you don't slosh the stuff about like that. You are supposed to stroke it onto the boards' I said as i took the applicator off him.
From then on, I did the length of the boards and he did the edges.....the finicky bits.
It looked alright to me......though I am sure a professional would be able to find fault with it.
We put one coat on the front room, the vestibule and the lobby......then gave up as it was getting a bit gloomy.......and himself was complaining that his knees were giving him Gyp.
Tomorrow we are going to put a second coat on.
I don't know if this will be easier or harder.
What I do know is that when the floors are done we will have learned something......and we will be able to look at it and know that it was all our own work......a concerted effort.
