Writing for Fun
January 2018
Not As Bad As It Seemed . . . (Thank goodness) - Diane Silverston
What on earth?!
Why is that wallpaper a different shade?
Strange I thought.
Put my hand to it . . . my goodness it’s damp!
Pulled out the fireplace . . . oh no whole wall looks damp.
Pulled out desk from alcove . . . even worse.
Emptied wall unit from other alcove . . . even worse!!!
PANIC
Desk dragged out to back garden.
Other furniture into centre of room.
OK.
Visit garage opposite (where owner of Freehold works) tell him situation. Phoned damp course firm.
2 days later man arrives with damp meter . . . (much muttering, visits outside down alley (it’s an outside wall) more muttering and sad looks. You have 3 choices
1) dig a foot deep trench along outside of house , fill with gravel, that might work.
2) Take all rendering off wall outside, all plaster inside, and start again.
3) Board up whole wall inside and re-plaster.
Won’t cure it but would help.
PANIC
Freeholder not too interested!
Sue Ryder Charity come and take some of the furniture, Council take the rest. Lounge looks quite empty, everything I could move now in bedroom . . . which is VERY full.
Friend comes for coffee (was in the building trade). Looks outside, says wall there is solid, looks inside, doesn’t seem to be that concerned.
Decorator comes (also was in building trade) . . . ‘No problem, I think it is caused by condensation mainly. I’ll price up for you.’
Roger lends me a dehumidifier . . . 1st night 7hours 3-4 pints collected . . . by end of week down to about 1 pint.
Decorator comes . . . Takes off wallpaper, one patch 4 inches by 2 inches where plaster has blown . . . ‘No problem,’ he says, ‘I’ll re-plaster that bit easily.’
FEEL BETTER
Next, plastering done. Wall completely sealed with water resistant sealant. Thermal wallpaper put up over all this wall. Chip paper put up and then whole room painted.
Now end of December 2017.
January 2018
Room painting finished. Shelving going up in alcoves.
Carpet chosen – going down Tues 23rd.
Things starting to go back into lounge.
Need to decide what new furniture I might buy (That’ll be fun.) So all in all Not As Bad As It Seemed.
THEN . . .
We start on the rest of the house!