h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm in the middle of building work, so the house is full of dust and it's not that easy to use the computer, because a wall has gone and the temporary arrangement means I've lost a radiator. I'm having the ramshackle conservatory taken down and something smaller and more secure being put in its place. I'm having the tiny kitchen being enlarged by joining it to the small dining room. I'm also having a side window taken out and joined to the conservatory and a second window taken out and converted to french doors.

When it's finished it's going to be really nice, although at the minute, it's a bit difficult to live around, because I no longer have a clothes dryer and other rooms in the house are full of what was in the old conservatory, including two bicycles and lots of laundry stuff. Roy has moved his computer into the bedroom, but mine is still in the dining room, so it's less easy to use.

We went to look at kitchens today. A bit more expensive than I had thought. I'm not sure that I've enough money to do the kitchen properly unless I extend the mortgage again. Lots to think about.

It'll be better after work has been done to floor the dining room. I'm told it will be much warmer after that, although there'll still be more dust when the other bits of wall come down.

Most of the dusty work has been done, for the time being and there's a radiator which means that it's not quite so cold - although, given that there's a much larger space to heat and the patio doors aren't on yet, it's still quite cold.

It's going to be much more expensive to put the kitchen in that I originally envisioned. Mind you, had I chosen a cheaper kitchen instead of the walnut, it would have been a fair bit cheaper. It will look stunning when I've finished - although I'm not sure there's going to be enough left to do the bathroom or to put flooring on the new kitchen/diner. Who was it who said that you have to double a builder's original quote? Well, it hasn't doubled, but it's been 50% up on the original.

Traveller in Time always rebuilding
"One way to isolate the construction place is using plastic sheets. They got to be fixed and closed against the ceiling but the lower parts should be free to dangle and move as you want to pass.

Do not know if it is workable, but keeping th eheat inside is worth a lot. "

There was at one point a fabric sheet, but that was mostly to isolate the dust, although it was partly to keep the place a bit warmer. It was good for the dust, less good for the heat. At present, there's a temporary back entrance, which does have some gaps. I think the lack of heat is mostly due to there being more space and one fewer radiator. As and when the new kitchen goes in, there will be a kick heater under one of the plinths. In the meantime, I may have to get temporary heating. The fan heater uses lots of electricity, so is quite expensive.

The tiles round the bath have now been put up and the shower unit is in, but not the shower hose and shower head. Tomorrow, maybe!

Traveller in Time sitting on the floor
"Coincidence ?

We have just a kickspace radiator installed (actually I did it). The kids love the hot air flow, they claimed the space in fromt of it to play with Lego the other day.

Hmm, I have to make some doors, the open staircase draws most of the warm air out of the living room, we still have the curtain, and some plastic sheets, hanging down there. I really must work on those doors . "

I'd never heard of a kickspace radiator until a few days ago. Fancy you having installed one! I like the idea too!

Traveller in Time on the ladder
"'Mesologist' was browsing some kitchen shops the other day, I looked over her shoulder when we saw these tiny radiators. I ed and asked if they also had plinth ladders.

Only after we ordered for one, at the local shop, we realised it was a tad above planned expenses . However, installed it is a little miracle. "

I saw one at B&Q (a DIY store) yesterday - first time I'd ever seen one - and it was fairly inexpensive, much to my surprise.

,

You are so brave We have heaps to do on our house but I just can't face it. I suppose I will sometime.

<> - it's freezing here - have you not got any snow - you didn't mention it

with the work.. and the bill.....

Websailor