.................because today I'm doing nothing, I'm not waiting for tradesmen, I'm not sorting stuff out nor am I trying to find things to buy for the house.

I'm sat on the couch with the lappy today.

Happiest I've been in ages.

I used to really enjoy DIY, I wonder if I've been put off it for life with this refurb hassle or if I'll want to dip my toe in again after it's all done.

I bet you feel stress free for a change just for today.

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If at first you don't succeed, ask UHM in your hour of need!

I take it all the hassles you were having a couple of months ago are getting sorted - sounded a bit of a nightmare.

Don't worry, the DIY bug is just dormant, give it a couple of weeks and you'll be itching to tear something apart and rebuild it!

Lol, kind of.

I can honestly say in 10 + years of being together that was the closest we've come to separating. I would never have believed what an effect this kind of thing can have on a relationship. Know better now, lol.

We have a working kitchen now...sink/hob/oven/dishwasher/units etc which has made an absolutely huge difference. It's not finished and still needs plinth/cornice/pelmet and a couple of tall larders need butchered to fit round a boiler but we're getting there. Electrical stuff finally finished.

The rest of the house, bathroom etc still needs done but since we accepted that we needed to forget everything and just concentrate on one area and put up with the building site everywhere else, it's been better.

Bathroom will be next. Soon. Stress levels are reduced to a grumble now and then though instead of a 'that's it, I've had enough' whilst slamming doors etc etc, so we can cope with that.

Hi Ali, Glad thing are progressing, and you are making headway.

I thrive on DIY, or should I say decorating, I cant get enough, anything manual and physical, I am your gal, I love getting stuck in, and wouldnt have it any other way.

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I would rather want something I dont have, that have something I dont want

So still a way to go then. These longer projects can give relationships a bit of a battering - been there, done that, got battered! But it can put you in areas you never imagined and make you both a lot stronger

Glad you took the advice re doing one room at a time, probably helped your sanity a wee bit! To be honest I still do it, working on a complete house, vacant possession and I can still lose the plot - working on too many rooms at a time (mind you, blokes vs multitasking, its not surprising!).

Best of luck with the rest of it and remember we're still her if you need a mump, girn, grizzle......... or even advice!

fancy a few days in the west country Still got a few rooms need doing here

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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

Your on Hoovie I could do with a break, or a busmans holiday lol

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I would rather want something I dont have, that have something I dont want