The Buckingham Blog

Another busy week here.  Monday was a roasting hot day, so we spent it playing outside with friends.  On Tuesday after nursery and rising 2's, my Dad arrived up to help James remove our fireplace.  It's something that's been a long time in coming over the winter as it's basically a hole to the outside and it's too expensive to run so was only a decorative piece.  And not a very nice one at that (though James differs in opinion, he agrees it's crazy we were spending days upstairs in winter as it was warmer!)  I'll pop in some work in progress photos.

We went to boxing as normal with Kory then home for dinner.  On Wednesday morning I had a dress fitting for Jenni's wedding (which for once I'm pleased to report went well!) and then collected Krystal to find she'd cried the whole time in Rising 2's while I was away.  Not very sure what that was all about. 

When we got home, the Sky+ box decided it would be a good time to pack in.  It really set work backwards on the fireplace as we all scuttered about trying to work out what was wrong with it.  It randomly came back on after 2 hours.  Very odd! 

On Thursday the plastering was finished off and the kids watched Alvin & the Chipmunks the Squeakel that they got from Dad.  They'd seen it in the cinema and really enjoyed it. 

While Kory was in nursery, Dad gave Krystal an early birthday present from him and Tricia.  It is a Steiff bear called Krystal who is wearing Swarovski crystals on her collar.  It's really unusual to find anything with the name Krystal let alone the same spelling.  She's really chuffed with it.  Only she wants to take it everywhere, so it needs to find a home in her room to not constantly touch it! 

Dad left on Friday morning and I busy bodied about the house, painted the plastered area, baked Krystal's birthday cake and did some craft stuff with the monkey's.  We then picked up James from work and went to B&Q to choose some paint to go on the wall. 

Krystal wasn't well through the night last night, up and down like a yo-yo to the toilet.  She seemed a bit better this morning, and we were all up early to get on with things that needed done.  I got stuck into painting the wall in the living room while James and the kids started building the new storage for the playroom (Dad kindly brought it up from Ikea, we've wanted it for ages but couldn't get for it with kids in car!)

Once I was done, I showered, had lunch and started more decorating.  This time Krystal's birthday cake.  She's been asking for a My Little Pony cake for a while, and seeing as she's not having a party, I thought I'd make more effort with her cake.  So here is the result.  I've even impressed myself if I'm honest, I've not done anything like this before, and I think it's turned out really well!  Krystal thinks so too, which is the important bit. 

By the time I had done that, James was finished with the building of the unit, so it was time to get in about the playroom.  Yikes that was a big job.  They have been given so many sticker/dot to dot/colouring books over the years that I had to sort.  So now everything has a place and it's clean.  The theory is now I won't be tripping over stuff constantly.  Let's see what the reality is.  Worst case I reckon is that it's me putting it back in these places! 

Here is the final result of the living room.  I am very very happy with it.  Not only is the gaping hole closed, I've got my bay window back by being able to use the longest wall in the room for a couch.  Many thanks to Dad for all his help with it and Tricia for being ill alone while he was here.  All in all a very productive day here! 

Julie.xx