The end of an intense relationship

The wall paper is almost gone, every wall is wonky, and seems to have a million holes in it, but my trusty wallpaper steamer and stripper are my constant companion while Ian does more work on the kitchen electrics, and rebuilding corners where the wall came down.

It’s hard work, but we feel a real sense of achievement each day. However, we need a bit of time out occasionally, so I decide Sunday lunch is in order. Now, I could cook it in Agy, it is possible, but with a 2 gas hob as my only resources going out is much easier, so I do a bit of research and see plenty of recommendations for The Gracellie Hotel in Shanklin. I’m not expecting much as it isn’t expensive, but it will be a trip out. To save packing up Agy and to allow us both to have a drink we go by train. Yes, the Island has a train, in fact they are old London underground trains build in 1938 and I love them! We aren’t too far from Sandown Station, so off we go, it’s just 2 stops to Shanklin, the end of the line. Shanklin is basically the next bit of seaside along and is beautiful, but very hilly.  The hotel has a fabulous terrace, so being extra keen and having arrived early (I know, I’m always early!) we have time for a drink first.

Now, I am a pretty good cook and I have many friends and family who do a mean roast, but this was amazing. We had a sharer, basically 3 meats and plenty of everything else that makes up a perfect roast. Now it may have been the fact we were starving, we haven’t had a roast (or even left the house) for a while, or it may actually be the best roast dinner ever, whichever it is we demolished it and loved it!  

Sadly, free time is scarce if we want to actually live in the house, so back to it. We have been invited to neighbours homes to see how they are configured and decide the kitchen window (one of them) has to come out so we can have a fridge freezer, so out it comes, and a wall goes in. It sounds so simple… and it was, in a way. I’m up a ladder, my steamer gushing away, the boiler gurgling and my scraper scraping, and I hear a little squeaky voice, “Liz, Liz help me!”  I’ve no idea what is happening, but rush to the kitchen where I find Ian with a window basically on top of him almost out of it’s frame. Let’s say it came out with much less force than expected! Before we know it, the frame is out and we’re building a wall.

As I have taken time out to build a wall (not something I expected to be saying in my life), my steamer clearly got the hump and decided to stop steaming and, well, chuck boiling water out. Fortunately, on the floor not on me, but I only have a bit to go and she’s deserted me! She is definitely a she. Hot, steamy, a bit temperamental, prone to hot flushes but cracks on and does what need to be done, until she has had enough, and then she just says, enough. I’m done. And she is… Desperate measures are required for the final removal process.