Ripping Out Bits and New Discoveries

Nigel and I spent half the weekend ripping things out. My good friend Mr. Crowbar came in handy as we ripped out the corner cupboard in the upstairs hallway. If you don't own a crowbar, go out right now and buy one. They are the best tool ever. Here it is today, with pipes and electrical wires hanging from the space. Then we ripped out the 60's marble fireplace, possibly a bit prematurely. We are trying to get rid of everything that can get heaped in the skip outside the house while it is still here (and not yet loaded by the builders). There was a great discovery this morning. Here is Nigel standing by our old 60's stair post/newel. We always lamented that they had ripped out the original ones. Today, Sam the builder who did our kitchen extension came as he is going to plaster our loft. He looked at our old posts and said they were originals. How could they be originals when they are so 60's, I ask!?!? He takes a chisel and suddenly I can see that the newels have also been boarded over. Above is what emerges. This one is the bottom of the stairs which Sam figured was original to the house. The top half sphere comes off and we will put the acorn ball in its place. Here is the top newel early this morning... And this is what it looks like now. This one is different from the other and a bit damaged. But because this is closer to the loft stairs we will have this one and the top 3 the same. This one will be replaced with the same but new (with an acorn on the top). Andy, the brickie who built our extension, showed up today to brick our walls. His right hand is in a brace. We are so excited to have him back. It is so difficult to see in this photo, but there are two layers of bricks here, one has a step in it that he has cut away so that he can start building up the party walls. Yay!