Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Kitchen Installation is Half Done

Our kitchen installation started last week and is more than half done. Here the units are being placed in the right position and while it is decided that they aren't quite right, we add an extra unit to balance the sink out. What will be the glass wall units start to go up in the corner. I am really impressed with the saw that our kitchen installer/joiner, Bill, has. He calls it flippy because it flips between a table saw... ...and a mitre saw. Here Bill is demonstrating the "flip". Our specially made unit for our extra large Belfast sink. Our wooden Iroko counter tops get fitted into place. Our sink is slotted in and gets reinforced. Two people can barely lift that thing. Okay, Nigel and I can barely lift it. Looking in the other direction. Bill begins to build a fake chimney breast to house our cooker and extractor fan and to balance out the big beam on the right hand side. In the hollow side he puts two units facing left. If you are wondering why they don't face out...just wait! Our wall units start to come together. As you can see our beam cuts drastically into the cupboard on the left. But there is a plan to it all! Bill fits our window sill out of the counter top too. The top trim gets put on the cupboard and the giant cupboard on the right houses our combination boiler which must be on an outside wall (there are pipes running outside from that cupboard). We have an excellent plumber, Les Ward, who put in a whole new boiler system. The fake chimney breast is drywalled... ...and plastered (pink). Then our feature is made. This was the sketch I handed Bill. What he made was clever, simple and extremely effective. Here is a photo tonight in the kitchen. A lot of the cupboard doors are on...we are still awaiting the handles and some missing doors/shelves/kickboards. The electrician has to come before we move appliances into place. Wow. We do love it already! The general feeling we want is emerging. Electricians, plumber, tiler, and painting next. Our kitchen fitter, Bill, with his friend Dave are doing an excellent job. http://www.billskitchens.co.uk

Plymouth, UK

We visit friends in Plymouth. The steps of the Mayflower. Plymouth by the harbour. Military ships at sea. An outdoor lido for swimming (in warmer weather). We wander around the big park. Interesting fungi. A break for lunch overlooking the water. "Um, I seem to be stuck again." Gymnastical! Athletic and well poised! The marina in Plymouth. A hidden garden we found through a doorway. A beautiful relief sculpture in the garden. We can peer down into the garden of a restaurant and I am taken with how many pastries are left on the trays. How can we fish for them from up in the garden, I wonder. One last look at the water before leaving.