Thursday, October 31, 2013

The New Old House

 
Finally I have downloaded all the photos of our new house! It´s an old one, built in 1931, but it was fully renovated in the 70´s - and nothing has been changed since. It´s structurally sound but needs interior redecorating plus some touching up on the outside (and a lot of work on the back garden including re-hedging).
 
Ownership came through on October 1st and since then we have been pretty frantic trying to paint the entire interior before the carpet guy came in. The carpet guy is now busy laying carpet and we can chill a bit before getting back in and getting on with the rest.
 
Also due this month are the gas heating guy to replace the entire heating system, the roofer has been and done some minor repairs, and the kitchen will be replaced before Christmas (hopefully).
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
View from the end of the back garden, we plan to make some major changes in the garden next year

 
 
 
View from the patio, looking down to the end of the back garden

 
 
 
The lounge, before the nice furniture of the previous owners had been removed
 

 
 
 
Dining room

 
 
 
Kitchen, in soothing tones of red and brown.
Our new kitchen was supposed to have been done before we move in (Nov 25), but is now delayed until Dec which will be highly inconvenient. We are knocking some of the wall between the kitchen and dining room out, but as it´s a supporting wall, we can´t do the whole thing (without spending a fortune).

 
 
 
 
Bathroom (toilet and basin) downstairs

 
 
 
 
Stairs and bedrooms all being re-carpeted at the moment

 
 
 
The cellar has some useful rooms off this main area

 
 
 
 
We are turning this one below into a useable room (ie, spare bedroom/kids TV room). In this pic you can see they used it as a store room, but there is another room for storage also.

 
 
 
The laundry -  which has a shower in it!?

 
 
 
 
The main bedroom, which is quite small but has a nice balcony

 
 
 
 
The lovely upstairs bathroom, with shower, bath, toilet and bidet. The bathrooms will be replaced next year.

 
 
 
The boys´ room

 
 
 
Study

 
 
 
Mischief

 
 
 
The Attic



 
We´re not sure about what we will do with the attic. We may eventually add an ensuite, depending on costs and logistics. But we will first live in the place and see what we think next year.
 
The window frames (wooden) will be needing replacement in the future, and the under-roof  insulation is not up to today´s standards, but the electrics and plumbing are fine at least!
 
It will be cool to finally have our own place and we are even thinking of getting a dog once we´re settled! Now, what kind of dog should we get?
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Granddad Peter and Nana Anna

This September we had a visit from Granddad Peter and Anna, whilst on a big European trip and later back via Dubai.

The weather was lovely and so we were out and about lots, doing lots of walking and exploring.


Here we are at the top of the Wartemburg Castle, on a hill near our house
 



 
 
 
"Land Ahoy!"
 



"Aye, aye Captain"
 









 
It was nice to have someone else taking the photos, so here's our family photo-shot!
 








 
 
A couple of weeks ago things looked all lush and green still. This vineyard scene looks very autumnal now.



It was lovely having Granddad and Nana here. Blake took some time off and took them up to the Alps and to Colmar, plus we all managed to get to Lucerne and lots of interesting places nearby. Luckily Anna and Peter are fit and keen outdoors types as the schedule was very physical by anyone's standards. Also during their stay, Blake and Peter did a half marathon!!!



September

 After a short, late but intense summer, we are enjoying a lovely autumn.

This time last year, it was snowing! This last week or so we have been enjoying temperatures reaching into the late teens and early twenties. The leaves are now all beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange. I have yet to take some photos of these, stay posted.

Here we are on a play date in September. Note, Flynn's got his gear off already.




 
"There's a naked maniac on the loose!"






"There's a masked maniac on the loose!"





"Ah well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"




 
Mum tells another cracker joke






 
Benjy laughs his pants off!