Goodbye to the Fireplace at last

Sunday 11 May

A warmer day and after 2 trips to Leclerc, I finally got around to putting all the black plastic on the raised beds and a lawn with Lynne's help.  Most of the plastic had been lying in the garden for weeks and smelled like someone had died under there so a warm bath afterwards was definitely necessary.
The dead body smell seemed to remain though......

Another early night.  Still not feeling particularly well. 

I wondered whether Lesley and David will turn up tomorrow to take the fireplace but just as I went to bed, I got an email confirming their intentions.....

Monday 12 May

We were up early to prepare for the destruction of the fireplace in 2 rooms.  Lynne and I battened down the hatches, closing everything to protect it from dust and moving anything vulnerable to the caravan.

Lesley and David and their children [and Monty] turned up to take out the fireplace in the Snug.  They came well-prepared and estimated it would take all day so I popped out to the hypermarket to get some provisions.

The chimney breast upstairs - gone!!

 

Monty
 

 

They worked really well and by about one-ish everyone stopped for lunch.  We all crowded into the caravan.  They had bought bread and stuff as well and we had a good old picnic and a chat.  Lesley, Lynne and I were going to clear up afterwards but just sat and chatted while the others continued working.

I asked them not to fill in the walls as we are planning to have them as exposed stone at some time in the future

There was absolutely no mess left, apart from a wheelbarrow full of sand that they wanted to tip away [they had bought builders sand in case they had to make good the walls after removing the fireplace].  They even demolished the concrete blocks on which the fireplace was standing.  Great!!

Before 3pm, they had finished, cleared up, piled everything on their trailer, picked up the remains of their picnic and headed off.  Lovely people!  Shame they live so far away.  They have invited us to visit them but it's a bit of a drag so I'm not sure we'll make it.

We took all the stuff back to the house and then went into Ste Foy for an apero.

The weather continues to go between sunny and showers and quite chilly.  I just can't get going.....