I thought that I should add a quick post just to reassure those who kindly worry about me when I disappear unannounced, that I am still alive and as well as possible. The last few weeks have been none stop and totally exhausting. Every time that I have dared to think that we are heading towards the possibility of normality, yet another workman or disaster has entered our lives. What I dared to think what going to be a ten-day whirlwind flying through our home, still hasn’t left.
Before I embarked on our grand plan of restoring and updating our home, I thought that I had every little detail planned. I just hadn’t planned for just how stressful the whole thing was going to be. Honestly, I would far rather move house twice over, than go through the last two weeks again. I wasn’t stupid enough to think that it would be stress-free, but there was a new form of intense stress that I hadn’t allowed for. My plans hadn’t allowed for the fact that I would feel an ever increasing guilt on top of all of it. When you are stuck in a wheelchair, inside a flat that is already tight to navigate, having ladders, pots of paint, tool boxes, and wrinkled dust sheets obstructing even the simplest trip and back makes life hell. Constantly having to ask people to stop whatever they were doing to move this or that, or to assist me, slowly pushed me into the position of trying to hide all the time, but when hidden, I was having to ask Adam to fetch and carry for me. I felt like a useless lump that was quite simply a burden and in everyone’s way. With every new drop of guilt, the stress levels rose and I was constantly on the edge of either screaming or crying.
The actual painting only took four days, something that still amazes me. Adam has been a wonder, not only was he stripping rooms of all the contents, relocating them in another, but he took on the task of washing every ornament and piece of crystal, which I have rather a lot of, before putting them back to where they came from. While I did nothing, except for getting more and more tired, something that I still am. Oddly, it didn’t end when the painters left. Yes, our home was freshly painted and more vibrant than I have seen it for years, but a week on from their departure, we embarked on having the kitchen floor replaced, another task that sounds easy, but stretched over two days rather than one, with a weekend of nothing in between. Each and every day of which, meant the kitchen was out of bounds. Tomorrow heralds the day when I will, at last, have access to the whole of our home for the first time in two weeks. Despite the fact that I am desperate to set to putting the whole room back to how it should be, I honestly don’t think that I have the energy to do the one thing I had planned all along as my job, sorting out those final touches, that makes it our home.
As we cleared each room before handing it over to the painters, I took the time to thin out my crystal collection. This, of course, means I have to rearrange everything. I was really looking forwards to it, now, I just feel over whelmed by it. It doesn’t matter how much I have slept in the last days, tiredness has taken over and I feel as though I could sleep forever. Physically, I have spent two weeks doing nothing, yes, mentally, I have been stressed to my limit so here I am feeling, even more, guilt as Adam rushes around after a full day of work, trying to do what I should be doing. The work isn’t over, but we are taking a break to get what is, right, before we find and have laid a new hall carpet and the new curtains for the bedroom. Every single thing that I have bought or paid for to get our home sorted has been documented, so if asked, I can show where my mothers money has gone. I did though allow myself around £400 to spend on some picture for both the bedroom and dining area, extravagance they might say that wasn’t essential, but to me, they are the things I didn’t get from her as objects. Not that she would have had them in her home, but memorials if you like. In a few years, the house will need redecorating and flooring replaced, but the pictures I bought, will still be with me.
I promise that I will write again soon when I will hopefully have more energy, and the true inspiration to write rather than a dashed off, slightly muddled note.
Two Rooms Plus Utilities 
Well done! Getting workmen in is stressful enough when both partners are able bodied! – Though in our case, it is getting them in in the first place that is difficult as people agree to come and give a quote and then don’t get back to us etc. – Trouble with living in Cambridge where it seems every other house is being done up at the moment so builders etc. can pick and choose.
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We too had issues just getting any quotes, I lost count the number of companies I contacted and they never got back to me, as well as some who arranged to come and give us a quote then never showed. So I don’t think it is just Cambridge where they can pick and choose. It’s great for them, but really hard on those who need the work done 😦
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Remodeling is exhausting. The mental strain alone is awful. The fact that you can pull yourself together enough to post an update is more than I can do some days as we go about building our little house, so I’m proud of you for finding it in you to write!
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To be honest, it was just adding to my stress, knowing I hadn’t written for three weeks. So many people start to worry about me, that that was just adding to the whole mix. 🙂
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Good to hear you are still with us, despite renovations. Photos, great idea. Cheers, H
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I am glad you bought pictures. Listen to your body and sleep if you need rest. I have a post where I did just that. You will feel refreshed and ready to face the many tasks a head.
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Now that I have the privacy, I have been doing just that. I simply couldn’t sleep with so many people in my home 😦
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I was just thinking of you this morning and wondering how your remodel was going. I’m sorry to hear it’s been so stressful and tiring. I hope once it’s all done you’ll be able to look at your beautiful surroundings and say it was all worth it. Thanks for updating us!
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That feeling is starting, as I at last have one room totally ticked of my list, it might only be the bathroom, but it is done 🙂
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You sound so good! I’m very happy for you. You do what you fells best! I think your mother would be happy, as she could be, with what you’ve done so far. Rest when you need to! I finally made it 3, 000 miles back to California where I was born and raised. Exhausted finding new Dr’s and trying to find a place to call home. I’m still paying my best friend what I can to ship my belongings to me. I’m happy I finally did it now as in another year I, physically wouldn’t be able to.
My ride is here to take me to my new neurologist. 😕
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I’m glad it’s all working out for you, be sure to enjoy every second that you can 🙂
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Reblogged this on Musings On My Life.
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Well, you certainly haven’t been bored! No worries about getting it back in order all at once, take your time. It once took me over a year to get pictures up after a paint job. Admired the walls, thought about where things should go. It’ll get done, you’re a doer, in the right time.
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It’s been awhile… hope you’re okay.
Xoxo
Vanessa
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So glad to see you “Keeping on!”. I have learned so much from you… You’ve helped me be brave, and help me understand. Thank you, and thankful things are finally coming together in your home.
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Hey, I’ve just enjoyed reading your blog. Get plenty of rest, so that you will feel refreshed this new year. Happy “twenty eighteen.” 😉
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i thought I had lost you
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Hello, Pamela. How have you been doing? I decided to “drop back into” your site. Isn’t it somewhat ‘difficult’ to hide from people if they’re constantly coming and going? For us, it has been a week of cold, varying weather. The kotatsu room appeared “cramped” to my taste, so I (gleefully) *chuckle* took it upon myself to re-arrange the furniture. Apart from placing countless items (knick-knacks) in the hallway for fear of them toppling over, it wasn’t too daunting a task. Our vanity dresser faces directly into the house now (whereas before it was against the hall partition,) and now the atmosphere just seems to feel better. Our CD player (which we’ve had for several years,) seems to be on the blink. A bicycle we had for about a decade we replaced with a lightweight (by comparison) orange one. Today, my husband tells me that the living room clock doesn’t work. It’s nice to have a friend with whom to share (this communication.)
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I GOT THIS POST LAST SEPTEMBER. COULD U SEND ME ANOTHER?
On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 2:23 AM, Two Rooms Plus Utilities wrote:
> livinginalimitedword posted: “I thought that I should add a quick post > just to reassure those who kindly worry about me when I disappear > unannounced, that I am still alive and as well as possible. The last few > weeks have been none stop and totally exhausting. Every time that I have > da” >
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Missing you 😪How are you ? Just picked up my hubby from the hospital. He has sepsis. He was so sick and totally out of his head. And I am needing a knee replacement and don’t know how aim going to manage getting it done. Oh well. Just wanting to hear from you. Left you a message on Twitter too..in case you don’t see this. Your friend Brenda Flippen❤️❤️
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i could not imagine. i recently moved from a dump into a new building. workers are here a lot fix stuff. most are cool. we chat.
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It’s been while over a year since you left us. I hope you are well.
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