10th June 2007
It had to happen sooner or later.
I thought I was prepared, but you never really are.
When the builder tells you to ‘clear the site’ he means business. Suddenly all the pretence is over and I have to start doing some real work. I had told him that I wanted to do as much work on the house as was possible, and he gave me a rather withering look as though he’d heard that one so many times before. Now I know that I need to impress him during the next two weeks before he comes back to check on my progress.
He also reminded me that every brick counts, as the old ones cost up to 4 euros each from a builders merchant and so, if I can carefully excavate each one I find, I can save myself thousands of euros. But brick is as nothing when compared to old stone, every one of those counts too, and sections need to be arranged for the builders in careful piles; stones (called ‘baby heads’ for obvious reasons), full bricks, half bricks, one-faced bricks and rubble. Finally I’ve found a use for my sledgehammer.
I have also now bought an angle-grinder, despite mistakenly translating it as ‘ankle-grinder’ in the DIY store. It is the most ferocious and scary piece of equipment I have ever used and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it or even begin to start enjoying it, but it has its purpose and makes for an impressive photo at least.
The stupidest thing I did today;
Making the foolish assumption that sunglasses are an appropriate equivalent to safety-goggles.
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