Colour Pathway Chaos Part 1

When the decorator-in-chief (on the scaffolding above) saw the color of the 'feature wall' paint, he sucked his teeth. Alot. And looked slightly ill. Now decorator-in-chief is very good at his job, and quite honestly he's the neatest chap you could wish to be doing your painting. But this latest colour was possibly one which added insult to an already injured decorating soul. His not-being-one-to-mince-words comment on the colour we'd done the rest of the main room in was 'it's a bit like living in operation desert storm. I best get me camouflague gear'. He had a fair point, and we duly lightened the room by doing a spot of repainting.

When he opened the feature wall tin (Dulux 50RR 10/229 for the paint-spotters) he could only look shocked. When I muttered that maybe he thought it was, well, a bit bright, he could only manage 'well, I'll put anything on a wall'. Clearly - a man suffering some sort of trauma.


He did cheer up when we all realised that the wall colour exactly matched that of the Brite Sparks jumper. You can see it in the picture - jumper on chair (next to Andy the landscaper). I may get them to stand in front of the wall for a photo fairly soon so we can play spot the sparky. Or possibly get them to sponsor the wall!

The Goshawk Man

There we all were, collectively getting on with the job down at the Continental. I was minding Silas while multitasking, (probably quite daintily) bellowing orders and finding fault, as is my job (some might say whimsy). Stevie C was sorting everything out, decorator-in-chief & co were painting the walls, and the Brite Sparks boys were making everything – brighter, of course.

Our routine was then shaken by Warren bemusedly saying ‘There’s a man with a hawk. Outside. Now.’

Stevie C, Warren, and me pushing Silas in the pram, rushed outside like a motley band of demented sticky-beaks* with nowt better to do. There was indeed a man with a hawk lurking on the pavement opposite. He firmly (obsessively?**) told us the bird was, in fact, a Goshawk. The Goshawk looked sternly at us. So did the owner, who had somewhat callously got rid of his previous bird of some years to replace it with a younger model. In fact, his look unrepentantly said ‘back off, she’s mine’, as Stevie C reached out his hand in a half stroking, half peace-making fashion.



‘Ah, that’s alreet then,’ said Stevie C, ‘I thought he meant a hawk.’

Cue quizzical looks from Warren, Silas, and myself.

‘A plastering hawk. Fer t’put plaster on with. I thought he were a lost plasterer.’

Right then.

Just another episode in the crazy world of the Continental.





*Neighbours circa the Mrs Mangle years.
** He was pretty nice. I saw him again a couple of days later. He didn't remember me: thus I am not as interesting as a Goshawk. I was embarrassed when I had to explain 3 times why I had said hello like a crazy lady in the street.

Halfway through...

Here's some pics from last week.

Firstly, the snug - still lots to do there. But at least there's no crazy inside-outside roofing. And then, the main room - this pic here has the full wall of green - since then we've decided to have a lighter colour on the walls. After that: builders have coffee, y'know. And then, Steve Conway, project manager extrordinaire, and Warren, who needs no introduction (because he's so good). Steve is showing off a newly finished tile. Warren, on the other hand, is checking out his phone for ladies' numbers...


There's still so much to do, and the countdown is truly starting to hurt. We're now part way through putting the place back together. We've started painting the main room. However, the. kitchen is slowing us down, as we're still to build the stud wall. We're getting the kit together slowly but surely. The plasters & decorators are telling me not to put wallpaper directly on to new plaster (and where do i put it then??); the original upholstery choice for the booth seating isn't going to be in til september, meaning we've got to choose another one; and as for the outside sign...apparently, the design we've chosen makes every sign maker west of the moon suck their teeth. Teeth sucking is a sound i'm getting used to...

In the meantime, Silas has grown several inches, and can now roll over both ways and seems to move himself about a metre one way or the other every time my back's turned. I'm also slightly peturbed by the language he's learning from the builders. He could come out with anything...I better go and read him something less 'colourful' now...