More tidying, lots of bleach

We bought a larger step-ladder, and a Wolf Garten extending tool handle and, after much debate, went for the 3m rather than 4m one [mainly because it was marked down to £20, the only one marked down].  Willesborough had hardly any of the interchangeable attachments, so we went to Ham Street.  The trip to the second garden centre found us an end that would be suitable for poking the rubbish in the valleys on the roof.

I'd seen an aerator tool, that I thought would be perfect, but we'd been buying an armful of stuff that day so I didn't buy it...  Now when I wanted one, neither Wyevale had one in stock.

The cultiweeder was pretty good, but where there were a couple of slipped tiles [another thing to ask Paul to have a look at, or maybe a roofer (there were a couple of lumps or render among the detritus, so I'm not sure about the integrity of the valley on that side)] the spikes got caught a couple of times.  The mini-hoe bit was excellent, though, for dislodging some of the more rooted weeds.

If we have to get a roofer out, I might ask him to price for re-doing the tiled valley - it was much harder to clean, and more clogged, than the one lined with lead flashing.  I got a full trug from the tile valley, and about two-thirds from the other one.

We should have bought the 4m handle, though, so I phoned the Wyevale that had one (and only one) in stock to ask them if they would put it by for me...  Hopefully, it will be waiting in the manager's office when we next go to the house and I can finish the last 70 or 80cm in each valley that needs unclogging.  I could ask Paul to do it when he re-fixes the ridge, but having the 4m handle will mean we can clear it ourselves every year when the leaves have finished clogging it.

I've also ordered an aerator attachment; I know from experience, none of the Wolf tools sit un-used, so the pair we bought on Sunday will find a use sooner or later.

I cleared the remaining gutters, and got some more moss & dust out of the side I'd done; with the taller steps, I could see what I was doing.  Another half trug from the back gutter and I'm nearly done.

I also did a bodge on the broken downspout [gaffer tape; it's not pretty, but hopefully the water will go down the pipe for a while until we can get it replaced], so the roof and gutters are looking in much better shape, although we must prioritise Paul doing a proper repair of the ridge/replaced tiles.

For a little light relief, I 'lifted the skirts' of one of the Leylandii.  We'd noticed that the sun hits the bottom of the conifers to the side of the house, and thought that would be a great spot to catch some warmth when sitting having lunch or a cup of tea.  It's amazing how quickly the garden gets much bigger!

[I know it doesn't get any bigger; but it certainly seems that way.]

I also took down a berberis, and a mystery shrub; both were tangled and overgrown, we need a space to sit, and the trees will be chopped down so keeping that area clear matters more than preserving two overgrown bushes.

I "just" finished cleaning the kitchen sink so that we could wash the lunch plates and leave them in the house [rather than carting back to Maidstone every day to clean them, and taking them back the next visit], which turned into bleaching all the work surfaces [bleach, washing-up liquid and Vim, as necessary], so that I could at least bear to touch them.  I'm not doing the cupboards, or the walls, but we will be able to put the crockery down on a clean surface now.  [I'd used an "industrial" wipe to clean the sitting room windowsill, and everything has been jostling there; it's getting a bit cluttered.]

And having bleachy detergent water, I cleaned the outside of the loos [I'd bleached/de-scaled them on Wednesday, when we knew the water was being turned on and the septic tank could be used].  It's all a lot less yuk, now.  The siphon has stopped working on the downstairs cistern, so it's back to flushing with a trug-full of water [rather than filling the tank and pushing the handle], but that's so much more luxurious than squatting in the bushes!

Not hacking at something outside felt like I'd wasted time, but being able to wash up at the house will be better.  [OK, so it's cold water and detergent (rather than hot water), but if detergent actually works (rather than it being the hot water that sanitises), that is a result.  Note to self: take tea towels to wipe up.]

Today I spoke with the arboriculturist recommended by Paul the structural engineer, and his secretary said he's away at a conference this week, and to send him an email for a more accurate quote.  It will give us chance to count how many conifers there are [his standard price is for ten or fewer trees, so I need to know].  I've drafted the email, and made a note in my notebook to count & photograph the problem trees.

All the structural surveys [Paul did two, eight years apart, and the insurer had another one done when the structural damage occurred (post the 2003 drought)] state that the conifers caused/exacerbated the movement of the building, and should be removed, so we're going to do that.

Also, they make the garden seem really small, and much less sunny than it could be, so I would like to keep one or two for some 'maturity'/height to the garden we will be creating, but other than that they will be no loss.

If it's much windier when they're down, we will re-plant on the other side of the woodland - they will work just as well there, and we won't have to see them.

I've also spoken with UK Power Networks, and the lady there was very helpful.  She understood our concerns about the exposed cabling from the outside supply, and will liaise with David about a time for the engineers to attend.  I didn't mention that we want a price for an earth supply as the danger of immediate electrocution seemed so much more urgent!  When the cupboard is no longer live, I will start getting the system in the house safe.

I told her that I'd gaffer taped it shut [it won't close, so I can't fit a hasp and padlock to keep workmen out], and put a "KEEP OUT - Danger of Electrocution" notice on it, and put more tape over the handle, but as we've given keys to two workmen I can't guarantee no-one will ignore all that and dice with death.  We will feel a lot happier as soon as the supply to the house has been made secure.

I think David might have time off next week, so we could go there and do more external tidying next week.  And hopefully by then Paul will have contacted his plumber, both [window] Paul's will have got back to us about the door and windows, and either Bob will be willing to travel down that far or Marcus may have recommended a builder.  We're going as quickly as we can - we'd like to actually live there, and if we did I could have been out there today chopping more stuff!

[I'm still having side-effects from the trigeminal neuralgia medication, so am not happy driving.  I'm reducing my dosage (as per doctor's instructions) and with a following wind should be clear within a month; fingers crossed.]

I've also spent time watching YouTube videos on how to get broken keys out of locks, and ordered a set of key extractors, so I'm hopeful of being able to open the other French window after a lot of waggling/fiddling (and possibly a certain amount of swearing; I don't really know how a lock mechanism functions, and I work better when I fully understand what I'm doing and why/how) - another reason to keep the fingers crossed.

How wonderful is that?  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Bob (the builder [yes, seriously]) will be willing to travel to us, and the I can unblock (and so change) the patio door lock myself; a fortnight ago I was keeping everything crossed the purchase would go through.

So happy that we're working on getting the house how we want it, rather than working on getting a house, and although we're still trekking all over Kent, it's to our house rather than house-hunting; bliss!