bathroom :: coming together

Look how much progress they made today!












it works! we just have to be careful not to sit on it until tomorrow morning when the silicone seal around the bottom has set. i'm happy to squat!








I love the tiles. I don't love the fact that we are short by 4 blue tiles, grrr... (Look closely at the bottom of the blue tiles above the bathtub - see the gap that is currently filled with wood? There.) For some reason, the tile shop only delivered half of the blue tiles before the job started. They have spent the past few weeks attempting to get the remaining tiles here from Spain. How hard is it?! Apparently hard enough. They were supposed to arrive on Wed this week; then Thurs; now they say next Tues. I hope they're right because the job can't really finish until the tiles are done - and more importantly, we won't be able to use the shower/bath until then. So, a few more days at the gym (we checked out of the hotel since we have a loo again) and then we'll hopefully have a fully functioning bathroom!

bathroom :: floor

...and now we have a floor!











The floorers were very efficient; it only took about 2 hours. They had to cut the linoleum in the middle of the street - the only flat space large enough - and the floorer told me that he saved it from two cars who tried to drive over it (and him!) Yikes.

It's very pretty. I like the blue/green. Can't wait until the rest is done!

bathroom :: screed/screwed

This was the bathroom floor around 4 PM yesterday. They laid the screed in under an hour. This had several interesting effects:


The bathroom no longer smells like, well, urine. (Sorry, but that's what happens when the toilet doesn't flush). Now it smells like a concrete/adhesive mix. Mmmm, glue...


It also meant that we went from a non-working toilet to NO toilet! Screed = screwed! I managed to book a hotel in Wimbledon at the last minute. We really weren't prepared well enough for this job! I can live with showering at the gym, but my tiny bladder is finding the Lack of Loo difficult.


Finally, it meant that we had to move the washing machine to the hallway.





Sure hope we don't destroy the pretty new floor when we move it back. They're laying the linoleum today. Stay tuned!

Pic of the Week: 29 Mar - 4 Apr

Wisteria in Bath


We spent our first anniversary in Bath. The flowers were blooming and it was beautiful. I took this picture of wisteria on the Royal Crescent. It was my least successful ColorSplashing attempt, especially in print, but I didn't want to leave it out of the calendar.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

bathroom :: bulgy bath

We have a bathtub...





Presenting the 'bulgy bath', extra spacious on one end for better relaxing and easier showering.





(Why did they leave it full of water? We have no idea.)





The builder questioned our desire to have the tap on the exposed edge, but we feel it will give easier access if we ever have plumbing trouble and need to get in there again. Of course, I fully expect to bash my knee or ankle on it when getting in/out, but that would be likely no matter where we put it. I'm just clumsy that way.


Next step: we're not exactly sure. Neither of us were home when the builders left this afternoon, and they didn't leave a note telling us when they'll return. The floorers are coming on Wed/Thurs so we have some peace and quiet for a few days. Unfortunately, still no flushing toilet!

bathroom :: destruction

Before creation comes destruction...





They started by taking out the bathtub, sink and toilet cistern. As you can see, the tiles pulled off quite a bit of plasterboard with them. They plan to tile directly over the existing tiles on the long edge of the bathtub. Whatever works...!





Nice glimpse of evening sky through the window. The lack of flushing toilet scares me a bit - this is such a male way to leave the place overnight. At least I can fall back on training from travels through Egypt (no paper gets flushed) and Bali/Thailand/Philippines (often no flush at all). I just have to resist the urge to drink anything and I'll be fine!





This side of the bathroom has not changed much. I'm happy to see that they're tidy with their tools. Actually, aside from a certain bluntness and failure to give us much notice about scheduling, I'm fairly confident in their ability to do a good job.


And I'm glad that we haven't quit the gym... Need that membership card in order to shower for the next week!

bathroom :: before

This was our bathroom as of 8 AM this morning:



The grey bathtub, sink, and toilet with non-matching wooden toilet seat and panelling



The broken electric shower that served as the catalyst for our remodel



The tiles I have always hated, with grout that can't be cleaned for love or money



Homer Soap-on-a-Rope. I have started to think of him as The Bathroom Sentinel; he has lived in this flat longer than I have. He nearly lost a foot a while ago when someone - gasp! - used him to wash their hands. D'OH. I have threatened to throw him out so many times that I don't think I could do it now, even if I wanted to. Somehow, he belongs here. At least for one more day...



Our washing machine and drying rack. Every now and then I miss having a tumble dryer, but this is perfectly sufficient most of the time.



Hideous floor: half carpet, half lino, all of it ugly. This, if nothing else, I won't miss.



Who needs storage when you can pile things on top of the toilet?


And so it begins. The builder is coming tomorrow morning to begin the so-called 'removal' before putting in our new bathroom. Coming soon: the bulgy bath ... pretty new floor ... modern toilet, sink, and taps ... a working shower ... tiles ... storage space ... Stay tuned!

Pic of the Week: 22-28 March

This week's photo is from our trip to Paris in June 2006. This is one of a series of sculptures that make up the Stravinsky Fountain next to the Centre Georges Pompidou.


Click on the picture to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 15-21 March

Top pic of lilsis in 3D glasses at Pixar's UP last June. Her hair is great for ColorSplashing.


Bottom pic of lilsis and bro in Monterey, taken in Feb 2007.


Click on the photos to see larger versions on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 8-14 March

Cupcake in Central Park, New York


This cupcake was photographed - and eaten - in Central Park shortly after our wedding.


Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Pic of the Week: 1-7 March

Accordion Player in Karlsplatz, Vienna




Moulin Rouge, Paris


I put these photos together because I thought they fit thematically as well as color-wise. We walked past the famous Moulin Rouge on our trip to Paris in June 2006, and we saw the accordion player in Vienna last November.


Click on the photos to see larger versions on flickr.


Last but not least, happy birthday to my sister-in-law!

happy birthday, lil sis!

It's my sister's birthday. I messed up with this week's Photo of the Week - she hates birds and isn't a big fan of ducks or geese either. Oops.


So this is a special blog entry just for her, with no birds attached.


Speaking of special blogs, remember this?


happy birthday, big al!


A few of the links are broken but the sentiment is still there (although I am slightly less broke than I was when I wrote it.) Happy birthday!

Pic of the Week: 22-28 Feb

We saw these ducks in a park in Vienna last November. The funniest thing is that there were two duck couples, quacking and swimming around in circles. It looked like the ducks were entreating the mallards to pull over and ask for directions. "Fred, I don't think this is the right pond." The mallards were holding their ground, sounding appropriately annoyed to be second guessed. "It's this way, Ethel, I'm sure. Stop back-seat paddling, would ya?"


"Quack quack quack quack new handbag quack quack so excited for the shopping quack"


"Lu-----cy!"


Or maybe I'm just anthropomorphizing them...


Unfortunately I have no video evidence.


Click on the photo for a larger version on flickr.

Year of the Tiger

London decided to celebrate Chinese New Year one week late but neither the tardiness nor the weather put a damper on the spirit.



































Happy Year of the Tiger!

birthday dinner

margaritas and mint leaves with limes in sparkling water



chicken enchiladas with pipian pumpkin seed mole



vegetarian tostada salad














What does a California girl crave on her birthday in London? Mexican food and good friends... Thanks for coming to celebrate with me at Wahaca, everyone!