Hello again today! I must admit the fireplace looks 100 times better not being there 😂 and a sterling effort to get all that done in two weeks 👏
Also, as I’m “local” if you ever think “damn this would be way easier if there was another pair of hands here to help” then I’d be delighted to assist you, I’ve plenty of spare time on my hands now. BUT I’m not an electrician!
Ahh Paul this is extremely kind of you! Very much appreciated. At the moment I'm using it as a good workout and thankfully haven't come to a point of not having enough hands, but if I do I will shout! :) And HOORAY the fireplace is even further along than last week, which I can't quite believe but am very excited about. Woodburner choosing is next! Oh, and I also need to stop myself causing more messes by smashing other stuff up too. EEK! Ha. Hope you've had a good week!
Waaay late to the party (I forgot to read last week and only remembered when I saw tonight's update - whoops!) but no doom zoom sounds amazing if still an option. No worries if not!!
You’re not too late to the party at all Mary! Very glad you’re up for it and I’ll let you know when I get it organised - probably in a couple of weeks time after the next retreat. :) it’ll be fun!
Huzzah! Thank you. :) Also, my name is actually Rose not Mary. I was in a "must not reveal any details about myself on the internet" phase but it feels weird now. And Rose is a nickname but at least a true one. Sorry about that. I do absolutely love your insights and posts and I want to be more authentic; it was getting weird for me. I look forward to seeing more!
Hello Rose!! And thank you for sharing your real nickname with me, but it's also totally ok to want to keep yourself protected and a bit removed online - for sure! It can be a wild and wooly place so it makes sense. Glad you feel ok to unmask a little bit here, and I'm really genuinely happy to read that you enjoy the posts and the writing. Thank you :) x
I would 100% be in for a no-doom zoom (subject to timing if said zoom and available childcare/children actually being asleep etc.) 🙄 It sounds like a great idea!
Like anything creative, our little dopamine filled brains love that feeling of a finished project well done, but I have learnt over the years that actually the process is the bit that’s the most enjoyable, and actually, the whole point. James sounds like a very wise man 😊👍🏻
I reckon we're going to have few of us beauts together for our first No Doom Zoom! I'll put some times etc together and float them after my coming retreat (so in a couple of weeks) and try to make sure it's a time that works for most/all. Evening UK is usually good for after children's bedtimes and also folks in the US are also mostly awake and rolling too. I'm excited for it! I hope your week was good, and heck yes on the journey/process being the main event really - took me quite a chunk of my life to figure that out! x
You persist in being an inspiration - taking on a project that will probably add lines to your face - most of them will be laugh lines if I know you 😃😍
My house had a small lake under the living room and rotted joist ends to replace to stop the floor bouncing !
Single glazed and most building work done by a tenant farmer who should have stuck to fields, it took me most of a decade to sort out the draughts (no money) and more to get a brilliant heating system in.
From 1 coal fire with back boiler (smoke filled rooms when you opened the wrong door) to a system that works on oil and/or wood with or without electric.
A lot of turmoil, dust, hopping between floorboards and digging drainage has been a long tale of fun, improvisation, and such a heap of satisfaction that I managed it on my own.
I wish you all the excitement there is in claiming ‘all my own work’ as you progress 🥰😁
What wonderful things to know about your home Bob, which you've so kindly offered me to visit in the past and I absolutely will when my journeying takes me nearer you. It sounds like a real adventure and labour of love (and occasionally stress and irritation!? 🤣). What did the old coal back-burner look like and where was it in the house? Maybe this is a new blog for you as I'd sure want to see pics and hear the stories! And well bloody done for doing it - you deserve the satisfaction you feel (and I can't wait to feel similarly!) xx
Bish bash bosh Marie! Smash it all up, then regret it and run out of dopamine so close the door and leave it til the long-suffering builder comes on Monday. HAHAAAaaa (eeek!). I do love a clean slate though, with plenty of nicely preserved nods to the heritage and past. xx
Blooming well done for 2 weeks, I’d say. I can see the benefits of stairs but why those ones 😆…I’m sure you have a cunning plan to make them less of a focal point and look forward to seeing it. It’s gonna be an amazing home for you…
Thank you pal. OMG those bloody stairs!! I might actually end up having to keep them there, but with a bit of a twist (I hope) and new ones that aren't orange-brown with cast iron wheel hoops (eeek!). Fashion of the times eyy? But not sure I'd have ever gone for it, even then. Onwards with the cunning plans, and hope you're doing well too!
Excited for you! Would love to attend one of your writer's retreats. Just need to focus on what my essential self needs, and how to make it happen! Thanks for the reminder! From a recently diagnosed neurodivergent 68 year old in Maryland, USA. Might not come back! (Married to a dual Brit/American citizen...)
Good morning Alexandria! Thank you for your encouragement, and of course I'd love to welcome you to a retreat when the time is right for you - you'll always be welcome. :) I hope the integration of your new diagnosis is going ok for you, as I know what a turbulent time that can be, full of joy but also grief too. Keep focussing on that amazing essential self and bring it to the party all the time, especially here, where I welcome you wholeheartedly. :) Have a lovely day! xx
I can bring the Doom, if you can bring the Zoom! Many doom piles/drawers/BagsForLife in this house... The biggest challenge would be choosing which one to start with 🙄
I've tried a bit of body doubling in a small group I'm in, which is great but often no-one available. And those subscription ones that have you online with A Total Stranger slightly give me the heebies 😬 What I'd REALLY like is the girl from those 'How Long Does It Actually Take' videos to be my friend in real life and just come to my house and help me sort shit out whilst listening to some unhinged playlists 🤣
Ps I'm curious about your Stair Solution. A spiral would look amazing but be awful to carry furniture up and down (and some of us would fall on our asses daily - depends on your Spatial Awareness and Proprioception!)
Maybe a half landing or 'dog leg' so you can relocate them to a less annoying position?
Yessss Lizzie! I'll organise the no-doom zoom for in a couple of weeks, after my upcoming retreat, and let you know. It'll be so fun to gather and be able to chat AND unf*ck some bags of doom (bring one bring all hahah). I love the idea of the 'How long does it actually take' woman - I'm going to look her up. Is that Youtube? And yes -I'm considering a dog-leg for the dastardly stairs but need to work with lovely architects to consider what I'd lose upstairs for that 2m of head room that's needed by building regs, possibly a chunk of bedroom in an odd place? Spiral would look lovely but Bill and my furniture would struggle (and as you say, possibly me too with my arms and legs not always where I think they are in space🤣...ahh the joys, bruises and muscle spasms of poor proprioception indeed!). I hope you've had a great weekend xx
I think she's reposting content she originally put on the clock app, so if you're on there maybe go for that instead. I can't bring myself to join and add yet more distractions to my day, so like every good elder millenial, I consume all TT content when it's reposted on Insta 3 weeks later 🤣
Cornwall loves you Lizzy!! And I do tooooo. Renovations have been smashing (literally) this week so more updates to come soon. Hope you're doing well and sanity is your friend (although being a bit batshit is also excellent, obviously 🤪 🤣) xx
Hello Sarah! I am so happy you're up for the NO DOOM Zoom! Haha we need 'no doom' more than ever don't we! Also, thank you SO much for upgrading to being a paid monthly member. You're my 10th! I set myself a little goal to get to 100 paid subscribers in 2026 so I'm on my way, and it makes me feel really good to know my writing is appreciated in this way too - many thanks. And I'm so glad you still reflect on the retreat fondly - I'm excited to welcome a new lovely cohort at the end of this coming week. :) Will organise the first NDZ for afterwards and will post in here to let you know! x
Hello again today! I must admit the fireplace looks 100 times better not being there 😂 and a sterling effort to get all that done in two weeks 👏
Also, as I’m “local” if you ever think “damn this would be way easier if there was another pair of hands here to help” then I’d be delighted to assist you, I’ve plenty of spare time on my hands now. BUT I’m not an electrician!
Ahh Paul this is extremely kind of you! Very much appreciated. At the moment I'm using it as a good workout and thankfully haven't come to a point of not having enough hands, but if I do I will shout! :) And HOORAY the fireplace is even further along than last week, which I can't quite believe but am very excited about. Woodburner choosing is next! Oh, and I also need to stop myself causing more messes by smashing other stuff up too. EEK! Ha. Hope you've had a good week!
You are most welcome, even if it does look like you have everything under control 🙂
Waaay late to the party (I forgot to read last week and only remembered when I saw tonight's update - whoops!) but no doom zoom sounds amazing if still an option. No worries if not!!
You’re not too late to the party at all Mary! Very glad you’re up for it and I’ll let you know when I get it organised - probably in a couple of weeks time after the next retreat. :) it’ll be fun!
Huzzah! Thank you. :) Also, my name is actually Rose not Mary. I was in a "must not reveal any details about myself on the internet" phase but it feels weird now. And Rose is a nickname but at least a true one. Sorry about that. I do absolutely love your insights and posts and I want to be more authentic; it was getting weird for me. I look forward to seeing more!
Hello Rose!! And thank you for sharing your real nickname with me, but it's also totally ok to want to keep yourself protected and a bit removed online - for sure! It can be a wild and wooly place so it makes sense. Glad you feel ok to unmask a little bit here, and I'm really genuinely happy to read that you enjoy the posts and the writing. Thank you :) x
I would 100% be in for a no-doom zoom (subject to timing if said zoom and available childcare/children actually being asleep etc.) 🙄 It sounds like a great idea!
Like anything creative, our little dopamine filled brains love that feeling of a finished project well done, but I have learnt over the years that actually the process is the bit that’s the most enjoyable, and actually, the whole point. James sounds like a very wise man 😊👍🏻
I reckon we're going to have few of us beauts together for our first No Doom Zoom! I'll put some times etc together and float them after my coming retreat (so in a couple of weeks) and try to make sure it's a time that works for most/all. Evening UK is usually good for after children's bedtimes and also folks in the US are also mostly awake and rolling too. I'm excited for it! I hope your week was good, and heck yes on the journey/process being the main event really - took me quite a chunk of my life to figure that out! x
Hey G-girl !
You persist in being an inspiration - taking on a project that will probably add lines to your face - most of them will be laugh lines if I know you 😃😍
My house had a small lake under the living room and rotted joist ends to replace to stop the floor bouncing !
Single glazed and most building work done by a tenant farmer who should have stuck to fields, it took me most of a decade to sort out the draughts (no money) and more to get a brilliant heating system in.
From 1 coal fire with back boiler (smoke filled rooms when you opened the wrong door) to a system that works on oil and/or wood with or without electric.
A lot of turmoil, dust, hopping between floorboards and digging drainage has been a long tale of fun, improvisation, and such a heap of satisfaction that I managed it on my own.
I wish you all the excitement there is in claiming ‘all my own work’ as you progress 🥰😁
What wonderful things to know about your home Bob, which you've so kindly offered me to visit in the past and I absolutely will when my journeying takes me nearer you. It sounds like a real adventure and labour of love (and occasionally stress and irritation!? 🤣). What did the old coal back-burner look like and where was it in the house? Maybe this is a new blog for you as I'd sure want to see pics and hear the stories! And well bloody done for doing it - you deserve the satisfaction you feel (and I can't wait to feel similarly!) xx
Wow that’s a lot of progress already! Bash it up & start over is always a great plan & it’s going to be fantastic in the end. 😊 It will work out xx
Bish bash bosh Marie! Smash it all up, then regret it and run out of dopamine so close the door and leave it til the long-suffering builder comes on Monday. HAHAAAaaa (eeek!). I do love a clean slate though, with plenty of nicely preserved nods to the heritage and past. xx
🤭 uh oh! Totally agree, love an old/new combo. The cottage has a story to tell & will enjoy step into the future with you.
Blooming well done for 2 weeks, I’d say. I can see the benefits of stairs but why those ones 😆…I’m sure you have a cunning plan to make them less of a focal point and look forward to seeing it. It’s gonna be an amazing home for you…
Thank you pal. OMG those bloody stairs!! I might actually end up having to keep them there, but with a bit of a twist (I hope) and new ones that aren't orange-brown with cast iron wheel hoops (eeek!). Fashion of the times eyy? But not sure I'd have ever gone for it, even then. Onwards with the cunning plans, and hope you're doing well too!
Excited for you! Would love to attend one of your writer's retreats. Just need to focus on what my essential self needs, and how to make it happen! Thanks for the reminder! From a recently diagnosed neurodivergent 68 year old in Maryland, USA. Might not come back! (Married to a dual Brit/American citizen...)
Good morning Alexandria! Thank you for your encouragement, and of course I'd love to welcome you to a retreat when the time is right for you - you'll always be welcome. :) I hope the integration of your new diagnosis is going ok for you, as I know what a turbulent time that can be, full of joy but also grief too. Keep focussing on that amazing essential self and bring it to the party all the time, especially here, where I welcome you wholeheartedly. :) Have a lovely day! xx
I can bring the Doom, if you can bring the Zoom! Many doom piles/drawers/BagsForLife in this house... The biggest challenge would be choosing which one to start with 🙄
I've tried a bit of body doubling in a small group I'm in, which is great but often no-one available. And those subscription ones that have you online with A Total Stranger slightly give me the heebies 😬 What I'd REALLY like is the girl from those 'How Long Does It Actually Take' videos to be my friend in real life and just come to my house and help me sort shit out whilst listening to some unhinged playlists 🤣
Ps I'm curious about your Stair Solution. A spiral would look amazing but be awful to carry furniture up and down (and some of us would fall on our asses daily - depends on your Spatial Awareness and Proprioception!)
Maybe a half landing or 'dog leg' so you can relocate them to a less annoying position?
Yessss Lizzie! I'll organise the no-doom zoom for in a couple of weeks, after my upcoming retreat, and let you know. It'll be so fun to gather and be able to chat AND unf*ck some bags of doom (bring one bring all hahah). I love the idea of the 'How long does it actually take' woman - I'm going to look her up. Is that Youtube? And yes -I'm considering a dog-leg for the dastardly stairs but need to work with lovely architects to consider what I'd lose upstairs for that 2m of head room that's needed by building regs, possibly a chunk of bedroom in an odd place? Spiral would look lovely but Bill and my furniture would struggle (and as you say, possibly me too with my arms and legs not always where I think they are in space🤣...ahh the joys, bruises and muscle spasms of poor proprioception indeed!). I hope you've had a great weekend xx
https://www.instagram.com/christi.newrutzen
I think she's reposting content she originally put on the clock app, so if you're on there maybe go for that instead. I can't bring myself to join and add yet more distractions to my day, so like every good elder millenial, I consume all TT content when it's reposted on Insta 3 weeks later 🤣
Wonderfully, delightfully, totally bonkers. I love you.
Sending you that love right back Steven!! Us bonkers-gang have to stick together don't we! 🤩 I hope you've had a good week. x
That fire place - there should have been a mustard shag pile rug in front of it. Barry White playing on the stereo…
https://i.redd.it/sheer-shirts-double-knit-baggies-pants-cool-70s-fashion-for-v0-x8m4qbxd8ria1.jpg?s=585c2fab61fb7aacafd31b45eff4c15904a620aa
Hahah this made me cackle 🤣
I’m in!!! No Doom Zoom sounds perfect
YESSS! After this coming retreat I'll put it on and let you know. HOORAY! 🤩
Loving seeing your renovations! Still trying to decide whether to buy somewhere in Cornwall so I can have some sanity! Xxx
Cornwall loves you Lizzy!! And I do tooooo. Renovations have been smashing (literally) this week so more updates to come soon. Hope you're doing well and sanity is your friend (although being a bit batshit is also excellent, obviously 🤪 🤣) xx
Hi from Seattle! Still treasuring memories of your lovely writing retreat in Cornwall last spring. I’d love to join your No Doom Zoom!!
Hello Sarah! I am so happy you're up for the NO DOOM Zoom! Haha we need 'no doom' more than ever don't we! Also, thank you SO much for upgrading to being a paid monthly member. You're my 10th! I set myself a little goal to get to 100 paid subscribers in 2026 so I'm on my way, and it makes me feel really good to know my writing is appreciated in this way too - many thanks. And I'm so glad you still reflect on the retreat fondly - I'm excited to welcome a new lovely cohort at the end of this coming week. :) Will organise the first NDZ for afterwards and will post in here to let you know! x