GadgetGav's new house banter

[MaxaMini]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav

I'm never doing this again.

Isn't that also what Windshadow said after his move? Good luck Gavin. It will be sorted and you'll be gathered round the hearth. Shall I put on a kettle?

Mart and I are in our only home for 36 years. I hate moving.

[AprilWhine]

Back from the MINI2 Graveyard.

[pezboy]

I took a swing by Ye Olde Bouldercroft this afternoon...no sign of the British fellow yet. I think he said the floors are going to be getting done this week, and they will be in there by next.

[GadgetGav]

Damn... caught asleep at the keyboard...! How did pezboy get back in my thread before me..?

Anyway, if anyone is still subscribed to this, here's the story. We weren't there yesterday because we didn't buy it until today But now the deed is done. The sale side of moving was a nightmare and we could probably write a book about it (it would be a horror story). I won't say anything more about it here, because I want to forget about it... BUT the buying side was much nicer, the people we were buying from have been really nice and helpful and today we all met in our attourney's office and signed the mountain of paperwork. The flooring company comes in tomorrow and our stuff comes back from storage on Monday. For now, here is a link to the pictures I took today.
http://homepage.mac.com/gavinmckeown/PhotoAlbum115.html

[minimort]

Bomb-shelter Gav?

[GBMINI]

Nice Gavin ...
Like the stair case (reminds me of my Frome home back in England);
Wow on the red Kitchen counter tops!;
You have a butler now?!;
tank in the attic?

[GadgetGav]

minimort, yes, a bomb shelter... although it looks unfinished - no door for instance. I was down there tonight and found the original 1960 Department of Defence booklets on 'Family Preparedness' so when I go back tomorrow to let the flooring people in, I'll collect them and scan them

Ian, a home in Frome..? I just like the way that sounds..!
The kitchen will be the first thing we change. There's a lot to do in the house, but as they say, it's got good bones. The reason for moving was that even if we did extensive remodelling in our old place, it was still a Cape with small bathrooms and a small kitchen. Where the house was on the lot, there wasn't room to put an addition on where we'd want it to be and we weren't going to tear it down and build a McMansion as so many have in Lexington..! This place is already the right shape, we just need to bring it up to date in some areas (kitchen, home theatre) and decorate it in keeping with it's age in others (living room, dining room)
We don't have a butler yet but his pantry will be waiting.
Yes, there's a tank in the attic, although it's not connected to anything. I don't know enough about American construction to know if they put header tanks in attics in the past. I'm assuming that's what it was, like they have in the UK. It looks like a lead tank (although I guess it might be tin) and the cool thing is it's insulated with newspapers. The headlines are all from WW2 but the paper is so fragile it's breaking off. I want to try to get at some of the pages intact, or stick them to clear plastic book covering or something to give them strength. Another piece of interesting history in the house

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav

Ian, a home in Frome..? I just like the way that sounds..!

Except Frome is pronounced Froom. Had their 1300th anniversary when I lived there in the early 90s!

Your house descriptions sound great - my preference is to own newer places (our last English house was brand new and customised to our specs) ... but it is great to read about other peoples house history.

So you staying in a hotel till the floors are all done I presume. We had to stay elsewhere for one night when we had similar done here - nasty strong chemicals ...

[GadgetGav]

How about a hooome in Frooome then..?
Yes, we're in the Woburn Marriott Courtyard until Monday when our stuff comes back from Marathon moving's depot. Luckily we know someone who works here, so she could get us a good rate. It's going to take them the rest of the week to refinish 1700 sq ft of floor, but the transformation should be impressive. There is no damage I can see to the floors - they've just had 25 years of the same people wearing off the varnish.
We think our house is 100 years old this year. Not quite 1300, but not bad for a house with character.

[Actual Size]

Love the knotty pine media room. Might I suggest something from Cabela's for furnishings?

[jcsinnh]

Gav, I'm sending a beautifully carved wooden sign. I believe it is mahogany with the lettering done in gilt. It reads, simply, JOHN'S ROOM. Please hold for my arrival.

Anyone out there know why chimneys are so often at a slant in attics? Poor planning? That's where lateral moves are made? The peak never lines up with the LR wall?

[GadgetGav]

Rick, not sure buck heads on the seats is really our style..! The knotty pine is not original and may well transform into chair rail height panelling. That vinyl floor will have to go.
John, as soon as we find the outhouse, I'll hang your sign over the door. Getting in early before Ian claims it as his office, eh?

[jcsinnh]

Any port in a storm and all that. Actually, a hammock on the porch will do. Remind me, how much land? I really like the porches. A lot.

[Cape Cod MINI]

Congrats on owning Bouldercroft!
When is the Bouldercroft MINI Owners Association party?
The vessel in the attic looks like it would hold 50 gallons or so of bath tub gin.

[jwardell]

Wow very impressive. Thanks for finally posting photos, we've been wondering what it looks like! I especially like that car port...that will come in handy during heavy NE weather. And the MINI can feel like it is hangin' out on the porch.

I don't know what to say about that wallpaper border in the kitchen...