Life sucks sometimes

I adn't been around lately for a reason - DH managed to surprise all of us with a stroke, and as soon as I got him home, my youngest collapsed in pain - seems like it is ovarian cyst. So I'm just busy rushing between the hospital and home. No time to sew, no time to post. But I will be back, I will.

Yay!

People, it is official now.
 I'm  a grandma!

Energy saving and British traditions

Right now I’m drowning in Magnolia and white gloss so quilting must wait.  But it hasn’t stopped me thinking (I know, a bad habit). As I’m now concentrating on renovation and decoration, one thing really irritates me right now. Energy saving in average British house. 

All the UK media are screaming loud – save energy! Install new, energy saving windows and doors!  Double glazing is the must!

I support energy saving and recycling. Reduce our carbon footprint! So I totally agree with double glazing and insulation. Expensive? Yes. But should be worth it, if... 

How about that hole in the wall? Yes, that one, called a fireplace.

Fireplace is a must have in every British house.  Designers call it a focal point of the British living room. Just close your eyes and imagine... Comfy armchair in front of that roaring fire with that British cuppa after a long walk in damp moors... Britishness to the essence, right? So every UK house has at least one.  More or less decorated hole in the wall, leading right up into the open sky.  

Roaring? No, of course not. Wood is expensive and I suspect, half of population now has no idea how to lit one.  So it’s better to leave that hole untouched. For that British dream, for the traditions. For that desired focal point (well, let’s be honest – nowdays the only real focal point in average UK household is that flat screen TV). 

Our house has two of these holes, called fireplaces. One is empty, hadn’t been used for at least past 20 years; other has a gas burner installed. And none have a damper!!!  So the both holes are opened to the sky 24/7!!!

So...  How the nation is supposed to save energy by installing double glazing and packing layers of insulation in the attic while leaving two open holes in the house? How double glazing helps if you keep at least one window opened forever? 

Why there are no adds telling nation to sort out their fireplaces? Adds for installing a damper? I haven’t seen even one add! 

Damp issues? Well, UK is damp, I agree. But modern double glazing windows are made to breathe, to sort out these damp issues, right? 

Dampers are dangerous in hands of idiots when burning coal? Right. Fumes, I agree... So how many UK households use coal? I don’t know, as statistically it goes under “solid fuel” and includes wood as well. But, anyway, in 2013 solid fuel was used in only 0.8% of UK households! Less than 1 percent!!! (In comparison, in 1970 there were 39 % of households burning coal).  

So maybe it’s time to stop fooling around with these better and more expensive double glazing windows and doors and start energy saving with that hole in the wall? 

Rant over. Sorry.

New table

While packing, weeding and painting walls, my old Singer has been completely abandoned and seems that it will feel lonely for a long time as my new sewing room even has no walls and windows yet. So I'm quilting in my head only right now, but...

I bought a quilting table. Gammill 14 ft in pristine condition. So non existing walls are perfect as now I will be able to plan my sewing room according to the size of the table.

Khm, now just one little thing - finding a second hand long arm which will fit on the table - no way I can afford a new Gammill machine. So if you have ideas and suggestions, you are very welcome! In general I'm thinking about something like Gammill Optimum, but I'm open to any ideas so please share your visdom!

Whatever is going on in my poor head, the spring is here in full bloom, I have new camera and even Ben and Jerry are enjoying the sunny days in garden. 

A splash of paint II

 Working hard, I managed to add few inhabitants on the nursery wall, but now I know that it will be the project to continue for few next visits as well.

A splash of paint

My sewing machine has been put to sleep for a while now, fabrics wrapped to protect from dust, and right now, few plane tickets later, I'm having great time with my 12 yo playing on a 4 m wall of the nursery-to-be with some acrilic paint.

This is the fragment of the day One. The day Two will follow tomorrow.

Murder, she wrote...

As I suspected, shit had hit the fan.  After our not-so-romantic failure of a homesitter, my  dear husband and child went to France, leaving me behind to look after our dogs and cats. Missing holidays in France was a hard blow, but something I can survive. But! 

They also went ... house hunting!  Without me!!! For me it qualifies as plain domestic abuse.  And as I suspected, the worse possible scenario has happened. They bought a house in Southwest. A farmette in Charente.  A man and a 12 yo child bought a home. Without me! 

All I have is few pictures taken by our 12 yo who is blissfully happy about the choice because our next door neighbours will be the riding stables. Good for horses and maybe... for gardening.  And extremely happy husband who called right now to tell that he already has done all the measurements and has made all the design plans for our house.... 

I’m sitting here steaming. Totally and utterly pissed off.  Murder, she wrote...