DIY

As for the kitchen, and the work we did yesterday? Best not to ask, really…

Oh, you have. OK.

Well, in general it went OK. The new worktops are in – although whichever genius/git decided to make the walls epically wonky really does deserve a kicking. One worktop even had to have chunks planed out of the underside in order for it to fit properly against the wobbly wall.

The new sink went in OK too – the cutout was the right size, and fitting the sink to the worktop was simplicity itself. Even I could’ve done it. In fact, I did do it. (although, as anyone who knows me will agree, it was decided that it was best for someone else to be doing the actual measuring. This is A Good Thing, believe me) The problem came when trying to connect the new sink and tap to the old water supply and drainage. And then came the swearing.

The buggers don’t fit together. In fact, they’re miles apart. (figuratively speaking) And of course if we can’t reconnect them, we can’t turn the water back on, and there’s no hot water either, and the system’s empty and the toilet … well… yeah, let’s leave it there. Fortunately we have a very nice (and very useful) plumber who was happy to come out at 7pm and fit in a couple of blanking plates on the kitchen water-supply, so we could at least have water in the house. And he’s going to come and sort out the plumbing bits on Saturday, which is even better / nicer.

The gas hob got disconnected and reconnected just fine – although again the reconnection didn’t actually happen ’til about 7pm.

So – we’ve got a working(ish) kitchen again – although it’ll be the weekend before we’ve got water in there again. The next couple of days won’t be ideal, but when all’s said and done, they could’ve been one hell of a lot worse.

And yes, I am quite pleased with how it all worked out, and how good it looks. But I can’t deny, I do find it frustrating to get just so far, and then to be at risk of not having gas/water/hot water/ whatever because of something simple that’s gone wrong. I want it to “just work”, and hate it when it doesn’t.