There hasn't been much evidence of Chuckles on the blog this week, sorry! With a mild spell of weather and nobody buying the empty house next door yet, my dad and I decided to get that side of the new fence varnished to protect the wood a bit and make it look nicer, before anyone moves in. That way the job is done before anyone moving in can moan at us for any mess! As it happens my dad's knee and back are pretty bad at the moment so I decided I was going to stop being a sloth and get most of it done myself, despite being a fat unfit lump! As usual I underestimated the size of the job, thinking I could get the front garden completed in maybe an forty minutes.
I decided that I'd get up at 7am to get it done. That let me get things done before the mutt two doors down comes out into the garden and barks non stop at anything that moves, and before any of the neighbours come out looking to chat. I had my warm clothes on and mp3 player to distract me. It took me nearly TWO HOURS to get half the fence done! My back seizes up with standing and bending so it was hellish and I kept taking breaks for being out of breath! My dad did the second part in 45 minutes which left me feeling a bit pathetic as well as sore! But the front was done yesterday and completed so that was the main thing I guess. We'll do our side of the front fence at leisure.
Today I was out in the back garden doing the first section of fencing until I ran out of varnish, but it's a quarter of the job done which is a good start. This time I was seated on my footstool which let me get on with it with no issues with aches and pains which made a big difference. It was quite relaxing listening to Highway to Hell and The Wurzels on the mp3 player with only the local squirrel and a few birds coming over to see what I was doing. Another tin of varnish is on its way so if we get a good day of weather next week, it'll be another job done. Again we'll do our side of the fence at leisure but I would like to get it done soon and out the way.
It has just been a really busy week! I've had a pile of other housework to do so I've been too tired to get any reading done at all, which is disappointing. Hopefully in the next few days work will be starting on the replacement fencing and gate, which would be another headache fixed!
What have you been up to this week?
Wow, sounds like you have been busy. Booker T wasn't having mobility problems on Monday so at lunch I called his vet and went and got him some medicine. We're trying it for a week to see if it helps him and so far it has. Mr. Barb returns to work April 1st and I haven't killed him yet so his chances are looking good :) I've just been busy working and reading a 2-star book - YUK! At least the review is up today and it's over. I bet the fence looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the medication is having an effect on poor Booker T. I'm glad (for both your sakes!!!) that Mr Barb is back to work! The bits I've done look nice so far but there is bad weather coming in next week so I wanted their side of the fence done before then-but the wrong size of varnish tin was sent yesterday so I ran out of it earlier today and I'm frustrated! I just want it done!
DeleteSounds super busy and that first time getting yard work done is always brutal! I cleaned out two raised beds this weekend and my whole body was sore all week! I always like doing jobs like the varnishing. I can on an audio book or listen to music and just kind of zone out. Hope this week is going well!
ReplyDeleteThese jobs are just horrible, tiring and time consuming but it will feel great when we get it done! We have a lot to do in the garden which is depressing and we're not fit to do it but don't have the money to hire someone to do it!
DeleteGood luck with getting it done! It would probably take me weeks to varnish the fence around my yard. There’s fence around ¼ acre in the backyard, and I don’t know how much in the front. It’s a lot of fence!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
That is a lot of fence! I'm certainly glad I don't have that amount to do or I'd cry!
DeleteIt sounds like things are finally wrapping up. I bet it looks nice when you are done. Now I think it's time to relax and maybe get to one of those good books:) You earned it!
ReplyDeleteSadly no time to relax! It'll be a very early start tomorrow to try and finish that side before the bad weather hits on Monday!
DeleteThese tasks always take longer than we think don't they? I'm sorry about the pain you had to endure but I guess yay for having most of it out of the way.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
Yes they do always take longer than we think! Oh we aren't near halfway yet! We have two coats of varnish to put on our side of the fence plus doing both sides of the new bit of fencing still to go up! There is another 2 weeks of work there!
DeleteHighway to Hell seems like the perfect soundtrack for a job like that. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a pretty appropriate song when my arms got tired!
DeleteI always seem to underestimate how long it will take me to do tasks. And I always forget how out of shape I am.
ReplyDeleteYes to both of those! The dental treatment has also killed my appetite which is making me even more tired!
DeleteSounds like you really have been busy!
ReplyDeleteI did lots of writing these past two weeks to try and meet my self-imposed March 31st deadline, but I got a little reading done. I just started The Halley Branch by Trent McDonald. I actually haven't heard anything good or bad about the book. It was the blurb that caught my attention.
I wish I could feel the urge to pick up a book but I'm just too tired right now. Hopefully a new month will help!
DeleteI'm going to hate every second of painting my fence. I'm exactly the same at thinking something will take me 30 min and it ends up taking 3hrs. *shrugs* As long as it gets done.
ReplyDeleteIt'll get done eventually but it does make me wish I was a witch and could just magic it done!
DeletePhew! I hope you have some time to relax soon!!
ReplyDeleteI hope so too!
DeleteI hope your back is better now. I am glad you got it mostly done and that is great!
ReplyDeleteMary
Yeah this was back in March.
Delete