For some reason, I have been possessed by doing origami animals recently ... it all started with this cat, which led to this bunny, which led to a conversation with my sister who directed me to a panda (thank you Miss Yuka Nakamura for panda instructions...).
Now that we have our clicky pipes problem sorted - someone had to put all the carpets back ... so that was my job for today (that's me stapling down underlay before putting the carpet back down and stretching and tucking it under the skirting boards) while Sunshine installed a new (more efficient and powerful) radiator in the back bedroom. As it is shorter than the original radiator; some pipe cutting and moving was required ... Finally the upstairs is a MUCH warmer space than it has ever been ... just in time for the recent cold spell we have been having too.
The heating pipes in our house click - a lot! I think its to do with when they expand due to the change in temperature and hit nearby pipes and bits of floor joists etc. While i was away visiting Dadu, Sunshine decided that he was going to have a go at remedying the situation... As you can see, he has taken up bits of carpet in the upstairs bedrooms, and then lined joints with scraps of fabric ... and oh my has it made a difference!
Quiet on the blogging front as I was away visiting my poorly grandma - my Dadu. Fortunately by the time I got there she was feeling much better having responded well to the medication she was given. We talked crochet and I shared with her all the work we were doing on the house (via this blog). My sister (in blue - who lives in Australia), and my Aunt, both of whom I haven't seen in 2 years were there too so it was nice to just hang out with the family ...
For the last few years (I think since we moved to Bristol) we've been making lists around the Christmas/New Year time. A list of nice things that we did/happened/achievements; and one as a list of plan for the following year. We also go through the Plans list from the previous year (see above) to see and tick off what we have accomplished.
As we came to the end of the year and I started reflecting on all that had happened I was dreading writing up our "Nice things" list. I couldn't get beyond the fact that this year has been the year of loss; of death; of loosing my innocence in a major way. I've gained so many gray hairs that I've actually started dyeing them ...
