Day 32 of 40 Float On

Pisces and my name is Tabitha. When the stair doesn’t reach high enough, extend it with a (semi) floating stepladder. The sky is the limit. I like a man who feels the same. And if you fit that description, baby, come with me.

Aquarius and my name is Debby. I like to float in a big swimming pool at the moment. And I like a man who floats next to me, or better still hold me in his arms. And if you fit that description
This is for you especially. 

Day 31 of 40 Cool Colors

     Often houses here do have a system that combines central heating and hot water for the taps. In the new house we temporary turned that system down because we are working at replacing some of the radiators. Although it’s rather chilly outside now we don’t miss the heating because all we do is physical work there. But as soon as you sit down for a break you can feel the cold. Therefore it was pleasant that the sun managed to shine between the showers just when I was taking a break.

My daughter has already picked the colors she want in her room and this night she was enthusiastically showing me how great everything matched together. Her friends made a group whatsapp called the painting team and apparently her room will be ready after this weekend with their help.

I decided to go for white walls for a while for the rest of the house until I know what colors I want where. I love colors which is visible in the old house. I think I’ve mentioned it before but I was afraid that I had to repaint the walls in the old house as well because white walls would make a better selling point for the estate agent. I dreaded that because every color accompanied a memory about when I put that on. And I want it to be my house until the moment that I have to hand in the keys.

Today I had the inspection and everything I feared turned out to be unnecessary. It was a friendly guy the estate agent and I have the prospect of getting the guarantee amount back, like I want of course. Now I can put all my effort on working in the new house and cool down this house further until only its true colors are left.  

Day 30 of 40 Pride and Prejudice

I tend to feel someone’s mood, even from quite a distance. At least that’s how I interpret it. Last week the washing machine repairman was here. I had seen him once years ago in the other house but couldn’t remember how he looked like. Obvious he was older, like we all are. But there was something else. I chatted a little with him while he was doing the job and when he was done he took a seat to write the invoice. And it took quite a while to write that because he told me his life story in between. He has been seriously ill and is so low of energy that he goes straight to bed after a day working. A sad story and I truly hope he has some good time left before it’s too late for him.

That same day another older man passed by, slowly walking behind his walker. I greeted him but didn’t recognize him until he teasingly asked what I did with “his” bench. Then I remembered it. One day I came into my kitchen and saw someone sitting on the bench which stood under the kitchen window. Because it was a little unusual I went to him and asked him if he was all right. He just needed a break from walking to the shops, he said. He reminded me of that too last week. And then he told me that he has handed in his driving license after having a stroke. When cheerfully saying goodbye after some more chatting he slowly walked on to his appointment with the physiotherapist.

That’s how I like it, when I feel strong enough I subconsciously encourage people to shovel some more on my shoulders. But when I say to someone that it is very heavy what I’m doing at the moment or that I worry about not being able to do my coming exams properly, all I do is struggling and postponing to write that to the coordinator of my course. It feels like failing that I can’t move houses and study like I should at the same time. Better I take the bull by the horns and write that damn e-mail.

Day 29 of 40 Gym

Which of the approximately 600 muscles in my body were more or less asleep and abruptly woken by my project? Many I think. Although after lifting so much lately they don’t ache anymore. And don’t forget the miles I’ve walked up and down the stairs this last weeks. This kind of exercising satisfies me. The progress is very visible and it simply needs to be done. It’s very different from working out in a gym, which I really don’t like.

When I heard people talking about how they’re looking forward to their work out in a gym or proudly announce that they have pushed themselves over the top there I used to think that I was lazy. Well, those days are over because I really am proud of myself. Thanks to enough variation in the moves I make and the fact that I won’t go beyond my limits I’m not turning into a bodybuilder (thank goodness, I’m still feminine enough to appreciate my female curves, even with the muffin around my waistband). From lifting to the wax-in wax-out kind of movement plastering requires and pushing and pulling things that needs to be replaced my arms, legs, back and abdominal muscles all work in turn.

So, all I need to get moving is a deadline and necessity to do so, that gives me the pleasure and perseverance. The same for cycling. Why should I cycle a spinning bike which doesn’t bring me out of the stale fitness room when I can breathe in fresh air outdoors on my own bike? Or dancing. Zumba is fun but dancing Salsa with an experienced dance partner at a great party is way more fun. For my fitness it’s a shame that this project is nearing its end soon. 

Day 28 of 40 My Mom’s Kitchen

My mom is a sweetheart. Last Sunday afternoon I texted her to ask if we could go to her to have dinner. She said yes, went to the grocery shop and made a lovely meal for the five of us. Today she prepared a delicious meal again, this time only for me. As soon as the man who had fixed the washing machine had left here I went to her. My stomach was grumbling and the smell of the food was mouthwatering when I got there. Very relaxing having dinner cooked and served! And after another cup of tea I went home again to do my tax form and finish the letter for the insurance company.

Today I first cleared the space upon the washing machine then I went to the recycle containers to bring 4 bags of used paper and plastic and I brought the microwave oven to the new house. It looked a little misplaced next to the drill I use to mix the plaster. After that I brought 5 huge blue bags filled with wallpaper to the sanitation centre and went to the garage for the valuation of the car damage. Then I called for borrowing the van again which I picked up after cycling to the shop where it’s parked. While I was waiting for the repairman I worked in the backyard of the old house, which is almost leveled.

Tomorrow there’s again a lot to do so I’m looking forward to what my mom’s cooking then. 

Day 27 of 40 Fix and Finish

There’s a lot that needs to be fixed. A bracket from a bra has got stuck in the washing machine accidentally. My neighbor today called because he accidentally hit my parked car while he was parking (honest man btw!). It were only a couple of scratches. We used to say that a car has been kissed when there is only some material damage. So you may interpret this as a tender goodbye kiss from the neighbor, that’ll make it a little funnier next to the many things that are going on.  

But what bothers me most is that I became so very impatience with my youngest daughter who’s got all kind of school activities in her freshmen’s year, that I brought her to her dad’s house last night. She probably helped me the most because she is living here, the other kids come over in the weekends mostly to help. Anyway, I think it’s for both of us better at the moment that she has a place where she can study and relax. Can’t help feeling guilty though.

It’s really a bit chaotic here now. Today there was an appointment with the carpenter for the door to the backyard of the new house. Tomorrow I’ll go plastering some more walls in the new house and at the end of the afternoon someone is coming to hopefully fix the washing machine here. I’ll have to write a letter to the insurance company about the car. I’m way behind with studying. It’s about time this crazy project has been finished. The name of the plastering material is ‘Fix and Finish’. It’s my mantra at the moment.

Day 26 of 40 Waterworks

Dutchies are renown for water management. No wonder because there is a lot of water here. The Delta Works protect us with various ingenious constructions like dams and sluices. Women resemble waterworks in a way, I think. In times when they build up pressure they retain water (in their bellies and in their joints for example). As soon as the water reaches a certain level the sluices open, noticeable as they have to pee a lot more than usual. When the pressure keeps exceeding more levels, more sluices need to open (visible from tears streaming from their eyes).

Just kidding. Except for the streaming tears part. Can’t help it but the sluices seem to be stuck. I’ll let it go for now. At least it seems to help to remove the liquid of my swollen fingers. Moving houses within a time limit, even though 40 days seemed long enough, sucks.