Work!

For the past week

We have been having some work done in our house

In our kitchen

There used to be a divider between the kitchen itself and the dining/sitting room

The divider was two presses/cupboards

So really the kitchen was cut in half 

And caused a real lack of space 

There was always something in the way

The table

The cupboards 

Each other

We've been meaning to get this work done for years

And this week we finally got it done

Two men came to do the work

Who I will call Sean and Peter

We know Peter well

He has been doing work for us since we moved here ten years ago

He is also the guy that used to have a crush on me 

And tried to kiss me more than once

Anyway 

Because my Mum and I don't have a man in the house 

And we manage pretty darn well without one thank you very much

My Mother and I can do some of the work

But something's we do need a hand with 

Mainly outside jobs that we just wouldn't have the strength for 

So yes 

Peter has been here from the start

And more than a handiman 

He has become a family friend 

Although my sister can't stand him

She thinks he is a bit dim

Ok

He's probably not the sharpest tool in the box

But who are we to judge?

My Mum likes him because he is reliable and pleasant 

And he is 

So 

We told Peter what we wanted done

The barrier in the kitchen moved against the side wall 

Which would completely open up the kitchen

A new wood floor in the sitting area

And also the wood floor in our dining room replaced

As it was really in bad nic

Peter put us in touch with Sean

And a date was set for the work 

Although we knew there would be some upset in the house

We really weren't prepared for the magnitude of the work thdt needed to be done 

We had to take everything out of the kitchen

Out of the cupboards

The furniture 

The kettle which was moved to my bedroom

Which was essential 

As you know how much I love my tea

The kitchen was a no go area for those few days 

Poor Honey and Lea were banished to the utility room or outside

Lea elected to sit in my car 

I don't know why 

But she loves to sit in there

The air was blue with all the swearing that was going on

It was funny really 

Because Sean was obviously in charge of the operation 

And through the walls we could hear him shouting at Peter

'No not like that

You're doing it wrong you eejit'

'Pull it don't push it you stupid man'

'Not your left, my left'

'Straight!

Straight!!!

I said straight!!!!'

It really was great entertainment 

And we often sat and listened to them rather than turning on the TV 

A few days later 

And the kitchen was done

It made a massive difference in terms of space 

We didn't know what to do with ourselves we had so much room

The dogs were also very happy as they had much more room to stretch out on the floor 

We also moved the dining table over I front of the window 

As we have a fantastic view out over the mountain 

I would post photos only my camera is playing up 

So hopefully I will get them up soon

Then work moved from the kitchen to the hall

The whole floor had to be pulled up

Which also meant every thing in the hall had to be moved 

We put furniture any where we could fit it 

And every room and every space in the house was full of stuff 

And the work men didn't always turn up when they said they would 

So we were left living in a building site for a few days 

My job during the work was chief tea maker

And yes

That is an official title 

Sean was very particular about his tea 

Very strong 

With just a drop of milk

I like to think that I've got making tea down to a fine art 

I drink bucket loads of it myself 

The men 

Or Laurel and Hardy as my sister calls 

Had their lunch at 1pm every day

It was fascinating watching them

Peter usually had a sandwich that he pulled from his jacket pocket 

It was usually wrapped in cling film

And inevitably squashed flat

Like someone sat on it 

Sean on the other hand 

Took a more serious and professional approach to his lunch

Oh yes 

He had a proper lunch bag

I say bag

But it was actually like a small rucksack 

He had a menagerie of things in that bag

Cups

A flask 

Not just one or two teabags

But a whole box 

A small carton of milk

Sandwiches 

And many packets of crisps

I used to see him eating crisps more than a couple of times a day

No chocolate though I noticed 

He must be a savoury man

So yes

Being a people watcher 

I was do interested watching them

At the end of every day 

They would stand and look at the work they had done 

They loved being praised 

Do Mum and I would ooooh and aaaaah over the great work that the big strong men had done 

It was quite funny really

The work is all but done now

And I have to say

They did a fantastic job

We have so much more room

And their work was very neat and tidy

Now it's down to us to put the house back together 

And make it look pretty 

Some other little things came up while the workmen were here

On the odd occasion that I did purge

It was quite the secret operation

I guess I could have used the upstairs bathroom

But the flush is not as good as the one downstairs 

When I had to purge I tried to time it so that the men would not be there

But it wasn't always possible

And sometimes they were right outside the bathroom door

I guess it highlighted for me how not normal my behaviour can be

To me and my family 

My ED behaviours are so common and out in the open

They they have become normal

This week was a reminder that most people do not purge after eating 

And do look after their health

In other news 

My scale is definitely fecked 

So no idea what my weight is

But I'm trying my best to allow myself to eat when I'm hungry

And keep purging to a minimum 

Now that I've lost a few kilos

I feel a lot more comfortable in my skin

My clothes feel better 

They're not riding up or puckering in places 

I look more streamlined 

But still retain my curves 

I think I might have gone down a bra cup size or two

But that's no harm either

I don't want to lose any more weight I think 

I would just like to maintain the way I am 

Which is in between a size 8 and size 10

And I am happy enough with that 

So at the moment 

Life is pretty good

My mental health is good 

My physical health is getting better all the time 

Things are not perfect 

The are things I could improve on for sure 

My intake

My social life 

My meds 

I don't think things will ever be perfect for me

But then whose life is perfect?

No one I know

That's for sure