Here is a kitchen cabinet, without doors or worktop - showing the Consumer Unit for the Cornerstones electrics. Yes, it is in a corner - totally inaccessible in normal life. You can only get to it by removing the Kenwood Chef and all the baking tins, and crawling in with a torch.
We have no idea why the previous owner, when they had building work done [including fitting the cupboards] did not move the box to a better location. We can only assume that it was another of their bodging cost-cutting ideas.
The electricians, Paul and James [who sound like a couple of apostles] have worked very hard to put things right. We need an extra cable put in, so there will be power to the new garage - and this is the time to do it. Having emptied and removed the necessary cupboards earlier in the week, Bob's come up with an alternative arrangement for the wall cupboards too. Watch this space!
But it has left me pondering about things. Back in 2014, I did a Top Tips post about Quick, Quality, Quids-In. You can do something of quality, but it will either take time or money. Cornerstones is a beautiful property - and structurally pretty sound - but we have discovered over the past 12 years, that there were lots of little things not really done to a high standard. "Quick and Cheap" appears to have been the mantra for the previous owners.
I thoroughly approve of the fact that they took out the old kitchen units, and used them to furnish the futility room - but why did they not bother to fit plinths and finish the job? When they fitted a new kitchen door, hinges on the opposite side, why didn't they move the light switch? [A simple task, thank you Adrian for helping with that] And as for the wiring to the outside light...words fail me!
My grandmother always encouraged me to do my best - reminding me of the words in Colossians "And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best." Yes, I admit, there are times when I cut corners. But I hope that I do my best, not just the minimum.
- when I am building something in the home I hope will last
- when making a garment which I want to be worn for a long time
- when I am teaching a skill to a child, to be leaned for a lifetime
- when offering to help someone in need
The Brownie equivalent was LAH LA LAH. (Lend a hand.) Not sure if they still shout it.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it. Times have changed...
DeleteEvery house we have lived in, including the French one, used the same firm of builders. That well known international organisation, B & S. "Bodgit and Scarper". They get everywhere!
ReplyDeleteWe are still in chaos as what should have taken a day has revealed further tasks. Fortunately Bob can do some of the work, which will reduce the final costs considerably.
DeleteOh yes, you never get away with just one job to fix.....that's the B & S legacy.
Delete"Do one job, make six" as my mum used to say!
Many Many years since Cubs shouted DYB DYB DYB!
ReplyDeleteThe newer version was part of the Grand Howl starting every pack meeting.
Akela " Cubs do your best"
Cubs "we WILL do our best"
I'd quite forgotten you are an expert on Cubs and Scouts. Thanks Sue
DeleteI never knew what dib, dib, dib meant, now I do!!
DeleteIt does seem that some people just dont think things through. We have an electric meter set almost up against the ceiling. To read it one has to stand on a chair, (oops, ladder)
ReplyDeleteWhen they rewired my house, the Council put an extractor fan in the bathroom, on the ceiling, which you have to stand on a chair to switch on!!Not great when you suffer from vertigo! I love diy progs so can't wait to see the results at your gaff. Have a good weekend. x
ReplyDeleteThat fan does not sound safe at all. We lived in a council flat which only had one socket in the kitchen. I don't think they expected tenants to have a fridge AND a kettle (let alone a washing machine)
DeleteI don't use it Ang. There is an adequately sized window in the bathroom which I keep open most of the time.
DeleteThat's useful!
DeleteWhat a stupid place to put the consumer unit, words fail me at times when you move to a new place.
ReplyDeleteHere at our new house Alan has just had to completely remove all the boxing in behind the toilet which was nailed in place, and then sealed in just so he could access the back of the toilet to fix a new seat ... in both the annexe and the house.
When we moved to Wales and the tap washer on the bath needed replacing we had to take all the tiles off the boxed in bath to access the taps, cracking most of them in the process.
It was some months after we moved into our house 27 years ago, that we discovered the floor joists under our bedroom (over our in-house garage) were not properly installed. Instead of alternating short pieces and long pieces, they installed the long ones on one side and the short ones on the other side-meaning no there was no real support. Discovered the problem when a heavy piece of bedroom furniture began to tilt inward. Had to have an two I-beams installed in the garage to keep the floor from collapsing. So much for county building inspectors.
ReplyDeleteI guess eventually you will have the joy of a well appointed home, thanks to all the fixing Bob and you have to organize! I just don't understand why some weird things are done, but probably the people who do them don't mentally walk through the process of actually living in and using the area in question. As for Between You and Me's ceiling fan, it must have been installed by someone well over 6ft tall I guess!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are having quite a bit of work done at Cornerstones! Yes, I've found out that when one tries to fix one problem, several more need to be done, as well! Back when I had some renovations done, I discovered that I had to replace all the wiring in the house and all the plumbing, too! It's been several years since then, so, I expect the next electrician to work on my house will say I need to rewire, again!
ReplyDeleteEverything you do has a great approach to making things last! You inspire me! Hope that things that are not as good as you hoped are resolvable.
ReplyDelete