Happy New Year all!!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a not too headache inducing New Years Eve, whatever shape or size it was. For us it was a small one this year. Just the five of us in fact. And although paired back with no present giving it was probably one of the most wonderful Christmases and New Year’s I’ve had. That being said, I am relieved to say goodbye to the shit show that was 2021. And move forwards with renewed vigour after actually taking some time off over the festive period. And I’m now heading into the New Year full of optimism and hope. Every year I write a home wish list and this year is no exception so here’s my 2022 ‘oh if only I had a million quid’ dreams.
I can’t really start on this years list though without re visiting last years. A taking stock moment if you like. Anyone else do this? I really am trying to look on last year with a positive spin too. But like for many others it was probably one of the hardest I’ve been through. Financially on several occasions we were at breaking point not to mention mentally too. But as they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going! And so I carried on in my own bloody minded everything will be all right in the end bubble and got us through it. I am still yet to find my own Harrison Lesser Watch on top of the cooker in the garage though. By this time next year Rodney we’ll be millionaires!!
Anyhoo, so back to last year, and the ever growing list!! In no particular order here’s what I came up with, Oh, and if it’s crossed out I managed to complete it:
My 2021 home wish list
repair and decorate the outhouses and make them watertight Completed June 2021 with rendering the walls and painting one of them) and then The She Shed Reveal
Repair the leak into the dining room from the half roof over the bay window completed but no blog post (way too boring)
Fix the soffit boards on the flat roof – Still not done!
Repaint the second floor of the outside of the house – See 2022!
Redesign the garden and instigate the design! (see what I’m working with) – Also brought forwards too.
Middle RFW’s bedroom – There’s a theme here!
My Bedroom Makeover including replacing the god awful ceiling – It got a new lick of paint but that bloody ceiling is still there!
Sitting Room Makeover – Well it’s almost done
Downstairs Loo Makeover – had a paint refresh
Dining Room Refresh – same
Kitchen Refresh – same
Bathroom Makeover – (A girl can dream)
Replace the rubbish downstairs radiators – Fucking things!!!
Mend the cast iron fireplace in the sitting room – Mr RFW came to the rescue here, he did a great job
Insulate the loft – Completed June 2021
Repair Upstairs Windows – Please god!
I didn’t do too badly considering I was on a minuscule budget did I? And let’s face it, if you’re not open to the possibility of something happening then it’s far less likely to actually happen. In fact, giving the majority of rooms a fresh coat of paint mid year meant that for the first time in as long as I remember I didn’t decide that the sitting room or dinning room needed a tidy up literally the day before the decs went up! So now it’s time for this years list.
The if you could do anything within reason list. I have another list that involves moving walls, putting in two extra bathrooms, a larger kitchen and a loft conversion but that might have to wait a while 🙂 Lottery win withstanding! So let’s get on with the new list. I’m sure I’ve bored you to tears already but this is just my way of getting some perspective on the year ahead along with setting some house related goals.
my 2022 home wish list
Those Pesky radiators
Firstly it’s bloody freezing in the house this winter again. Despite having loft insulation fitted in the Summer. And it’s all down to the absolutely pesky radiators Mr RFW chose several years ago. Never, and I mean never let your husband choose radiators! Especially if like me the kind you covet are cast iron. And your husband thinks the cost you gave him was for all the radiators and not just one! He can do better he tells me and a week or so later five radiators arrive. Had he even consulted a BTU calculator?? Of course not. And now I have these ridiculously small chrome (eurgh) ingle column radiators. They radiate absolutely zero heat apart from if you touch them which results in an immediate 3rd degree burn! Like how??
Middle RFW’s Bedroom
Next up on my 2022 home wish list which is by the way getting more and more crucial is middle RFW’s bedroom. The problem is his bedroom is his safe place and it’s going to take a good few weeks to renovate. I’m talking a strip back to bare walls restoration and there isn’t one piece of salvageable furniture in there either and windows need replacing too. But where to put him whilst the work is carried out?? My plan is to move him into our bedroom but that will put us on a sofa each downstairs! It’s the decorating domino effect though isn’t it. Decorating one room disrupts so many others.
Finish The Sitting Room Once And For All
And so before I get to his room, I really need to finish the sitting room. I have curtains still to make, I’ve had the fabric for a while now just haven’t had the time to make them. But I need new sofas too. They have rather had it now. Most importantly though I need a sofa bed so that we actually have somewhere to sleep when I do finally get around to middle RFW’s bedroom. I have no idea why I didn’t buy one originally as having guests over to stay is a none starter when you don’t have somewhere for them to sleep. Whilst I’m in the sitting room I’d love to replace the flooring too, I have a hankering for black parquet!
Eldest RFW’s Room
Once we have a sofa bed I can then also look again at eldest RFWs bedroom. It had a quick makeover in 2019 I think but it was not my best work. I cheated and repainted lining paper that really needed stripping back to bare plaster. So once we have somewhere for him to sleep rather than the rush of last time I can empty the room and do it properly. Again, the window in there needs repairing. And the fireplace needs stripping back to reveal it’s cast iron glory. He loves mid century furniture too so I’m going dark Gentleman’s Club vibe in there with a twist.
Crucial Outside Works
Finally I’m going outside again. Old houses always need work don’t they? And well the old gal is falling to pieces in places. I really do have to sort out the upstairs exterior walls and windows. I have flaking paint, a piece of guttering hanging off and the windows are slowly decaying. Do you know in 25 years we’ve never been able to open the front windows!! The previous owners did a botch job fitting double glazed panes of glass and then sealed them shut. I need a minor miracle of some sort to achieve this but miracles do happen so maybe it’s my turn. Oh and the paint I used on the bay windows and front door is no longer available too. So that’s something that requires thinking about too!
The Stig of the dump chic garden has to go
And finally………… The shit storm that is my garden turns up once again on my 2022 home wish list!! I really have no idea where to start. It’s been on my wish list for four years now. And every time I try to get something design wise on paper I draw a blank. I literally have no ideas other than I would love a dip tank, more privacy and an outdoor cooking area. Oh, and plenty of shade. Apart from Mr RFW every one of us burns to a crisp with the merest hint of a sunray!! I want my own oasis of calm, greenery and the sound of running water. And I definitely do not want Matilda the Mercedes W108 parked on the patio!! Yep, that’s where she is currently seeing out the winter. I’m not sure which is worst, the photo above of the current reality!
And Finally happy new year my lovelies
On that bombshell I shall say adieu. Let’s tiptoe quietly into 2022 with cautious optimism. I hope it brings you all happiness, health and a sprinkling of wealth too. I can’t start the new year properly however without also saying a huge thank you to you all. These last few years have been tough and without your help and support I wouldn’t have been quite so doggedly determined to come out the other side. Your messages, emails, comments and phone calls cheering me on. You are the loveliest bunch and I’m proud to call each and everyone of you my friend. All the best lovelies x
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