Saturday 2 April 2016

The Nightmare Continues ...

The men in black arrive.  Black work trousers, black fleeces, woolly black hats pulled down to their eyebrows - the asbestos removal specialists.  Yes, our problems have only just begun, asbestos was found in the ceiling - this has slowed down the renovation process till it is all removed and before the driers can be installed.  The ceiling is being removed as I write; not just the  ceiling that was damaged but the other half of the room too.  As I said - the nightmare continues. 

Outside the sky is still blue, the daffodils are still blooming, the blackbird continues to wake me at dawn, but it hardly registers.  I am not the sort of person to rant and rave and throw my hands to the heavens - I hold it all in and quietly seethe, like a kettle on the boil that whistles and demands attention, till the lid blows off.  Remaining cheerful is hard, when your home, which should be a sanctuary, is being torn down around you.  Writing it down helps ease the pressure but it doesn't really solve any problems - we are just living day to day waiting for the next step in the long journey to recovery - the estimated time is now some six weeks hence - if the time spent already is anything to go by I won't be holding my breath.


The men have gone after a lot of banging and hammering the ceiling and coving has been removed leaving exposed wires and beams - it took them five hours, they have left the floor spotless with no dust or debris - good workmen who just got on with the job efficiently.  The driers come in on Tuesday.  It is like a summers day today - thank goodness for a garden to escape to and leave the turmoil behind just for a little while.

28 comments:

  1. Bad luck Elaine. You'll get there. It could be worse.

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  2. Dear Elaine, I feel with you: so hard to find one's home devastated! And all that work, and lost time that one could spend very well otherwise. That they found asbestos is a further blow - though I thinK: the only good in the bad is that it is removed.

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  3. Hi Elaine, I'm so sorry, this sounds awful... I just hope for you it is all sorted sooner rather than later xx

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  4. Oh dear, what a horrid and upsetting situation to be in. You must feel devastated and helpless at the moment. I hope the men in black sort out the asbestos problem quickly so you can get on with the work to restore your house back to that sanctuary you love:)

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  5. There are many challenges on life's journey and yet it is in these challenges that we find our strength and perseverance and learn patience for better times to come. You will so love rediscovering your home again when all is finished...

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  6. What a frustration! You have my sympathy. I wish I could do something to help! By all means, rant a little here!

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  7. I can hardly imagine what you are going through. My dear friend's home was flooded when we had days of rain, more rain than we have ever seen, swelling the rivers beyond capacity. The flooding began high in the mountains and the water swept through town after town, flooded the fields and moved on and on to the prairie where it spread out, gulping up everything in its path. Crystal's home was nearly destroyed. While she was working, her husband and daughter had 10 minutes to gather up the poor pets and get out. The house filled will silt and contaminated mud, water reached 42 inches high on the walls. So to rebuild, the mud had to be removed, all of the walls came down, nothing was left except some pine flooring and the wall studs. They have rebuilt and what hell it was for them. I could only imagine and be thankful. I think we all fear asbestus, vile stuff. Better to have it removed and feel safe. Go head and blow off steam here. We are listening.

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  8. Really hope the 6 weeks is kept to and goes quickly for you.

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  9. Oh how I wish those 'men in black' could wave a magic wand and whoosh ... everything is back to normal.
    Unfortunately life at times just isn't like that.

    You will get through this - you've no choice but to!
    As with all the families affected by this years earlier flooding.
    However, it doesn't make the situation bearable ...

    We are all thinking of you, and if it helps to write things down then please do so ... we are all thinking of you.

    Thoughts to you ...

    All the best Jan

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  10. Oh Elaine. Hang on in there. The deconstruction is by far the worst bit. Once you see it coming back together again hope will return. I promise you it will.

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  11. What a horrid affair. I have gone through three remodels and lived there and each time I swear never again. A tornado passed north of my city house this week as I watched on TV. It did quite a lot of damage to houses and businesses. Piles of rubble and boards. Perhaps now would be a good time to look into new lighting and/or other improvements? That might help pass the time. I am sorry for your plight. Keep us posted.

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  12. My sympathies. I hope that we have plenty of good weather so that you can find some solace in the garden. Take care. Flighty xx

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  13. Sounds horrible. Glad they were quick and tidy, I hope each stage is so and that you can move on and get back on with your life soonest.

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  14. Poor you Elaine - I hate the simplest things being carried out in the home, so I have no idea how I would cope with what you have going on. I suppose there is nothing for it but to just go with the flow. I suppose in the long term it was a good thing that the abestos was actually discovered and has now been safely removed.

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  15. Elaine, It is a horror, but at least you are getting the dreaded asbestos out! That stuff is just awful for your health, and over here, it is hard to sell your home if they find asbestos anywhere in the house...wrapped pipes, attic, basement - forget it! now is the time for some mindful meditation to bring your seething out and banished for the duration! If you hold it all in, the stress will do damage. Breathe......

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  16. All the best with this, Elaine. I hope the weather continues fine for you so that you can escape into the garden.

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  17. Bad luck Elaine. Things WILL improve I'm sure. Best wishes.

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  18. Hang on in there and take solace from your garden. When you are in the middle of such turmoil it's difficult to imagine life will settle calmly again, but hopefully it will.

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  19. Oh dear, I presumed that you were not able to move back into part of the house with the asbestos but as you mention getting solace from your garden perhaps you are living (camping) there. I do hope that they keep to the time frame and you are able to put all this behind you. Hugs!!!

    I can't imagine what it must be like for you.

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  20. This is all absolutely rotten but every day that passes puts you one day closer to being done, hopefully. Maybe yelling like a mad woman in an empty house would be a good way to deal with the stress. I've done that before and ended it with a good cry. It didn't solve a damn thing but I felt better and sometimes that's enough.

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  21. Thanks for checking in and giving an update...although it is about dealing with more unexpected and aggravating news. I am hoping now that the restoration of your home will go well without anymore frustration. I am glad that you are enjoying the spring outdoors.

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  22. Oh....what a pain!!! Sometimes things seem to go one step forward tens steps back. It's good they found and removed that though, it could have affected your health, but that's no consolation while the upheaval continues. I'm so glad you have your garden and can get everything going, I hope the work and your seeds thrive. Ahhh....I have been thinking of you. Take good care of you.xxx

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  23. Dear Elaine so sorry to hear that more repairs are needed than when first happened. So thankful you are able to get outdoors and enjoy your lovely garden. Will be hoping that the renovations will be done soon. Hugs!

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  24. I do feel for you, just having the smallest job done on the house stresses me out, soon you will look back and be happy how nice it looks now..
    Amanda xx

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  25. Oh my goodness! I'm only catching up on all of this now - you poor girl. What a dreadful situation, I only hope it does all go to plan and you can get your home back to the sanctuary it ought to be. Thank goodness for gardens and sunny days - there is light at the end of this hideous tunnel xx

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  26. So sorry to hear about the asbestos too, you really didn't need that too. Thinking of you and hope the garden can give you sanctuary away from all that disruption. Sarah x

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  27. Though it's true that time estimates for construction (or reconstruction) is often exceeded, I do hope you'll be back in your place soon and that it'll once again be a place of comfort.

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  28. I'm sorry to read that the repair work is not going as anticipated Elaine. This must be so frustrating and energy draining. Enjoy the comfort that no doubt pottering in the garden is providing.

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