Impressively the guys showed up just after eight this morning – and surveyed the empty shell of the kitchen before bashing nine bells out of it.

A lonely cooker

Good work was achieved around the utility room and cooker – although there was a casualty – the utility room light which was shattered like a spicy popadum on a Friday night at the Raj – minus the argument over the end of evening bill.

Antique light fitting goes for a burton

The bashing of nine bells out of the kitchen was rescued by the chap from the cooker cleaning company – who really did a good job with the cooker – see below – not bad for the first real clean in eight years….and yes I know what your thinking…I do try to have a shave at least once a week.

Ohhhh, that's shiney

From our expereince with building work it can get embarrassing letting people into your house – especially if cupboards or units are being removed or they are getting to placed not normally seen on a daily basis – as there is always something left behind, in or on top of them. These could range from a mysteriously empty package of Halloween Jaffa cakes through to signed photo of Barry Manlow with kisses.

Fortunately (phew) that’s not been the case today – as we only found the following:-

• A new non-electric toothbrush
• Baby Toy feeding bottle – or bot-bot as it might have been called originally
• A plastic egg poacher insert
• A plastic pig timer with only one ear – broken – the timer, not sure where the missing ear is
• …and a pair of my underpants….clean I think

Missing items now found

Tomorrow the guys are planning to get on with the electrics and plastering.

To save dirtying the newly cleaned cooker the Leonard comune are off into Hertford to consume the food delights the town has to offer….so beer and kebabs…lovely.

Packing starts

It’s quite amazing how much crap kitchen stuff we found – too many unused ‘cookie-cutters’ and more cake tins than Mcvitte’s. Nigella would have had a field day.

The Kitchen bare

In order to survive the kitchen ripout – cooking essentials have been setup next door (the TV room not the neighbours!) and include a kettle, microwave and breakfast cereals. It’s more like a caravan than a TV room.

The stove is staying

The utility room (below) is also having a makeover – please note the new boiler with dodgy wiring – all to be sorted over the next few weeks.

Progress updates hopefully daily…….

Where's me table...?