Unlike my flat, hers has a balcony. It faces East, and so I especially enjoyed those mornings when I was able to have my coffee out there.
For the weekends, I travelled to O.K.'s, where I was also spoiled with food and drink - on the balcony, when possible.
The last few days before I was finally able to move back in were especially testing my patience. I had been promised I'd have a functioning toilet on the Saturday (1st of June), and was already planning my return and the cleaning jobs I was going to do first. Saturday came and went, with no notice from the workmen. Relatively late in the afternoon, I sent them a message to find out what was going on, and learned that it would only be on the Sunday that they'd have the toilet installed.
I felt somewhat let down and disappointed - if I'd known before that Saturday would not work out as my moving-in day, I would have spent the weekend at O.K.'s again instead of all alone! (My sister had gone away for a week on the Friday.)
What do I do when I am sad, disappointed, frustrated? I go for a walk or a run. It was a warm and sunny day, and I set off with a vague idea of where I wanted to go; more or less the route my late husband and I often took on our bikes on weekends, and where I walked for instance here.
I had not been that way in years, so it was interesting to observe small changes along the way. Two hours and 45 minutes later, with 15 km under my soles, I was back at my sister's flat, and felt much better.
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| Saturday, 1st of June, 9:30 pm |
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| Sunday, 2nd of June, just before 5:00 in the morning |
Sorry about the renovation hassles. But it looks like you had beautiful places to rest and enjoy while you were waiting.
ReplyDeleteI did, Joyful! Really, it was all good - and besides, the renovation was my decision and not something imposed on me by a natural catastrophe or similar.
DeleteSisters. One of the closest relationships we will ever have I think. I love mine to bits. It seems you were well looked after despite all the inconvenience and upheaval. Enjoy your lovely new bathroom!
ReplyDeleteThat's true, JayCee. Apart from my parents, nobody else has known me all my life!
DeleteI'm home again and although we walked quite a lot in Ireland we definitely didn't cover 15 km like you!
ReplyDeleteAfter getting on the scale yesterday though, I probably need to get out and walk a LOT more - we must have eaten too much on this trip - Bob's blaming it on the Guinness beer, but I only drink wine!
Lovely balcony scenes - glad you've been taken care of during the bathroom reno - which I look forward to seeing when completed.
Thank you, Mary!
DeleteBob is right about beer, but wine also has its share when one has gained weight; all alcoholic drinks have an impact. But I am sure you'll be so busy gardening and in and around your house that the pounds will just melt away!
What wonderful views! An east facing balcony would be wonderful. We have a back porch, as you know, but it faces southwest and doesn't have the view of a terrace! Lucky you to have your sister to lean on. Oh, and O.K.'s balcony is pretty awesome, too!
ReplyDeleteEveryone but me has a balcony - my parents, my sister, OK... when I bought this place, I did not think I'd miss having a balcony, and most of the time I don't, but when it is a beautiful morning or evening, sitting outside with one's coffee or meal is just so nice.
DeleteHope you are now back and well settled in.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I've been back for almost two weeks now, but still have not gotten round to get everything up to the standard I want, for instance doorframes and doors still need to be wiped down.
DeleteFirstly you have my sympathy for your bathroom delays. I'm replacing my kitchen in the first week of July so I hope that it goes more smoothly. At least I don't have to vacate the house.
ReplyDeleteI've always found flats very claustrophobic (I'm not keen on enclosed spaces at the best of times). I can cope when the flat has a balcony so, in my book, you were in the best of all worlds at you sister's and O.K.'s. Especially as you could actually sit out.
Getting out for your 2012 trip really was a marathon. I was tired just reading the post and, of course, going through all the pictures.
Right. I'm off for my morning walk in the woods. It's good for the mind and body as you said.
Will,you show us before and after photos of your kitchen, Graham? I know you enjoy good food and cooking for visitors, and I imagine you will even more so in your new kitchen.
DeleteWhen I bought my flat 16 years ago, it not having a balcony did not bother me. I still love my flat but there are times when a balcony would just be perfect.
By now Imguess you have enjoyed your morning walk and coffee!
Sorry you did not know about the delay in completing your renovation in time to go to O.K.'s but glad it is all done now. You had a good way of making yourself feel better with that walk. Your talk of balconies made me remember the quite large one we had in our apartment in Dachswald - it was over the entire-two car garage and looked out over a beautiful little valley with many fruit trees on one side and up toward more orchards on the other. It was a joy!
ReplyDeleteThe door to the bathroom and the glass separation between shower and rest of room are not there yet; the heating/towel rack was mounted to the wall this Saturday, and I hope the rest will soon be done, hopefully next week.
DeleteYour place in Dachswald sounds very nice!
Work on one room always seems to impact on all the others, but you do now have a lovely bathroom. Fresh air and exercise is a great restorer, although 15km would have completely worn me out!
ReplyDeleteI suppose whenever one employs builders, plumbers etc., one has tomkeep in mind that it will take longer and cost more than what planned.
ReplyDeleteThe new, beautiful bathroom was worth it, I think!
Very nice views from your sister's balcony - and lovely flowers! Mine faces south-west and is so very exposed to the very varying moods of the weather that I've come to accept that it's better if I keep it 'flexible' when it comes to both furniture and plants. I might get some more flowers when I get back from my week away in July (as I probably won't have anyone to look after them while I'm away)...
ReplyDeleteWouldn't there be anyone in your block of flats that you know well enough to trust with your keys, to take out your mail and water your flowers?
DeleteThe high building visible from my sister's balcony is one of my clients' - when I am there at my office on the 9th floor, I can see my sister's house :-)
No mail to "take out" as it is delivered through a slot in the door... That will be ok for a week. (I'll cancel the newspaper, and have put my postcrossing account on a break!) I'll only be away five nights, so my houseplants will probably survive as well. The orchids are used to only getting water once a week anyway! And if the clematis and strawberry plants on the balcony survived the extreme heat of last year, they probably will again. The geraniums did suffer a bit; but recovered. I took them all in last year but it got too dark for them, with the blinds down... I may try this year to take some in and leave some out, and see which fare best. (I don't have all that many.) So far, we're having a more "normal" Swedish summer here this year: sun one day, thunder and rain the next... (What it will be like in July remains to be seen!)
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