INDOORS 67

The bike alley was in poor shape, with another bit of wood fallen off in the winds. Finally, on Halloween, I got round to fixing it with a piece of former flooring from the toilet. I tacked it over the hole....

It may not last long term, but it will do for now - hopefully 1-2 years, until my savings recuperate from the bathroom renovations due in November. November has now arrived and it is time to get excited about having a fancy posh bathroom in 2-3 weeks time, ready for Christmas at the latest!

This is what our current room looks like - a before shot - from the upper hallway. Looking around in clockwise direction from entry - there is so much that needs doing - sigh - it is definitely not a job I could tackle solo, or even with Liz giving me a hand!

Currently, the bath is between 25 and 65 years of age, unknown, but the bath board is at least 45 years old, as the turquoise decor under the white coat of paint was around in my early childhood. The metal painted towel rail over the bath is rusted and flaked and I will be happy for Liz to take that to the tip. Sometimes used to dry laundry - as demonstrated here - during wet weather, its sole usual purpose is to hang the bath mat between uses. Our new bathroom will mean we can throw the bathmat out too - yeh!

The grouting around the bath and between the tiles is disgusting - and does not come clean. The 'new' over-bath shower sprayer is around 5 years of age but already looks stained and decades old. Some parts still shine when wiped with a baby wipe or vinegar water - BUT.... UGH sums it up.

The plug attachment area is also gross - holes covered in bluetack, where the former plug was before falling off. Moving around to the basin/window area - I like bright pink curtains, BUT I do not like green el cheapo plastic tiles, partial window surround whites, the basin, the pipes.... Yeah - I will be glad to see that all go!

The basin is from the house origin, dating back to 1953 - and were I to appreciate living in a museum, perhaps I might not want it removed and replaced with a shiny new porcelain basin and vanity unit. I would rather have the modern look however, and opt for a 'clean and clutterless' look. I will be happier with a shiny basin I can keep clean rather than a 65 year old relic that won't come clean however hard I scrub and with whatever cleaner I use - from vinegar and baby wipes thru bathroom gel and spray, to enamel scrub and sodium bicarbonate on a scourer!