Keeping the Walls Warm . . .

After the wall in the downstairs bedroom, time to tackle the ones upstairs.  This time we don't think it's actual damp, but condensation from the cold outside wall leading to damp and mouldy wallpaper around all the windows.

So we've replaced the existing paper with an insulated thermal version.




Now we have nicely decorated cream walls - no black patches or damp - will have to see how it holds up in the colder weather (assuming we get some this year!).

City Break

Few days off, so decided to have a bit of a break and head to Cardiff for a long weekend.  On the way down stopped off at St Fagans - visited the castle, which we'd missed on our last visit, and then on for a wander round the other museum properties in the Spring sunshine.

Slightly frazzled journey into Cardiff proper, but made it in the end, and had a pleasant evening out, topped off with a very nice curry.

More castles on day two - this time Cardiff Castle itself, from the old Norman motte, to the lavish Bute interior of the Victorian mansion:

 

Finished the day with an Imax 3D showing of Avengers: Age of Ultron  . . . and another curry!

Finally headed home via Duffryn Gardens where the National Trust are restoring the Edwardian gardens - although I must say the house is a bit of a mess!

Looks like another beautiful day here, but there was an extremely chilly breeze - gardens will be well worth a return visit in due course as the work continues.




All in all a very pleasant few days - now back to the decorating!

The Gates of Hell . . .

. . . well, that's how some people see it.

The arrival of Tesco in Aberystwyth has not gone smoothly to date - it didn't start well back in 2011 with vigils over threats to the old people's day centre on the proposed site  (they were still protesting even after its demolition!)

Then we had compulsory purchase orders, and the demolition of a 'grandmother's home'.

It hasn't been an auspicious start then - we may well end up with another Tesco ghost store in due course - but at least the plan includes a Marks & Sparks!

Painting the Hall Cream

Our Easter break didn't involve much 'painting the town red', but we did get an awful lot of decorating done.

The hall (upstairs and downstairs) is now a nice shade of cream (or was it magnolia?), and the woodwork has all been refreshed as well.

Touching up the paintwork was one of those jobs we'd been planning on doing for ages, so glad it's done . . .

Can forget about it now for another ten years hopefully!