There's a *** in Mi kitchen, what am I gonna to do?

There`s a rat in me kitchen what am I gonna do? 
There`s a rat in me kitchen what am I gonna go? 
I`m gonna fix that rat that's what i`m gonna do,
I`m gonna fix that rat.

The kids have broken up from school, and the boys asked for a curry. 7.30pm and we sit down to Onion Bajee, Naan, Chicken Jalfezee, Chicken Bhuna and Pilau rice... yes you guessed it ...Emma's out for the evening.

Well just as Thomas was extolling the virtues of why he preferred the farts that a Jalfrezee produced rather than a Korma he froze, mid-mouthful and pointed at the kitchen.....there's a rat!

As I turned around I too saw a large brown rodent walking around on the kitchen floor with gay abandon, not a care in the world before he sauntered under the range cooker.

When I turned back, both of my (big, brave) boys were stood on the table, then out of the door.......

He's under here!

Time to go to work...... Mousetraps 1 and 2 are the recently acquired plastic jobs with locks and safety catches to prevent any collateral finger damage - one loaded with pilau rice and one loaded with Naan bread placed either side of the cooker. Then I  decided to deploy the "Little Nipper" an old-fashioned, hair-trigger, wooden mousetrap; the type that makes your heart beat a little faster when you're setting it just in case it catches you out and  gets your fingers good and proper.....loaded with 1 small Cadbury's Chocolate Button and placed it as far under the cooker as I dared.....

15mins later 

SNAP!.....rustle.....rustle.....SILENCE.....

Success......guess which one drew first blood.... Yes, Little Nipper vicious bastard trap filled with chocolate 1 (complete with bloodstain), contemporary traps 0

The faithful but capricious "Little Nipper" plus blood spatter

but where's that dead rat?  Bloody hell I still cant find him......as I started to clear under the cooker it became evident that this guy had the easy life before meeting Mr Nipper,  he's pulled old carrier bags and fluff chewed them up and built a nice nest under my f'ing cooker

Rat's nest

...so a spring clean later and all normality is restored - until  in a few days time when Mr Chocoholic Rat has his revenge and stinks the kitchen out when his broken corpse starts to decompose.....

He's either dead in here or nursing one mighty hangover

I decided to redeploy all 3 traps just in case, each with a deadly payload of Cadbury's Chocolate buttons to tempt matey boy when his headache subsides or any of his friends turn up.

Armed and ready

This house is missing the presence of 3 cats.....


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I posted this then 10 min later.....SNAP! rattle...rattle...

Nipper clearly didn't do the job properly last time but....it was chocolate that killed the beast.  Closer inspection revealed a very large mouse rather than a rat, I suppose that's a positive.

Game Over...

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This is getting ridiculous!  This morning a dozy Gavin reached for a towel hanging on the radiator in the bathroom and there was an equally dozy mouse sleeping inside it!  Mouse and towel were ejected via the front door.  We are clearly in the midst of an invasion...more Little Nippers required methinks.

Week 17 Planning impasse - Spot the difference challenge!

The roof was supposed to be complete by now (several weeks ago in fact) however, reaching agreement with the East Hertfordshire's Conservation Officer, Suzie Defoe, over our tile selection is proving a challenge and delaying progress....

She wishes to see/have more irregularity in the tiles -"hand-crafted is not the same as hand-made"
She suggested speaking to the manufacturer to see if they could put more of a twist or tweak in their tiles.  The architect is bringing in Keymer tiles tomorrow to try to match them.

So, if the roof isn't finished,  the scaffold can't come down, then the stone masons can't get in, then the windows can't go in.   The bottom line is that the roof is now sitting on the critical path.

So they'll try again tomorrow - the builder is still sceptical that we'll find a better match

One set of tiles in the photo below are original Daniel Platt "hand-made" tiles from the existing roof - the other are brand new Marley "hand crafted" roof tiles.

Can you tell which is which? - Please post your comments on the blog!

Otherwise progress is slowing as the main construction is nearing completion (bar the roof)

We are very pleased with the chimney - as was Mark the bricklayer who built it, the black ash in the pointing really stands out nicely - the photos don't really do it justice - it was a grey late afternoon and the scaffold hides it but it gives you a good idea of what's happening.

ID Systems have ventured out of Norwich for the day to complete the survey for the folding doors on the Ground floors so the 9-11 week lead time will start ticking only once their plans are drawn up and signed off by the builders and architect.

Electrical first fix is complete and it looks like the family evacuation from Waterford Lodge to Brookmans Park will be Mid-November to Mid-December!

Week 14 Autumn and semi-watertight

Autumn is now upon us, the leaves are turning, there are spiders EVERYWHERE - I love them, Emma is terrified of them and the temperature is dropping.

The last few weeks have flown by as the roof is being constructed, not quite such dramatic progress now as the brickwork is nearing completion.

The chimney is making progress, the blockwork for the 1st floor windows is being built.  The roof has been felted and battoned.  The tiles will come later (once we've got one we like)

The windows the Emma loves so much have been paid for - Crittal may be less attractive, but lasts several lifetimes as the incumbent windows prove.

Emma and I had our inoculations (jabs) and ventured out of the 'Shire to Norwich, home of The Canaries, interbreeding and ID-Systems doors.  Why, oh why they has to be there?  Anyway we learned that the doors specified by our architects are made of engineered wood by zee Germans in Germany.  Great to know that we're getting excellent German build quality (we'll ignore the fact that I have spent nearly £2,000 on my 4 year-old Audi in the last few months) but not-so-great that they have a long lead time, even longer if you want an oiled oak finish like us.  So it doesn't look like they will leave the fatherland for 11 weeks after they receive the order and survey.  Since the survey still hasn't happened it's fair to say that they won't be delivered before Christmas - Emma has provided significant encouragement to all parties to try and bring the date forward - starting with some mild flirting ending with the threat of carpet-bombing - they've got the message anyway.

26th Sept Site Meeting

H1983 Waterford Lodge

Notes of Site Meeting No.3
Wednesday 26 September 2012 at 2.00pm

Present:
Gavin Howell ` - Client Cl
Brian Livesey - JG Matthews JGM
Lee Jenkins - Kirby Cove Architects KCA

Previous Minutes
Minutes of Site Mtg No.2, 29 Aug 2012 were taken as read and accepted as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

Contract
Cl issued KCA with signed copy of the contract documents.

Materials/Construction
Tile samples currently provided are an unsuitable match for the existing roof tiles (a Daniel Platt
'Mercian Echoes' tile) Further samples are required in a different range of colours. JGM
Cl has recieved samples of the timber flooring to be used throughout the extension and the existing
house as agreed between CL / JGM. Flooring will be laid at the same time as the installation of the
patio doors to prevent weather damage. JGM
Cl has visited the ID-Systems showroom and selected an 'oiled oak' finish with St/Steel finish
ironmongery to the doors/screens. JGM to liaise with ID-Systems re' amending the quotation. Approx
11 week lead time for door manufacture is expected. ID-Systems have confirmed that a cat flap can
be installed.
KCA confirmed that the rooflight specified to the bathroom would be openable (top-hung)
KCA to issue 2 copies of the blank floor plans for CL to mark up electrical services etc. Note - Socket
heights are not required to be Part M compliant (Phone conversation with T.Clements at EHDC
Building Control - 27 Sep 2012)

Contractors Report & Programme
JGM reported to be back on target following earlier delay.
Further measures have been taken to prevent rain water from entering the basement. JGM
KCA to speak with Building Control to discuss soak-away details. KCA
Health and Safety
JGM to ensure a board is fixed to the scaffold ladders when leaving site to prevent unauthorised
access.

Any Other Business
N/A

Date of Next Meeting
T.B.C - Suggest meeting Wed 24 Oct (Brian Livsey on holiday 26 Oct - 12 Nov KCA to issue valuation
just prior)

Distribution
Those present plus Rose Associates (David Rose) – all by e mail
L Jenkins
27 Sept 2012