Berit & Chris's weblog

Diagnosis: amoebic dysentery

I was glad to have Chris back after a week in Turkey; especially, after he spent his last day there in Hospital, with what he believed to be gastroenteritis. High on drugs, he returned to the UK to have his Turkish medical documents translated and to discover that he had caught something significantly worse: amoebic dysentery. Luckily, it appears to have been caught in time by doctors, and he has not had to suffer long term stomach cramps and hospitalisation, as I did four years ago. He does, however, remain weak and, due to the infectious nature of this condition, has been banned from going to work.

Chris' illness has coincided with a visit from John and his girlfriend, Kristina. They arrived Sunday afternoon, with first impressions of the British road users clear in their mind and unconvinced of the benefits of mini-roundabouts! Since then, they have visited places of much historical interest and national pride; Stonehenge, Bath, including the Roman Baths, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Cribbs Causeway (!). But have plans to explore Cheddar Gorge and parts of Cornwall as well before they leave for France on Saturday.

Another bodge fixed!

After a relatively quiet couple of weeks in terms of DIY, we started a few more jobs around the house last weekend. Chris removed the last of the plaster from the walls underneath the top of the stairs, only to discover a structurally unsound landing, which needed immediate attention. This meant temporarily removing the landing (disregarding health and safety, by removing safe access to both rooms upstairs and in removing the landing directly over the junction box increasing the likelihood of electrocution), replacing the timber construction and reconstructing part of the inside brick wall.

And I started the somewhat tedious task of stripping wallpaper off the living room walls. Finally, a noticeable difference. For some reason, the previous owners had decided to paint the living room yellow, dark red and gold (!) with 'matching' dark green carpets. This allowed virtually no light into the front room and has seriously challenged our plants' survival. Stripping the walls and prepping them for painting has made a real difference, and we can't wait to knock down the wall to make full use of the sunlight downstairs.

Batman Begins

We spent a busy week at the end of May visiting family in Guernsey and Denmark. and although our rigorous time schedule allowed for little free-time, we did manage to squeeze in a lovely boat trip to Herm (half an hours sail from Guernsey), a trip to Malmo in Sweden for a bit of shopping, and the obligatory Tivoli visit, trying out the latest rides, which included a celebration of the fairytales of Hans Christian Anderson and a stomach turning, balance altering rollercoaster.

On Sunday, after spending Saturday antiques shopping with Claire and Henrik, we were treated to the cast and crew pre-premiere screening of Batman Begins in London, which included Christopher Nolan, the Director. Claire and Henrik were both involved in the creation of the bat-suit, arguably one of the most important features in the film. And it was magnificent. Chris and I were very impressed, Chris gleaming with sibling pride. And the film itself far exceeded expectations. Nothing like the previous films, it was dark, realistic and very well acted by an impressive cast, which included Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Michael Cane. The effects were excellent, the dialogue witty, and the story-line believable. Well worth going to see...

More Bugs...

In order to inspect the joists supporting the bedroom floor, we had to remove part of the ceiling plasterboard in the dining room. In total, the ends of four joists looked to be infected and being unable to determine whether the infestation was current or old, Chris decided to replace all ends with new timber and treat the remaining. This meant redirecting wires and cutting off the upstairs water supply as all this went through the infected timber. The new joists have yet to be cemented in. Meanwhile, we submitted a Building Notice to the local Council detailing our plans to knock through the wall downstairs separating the living and dining room. Having consulted a Structural Engineer, this is not likely to cause any major problems, and the result of our Building Regulations Submission is expected any day now.

This weekend, we took at break from the DIY; first to visit the farm and celebrate Timothy’s birthday and later to visit the Bristol Volksfest with Simon for a bit of VW nostalgia and spares bargains. With the prospect of looking at old cars and heaps of old car seats, engine parts, car stickers and window frames, I was only too glad the weather turned out brilliant. Nevertheless, by the end of the day, even I had warmed to the idea of a classic Beetle.

Woodworm

So, replacing the rotten lintel above the dining room window turned out to be a larger operation – and not the simple task, Chris had predicted. In order to take the wooden lintel out and replace it with a concrete one, some serious tidying up of old bricks and badly laid cement around the edges of the window had to be done. In the end, it was a lot easier to take the whole window out! Having done that, we were able to closer inspect the areas around the rotten lintel – which, we soon realised, was not really rotten but saturated with woodworm. This was not good news. Especially since the joist above it, supporting the bedroom floor, looked to be infected too. To avoid further woodworm attack, which can seriously weaken the structure of a building, we must now treat all visible wood in the house and replace and treat the infected area.

"Woodworm is the term used to describe all kinds of woodboring insects…The adult insect is a brown beetle about 3mm (1/8 inch) long, but the damage is caused by its larvae, which feed on the sapwood of most household timbers. The beetle, which is most active in early summer, lays its eggs in the crevices of bare timber. When the grubs hatch, they burrow into the wood for up to three years, then pupate just below the surface. The new adult emerges by chewing its way out…There can be several generations of woodworm active inside the timber." (Collins Complete DIY Manual)

And so it begins...

After spending a lovely Easter Bank Holiday at the farm, celebrating Imogen’s birthday (which included the entertaining of a dozen lively 3-5 year olds), experiencing the countryside and nearby Minehead by steam train, and eating far too much chocolate, we resumed our DIY adventures. Having finished the fireplace (full account will follow when my boyfriend can be bothered!), Chris started removing the plasterboard from the internal walls and redirecting the radiator while I began the tedious task of stripping several layers off paint of the stairs. Nothing, however, is ever that simple. Before long, we had uncovered a rotten lintel, which needed replacing, and too many dodgy bodges to even count. Only the cat seemed to find the experience relaxing, settling nicely into her new hiding place underneath the bedroom floorboards. Later this week, we hope to be able to position the flue liner to the wood burner.

Past and Present

On Friday, we finally got around to picking up from our solicitor the last of the documentation for the house, which included original hand-written and stamped Indentures from 1874 (see pic) to the present day. They explain the circumstances of ownership, land prices and issues of access and dwelling rights administered in the last 130 years.

A new Land Registration Act came into force in October 2003, which meant that the Land Registry no longer issues and retains land certificates, change certificates and title deeds. Instead, the definitive record of title will be the electronic register at the Land Registry office, and buyers will only receive a so-called Title Information Document. However, anyone who delivered a document originally or is now the registered owner of the property in question can apply for the return of any original documents, often land certificates, deeds and/or other historical records of their home. From 2008, the Land Registry reserves the right to destroy documents still in their possession. For more information, please visit: www.landreg.gov.uk

The Sleeping Beauty

A week ago, we were looking forward to a lovely weekend of ballet, DIY and family visiting. Mid-week, however, I caught a rather persistent bug on the variant of flu and was automatically excluded from any fun activities. Friday afternoon, Linda and Paul arrived with Tara, swiftly followed by Londoners, Claire and Henrik. We were celebrating Paul’s birthday with a much-anticipated visit to the ballet and a performance of The Sleeping Beauty. Not ready to pass this up, I staggered out of bed and came along to the Bristol Hippodrome…only to be escorted back half an hour later after nearly fainting in my seat. Luckily, for everyone else, the performance was a great hit. Even after the initial confusion as to the story line; somehow, everyone expected the seven dwarfs to appear…

'Speed Antique Shopping'

We spent a relaxing weekend in London, with Chris enjoying the glamour and gadgets of the London Boat Show while I went antiques shopping with Claire and Henrik, who both have a fantastic eye for interesting accessories and period furniture. We toured a number of villages in the North West area of London - Amersham, Chesham, Watford - looking for gems. And after a couple of hours, I had completely lost track of where we were. But the ‘speed antique shopping’ paid off. After five enjoyable hours, I was one lovely meat chopper better off…

North Weston, Portishead

Right, time to update this blog. On December 17, we successfully moved into our new house in North Weston on the outskirts of Portishead. Here we enjoyed a couple of days before Christmas, sleeping on cushions in the living room, while slowly realising that our dream cottage is probably a two-year DIY project. But we wouldn’t want it any other way. There is nothing quite like uncovering the most amazing brick fireplace complete with arch and horsehairs underneath a heavy layer of plaster and bad panelling. And we cannot wait to start the real work of putting some originality back into the house. We will of course detail our DIY adventures on this site.

After a few days in the new house, we picked up my mum and brother in Heathrow and drove south, where we spent a lovely Christmas and New Year with Robyn and Martin on the farm. On Christmas Eve, we attended the village Nativity Play, where children had dressed up as angles, Jesus was played by a real live baby and some of the scenes took place in a nearby barn alongside farm animals. We spent the next many days enjoying Robyn’s fantastic cooking, and eventually ventured out to inspect some local antique shops, trying to find some original cast iron fireplaces for the bedrooms and living room.

Pre-exchange nerves

With the moving-in day only two weeks away, we decided to spend the weekend getting our heads around the finances, exchange and completion. A variety of moving guides are available on line and from the solicitor. Nevertheless, moving is no easy task and it is supposedly one of life’s most stressful activities…In the end, we managed to achieve very little and if the exchange runs smoothly, we shall be very pleased indeed.

Until exchange of contracts, nothing is binding. Only when contracts are exchanged and a completion date has been agreed, are both parties legally bound. Completion usually takes place between one and four weeks after exchange of contracts. During this time, the title documents and mortgage is prepared, approved and signed. And on the day of completion, the final money transfer usually takes place. Once money has been received, the purchaser's solicitor obtains the title deeds, the transfer of the title documents and other. The transfer document is then sent for stamping, Stamp Duty is paid and the title deeds are registered. See Channel 4's website for a very useful guide to home-buying.

Do It Yourself

This weekend, Chris and I drove up to London to offer Claire and Henrik our DIY/ plumbing assistance (Chris obviously more than I!). Claire and Henrik have successfully commenced their elaborate kitchen project, which promises to add real elegance to their lovely Victorian home. Needless to say, we were a little jealous – Chris because he yearns to do serious DIY and me because any building project offers the opportunity of decorating!

In the course of the weekend, Chris replaced and redirected some of the old copper piping and sorted out the water supplies. Meanwhile, having questioned Chris’s plumbing mastery and as a result being partly banned from the kitchen premises, Claire instead began constructing the kitchen units. And I served the tea. We cannot wait to see the finished result...

Penturch bound

On Saturday, we attended the wedding of Keith and Lucy in Penturch, Wales. Considering the short distance, we were able to drive back and forth on the same day. What we hadn’t considered, however, was the hot and sunny weather (was beginning to think summer had passed while we were in Paris!). By the time we got stuck in delays on the M4 westbound, the MGA was rapidly heating up. This was of course not helped by the fact that one cannot turn off the heater in the car, and that the top had to be kept up due to the delicate state of my hair!

The wedding ceremony took place in a picturesque village in the Welsh countryside. Keith and Lucy both looked fantastic, and except for a “slightly” out-of-tune organist, the ceremony was perfect. Afterwards, we drove in succession to Manor Parc Hotel for the reception. Here we enjoyed a wonderful meal, some great company and dancing.

Off to Paris

We are off to Paris early tomorrow morning. Last time we visited the city, I single-handedly managed to keep us well away from any attractions and places of interest due to a severe allergic reaction affecting my ability to walk. Instead, we spent most hours in the emergency room or with specialist doctors, and Chris had to carry me around until I was equipped with some rather trendy metallic-blue ‘cannes anglaise’. This time around, we are hoping to experience a little more of Paris.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Last night, we went to see the perhaps most talked-about film at the moment; Fahrenheit 9/11, written and directed by Michael Moore. Although clearly biased, antagonistic of the Bush administration and manipulative at times, this documentary brings into question points, which desperately need to be addressed in America. In the film, Moore not only questions the close personal and professional relationship between the Bin Laden family and Bush family, the inability of the President to act in the minutes immediately following the attacks on September 11, but also how several private jets were allowed to fly members of the Bin Laden family out of the country in the days following the attacks, while every other plane was grounded. Satirical, moving, sad and extremely frustrating, this controversial documentary has cinemagoers clapping in support of political change.

The night before...

It is the evening before the day most Danes have been eagerly anticipating for months. Tomorrow, the Danish Crown Prince marries his Tasmanian fiancée, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson. The wedding will take place in Copenhagen followed by a carriage ride through the streets. It promises to be truly amazing, and I only wish I could be there in person. Instead, I'll be glued to the computer, following the events unfold online. My friend (and proud royalist) Bodil sent me this fantastic shot of the couple leaving the Danish Royal Theatre earlier tonight: Crown Prince Frederik and Mary

Cold Mountain

Tonight, Chris and I went to watch Cold Mountain starring Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Renee Zellweger. And it was fantastic!

An American Civil War epic, it depicts the journey of a Confederate deserter on his way home to his true love, a journey made treacherous by soldiers of both sides baying for the blood of the deserters. The real beauty of this film, however, is the portrayal of the women left behind when the men went to war, and the realisation of just how much life suddenly changed and families were torn apart. The film has an impressive and very well directed cast, great cinematography, and a brilliant soundtrack. In addition, it has some of the best lines – will have you crying and laughing all at once – of any film, we have seen in a long time. Well worth it!

Visit from Denmark

Well, it's been a very busy and interesting week! My Danish thesis partner, Maria joined me in Bristol on Sunday, and we commenced our empirical work the next day. During the week we conducted a number of interesting interviews, acquired much new information and insight. Theory is all very well, but talking to people brings situations and experiences to life. All in all a very encouraging experience, which made me think that life after uni may not be such a scary thing after all! Luckily, Maria also had time to visit some friends in Bristol, and I managed to squeeze in a little flu.

This afternoon, we're off to London with Chris' parents.

Cafe Heaven

We’re in Guernsey now; the trip wasn’t the most enjoyable but never mind. Dad was working on Saturday so we spent the day shopping in St Peter Port. I managed to drag everyone to my favourite café, Christies, to enjoy their benchmark club sandwich. I was even more surprised that there was an open wi-fi spot spilling out from the hotel opposite (I think), not the best connection but good enough to make it worth an entry :-)

Pre-Christmas Madness

Saturday morning, we arrived at Nan's for a lovely, relaxing pre-Christmas weekend. The weekend family gathering was arranged as an opportunity for us to swap presents before Christmas because we are all spending Christmas elsewhere. Paul, Linda, and Tara had arrived late Friday, minutes before Claire and Henrik, so the house was already full of people and dogs when we got there. After lunch, Robyn showed up with the two little ones, Imogen and Timothy.....and the madness began!

Before heading over to Michael and Selas Saturday evening, there were Christmas trees to cut, presents to wrap, cards to write, dogs to walk, lots of delicious food to prepare, and children to look after. After just a few hours, even the dogs seemed stressed; Tara got caught in an electrical wire while trying to escape from the living room knocking down a radio, which landed on Chris' laptop on which my thesis is stored - made me seriously consider doing a back-up!

Chris's Christmas brainwave

As I'm getting older the number of brainwaves, or to put it another way eureka moments, have dwindled to few and far between so when one comes along you have to make the most of it! This is the latest idea -

Most of my family have been asking what I want for Xmas so I've (well Berit really) made it easy for you with the following list (even included some links too)

Chris would like:
Alpinestars motorcycle gloves (GP Plus, blue/white, size XL) - might need to form a syndicate to buy this one!
Palm™ Hands-free Headset
Proporta Tungsten C Case
Proporta 3 in 1 stylus (Tungsten C & W)
Shirts (16" coller), ties, socks (size 10) and pants (medium) as usual (note socks and pants require amusement factor e.g. Homer Simpson etc)
And if anyones recently won the lottery, an Audi A3 2.0 TDI would be nice :-)

Berit would like:
Mulberry Tabover Compact Purse (color: berry)
Funny & colorful socks (size 36/37)
Clinique gentle waterproof mascara (color: brown/black)
Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (paperback)
A more attentive boyfriend :-)

Birthday greetings

Yesterday, Claire & Henrik wished me happy birthday. It was really very sweet - and very funny since my birthday is a week away! And this morning I received a birthday card from Linda & Paul....I wonder who started that chinese whisper :-)

Palm Blog

This is the first entry on the site using my palm :-) This should now mean that we can update the site on the move as long as we can find a WiFi hotspot!

A little introduction perhaps!

Finally, we've got our very own weblog, much to the credit of Bron, who's staying with us for a few days. Chris's bit - Berit failed her lesson the other day when I tried to test her linguistic skills, antidisestablishmentarianism (spelled wrong for sure!) was a definate no - Here endith Chris's bit :-)