The builder finally finished a week ago... he may not have been super fast but he was really good and sorted all sorts of little jobs before he left, like filling the gap around the fireplace for me. I'm really pleased with how good the kitchen looks and how well it all works.
I still need to finish painting the woodwork and we still need pan shelves and cd racks but both are on order and will, hopefully come soon. Just checked when they are expected and it looks as though the cd racks were delivered to a house on the street earlier in the week....would have been nice if they'd let me know. Also not sure why they felt the need to deliver to someone else as there was at least one adult in the house all day! Luckily the neighbours were fine and we now have the shelves waiting for the weekend so they can be put up.
The new kitchen is so lovely and clean!! To be 100% honest I would have chosen a pale grey for the cupboard doors and the floor but it's not just my kitchen and I don't dislike the colours that were picked. It's also soooo lovely to have cupboard doors that hang straight, you know the little things.
It's my DM's birthday next week, I've ordered flowers as the most boring gift I can think of. To be fair there's not a lot I can get now. I used to get jigsaws but she can no longer do those and as far as I can see she just sits in her chair and that's about it. I think DF is finding being a full time carer harder than he imagined ...though he can now appreciate the reality of my life! Even if he has an occasional flash of empathy it won't last...I don't think I'm a real person to either of my parents and given I'm nearing 60 I have no f*cks left to give about the relationship or lack of relationaship!
Both DS2 and DD have decided to change their first names. DS2 has never liked his name...he changed his surname when he hit 18 but could never find a first name he liked. He hated his name because it was exactly the same as his first dad...now he has nothing to connect him, a fact that pleases him mightily! DD just wanted a name that reflected who she is now rather than who she was... had she not got poorly she would probably have ended up changing her name entirely. Now she's just changing her given name. Both the new names are perfect, now all I need to do is remember them!! Given I've always been bad at names it's not easy.
DS1 is finding out more about how his autism affects him and giving himself permission to unmask when he needs to. It's hard for him but I think the long term benefits will be worth it. He has also resorted his room yet again and ditched a lot of projects that were just stressing him as they were sat waiting to be finished but he had no real enthusiasm for them and no time or energy. His room now feels less oppressive...no less full but definitely feels happier. Earlier this year he got rid of all his formal and semi formal shirts and other smart casual clothes he will never wear. Good for him!
Other than that its been fairly quiet, DP is still someone I'd happily ditch but we need the money and he's not actively vile. At least not enough to be worth the poverty. In another reality we have the money to move to house big enough for DS1 to have an annexe with enough room for workshops and DS2 would have a couple of rooms so he had enough space to have his friends over. DD would have a set of rooms downstairs with access to a quiet, tree filled garden with a catio and places for her to rest in the fresh air. I would have enough help I could occasionally have a day off! \it's never going to happen but it's my favourite fantasy.
It's been an exciting year so far... the only job still on my list is a new carpet for the hall and stairs, the carpet is years passed needing to be replaced but we can survive while we save up some more money.
