Along the journey

We've come a long way from here (that was after the rip out on the first day). Even more so from here, which was taken the same morning before the rip out. But the picture I've just taken couldn't have been taken in the old kitchen, unless you were sitting on the spice rack in the far right hand corner.

I am astounded and amazed by our new kitchen, even though I've been following it every day, through blip and other pictures, through videos, and through video calls. But no pictures will ever do the changes full justice. Bizarrely, although the new kitchen will have far more storage space and will be a thousand times more functional than its predecessor, it actually feels more spacious. It's a pretty dark room, to be honest, with just the one recessed window, but the rebuild is making a feature of the window, and the new lighting is just lovely.

There are still snags to deal with, including a problem with the washing machine that someone came round this (Saturday) morning to fix. We certainly cannot fault the workmen! But both the washing machine and the dishwasher have been running today, and we've put one or two things in drawers, although there is little point in doing too much more until the flooring is down, and the decorating is done. Four more main days of work, and then various bits and pieces, which will actually take quite some time finally to complete. However, we aren't impatient as our main base will remain for several months Helsinki.

We're having a quiet day here. I'm tired after travelling, and Mr A - to whom I'd like to pay tribute for his role in babysitting the kitchen build - is also enjoying just a little bit of peace and quiet after a lot of very noisy days as the build was proceeding.

The sun is shining through the windows, although I've been sent pictorial evidence from Helsinki that it is shining there too. Pooh!