New fireplace!

While gazing at the new fireplace last night, JR noticed that it wasnt quite centred! How could this be? However, after a text to the boss, the chaps came back this morning, full of apologies, and spent the morning hacking away at the cement and moving the frame slightly (about 2cm out - not liveable with).

In the afternoon Uncke A popped in as he was in the area, then the gas man arrived. He was very pleased to be able to shove a long copper pipe right under the lounge floor from the hallway. There was already a 'trapdoor' there, which was the clue to him that he'd find the gas pipe going to the boiler.

And so it wasn’t quite as much work as anticipated. The fire looks completely gorgeous. But...

They sent us one with a manual control!! Why would we choose a manual control when they do them with a remote control? Anyway, apparently it can easily be changed, just a different wee motor contraption. And, as they (either the supplier or the installer) made a mistake, we won’t have to pay extra.

However, we love it already and look forward to chilly evenings and just pressing a button on the remote.

JR and Archie went away for a big walk. And they met Hector! Though he's still a puppy and therefore not attractive to Mr Grump Arch. JR also went down to the paint shop to get the paint for the lounge (Thursday).

I had warned the gas man about the hysterical barking dog about to arrive, but guess what - Archie walked right in quietly, NO barking, even though there was a strange man kneeling in the hall, with a big hole in the floorboards! Then he sat on the sofa with me to watch the tennis with the sound off, while the strange chap banged and crashed around fixing the fire in place. Archie seemed underwhelmed with the new fixture, but we LOVE it.

About to watch the USA/England game. Go England!