We're having such nice weather at the moment - you'd think it was summer or something. Too bad it isn't going to last. But at least it's here at the moment! Olivia & Alex & I had our lunch outside in the park today before her swimming lesson - made a nice change from the tables inside the Malden Centre or the other option - McDonalds. And it's nice being able to walk to & from school rather than having to drive (though I have to drive on Monday mornings anyway, or I can't get to yoga on time).

Well, I've had two people around so far to give preliminary estimates - one did one on the spot (Moben) - they only do the units & appliances, but they do them fully fitted - they estimate around £13K, and that wouldn't include the building work or the boiler. The other, which I think we somewhat prefer, do made to measure kitchens, which means a bit more flexibility about what size & style units you can have. Maybe. They should be getting back to us with a quote early next week. The nice thing there, is that they could do all the building work as well, so we might go with them. We'll see. We may end up going with one of the cheaper companies, that do flatpack units - like MFI (Schrieber), Magnet, Ikea, and so on, but then we'd need to get someone to do the fitting. But perhaps that will be the route we choose to go down in the end. Who knows.

I put up a page of photos (the "before" shots) so you can follow the work in progress, when it gets there.

Well, we've finally decided to go ahead with having the kitchen redone. This may involve bricking up a door & window (almost certainly the window, not sure about the door yet), for which we are getting quotes. And kitchen people will be coming around to give estimates. And so on. I hate this part, almost more than the disaster zone the kitchen will be when they are working on it. But when it's done, it should be great. It's just the getting there...

Happy Easter, everyone. The North household is celebrating Easter with a virus of the throwing up kind (sigh). Geoff and I had it last night & Sarah has it this evening. If we're lucky, perhaps the other two will miss this one, not to mention Geoff's mum, who is spending the weekend with us & has to go back home, by coach, tomorrow. But otherwise, it's been a good holiday! ;)

It's here! I talked on the phone while looking at my email. I visited a host of websites I'd been putting off visiting, all within the space of half an hour. I am a seriously happy camper! Now, if only my kids would stop trying to kill each other, life would be very sweet...

But on the plus side, we get our broadband connection sometime Monday. Hooray!

So, here it is, the start of the Easter holidays, two weeks off school & we have a broken washing machine. Grr. They can't come fix it until Thursday. Actually, I suppose there's no guarantee they can fix it, so I should say "try to fix it". At least the kids don't have to be in uniforms, which means it doesn't matter quite so much how much the laundry backs up. I'll do a few loads at Lana's house, but still. Just what you want - not!