“You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.” – Carl Jung
The two most important things we wanted to achieve in the two weeks we spent on the land at the end of August was to complete the dry walling and get the ceiling up. We knew it was rather ambitious, and from experience we also understood full well that we may not be able to complete these two tasks, as we always run either out of steam or time. Or both. Mostly both.
What complicates everything is the fact that nothing is straight or square or lines up. It is like the stone house the third little piggy built. Never meant to be a house and used as some form of animal shelter in the past, it is quaint and has a story to tell. Qualities we love when we sit on the couch in Abu Dhabi sipping wine, but hate when we struggle while working on site.
We arrived to find the Electrician hard at work. Work I may add we were hoping was completed, but which was perhaps a good thing in the end, as there were a couple of things that needed clarifying and when there is no common language, it is always better when one can gesture, point or draw pictures.
Our teeny-tiny house was mess, and I could feel my heart drop into my feet. Being tired after a long journey never improves matters, but Michael quickly whisked me away to the nearest hotel, and within no time we secured a room for a couple of nights. We decided to play it by ear, and just focus on the first step, which on that Friday afternoon meant a bed and a cold beer.
A good night’s rest always improves my outlook on life, and over the next two weeks, we managed to complete ninety percent of the dry walling and most of the ceiling structure. There was a lot of measuring, welding, and cursing, but being pedantic about doing things properly and not taking short cuts we trust that we will eventually be able to achieve the end result we are aiming for.
The one thing I’ve learned is that building work is tedious and complicated. To install the ceiling the process looks something like this: measure mid-line of the living/kitchen area, measure lengths for the two sections that will make up the first beam, cut, measure again and cut at an angle, weld middle section together, measure by lifting it in position, when happy attach the two base plates on the sides, measure again by lifting it in position and mark where it should attach to the wall, drill holes, attach temporarily with screws to the wall.
Great! One down and many more to go. Each of which has completely different dimensions, because remember, nothing squares up. Continue until the middle section is done. When happy, remove each screw, put chemical anchor in the hole, and re-insert screw. Repeat. Countless times.
We decided to add extra insulation to the ceiling. Damn. We definitely didn’t count on the amount of work this would entail. Measure. Cut. Glue. Paste. Repeat.
Measure the position for the ceiling hangers. Measure, measure, measure. Weld them on. Screw in F47 ceiling clips. Measure and level each one to line up perfectly. Cut channels to length. Double check if all the clips are leveled correctly before clipping the channels on. Repeat. Measure where the plasterboard should go. Measure plasterboard. Cut plasterboard. Get plasterboard in position. Screw plasterboard onto channels. Repeat.
That is the simple version. The one without the mistakes and swear words. At the end we only managed to put the actual ceiling up in the middle section of the living/kitchen area so that we could mark out the placement for the lights.
At least the bathroom ceiling and dry walling is complete, which made us feel great at the time to see something not left half done.
Michael in a previous incarnation has been a shopfitter and has some experience in building work, but that was a long, long time ago. I have no experience whatsoever, and I don’t always understand what I’m supposed to do. Add to that a pair of spaghetti arms, a short temper when tired, and one has all the ingredients for tempers to flare once in a while.
That said, we managed rather well this time around. Perhaps we are getting better at working together.
Aug/Sept Visit
Written by: Jolandi
Dry wall and ceilings are the worst part of any remodeling project! When we moved into a hundred-year-old farmhouse with electrical and plumbing systems almost as old, my husband and I had romantic ideas of turning the place into our dream home…which promptly fizzled when we began replacing the broken plaster walls and ceilings with new drywall. I remember one humid August evening crying at the mess of dust, broken plaster, scraps of drywall and wood and scattered nails; we couldn’t even cook dinner because the kitchen was almost inoperable. My husband, who was used to roughing it in the woods, laughed and said it was “no big deal,” which just made me angry on top of upset. It didn’t help that things never arrived in the right order: the carpet layers came when we were still sanding the drywall. Consequently, I was vacuuming drywall dust out of our brand new carpet for months. I’m laughing now, 25 years later, but I sympathize with you and Michael. The house will be lovely once you’re done, but now, I suppose, it feels like a never ending trial.
It does indeed feel neverending, Hangaku! We had a good giggle about your experience in return, and know we will also one day look back and laugh about the things that now drive us to tears of frustration. It is mostly a good thing one doesn’t know in advance what one is letting oneself into. We have definitely joined the romantic suckers club! 😬
Hello Jolandi,
What amazing progress! Admittedly, I could feel myself wanting to curse and cry as I read your detailed descriptions. You and Michael have my deepest respect! Very glad that you were able to make quite a bit of progress, and as always, thank you for sharing with us.
We so appreciate your support, Takami. It really helps to prop up our faltering spirits that we have people rooting for us. There are many ups and downs, but luckily our belief in our dream is strong enough to help us weather the unpredictability of life.
Well done to the two of you. I admire the determination that you both have and the patience to get things done in the very little time that you have on site each visit. I also admire how well the two of you work together no matter what obstacles there are in your path you keep it together and get it done. You will be SO proud of your creation and I wish you both many happy years there together into your well earned retirement. Keep it going and I will watch with amazement, Well done.
Thank you, Monty. We sometimes wonder if it is determination or stupidity. 😂 You are right, we also believe we will one day look back with pride and satisfaction, as no matter the challenges, it is so much more rewarding to invest muscle power and sweat instead of just paying someone to do all the work. That said Michael may completely disagree with that last statement. 😉 – Jolandi
Job well done to you both. What an incredible amount of work. Once you have rest, the muscles are rested and no longer sore and you stand back and look at your work, you must feel an immense amount of pride and accomplishment. It is so much to follow your journey. If only the walls could talk, the stories I imagine they would tell would be engaging.
Hope you both are well and will make another trip soon.
Terri
Thank you, Terri. I am often shocked at the amount of work, unlike Michael who has a much better idea of the amount of work it takes. He hopes to squeeze in a trip in December, but we are not sure if work will allow for that. It is such a balancing act! Often when we watch the videos we marvel at how much we do and have done. – Jolandi
Great job Jolandi and Michael, congratulations!!!
Thank you, Paulo. We are steadily getting there. And although it is hard work, we love it.
I admire you for your vision and long breath, Jolandi and Michael. From here, it looks as though your dream house is on its way to being re-born, and I hope you will be happy with the end result.
Keep up the good work.
Best,
Tanja
We have to confess that we at times mutter “what were we thinking”!!! That is usually just in those moments we are exhausted or encountering some sort of challenge, though. 😊
Such painstaking work! My arms hurt just looking at the two of you holding things up to the ceiling for a long period of time. It’s looking so good, and I love following along!
Thank you, Lex! It was literally pain in the neck work, as almost all the work had us looking up. Not to mention the amount of times we had to lift our arms overhead. Those boards were also heavy! I joked that my superpower was the pair of gloves as it gave me good grip and confidence. 🙃. – Jolandi
What a tedious job and such hard work for you both! You have made great progress and it is beginning to look like ‘home’, I am sure. Best wishes to you both xoxo
Thank you, Clare. It is indeed tedious work, and perhaps because the space is so tiny, it often hampers things, when one expects things to go quicker than it actually does. But yes, we are steadily making progress.
Jolandi gosh all i could think of watching this video is what a great “handlanger” you are. So often wives are somwehat expected to be the very extra pair of hands and you guys work so well as a team. Loads of life lessons or relationship curve balls in creating your dream into a sweat and tears reality.
Hats off to both of you and am sure as you say will look back and be amazed as to what the two of you have achieved.
Great team the two of you xx
So true, Nanette. Being a ‘handlanger’ can be a challenge at times. We left Portugal having contracted through the Electrician others to do some work and we just received photos of the progress. We are thrilled, so I will write a follow up post on that soon. – Jolandi
It definitely sounds to me (as an outsider) that you are making good progress. I find you always need to plan for hiccoughs and setbacks, and always remember the goal at the end.
So true. And yes, there is definitely progress, even though it sometimes feel a bit slow to us.
Most certainly you are learning to work together and improving all the time. Proper role-models, that’s what you are. 🙂 Much luck and love in the holiday season and in 20/20.
Thank you, Manja. We hope you are enjoying the Holidays. May 2020 be a wonderfully joyous year for you.