All trades

Well, the house was very full today, both with tradesmen AND dogs.

First up it was the decorators. Kevin and Matt made the right sounds around Emma then went to work upstairs.

Next Mark the Tiler turned up and immediately started laying tiles on the terrace (after meeting and fussing over Emma, of course). He bought Callum with him who worked as his broom and rubbish removal boy all day.

Karl then turned up with another carpenter and started putting the plastic trim around the inside of the roof lantern, hiding the little metal tags and making it look a whole lot better. Karl brought his dog with him and he also made the right noises around Emma. Callum also helped him with measuring and cutting the trim.

Jem and Matt the plumbers were quickly joined by Tim the Electrical Engineer and they all went to work on the bathroom and various electrical bits and pieces downstairs. Oh, and they made a big fuss over Emma. Matt bought his dog too (he seems to go everywhere with him). Day-z was getting very confused with all the canine activity and had a tough time convincing them all that she was the top dog in the house.

Finally, Dave the Builder turned up (with his two dogs – it started to feel like a delightful Battersea Dogs Home) to inspect what was happening. He introduced himself to Emma very formally.

It was all very frenetic, all day. Day-z and Emma spent most of it in the office with me, though Emma did have a bit of a play in her new playpen which arrived from Amazon today. A very handy contraption which folds up so you can take it with you and made of easy to clean material.

I spent most of the day sorting photos for Flickr. I couldn’t really fit in the house.

By the end of the day, a lot had been done. The skirting boards upstairs had all been filled, sanded and primed, ready for glossing tomorrow.

The outside windows had finally been glossed. Tim had fitted the Tiffany lights and connected up the CAT5 cable for the Internet.

Tim also wired up the extraction fan which is now working beautifully. The touch controls are particularly impressive though I’m not sure how they’ll go with greasy cooking fingers.

The plumbers worked on piping and stuff that can’t be seen but was essential. Karl and Callum almost finished the plastic strips on both skylights.

But best of all was the progress that Mark the Tiler made on the terrace. The tiles are going to look so good when they’re finished.

And what would a post be without a photo of Emma. She’s taken to biting my fingers with her little needle teeth.

I was very impressed with Emma today. At one stage, she went confidently trotting out to the terrace. I grabbed her to bring her back but she just went back out. I watched her. She actually went to toilet then marched happily back in. This is one clever puppy. And she really knows her name now.

Putting paid to the lie that old dogs have three weeks to get used to a new puppy has been Day-z’s attitude. While she might growl if Emma’s attentions go on for too long, she has started playing with Emma. Obviously, I have to watch them carefully but I think they’re going to be great chums. I’ve even caught Emma trotting around after Day-z in the garden.

Even so, most of the time Day-z just isn’t bothered and wonders why we need a puppy at all.