Well. it all began in a straightforward manner. The upstairs bedroom needed a desk, suitable for a student, we had one downstairs that fitted the description. EASY. We could replace the one downstairs with a lovely rustic-type desk that would blend in with the theme we were creating.... So we measured the width aperture: 150cm and off we went to the furniture shop to have another look at a desk we'd already got our eyes on.
It was still available, we measured the desk, hmmm... 150cm wide, tight, but possible, decision made, we bought it, two men lifted and loaded it into back of car (tight, but possible!) asked me if I was intending to help with the removal and relocating of said desk, I answered in the affirmative, men look unconvinced, dh says," we'll be fine" as we get into car. I make him promise he will not shout at me if I can't (!) and off we go...
Once home we manage the task, with me squealing periodically, threatening to drop it, fall into a flower pot and treading gingerly down the steps to the front door by feel rather than sight, but we get over the threshold having avoided any shouting and teamwork having prevailed . Little do we know what is to follow....
Old desk is cleared of computer, shelves (and their contents) on the wall are removed, all is pushed to one side. Vacuum is employed, carpet vigorously attacked with scrubbing brush. on my knees, area cleared of cobwebs and grime...ready to go!
Desk is moved into position, suggestions are made, diagonally,then straighten up, nope doesn't work.. Okay....issue is door frame jutting out by 1.5cm so if we angled it so that part of desk went through the bannister railings and then we eased it past the door frame, we should be okay...so far so good, however we then discovered that the lower staircase mountings also jut out so having angled it throught the railings we found the desk rested on these bits and perched in mid air.... We had measured from above the jutting out bits where there is no problem... My suggestion to remove part of staircase did not go down well.....
Well, we tried every angle we could think of with much yanking and pulling of bannisters, should we rearrange room furniture, I suggest tentatively... No, the only option would be to get the electric saw out and cut it down to size. We agree there is no other way... Off to garage get 30 year old "seen better days" electric saw and sander attachment, pencil and ruler. The kettle is put on....
The noise, smell and dust begins to fill the room.
Seems SO wrong.....brand new..... yet the only option....
The smoke alarm immediately above, goes off, piercingly...
All work stops, smoke alarm is deactivated.....sawing resumes.....
Smoke alarm goes off again....
Battery from said smoke alarm is removed...
Sawing resumes....slowly, blade is old...? 30 years, we can't remember...
Sanding follows....edges softened....
Desk is placed in position again.....not quite enough, will need to saw off other side to make it equal...
Pencil, measure, saw....
Blade breaks.....
Thankfully, packet of spare blades are found in garage....
We can't remember how to get broken blade out of saw....
Miraculously we find old, yellowed, decrepid manual in garage.
Need long handled screwdriver....off to garage again... retrieved aforementioned. ("Nurse, scalpel!")
Blade removed, replaced...
Suddenly remember tea is brewing...
Sawing resumes...faster...new blade....
Sanding...
Wipe off dust covering desk, small scratch repair completed, where saw slipped...
Desk pushed into position, slowly...
STOP....now what???!!!
Desk will not advance because when computer plug is in socket it protudes about 1 cm into the side of the desk...
Discussion ensues... Are there flatter wall sockets? Do we need to move the plug....get an electrician in?
B&Q tomorrow to search out socket depths....(yeah, we know how to live!)
Vacuum required again.....black dust, carpet looks like Santa has come down the chimney...
I can write all nearby surfaces with my finger......
However.....All achieved without marital disunity! RESULT!
24 hours later.....
Flatter wall socket purchased...as yet untried...jury is still out
Desk is in forward position with gap of about a foot behind it...for now
Computer is back up and running.
It will all look wonderful, eventually!!!!
NB Offending socket in far distance...
Update:
Flat socket was enough to do the trick!!!! Desk is now in final position and looks great! Thank you dh!
It was still available, we measured the desk, hmmm... 150cm wide, tight, but possible, decision made, we bought it, two men lifted and loaded it into back of car (tight, but possible!) asked me if I was intending to help with the removal and relocating of said desk, I answered in the affirmative, men look unconvinced, dh says," we'll be fine" as we get into car. I make him promise he will not shout at me if I can't (!) and off we go...
Once home we manage the task, with me squealing periodically, threatening to drop it, fall into a flower pot and treading gingerly down the steps to the front door by feel rather than sight, but we get over the threshold having avoided any shouting and teamwork having prevailed . Little do we know what is to follow....
Old desk is cleared of computer, shelves (and their contents) on the wall are removed, all is pushed to one side. Vacuum is employed, carpet vigorously attacked with scrubbing brush. on my knees, area cleared of cobwebs and grime...ready to go!
Desk is moved into position, suggestions are made, diagonally,then straighten up, nope doesn't work.. Okay....issue is door frame jutting out by 1.5cm so if we angled it so that part of desk went through the bannister railings and then we eased it past the door frame, we should be okay...so far so good, however we then discovered that the lower staircase mountings also jut out so having angled it throught the railings we found the desk rested on these bits and perched in mid air.... We had measured from above the jutting out bits where there is no problem... My suggestion to remove part of staircase did not go down well.....
Well, we tried every angle we could think of with much yanking and pulling of bannisters, should we rearrange room furniture, I suggest tentatively... No, the only option would be to get the electric saw out and cut it down to size. We agree there is no other way... Off to garage get 30 year old "seen better days" electric saw and sander attachment, pencil and ruler. The kettle is put on....
The noise, smell and dust begins to fill the room.
Seems SO wrong.....brand new..... yet the only option....
The smoke alarm immediately above, goes off, piercingly...
All work stops, smoke alarm is deactivated.....sawing resumes.....
Smoke alarm goes off again....
Battery from said smoke alarm is removed...
Sawing resumes....slowly, blade is old...? 30 years, we can't remember...
Sanding follows....edges softened....
Desk is placed in position again.....not quite enough, will need to saw off other side to make it equal...
Pencil, measure, saw....
Blade breaks.....
Thankfully, packet of spare blades are found in garage....
We can't remember how to get broken blade out of saw....
Miraculously we find old, yellowed, decrepid manual in garage.
Need long handled screwdriver....off to garage again... retrieved aforementioned. ("Nurse, scalpel!")
Blade removed, replaced...
Suddenly remember tea is brewing...
Sawing resumes...faster...new blade....
Sanding...
Wipe off dust covering desk, small scratch repair completed, where saw slipped...
Desk pushed into position, slowly...
STOP....now what???!!!
Desk will not advance because when computer plug is in socket it protudes about 1 cm into the side of the desk...
Discussion ensues... Are there flatter wall sockets? Do we need to move the plug....get an electrician in?
B&Q tomorrow to search out socket depths....(yeah, we know how to live!)
Vacuum required again.....black dust, carpet looks like Santa has come down the chimney...
I can write all nearby surfaces with my finger......
However.....All achieved without marital disunity! RESULT!
24 hours later.....
Flatter wall socket purchased...as yet untried...jury is still out
Desk is in forward position with gap of about a foot behind it...for now
Computer is back up and running.
It will all look wonderful, eventually!!!!
NB Offending socket in far distance...
Update:
Flat socket was enough to do the trick!!!! Desk is now in final position and looks great! Thank you dh!
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