Week 2
Another action-packed week! This week we moved our attention downstairs to the shop. Katie tackled the painting and I started on the floor. I thought it would be the biggest job, but I was wrong. The floor went down quite easily and looks so lovely although looking at the photos I understand now why I could barely move the next day. All of that crouching and standing was a years’ worth of workouts in one hit! I couldn’t even walk properly, I just waddled!
The paint looks fabulous, and we couldn’t be happier with the colours. It makes all those discussions on which colour looks best worthwhile. Katie also finished painting the waiting room, the snug the toilet and finished off the never-ending walls of the hallway. I also think she was happy to get away from all the grey in the working areas. Thankfully, all the wall’s upstairs are now finished. Yay! Her arms are still aching, but her painting arm is toning up beautifully.
Downstairs I started on the desk for the till. We finalised the design, simplified the plan (thank goodness) and I sat down to work out the calculations. Ha! Yes, I can hear those of you who know me laughing! Yes, I do struggle with any form of maths, but after a very long conversation with myself (it really does help my brain to understand what I am doing if I talk out loud) I had a plan. The till started off ok, however the middle section was made from boxes that I needed to make, and I had a day battling the not quite straight cuts of the power tools. This I must confess was the lowest point of the set up so far. We had been on schedule and now it felt like everything was grinding to a halt. My mood plummeted and when the Ikea delivery didn’t turn up, Katie’s did too. We both left on Saturday evening thinking that this was never, ever going to be finished in time to open. Sunday came way to quickly and I was up showered, dogs walked, breakfasted and in to start the workday by 7. Another wow moment for me as I do love my bed in the morning.
A huge day’s work turned everything around. The till is almost finished. Thank Goodness! I literally ran out of energy last night and just couldn’t screw one more screw in or make one more cut. So, I started on clean up. I cannot believe just how much dust I made yesterday. It almost looked like I was on the beach at one point with the dust on the floor in drifts and the sun streaming through the windows. Wishful thinking maybe? Yes, this part of the build was difficult, but it was worth it. The till is looking so good, and the excitement is back.
We also welcomed Laura to the team when she rented a room for her Reiki healing business. She spent the week painting up a storm down at the end of the corridor. Another huge thank you to all the donations of toys and baby equipment. You are all amazing. Thank you.
The plan for this week is to finish off the shelves, build the drop in craft desk, lay the floor in the workshop, clean, gloss, paint the top of the stairs (scary!) start loading up the products, install the till and a hundred other jobs!!!! Ahhhhhh! Still loads to do but we are getting there.
One week to go and counting…… slowly, please slow time down!