Author: Mr C

Dad to 2 grown-up boys and 3 lovely stepdaughters, I'm Mrs C's right-hand man and 'Bamps' to 4 new 'grand-arrivals' Dylan, Harris, Connie and Toby. I enjoy a weekend away, a good film on the telly and a good restaurant. I also love a good rant when things aren't up to expectation or are playing on my mind.

Our House Project – Getting There?

by Mr C -
Part of the new bathroom

Oh, how the grass grows if you don’t watch it! Our house project has continued, albeit at a slower pace than the first couple of years, but we have passed a few milestones along the way.One was our bathroom. Yes, remember that one? Where that lovely (?!%*) freestanding bath we wrote about when we moved, emptied itself into our utility room below. The memories are

Chicago – The Windy City

by Mr C -
The incredible Chicago Skyline

After a night spent on the outskirts of Detroit in the Hilton Garden Inn in Novi, it was time to venture even further west to Chicago.  The journey down through Michigan State was quite entertaining, with us marvelling at place names like Climax, in Kalamazoo County, Sprinkle, Springfield (about the fourth one of those since Cape Cod… and still no Homer Simpson!), Valparaiso and Gary.This was

Project House Barry – 2 Years In

by Mr C -
shiny new bedroom floor

Is it because we’re getting just that little bit older, or has the Covid19 palaver distorted our interpretation of space and time? Whatever the answer, the last year of project house Barry has flown past so quickly that I only recall having blinked a couple of times.The Dump of a HouseDespite this, our humble abode, so clearly described when we first bought it, has started

Narrowboat Life – Peace and Quiet On The Canal

by Mr C -
Narrowboat on the Canal

“Elliot! ELLIOT!! Pull it in! No! Not there you idiot! The other one!” - Crunch…. “Oh, for God’s sake… PULL! No, not that way!”Meanwhile, poor Elliot has no idea what the objective is. He just happened to be there at the wrong time and is now at the receiving end of his Dad’s wrath. He can’t really hear him properly anyway because the boat’s engine

Safety Equipment for Hazardous Areas

by Mr C -
safety in dangerous environments

Years ago, safety in the workplace wasn’t taken anywhere as seriously as it is nowadays.  This is true whether you go back 5 years, 20 years or 100 years. It’s a known fact that many industries suffered what would now be classed as wholly unacceptable accident rates.  This situation is hard to prove though, because of the poor or even non-existent record-keeping. This

Project House – The Early Days

by Mr C -
An interesting old fireplace

Following on from the last update, here’s where we are in project house - the early days:Just had a quote for replacement windows… We had budgeted a significant amount - a five-figure sum for new windows to be precise.  However, when your first quote comes in at nearly 70% over budget it sort of takes your breath away and makes you sweat a little. This

Project House

by Mr C -
Project House

It’s all gone quiet over here! Where have Mr and Mrs C been all this time?  We've been thinking ' Project House '.After our whirlwind world tour last year we hit the ground not so much running, but with a thud! Getting back into a routine after a year away takes some doing, believe me.However, here we are, fully rejuvenated, horizons broadened and ready for

Don’t Underestimate Your Dad

by Mr C -
Driving Experience Gifts

Birthday presents, Christmas gifts, Father's Day gifts... They're all a bit of a challenge nowadays.  Men are SO difficult to buy for.  This is where Experience Gifts can come into their own.When you’re a Dad, you’re a Dad. Simple as that! You grow a little bit older, you lose a bit of hair, your midriff changes shape a little, but to your kids you’re still

A Devon and Cornwall Holiday

by Mr C -
The river at Looe, Cornwall

It's a funny old place to get to, Cornwall.  We commented this morning when getting from Polperro to Mawnan Smith how easy it is to take a road that you think is right and then end up getting dead-ended on some promontory somewhere with only a chain ferry that runs twice a day.  That's part of the attraction of a Devon and Cornwall holiday.Whichever way

Why I Hate Shopping!

by Mr C -
hot air balloon trip

I've always hated shopping.  I don't think I'm alone amongst men either.  The very thought of going into town with the sole objective of 'shopping’ brings me out in a cold sweat.  No, for me there has to be a sole purpose, a project, a single product to buy, or in an extreme case a few products.  Nowadays it's even less necessary to venture onto

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