A month has passed. The festive season intervened and, as one of my friends put it, “The Budapestian builders have achieved nothing over Christmas.” Indeed they didn’t, having all sodded off to their families in Bulgaristan.
But they’re back now. The plasterboard wall between the sitting room and Bedroom 2 is nearly complete. It needs a second layer of gypsum board for stiffening and to support a wall-mounted telly should one ever be attached. I have specified six (yes six) power points plus data outlets. Telly, DVD player, cable TV decoder, WiFi transmitter, stereo system… It soon mounts up, and it’d be nice not to require a load of power strips. This is similar reasoning behind the excessive number of power outlets in the kitchen.
Speaking of kitchen, plasterboard has appeared here too. The triangular box-out will be the backing to the cooker and the extractor hood will be mounted on it with an exhaust to outside through the real wall behind. I really want to keep things tidy. Naturally, the plasterboard guys buried the cooker and extractor power outlets, and put a metal bracing strut immediately behind where the exhaust duct has to go. I have had a word, and it’s to be fixed.
Meanwhile, I’ve been shopping. The current residence is piling up with lighting, ceramicware, and even kitchen hardware. Better to carry this back from the shop when Beloved Wife is in town than to carry it all myself. On the Metro.
A decision still has to be made regarding lighting for the bathroom and hall. The local DIY megastores carry a bewildering array of light fittings for wildly differing tastes. Looking to match an existing light fitting, I went into an Emporium of Expensive Designer Lighting and showed them the photo. Paraphrasing, I was told that “That’s cheap Chinese shit. We don’t stock cheap Chinese shit.”
Indeed they don’t. I asked where their stuff came from, and was advised that everything comes from China these days. Designed in Germany; made in China; yadda yadda. So they only actually stock expensive Chinese shit. Glad that’s clear.
Anyhoo, back in the flat, the floor tiles are going in from next Monday, to be closely followed by wall tiles and the kitchen, which is designed but I have yet to pay for and arrange delivery and installation.
As for bedroom wardrobes, beds, and other furnishings, these will have to wait. There’s not enough room in the flat for everything in one go.
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2 comments:
I've read (from the beginning) your escapades since arriving in Hungary & I have to ask - why did you decide to buy there?
Renovating can be incredibly frustrating. We tried to have everything in place before returning home from Niggeria & masha'allah, it was. Choosing handles, light fittings etc etc did my 'ead in at times, but the end result is so worth it.
Is the Cyprus Plan still going ahead?
Keep up the good work!
Cyprus remains on the retirement back burner. Budapest (because Beloved Wife loves the city and it remains relatively inexpensive yet in the EU. (Blah, blah, Bexit, grump, grump)) is an investment opportunity. The city is chock full of universities and there is a shortage of rental accommodation.
Frankly, any investment short of the 2:30m at Newmarket is currently a better bet than leaving cash in the bank.
Renovating is frustrating. However, I'm here and available. I'd certainly not attempt this by remote control even with a decent agent.
Picking light fittings and handles is fun enough, but my current issues relate to the positions of walls and gas pipes.
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