T-Day. We’ve finally agreed on the silver travertine as the safest option. Shower and floor tiles to order. Back to the grey sandstone shop and a quick double check of their display before ordering. No. nonononono. We’ve gone off them. After weeks of deliberation, we’ve gone for the victorian effect in a split second decision. At least that’s one decision made!

The bathroom fitter is due on Monday and having broken down the quote into every conceivable stage, there’s an opportunity to save some money by taking the old suite and tiles out ourselves. How hard can it be?!

..very as it transpires. Especially in this crazy heat. Bath pannel off, disappointing to find that nobody had thought to fit shutoff valves to the bath taps. A job for later.

The sink came out without too much drama, but then it was onto the toilet. Cistern, relatively straight-forward, but the pan!?!? oh my!! I’d swear someone had superglued the screws in place. Drenched in sweat and after some choice words, I’d managed to get 3 of the 4 screws securing the pan in place out. 1 to go, but CRACK!! The pan was suddenly free. In 2 pieces. Oh well, there go my plans to ebay it, but at least it’s out!

Flowers now in the garden where they most definitely belong.

Removing the tiles with a hammer and bolster proved much more challenging than I’d envisaged. With tiny shards of razor sharp tile fragments flying all around and clumps of horse hair plaster coming off, I finally admitted defeat. Not an impossible task, but just one that was going to take much longer than I’d envisaged and not one that was really practical to complete in the heat. Looks like we’ll be paying the bathroom guy to clear the rest out afterall.