Yesterday was a bit cooler than Saturday, thank goodness, and I think after today we'll be back down in our "normal" temperature range -- an ideal high 60s and low 70s during the day.
I went to Willesden Green yesterday for a librarian gathering at the home of our co-worker Staci. She and her husband Max just bought a house there, so we got to see it and all the work they've done to it. It's a great place with a nice garden (about a third of the size of ours, but they own it) and beautiful architectural details like fireplaces, original windows and ceiling moldings. We sat in the back garden and had snacks and chatted for an hour or two.
I walked home from there to get myself some exercise, and on the way passed this guy, painting a shopfront near the tube station. Someone is also inside painting the interior -- you can barely see them on a ladder through the window. The heat wasn't stopping them!
Ms. Moon often talks about making "purple cows" for her grandsons. I feel certain this is not what she has in mind.
It's an interesting quirk of the English language that you can remove vowels from a phrase and still pretty much make it out.
Anyway, I had a good walk home. And then, surprise surprise, the Russians knocked on our door and wanted to paint the dining room ceiling. It was about 5 p.m. and Dave wasn't crazy about the idea, but I said, "Let them do it! Let's get it done!"
The backstory is that I e-mailed our landlord in the morning saying the ceiling -- which you may remember was damaged NINE MONTHS AGO by a leak caused by the Russians' renovations upstairs -- remained unpainted. I sent photos and said it wasn't too bad looking since it had been cleaned and we were leaning toward leaving it alone rather than pressing the Russians to finish it. But apparently the landlord had other ideas, and sent a rather forceful message to the Russians, who almost immediately wound up on our doorstep.
Anyway, they painted the problem spot in less than an hour and it looks fine now. As far as I'm concerned the matter is settled. The landlord is still rattling swords about whether they did a good enough job, but I'm going to send photos and say we're satisfied. I'm ready to move on.
Original windows would be praised here but does original mean there isn't double glazing?
ReplyDeleteNow I am wondering if we should drop vowels altogether, but if we didn't learn them in the first place, it might be difficult.
The Russians are tenants too? I've not thought about it but they would have to be. They spend all that money and energy to renovate someone else's property! Anyway, damage repaired to your satisfaction. All good.
Fckn Rssns. I think they invented passive aggression.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the colourful paint doesn't go all the way up the buildings. It's not that much further. Maybe the Rssns are painting it, as well.
The beige paint is a huge improvement. I don’t often say that.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very seedy looking purple cow. I wonder what's going on under the surface.
The Russians would make me nuts. So glad you're done with the ceiling issue.
I'd be satisfied and moving on too after all that time.
ReplyDeleteI like the unvowelled statement.
Maybe it's a cultural thing. In Russia, they have probably never heard of the idea of appointments. If you want a haircut, you just turn up at the barbershop or if you want dental treatment you just walk in and sit on the big chair.
ReplyDeleteThose wacky Russians! At least now the painting is done and they won't have a reason to show up at inconvenient times.
ReplyDeleteWe just painted our bathroom yesterday. It's a sort of coral color. I'm not at all sure that I like it, but I think my eyes need more time to adjust.
Happy Monday!
Well now it's done, the ceiling. Still, 9 months is a long time to wait.
ReplyDeleteOops, unlike Mitchell I assumed they were painting the building green ... and a hideous green at that!
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy the Russians decided to paint the celling, but less so that they just show up at 5PM to do it.
The original purple cow!
ReplyDeleteBoy, that ceiling situation sure took a long time to resolve. I think the Russians were being extremely passive-aggressive about getting it done. "Yes. We will do it but on our own terms and in our own time."
Okay.
Do you have any idea what sort of work they do?
A bag of charcoal by that purple cow - I could not guess what that was so had to google it.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised the landlord let the Russians paint the ceiling. Strange arrangements there.
ReplyDeleteI like the vowel-less way of communicating.
The landlord has more at stake in the painting issue than his good renters.
ReplyDeleteAs always, whenever you write about the Russians, Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money" comes racing into my brain.
ReplyDelete"I went home with the waitress, the way I always do
How was I to know, she was with the Russians, too?"
Finally, you got that painting done. I bet you are glad that's over now. The vowels might be gone but the message is very clear.
ReplyDeleteThat cream colored paint is going to look lots better when it's done. I wonder what will go in there.
Glad you finally got your ceiling painted and glad it's cooled off as well. We have a hot day today and then more seasonal temperatures. Thankfully the nights are cool now, regardless of how hot the days are, so the house can cool down.
ReplyDeletethe 'quirk' about the English language and omitting vowels works only because we are English speakers. ancient Hebrew did not include vowels in it's written form. of course they were spoken and later there were notations added (like dots, etc) to indicate the vowel and the correct pronunciation and what the word actually meant. change the vowel and you get a different word. all this to say why ancient languages are hard to translate. did these three letters mean this word or that word.
ReplyDeleteYour vowel comment brought back the hilarious Magliozzi Car Guys on public radio and their airlift of Vowels for Bosnia!
ReplyDeleteDoes that cow have a plush hide? It does look rather sad (as in seedy).
ReplyDeleteNope, I don't need any vowels to get that message!
I am definitely having issues - when I first opened your post I thought the cow was Olga. First she's a panda, then a cow is her. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteHappy we are that the painting is done, and the Russians will no longer have a reason to bother you. Olga looks happy.
ReplyDeleteI think it's time for some backstory on your Russians, even if you just make one up. I imagine a family of four all making a living as DIY influencer with regular home styling/repair videos on various social media channels.
ReplyDeleteWell, the good thing is that the Russian saga is now over!
ReplyDeleteI was amused by that Fck Ptn graffiti and your comment on it!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what we can still manage to decipher with letters missing. Glad the ceiling got painted. In my rental, only certified workpeople (licensed and bonded) can do repair work so that it will be (supposedly) up to standard. I've not always found that to be the case although I understand the rationale.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember that you said the Russian's own their flat. You rent yours. If I was the landlord, I'd have been megaperturbed. They caused damage to his property. They had an obligation to make it right. I'm glad they finally did. In the end, step back and let him fight it out if he's dissatisfied.
ReplyDeletePS I would not have allowed the matter to go on for 9 months. We'd have been in small claims court. (Do you have such a thing over there?)
Bet you're glad the ceiling painting is done. Good to have that behind you. But 5:00PM, REALLY???
ReplyDeleteYay for having the ceiling painted, and I hope the Rssns never darken your door again.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Andrew: No, the Russians are owners. They own the upstairs flat. We rent from the owners of the downstairs flat.
ReplyDeleteCaro: I wondered about that too! Why the bare brick at the top?
Mitchell: I kind of like the beige/green/pink melange. Maybe they'll leave the green above the windows?
River: I liked it too. Succinct and to the point!
YP: That is probably true!
Jennifer: The coral SOUNDS nice, anyway. I hope you grow to like it!
Colette: Yes, I'm glad to have it done. Now if we can just get the hallway painted we'll be finished with all this infernal renovation!
Bob: I know! What is it with them wanting to work on our flat in the evening?
Ms Moon: I think Mr. Russia is in some kind of financial technology line of work. I don't know if Mrs. Russia works outside the home. When I saw that cow I thought of you immediately!
Ellen D: It's a Brazilian market, hence the Portuguese on the charcoal bag!
Robin: Yeah, there's been some friction which I won't go into!
Red: It's true! I hope he considers it all resolved too.
Ed: Ha! I have to listen to that song now.
Sharon: Yeah, I'm not sure! I'm not up in that neighborhood much so I'm not sure I'll ever find out.
Pixie: That makes a big difference. The heat is much worse when it's unrelenting.
Ellen: That's probably true, but imagine French with no vowels. Some words would barely exist! I bet even French speakers couldn't make them out.
Boud: Ha! I've never heard of that!
Kelly: I think the cow needs a good washing. Yes, it is indeed a plush animal.
Bug: Ha! And you just got new glasses!
Allison: Well, I'm sure they'll still bother us, but only inadvertently!
Sabine: Well, I haven't done a thorough social media search, so anything is possible! (Maybe they grouse on their social media channel about "the Americans.")
Michael: Well, not really. They're still our neighbors and I'm sure I'll still complain about them. LOL
Catalyst: It's remarkable how clear it is, isn't it?! LOL
Margaret: Is that your landlord's rule? I don't think our landlord cares too much who we hire. At least, not that I've ever heard.
Debby: I'm sure there is such a thing but I wouldn't want to go there if possible. Although I've groused about it the ceiling really didn't bother us much. It's in a room we don't use often and it wasn't a glaring problem. Our landlord IS quite perturbed with them, though.
Jim: I know! Cocktail hour!
Janie: Me too!
Well done with the Russians!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the vowel-less crossword puzzles that are occasionally in the NYTimes? They're my favorites -- really fun to do!