Work in Progress

Things have been very messy lately, literally. After hosting some friends from my university days and coming from a short break, I now have to face the dreaded period of utmost disturbance in the household. We have started renovating our home and as much as I would like to keep things in order, I guess this is such an impossible task to do.

builders and more builders...

Quite honestly, I am just happy to leave for school everyday as I am not very keen on facing all the mess or I would be very much tempted to start cleaning. Now our kitchen is gone and we have to do with paper plates, microwave meals or take aways. The mess is not the only thing that I have been struggling with, but also with the process of deciding what to do and not to do. Having to live now with my husband, we both have to consult each other, sometimes negotiate and...compromise (one of the most important traits I have to learn as a newly married individual!), as to what furnishing or finishing we would be both happy with. I guess this is part of what they call married life or living together. Whereas I used to decide on my OWN what I WANT, now I have to consider somebody else's taste and preference. I really have to get used to this and sometimes it can be frustrating. Although we have contracted out several works, we also have to do our share of the renovation works to save on money. Thank goodness for kind souls as several of our friends have been helping us out. I don't know how hubby and I would manage without them. One of my friends I met here in the Netherlands even managed to bring us some home cooked meal, and it was such a treat for me and hubby. Not surprisingly, I am quite useless when it comes to the "do-it-yourself" and I am just happy to be doing the catering, cleaning and of course deciding on the finishing. But I am slowly learning and perhaps during the summer I can even do some minor paint jobs. I realized that that the "do-it-yourself" culture here is also a social thing as I can see that our friends do enjoy this kind of activity, and look forward to wrap the day with some drinks, a nice meal or even watch a movie with us. Today, we all decided to give ourselves an early break, take things easy and spend the afternoon at a jazz festival at the centrum. I must say that it is quite exciting to see everyday the transformation (however minor) of our home. Moreover, the house market seems to be going strong, as two houses within our neighbourhood were sold in less than a month at very good prices. Hopefully it will remain this way when it is our time to move. I have been neglecting the blogging world nor barely have the time (or the zest) to spend time in the computer because I have to wade through all the mess. I am hoping that by the end of the month, things will be back to normal again. I terribly miss my space.