We were all a bit thunderstruck after the departure of Jaco and his intended bride, but after him showing such bad taste as to want to buy a place in Haarlem, I wasn't so sure that the proposed wedding would actually take place! They did get married a bit later, but since then we had no more visits from Jaco, and the friendship died a sudden death. Pity, as we have been friends for so long.
I had bought some finer sandpaper at the co-op and started again on on the bathroom and adjoining bedroom so as to make it smooth and ready for the painting. I then took a few rolls of masking tape and measured out blocks as big as standard floortiles. Took a lot out of the old knees, as I was crawling around the whole morning to get it done, and said knees not so agile anymore! But at last I stood back and scrutinised my marked out floor, and after some adjustments where I had gone a bit scew, I was ready to start painting.
I used ordinary wall paint that I had mixed to a lovely earthy brown with oxides, and after some effort and a pair of very sore knees, the whole bedroom floor was done, and as it was so late by then, I went over to Irma to help cook the dinner.
Next morning Irma left early as she had to be back for work, and me, after rubbing my painfully swollen knees with horse linament, set to with vigour at the task of first pulling off the masking tape. Then, using an array of acrylic hobby paints, I started rubbing browns, reds, and a litlle yellow onto each block, blending it in untill I was satisfied that it looked real! It was a time consuming job, and by the time I had to leave for home and my comfy bed, I could hardly walk, but I was highly impressed with myself, although I was only half-way through!
That night I lay in my bath for about an hour, a herbal foam covering almost the whole of me! But I was SO very tired! Then I made myself one huge steak, as I really earned it, and a nice salad, and ate it with relish.
I decided to calm it a bit and stay home for a few days untill my knees were better, but I must say, for any aches and pains of the old muscles or ligaments, use horse linament! Superb!
By the week-end I was ready to go back for more punishment, and the kids decided to take a friend with, and go with me. I was glad, as the thought of sleeping in that rat infested house, even if they live under the floorboards, and the door that couldn't lock, well, there was no door, made me extremely uncomfortable!
When I saw Sheila's cows grazing away on my plot I was a bitty upset, as she never asked me, but not unduly so, untill I went to have alook at my trees!
Before I left I had watered my trees, and they were looking happy and on the grow, but now there were only a few stubs left! I was furious, and when Sheila came a bit later to say hi, and of course to gauge if I was cross because of her cattle on my plot, I told her about all my trees being eaten up! She was on the defensive immediately, and told me that I have no proof that it was her cows! I got a bitty red around the collar, and told her that of course it was her cattle, as I found them locked in my place. She then said that the horses can also come in from the river, and I, now highly agitated, told her flatly that it was bull...., and she walked away  to her place, back very, very rigid. A few minutes later the man working for her came to fetch the cows! She later came over and invited us to dinner as if nothing was wrong, and I decided to forgive and forget!
 I took a rest from the house and started a veggie garden and a rockery! This is what my yard looked like in the beginning, although we have cleared away the broken bottles that were even thrown onto the roof!