Breakin’ Down the Walls of Heartache

Last weekend, we tootled off to Seaside Lodge again. The truck was much lighter than the previous weekend, but we did take a selection of wall-knocker-downer things, secateurs, more wine than strictly necessary for 2 for 1 night and thicker ganseys.

Here are some pics from the sales brochure of the front living room, a bedroom in the middle, and the back living room over the lake.

And here is what we (royal we – I was measuring/skiving) and Steve, who’s going to be helping us with the renovation, did. The whole of the west side is now opened up, so the 3 rooms above are now just one room. To eventually be a study area up south, kitchen/dining in the centre, log burner/lake action up north.

The floor boards are in great condition!

Finally here’s a picture of rush hour at Anderby Creek 22/9/14.

Rush hour, Anderby Creek 22/9/14

A birthday, two airbeds, a spider and some champagne on the beach

The keys to Seaside Lodge – all 64 of them.

We collected the keys to Seaside Lodge on Saturday morning. Back of the truck loaded to the gunnels with airbeds, chairs, tool kit and the desert island essentials – Marmite, foot file and my second best fit flops.

We unloaded the gubbins, then surveyed our new kingdom. It was the first time we’d been inside since we viewed it back in May.

Comically large spider in residence – tick. Smell approximating a fusion of boiled cabbage, wet newspapers and something I haven’t smelt since I helped mum deliver Meals on Wheels circa 1972 – tick.

Comedy spider at the lodge

So, here are the pics. Jon had started ripping things about before I got the chance to take pics of the lodge untouched. But let’s just say after 2 days we hadn’t found a screw or a piece of wood thicker than a greetings card. Thus far, it appears the lodge has been constructed of nails, balsawood and sticky back plastic. Lots of sticky back plastic.

This original heater makes your lips stick to your teeth.

The VIP suite with zip ‘n’ link luxury airbeds and complementary chisel.

I’m going to miss that door when it’s gone. “Tonight, Matthew…”

…Bit late for that isn’t it?

Sunday was my birthday. So I sashayed around measuring things, then we went to the beach, drank champagne and dozed in the late summer sun. Daydreaming about log burners, tartan rugs and sitting on the deck by the lake. Well, I was.

Huttoft Car terrace and a kite surfer.

Getting going at Huttoft Car terrace

Birthday poo on the beach

Footnote. People keep walking into our garden to view the lake. I found a man there at 6am. One word: fence.

Completion is just the start.

Hoorah! We completed on the purchase of the lodge today. Now to be aptly called ‘Seaside Lodge’.

We are now the proud owners of a 1959 large garden shed by a lake on the East Coast, a scant 2 minute amble from the beach. Un-modernised since Noah was a lad.

We’ll be blogging regularly, as we renovate the Vic Hallam lodge (also called an Anderby Chalet) and (hopefully) turn it into a restorative, creative bolthole for those of us who just need to get from it all from time to time. (If getting away from it all includes Malbec and a log burner).

Please follow us on our journey. Fun times and knackered manicures ahead!

Welcome to Anderby Creek

It’s going to look a little different in the next few months. The back of the lodge before renovation.

Seaside Lodge compass

The garden needs a bit of TLC

The view from the back of the lodge #Nofilter

Looking back from the beach – The Hamptons? No, Lincolnshire!

Looking over the dunes at the beach at Anderby Creek

The fields over the lake