Here’s a fast review of my worst winter in 50 years experience. Start with the longest winter ever, add the worst flu I’ve ever experienced, smother with the depressing ‘Trump’ effect, and toss in a full kitchen renovation and you get the idea? Gratefully the sun has just reappeared and spring is just around the corner and we are almost coming to the end of the kitchen renovation, an experience nobody could have forewarned me about!

I met up with a kitchen designer employed by a cabinet store in November, and in no time he provided a plan and a shopping list. He was going to oversee the project and I was on my way. I should have listened to his warnings about how challenging it can be to redesign your home while you are living in it, but I was swooning at the thought of my brand new state-of-the-art modern kitchen – granite island and countertops, a new gas range and lots of lovely new cabinets. Everything a passionate cook dreams about.

Let the project begin! Well who knew we are in the height of a

building boom and all the trades are screamingly busy?

Contractor number one bowed out at the last minute and

contractor number two had his arm twisted to take on the job.

Let the tear down begin! January 24th a team of young bucks

come in to rip out the existing space and prepare it for the new

kitchen. Lots of dust and drop sheets!

Let the snow arrive! Total disruption as we experience the worst

winter for 50 years! The road is a secondary one and it’s not the

first to get cleared, but somehow we manage to keep it all

shovelled and accessible. The ball is rolling – the cabinets arrive

and the installer spends three days putting them together. Lots

of cutting and dust! The electrician comes to cut out holes and

lay wiring everywhere- the power is OFF and my phone has not

worked to this day! The flooring guys arrive and take 5 days to

install the flooring. Lots more cutting and dust! The dry waller

arrives the next day and spreads fine white powder everywhere

to smooth out the edges and then sands it all down, coating the

new floor and all the cabinets with a thick layer of fine white

dust! Forget the drop sheets now – it’s getting through to the

whole house – everything is now coated! My stress level sky

rockets!

Finally the day arrives when the countertops get installed with

the new sink and tap. We have water again. The appliances are

on their way. We wait for the hook ups, looking forward to

having our kitchen back again after 7 weeks. The novelty of

eating out has worn off and we have tried every quick meal in

town. The time of upheaval and living in a dust bath is starting to

wear on us.

Two out of four appliances that have been delivered do not work,

like has my phone for the past 8 weeks, we still have no power

in the kitchen and the new wood floor is covered in scratches.

Then the flu hits and we are bedridden for 10 days, energy

zapped! The trades people have evaporated, we still need a

painter, a tiler, a plumber, an electrician and a gas fitter.

Everyone is SO busy, another two weeks goes by without a

kitchen.

So here we are today, still waiting for the gas range and fridge to

work and a tiler. By now I have lost it and the stress of the whole

thing has left me drained and exhausted. So a recommendation

for anyone considering a kitchen renovation – go on holiday for 3

months and avoid the whole nerve wracking experience (and

don’t follow CNN’s coverage of Trump politics while you are

doing it!)

Carolyn Herriot is author of The Zero Mile Diet and The Zero Mile Diet Cookbook Available at your local bookstore. She grows IncrEdibles! in Yellow Point. www.incredibles.vision

See all articles by Carolyn Herriot