Up with the lark this morning – well, not really. 8am. I suspect when the baby arrives, this will be considered a lie in. For now, though, for us childless, Monday-to-Friday-ers, 8am on a Saturday is pretty early.

But we have good reason for our not-so-early early start. For today, work begins on Rat Race Cycles, Nunhead.

We’ve had the keys since Monday 15 October (coincidentally, also our 7th wedding anniversary!) and have been to-ing and fro-ing about electrics (there aren’t any), shutters (ditto) and grills on the windows (again, nix). Today, though, we start ripping, tearing, washing, sweeping, and rewiring. Armed with tea, coffee and gluten-free blueberry muffins, it’s time to get cracking on the hard graft.

It wasn’t the most auspicious of starts; our printer stubbornly refused to print any of our ‘coming soon’ signs,no we’ve had to go a bit ghetto with a big black marker and some plain A4. But it’s only temporary.

P is getting stuck into the rewiring (clever boy) which our lovely electrician will check and sign-off when he’s done. For me, the first job is to get rid of the delightful black-and-huge-pink-blooms wallpaper covering the biggest wall in the shop. Great for a florists’, I’m sure, but not quite right for a bike shop. So if you want a giggle at a woman with a rather large bump struggling with 15 years of caked-on wall coverings, do come by and say hi.

I’m not sure how advisable it is to do DIY when you’re 7 months pregnant, hence the ‘resting chair’ we brought from home, and the copious tea and muffins. But needs must. And hey, as Starship said in the first song that came on our obligatory box o’ cheesy choons this morning “we can build this dream together / standing strong forever / nothing’s gonna stop us now”.

X

Today’s hard graft brought to you by the lovely Catriona, Steve, and Alex. Thanks guys!!