After three unsuccessful attempts to get a video of the MCV onto my blog I have now uploaded this video to YouTube. If you want to look around my new car, the link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWxalDHe-HQ
Load space in the MCV was very useful today when I went to Sighisoara to buy some kitchen units. I spent yesterday morning planning a layout for the kitchen and in the afternoon I visited the furniture factory outlet shop where I had previously bought a bedroom suite, bed/settee, TV/video unit, coffee table and corner seating unit with table. Of the six or seven kitchen sets on display there were two which caught my eye. Both had glass fronted wall cupboards suitable for wine and beer glasses, but the one I preferred had a tall cupboard with four drawers in the base. The sets as sold total 2.6 metres in length and when I checked the sizes of the individual units making up the set, I found that one complete set plus an extra 800mm unit would fit the available space almost exactly without having to order made-to-measure units. It was too late in the day to get cash from the bank, the only way I could pay at this shop (cards not accepted) and as yet I cannot get an ATM card until I am registered as a Romanian resident. I told them I would return the next day and went to check prices for stainless steel sink tops.
On the way to Sighisoara today I noticed that my new English speaking friend Adi was home so I stopped and asked if he would mind coming with me to translate and make sure I got what I wanted since no-one at the furniture shop spoke English. Adi was happy to help, so off we went.
After drawing some cash, a rather lengthy process until I can get a cash card, Adi suggested we look at a couple of other furniture shops he knew of. However, both only sold ready assembled units which would have to be ordered and their prices were around 35% higher than the flatpack units I had looked at the day before. In addition, I would have to pay for delivery!
Back at the factory outlet shop it was confirmed that I could have the set I wanted straight away from stock but the additional 800mm base would have to be ordered and collected next week since the factory, near Brasov, was shut for the annual holiday period. Waiting until next week would not be a problem as I had a few days work ahead of me re-plumbing the kitchen then assembling and fitting the basic set of eight units - four base units, three wall cupboards and a tall cupboard. I was then told that the four drawer base and the glass fronted wall cupboard were already assembled - so that would make life a bit easier! After paying the 850 lei (£170) for the complete set, including worktops, we loaded up my Dacia MCV and set off home. After dropping Adi back at his house in Laslea, I got back to Roandola and unloaded everything into the house. Shade temperature was still 32C at 5pm so I decided to have a quick dip in the pool before I did anything else.
An hour later - floating around in the pool on my airbed was so relaxing! - I dried myself off and unpacked the flatpack kitchen to make sure all the bits were there. Tomorrow I must go to Medias to get the name on my electricity bills changed from that of the previous owner of the house and while I am in Medias I will buy a stainless sink top for my new kitchen. By tomorrow afternoon I should have got the new sink installed and the plumbing completed and by Friday I hope the rest of the units will be assembled and fitted with only the extra 800mm base unit to be put in next week. It will be great to have cupboards to put things in at last instead of having to keep eveything on the two tables which are my kitchen furniture at present.
Next project - a bed for the room which will become my private quarters. I already have a wardrobe and a chest of drawers, purchased with the house from the previous owner. With my friends John and Margaret Willemsen coming to visit next month, I want to show considerable progress towards opening as a bed & breakfast. August should be a busy month as I hope that Kary, my builder friend from Cluj, can start work with his team installing en-suite shower/toilet, drains, septic tank, central heating, new plumbing in the cellar for washing machine and dishwasher and new electrics throughout the house. Phew! Makes fitting the kitchen sound easy!
No comments:
Post a Comment