It's a very vague memory. I must have been 13-14 years old and my father was, I think, replacing some broken tiles, on either wall or floor, not sure. What I am sure of is that I was probably required to 'help' and most certainly not motivated to do so.
In any case I have since done many tiling jobs in the many places I have done renovation works. It only occurred to me these past weeks that I don't remember where I learned how. In fact I have a wide array of tile tools, cutters, niblers, knee pads, etc. I've had these forever. I do not remember how. I've just always had them. And it seems my cloudy memory left just enough light for me to 'know' how to use them.
Going around the apartments and noting the little touch ups and enhancements required here and there I decided the floor tiles were in real need of a good grouting. The floors are probably as old as the villa, and by now, there where no joints at all between the tiles. Had there ever been? Anyway I decided that since I had no painting to do (remember last year) why not just do it. It's an inexpensive yet very visible improvement in both aesthetic and hygiene. And I know how to do it. Right.
I started with our own apartment as a test site just in case (exit plan). But that turned out nice so I spent the next 4-5 days on my hands and knees, with my old pads of course, grouting the floor tiles of 3 apartments. As my technique got better I then noticed I did those apartments better that our own. So I started ours over a second time. And that gave the best results to date. So for the remaining 2 apartments I systematically did them twice over, spending a further 5 days on my hands and knees.
So while Sylvie focused on everything else I grouted the equivalent of 1000 m2 worth of floor tiles in the 2 last weeks of January. I also touched up some paint, replaced all remaining old ceiling fans with new more silent ones and installed new smoke detectors in all apartments. We expect to do these sort of things regularly with a varying program as the years go by. But floor grouting, never again. Better quit while I'm ahead. I'm hanging up my knee pads.
Next year I'll do new kitchen wall tiles, maybe.
It could well be that nobody notices, we certainly do not expect people to come admire the result our floor grouting skills. But we are proud of this villa and anything that makes it better makes us happier. The work is not perfect, but much better than before is a fair qualifier.
That's fitting because, as those of you who follow will know, that's how we do things here.
At Monte-Bougainvillea we don't do breakfast, we do better. Like lending you a car at no extra cost, for example.
And now after 2 consecutive years of accolades, we can safely add 'Award winning customer satisfaction' as something else we do better than most.
Those are certainly better reasons than new floor joints to come stay with us.
But knowing we did them you also know the length we will go to to ensure you fully enjoy your stay at Monte-Bougainvillea in an apartment that will be this year, again, better.
If you have better plans for 2020 then we'd be happy with a small consolation prize if you could spare a click to share this post.
Otherwise...
See you soon?
Sylvie & jc
www.monte-bougainvillea.com
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