Window Replacement

Our windows have been replaced in the middle of the winter, when it’s minus degree outside. According to Peter who heard from Fabian, it’s cheap to have windows replaced in winter, so craftsmen have income in winter.

Yesterday, they replaced 40% of the windows in our apartment. It was still snowing a bit in the morning, and I was wearing a jacket, a scarf, and double layers of socks in the apartment. They were supposed to be finished with our apartment by noon today, but as you can see in the photos, they left some of the windows still unfinished. Two young craftsmen, who I thought were Russians, were actually Kosovo Albanians, and they work diligently. When I offered them a chilled bottle of beer at the end of the day, they kindly refused, saying they don’t drink at work. To this, Peter could not hide his surprise. “German craftsmen would never refuse such an offer. Indeed, I would not either!” But these are Germans who are born in a brewery and fed beer instead of milk.

What I regret the most about this renovation is the window in the dining room (photo below, with Hina). It was so pretty and matched our Ikea furniture and the dining table from Peter’s grandma perfectly.

After this window replacement, our rent will surely increase. We’d love to stay here, but if the rent goes up, we don’t have a choice but to move somewhere else. =(

Windows being replaced now

Before: when we first moved in October 2005