What we didn't count on...
Although the Czech Television program "Památky na prodej" (Monuments for Sale) ends by saying that the castle is small and suitable for one family at most, our experience has been different. During our first visits, we were more likely to be looking for each other. We ran from room to room, not knowing where to go. In every corner, a pile of junk awaited us. It was clear to us that before we could even begin planning the renovation, we had to clean the castle first... Because we were afraid that something might be destroyed or lost while clearing out the years of clutter, we only involved our family in this work. What a mess! We were constantly looking for something, mostly tools. Of course, we were also missing a lot of work tools. To our delight, we found a few unique items from the socialist era, but we soon discovered that they actually made the work more difficult. So we had no choice but to regularly drive to Sušice to buy new brooms, pickaxes, and longer and longer extension cords. At first, nothing had its own place, and if it did, everyone called it something different. This forced us to create a uniform nomenclature - "fireplace room," "pastry shop," "café," "black kitchen," etc. Since then, the efficiency of our work has increased slightly.
Gradually, several important principles emerged:
Stick to what you're doing.
If you are pursuing something, do not pay attention to anything else along the way, especially other work. Otherwise, you will not accomplish anything.
Don't respond to those who call for help. Focus on your own activities. In the end, everyone has to cope on their own.
Never go anywhere empty-handed.
You'd better put your old tools away in a future "communist museum," because you can't even plant a tulip with a rusty hoe.
As soon as the sun goes down, stop what you're doing and clean up after yourself, otherwise you'll break your back later.
Always have a flashlight ready at the main entrance, even if it's dark outside, because it's pitch black inside the castle.
The exception proves the rule, as the following event demonstrates. I decided to repair a hole in the roof of the Baroque granary. Markéta immediately discouraged me and convinced me that we should call a roofer. Nevertheless, I extend the folding ladder to its highest possible position and climb onto the roof. On the way up, I discover that our gutters are completely clogged, if you can call the remnants of metal sheets around the roof gutters that. Of course, I need a small shovel to clean them out. So I call for help, but in vain. My roofing efforts disturbed the wasps in their nest under the cornice. Now I really yell, "Help, wasps!" This forces Markéta to stop what she is doing and run over with wasp killer. And we have entertainment until dark...
