WE FINISH THE FLOWER GARDEN ROOM

We have had a summer break but are now back to work again.

Maria and Rachel worked together to stick the cut-out flowers on the wall.

Maria's flowers look stunning and would probably sell for a high price if she sold them in a quality design store.

They brighten the room up and look beautiful.

The flowers are stuck all around the door and above the skirting board.

Ed sings the song for the Flower Garden Room.

Dan, Amara, Blue and Leroy sit together in the park at the end of the day.

ED'S SONG

Ed sings a Transport Song for the TRANSPORT ROOM.

THE FLOWER GARDEN ROOM

Most people find watercolour paint difficult to use but Maria's pictures are delicate and fresh.

She is a terrific artist.

Andy's drawings are completely different to Maria's.

They always have bold shapes and powerful colours.

Here he is copying some leaves from a book of flowers and plants.

Danny's drawings are more abstract.

He draws neverending lines using crayons and felt pens until the whole paper is covered in one gorgeous texture.

We will use everyone's work to make a collage of flowers in the FLOWER GARDEN ROOM.

THE TRANSPORT ROOM COMES TO LIFE

Blue's first notes for pictures for the TRANSPORT ROOM.

Using Blue's lists of vehicles we printed out pictures from the internet.

This is the Batmobile.

We cut all the pictures out and Rachel and Andy covered the backs with wallpaper paste.

Blue said they should all go in a line like traffic on a road.

Ed helps to take down some masking tape that we left behind last time.

Andy carefully sticks the cars down in a neat line.

The TRANSPORT ROOM is nearly ready.

Blue says the children will be flabbergasted when they see their room.

He's right - it's a fantastic job.

The last time Orient Street Respite Unit was decorated, the council paid a group of so-called "painters and decorators" who charged huge amounts of money.

They were careless and did a terrible job.

We use our imagination and work slowly and steadily.

THE SECOND ROOM

Blue and Dan prepare the walls for one of the downstairs rooms.

Rachel wanted to paint this room yellow.

Tristram and Danny make sure the surfaces are evenly covered.

Chris and Andrew roll on the second coat.

This room will soon become the FLOWER GARDEN ROOM.

FIRST DESIGNS FOR THE TRANSPORT ROOM

Maria touches up yesterday's painting so the walls look perfect.

Now Ed uses white gloss paint on the window sills.

Rache, Blue and Robin get ready to begin the design work.

Blue wants this room to be the TRANSPORT ROOM.

Blue is an expert on transport.

He knows the name of every kind of aeroplane, every helicopter, every truck , every motorbike , every make of car.

And he draws in a way you have never seen anyone draw before.

His drawings are marvellous.

He is in charge of the design for the TRANSPORT ROOM.

Rachel carefully paints Blue's drawing.

Some of our group get paid. They are known as the "starves".

Here are three of the starves:

Tristram, Jess, and H.

A SECOND COAT OF PAINT

This week Ed is putting on the second coat of paint.

He is helped by our two volunteers Nassar and Zayna who paint the ceiling.

At first Andrew is nervous of coming into the room with all the dust sheets on the floor.

He paints with both feet safely outside the room.

But after a while he comes into the room and even tries out the long handled roller.

At the end of the day Rache wraps the wet brush in a plastic bag so we can use it again tomorrow.

The second coat of paint is finished.

The room looks much brighter now.

THE PAINTING BEGINS

Danny in a boiler suit.

Ed chose a light blue for the walls.

Dawn Blue they call it.

Danny and Rachel begin rolling on paint.

We had a lot of ideas for themes for this room.

In the end Blue came up with the best idea.

This will be THE TRANSPORT ROOM.

WE START WORK

Our first job is a children's room on the first floor.

The room is quite dark at the moment.

Andy and Blue show all the materials we bought at the DIY shop.

They begin work filling in holes with Polyfilla.

Rachel mixes a Sugar Soap solution for washing the walls.

Andy washes the walls with the mixture.

Ed clears up at the end of the day.