Towards the end of January 2014............

Time is strange, it doesn't seem long since Christmas. And yet, January seems to have stretched forever.  

All the family back home and doing their various things: at work; taking exams; new courses; looking for new ventures/adventures. 

We are moving on slowly, having to do one thing so that we can move stuff around to be able to do another.

Mostly we have been building a partition in the garage to create a cosy space for archiving books and papers, and to keep it separate from the workshop space at the back.  

We have made use of the original house doors to create a partition.  Now to paint.

Have also been sealing the shower walls in the en-suite bathroom, having found, eventually, and at great cost, a 150mm (6") cowl to go over the pipe, which was letting in water and damaging the ceiling of the shower.  Not sure why it had to be such a big pipe, but it was on the original plan.  Wonder whether it should have had a bigger fan, as the one we have is only a 100mm (4") one.  However, have now solved the problem so no rain coming in through the pipe.  Also found a hit/miss vent cover to go in the bathroom, instead of the unsightly hole in the ceiling.  Mark has now been on the roof and tightened all the covers to the pipe works so now there is no water ingress through them.

We have been looking at the big mirror we have and wondering where to put it!

Have decided that on the wall above where it is propped up now would be a good place.  It is a solid wall and will take the weight, and would reflect light into the hallway.

And here it is well screwed to the wall - I think you can see that it is a mighty piece of work, made by a friend of ours.

We also put up this by the front door.  Love this happy image of Picasso and Francoise Gilot, by Robert Capa, from 1948.

Have received some metal legs today, to make a desk/table for the computer in the sitting room.  Not unpacked yet, but expect to see them soon.

Also, am in the process of making some glass tiles for a splashback in the bathroom, so pictures of those when they have been made.

So, although the house is nearing completion, still lots of things to show you in the coming weeks.

Sunny Wednesday and quite mild, so able to do things in the garage......

Over the past few days we have been working on the garage, making a study/book-store area, separate from the workshop part.  This will enable to store many books that are not wanted day-to-day, and create good storage for the tools which are currently in a less than dry shed, and are showing signs of rust in places.  Not good storage for electric drills, etc.  And plenty of space for the workbench and my mini kiln (on a concrete floor).

We have been able to utilise old doors from the house and offcuts of timber from the build as well as some of Finn's splendid screws that were left over from his build!

looking towards the workshop end

workshop end looking  toward new store

measuring up for the door.....

.......the door hung

Also been doing a little retail therapy!  Have bought a cowl for the en-suite extractor fan, and a wipeable tablecloth for the kitchen table.

14th January 2013 was the start date of this project.

17th January 2014, and there are still some bits to be finished internally. The exterior has the major amount of work to be done.  Roof trim, sealing between wall panels and frames.  Cowl and sealing around roof exits.  And of course the Rockwool wall.  Again Rockwool have failed to respond to our requests, and deadlines..........

Here are some pictures,

Now you see it

the skip..... that is

Now you don't

the skip was uplifted yesterday

Mark has spent some time this afternoon clearing up the mud and debris from a round this are so it looks much clearer than in this photo.   

More news next week, folks.

11th January 2014 - a sunny Saturday, 3 days short of when we started the build

Not a lot has happened since the last post.  A sunny day, so clearing up my store of glass (old windows from the original house) which got blown down in the storms before Christmas.  We heard a tremendous thump one night, and the sound of breaking glass...... Still, I will be able to use some of it in my glass fusing class.

The skip is almost ready to be taken away.  Mark has been cleaning up the yard in the front of the house, so that the skip can be taken at end of next week (needed to move stuff so the pick-up lorry can get in).

Much moving of boxes and crockery, so that we can fit things into hall cupboard:  vases, candle sticks, extra large dishes, that sort of thing.  

Have contacted a woodworker to come and give us an estimate for making some nice pigeon holes to go above the sink, for cups, coffee, plates etc.; and to build an under-sink cupboard, drawers and shelves, and a shelving system beside the fridge for cookery books.  Also to finish the woodwork in the sitting room, beside the big windows.

We have a roofer who has been to look at finalising the roof for us, and we are waiting for a drawing from him.  Then we can start to finish the exterior.

Still waiting for a positive response from Rockwool people, who are being very lackadaisical about their wall system.  

Beginning to think about the front garden ideas now.

Well, all for now, come back again soon.  Off to watch The Bridge! 

A New Year - 2014

Thank you to all who have been following my posts for the past year - it is just a week short of a year since we began the build.  

And here are some Christmas pictures and some pictures from today, to show how we are shaking down, although there is still some way to go.

Cosy Christmas eve fire

Christmas eve, cards still to go up

what a jolly tree.......

........and flowers and cards

the chimney with its new pot

kitchen now in action

dining area and new cooker

the hallway

the other hallway

our bedroom, with unpacking still to be done, once we have more storage space in kitchen