WEEK 10

We had a brick layer on site! For just two days anyway. Kens parents have been up and Graham being in the trade set too and sorted out the blockwork for the foundations of the garage. We tried to get him to stay but like all the brickies up here he is commited to other jobs.

The local team we had got to do the work turned up Saturday morning and left again with some vague excuses as to why they couldn't start. Mark reckons he won't be able to get here until the end of the month and then has no promises. As they all know each other it is very difficult getting some one else as they don't want to take each others jobs. I suppose we will get it done in the end or maybe we will have to clad the walls in wood!

Phil has been doing well and despite the frustration and despair has been battling on. I mogen came up with a bright idea and we now have Jeremy from New Zealand helping him on site. Having put the applicaton on the Gumtree website last Thursday by Friday had had half a dozen replies. Jeremy was the first, sounded nice, had good references and could start straight away. He is 26yrs old, travelling Europe and has just ended a few days touring Scotland with his parents who are dong a six week tour of Europe. He has accomodation in the Cabin with our other hired help and seems to be fitting in well. He helped Phil clear/tidy the site today and they are sorting things out ready to get on with some more jobs. It has certainly given Phil some more enthusiasm who is also enjoying having a helping hand.

Last Wednesday Phil and I went to Inverness on the hunt for materials. We found a stone outlet who deal in stone of all sorts mainly to the trade. We have sorted out some superb Travertine tiles which they had sourced from Turkey at a very good price. It was fun chosing the tiles individually that we need and they have put them aside until we can collect them. (Means hiring a van). We shall have to treat them but I have all the instructions and it doesn't sound difficult and a small price to pay to get a bargain. We also chose a peice of black chinese slate for the hearth. We probably saved ourselves about £500 in one store.

Well heres to another productive week and maybe some progress in getting Mark or someone on site.