WEEK 17 Despair

Doom and despair this week and the reason why I haven't written the blog until today. The bricklayer Alan turned up last Saturday to announce that he was not able to get in for another three weeks! We are beginning to have windy wet weather(not all the time) and are anxious to get the blockwork finished. I found a guy from Appin who came up - spent ages with Phil - agreed a price and said he would start on Monday 8am. Monday morning came - no Gavin. I rang his home and his mother tells me he has far too much work on and would not be there! So in desperation we have found Roy from the Gumtree website. A bricklayer in Glasgow he wanted to come up to the country and was looking for sometyhing. He is supposed to be arriving on Friday. Of course we are in a position to provide accomodation so that was a bonus. We will just wait and see if he turns up and if his work is reasonable. Needless to say Phil and I have been very depressed and the stress levels have been HIGH. - thank goodness for the Tai Chi!


For something more positive. Because the flank wall is finished the frame of the Porch is now up and the next stage is to get the garage up so we can get the roof on. Dave and Vic have also replaced the big window and the doors are on which means the house is protected from the elements. Phil and Jeremy have finished the plaster boarding and now have to rub it all down. We really are getting on very well inside - if only we could get the outside going as well. What it is to be reliant on other people!
Eddie - The scaffolder has come to an arrangement with us with regard the scaffold as he needs it elsewhere and we in effect are not using it at present. This will save us money and do him a favour.
The oil tank is being filled tomorrow ready for the Aga to be installed on Thursday. The kitchen now arrives in two weeks time and Phil and I have arrranged a trip to Inverness next week to collect some materials and look at tiles.

Will keep you posted as to progress after the weekend!