PROGRESS

I have been away for a few days and we were very pleased to say goodbye to the bricklayers the day before I left. At long last the blockwork is all in place and after a 'minor' dispute on the 7th December we waved them off with some relief. Since then the weather has been terrible -rain, rain and more rain. We have had terrible floods and even a landslide on to the main A82 just north of Spean Bridge. But the house is fine and amazingly not a lot of water round it. The drainage seems to be working well and with a bit more installed when we do the ground works all will be fine.

Jim(the renderer) is now due in to finish the redering but that is totally impossible in this weather however he arrived today and hopes to make a start on Tueaday next much to our amazement We can then organise for the ground work to be sorted and the scaffolding to come down and wewill be almost ready tomove in.
The front door is on and also the doors to he workshop. The floor is also down in the workshop and we are ready for the plumber to come and put the boiler in. The garage has not yet progressed but is not a top priority at this stage.

Inside is progressing well and because of the appalling weather Phil has been busy installing fitted furniture in the study and our bedroom. Jeremy has been decorating but at this stage we are having a slight dispute over the colour of paint. (Phil is so conservative - He wants magnolia everywhere!) The electrical wiring is progressing and the electrician is moving that on. All we need is the connection to the main supply but of course that is held up because of the weather. Must chase them next week. The wood burning stove is in place and ready for the flue to be painted black.



We have decided to connect up to Imogen and Kens water supply putting a meter on our side to avoid disputes. We applied for a mains water supply to be connected last September and despite chasing have not heard a word. As Imogen and Ken have not heard either down the official route for 18months as is a similar story with the other people in the road (they were all connected in by a local plumber) we have decided we can't wait that long. Jeremy is to start digging for early next week and wepaln to connect whilst there are no guests staying at Old Pines
The tiler (Brian) is progressing with the wetroom - the bathroom having been finished we are pleased with both despite Phil thinking the wetroom looks very Charles Renee MacIntosh who he has no liking for!


Unfortunately Jeremy leaves us next week to go off travelling. He is heading to London, on to Germany for Christmas and then to Poland for New Year to see Robert who worked in the hotel over the summer. We shall miss him but he promises to come back and see us during 2007. I shall miss his laid back attitude, sweet-cool, and living for today.

WEEK 27

We have had a frustrating couple of weeks and perhaps the reason I have not posted a blog for a couple of weeks. The brick layers are causing real problems - not turning up and then when they do only stay half a day. Thank goodness they are on a price and Phil and I are fast getting rather annoyed. It has to be admitted that last week we had the worst weather but if they had got on with it the blocks couldall have been layed the previous week. Friday was a good day (sunshine and dry) - they arrives at 10.30am and left at 2.45pm! They are holding every one else up now.

Last week they managed to drive the fork lift into the peat and in trying to get it out got it completely bedded into the peat just outside Little Pines. We had to get a local haulage company tocome and remove the fork lift from the hole and since then we have had no Sky TV so are having to watch TV through a slight fuzz off the terrestrial aerial. It is not worth spending too much time trying to get it fixed!

The renderer Jim - who is a real character has got the garage and that flank wall of the house and the porch done despite the weather and it looks good.

Phil and Jeremy continue to get on well inside. The kitchen is in and covered in protection to prevent damage. The tiler is getting on well with the bathrooms and Phil is busy plumbing in sinks, WC's ect as I write.

We had hoped that by now we would have moved in and I had so many plans for Christmas. I don't mind admitting I am quite down but I am heading to Devon on Thursday for a few days and am looking forward to a break, leaving Phil here to carry on.