Only 500 metres left …

Its hard work, there are bruises and splinters, there is noise and wonderful progress.

The floor is out of James’ room and alongside the top of the stairs –with lots of craft needed to get a good finish on the last step   - well done Tracey.

As I write more insulation is being pumped in the space between the ceiling and the floor –the stack of bales of compressed newspaper is diminishing. A good use of one sort of print media that we quickly discard. I’m thinking of John as I write –his newspaper habit was legend and he would have been so proud of all this work.

Briefly other news –overnight we have had the best sort of rain …soft and gentle on all the young plants. Paul has forgiven me for pulling up the wrong spring onions –I now know where the ones for eating are! My quilt is less a pile of small pieces and more a pile of small squares and yes they were a few days late but the homemade hot cross buns got top marks. I don't expect there will be any left for tomorrow! Off now to do some more work on my poetry and then make pizza for lunch.

The start of the cover up …

I’m writing this to the beautiful sound of floorboards being hammered, strapped and nailed into place. The pictures tell the story so far –lots of planning, hard work and the occasional fall of dust. I’ve been taking photos to record what is under what boards –some places light fittings, elsewhere insulation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m also making tea, cooking for the workers and sometimes getting in the way as my bedroom looks more and more like a place to move into –and, as always, once a floor goes down, a much bigger room  than before. Cookie and Crumble keep a watch on it all. Yesterday we 3 went out for our usual along the hedgerow walk admiring the blossom and young wheat that now really does need rain. Cloudy today but no sign of rain yet.  To be continued …..

Spring 2012 update

I’m writing this inside away, yes away from the March midday heat! Not sure if this is early summer, just a good spring but its certainly making up for the icy spell in February that gave many plants and trees a shock they may never recover from. Its a case of watching and waiting, seeing past the impact of the sub sub zero temperatures on the eucalyptus, passiflora etc.  lots of brown leaves and peeling bark at the moment.

The fields are vibrant with young wheat and hedgerow blossom –but rain is needed for the crops to continue to flourish. As usual Cookie is taking advantage of the sun out on the front terrace currently a work space for the laying of the floor

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Yes, after lots of work on the professional plumbing by Paul to improve access to key pipes and construction of  James’ bathroom it is almost time. So glad that I am here to become chief tea maker and cook for the ‘workers’ over the next week as my rooms are given their finishing touch. Some early pictures below –lots of levelling, cleaning up the dust and fitting cork soundproofing strips happening today. I’ll keep the camera handy and continue the story -OK its a bore for most but I am so excited to see the plan for the space working out so well.

… switches on the wall

In fact, we have six switches at the top of the stairs –brushed satiny grey steel- elegant and ready for the light fittings we are still pondering over .Switches so nice I had to take a photo …

 

I just hope I can learn which switch works which light in a shorter time than it has taken me to know which switch to press to get light in the family room!  Blinking lights comes to mind whenever I try to turn them on and off .. and here are only four to choose from there. 

Paul is busy with the plumbing for James’ wet room …  and with the floor well rested, next week the fitting can begin. I am trying not to get too excited but I man be sleeping up there next time I’m here… WOW

the floor is resting

Transferred form Tim’s between Christmas and New Year the oak floor boards are getting used to their final home … adapting to the air on the first floor ready to be laid. The wood pale, smooth and smells woody and wonderful.

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Tracey has diligently cleaned the ceiling –floor space and taped the light fittings in place, Lots of discussion about position and type of lights for the big space up there –we’ve all seen the ones we like, as usual there are strong opinions  and some are excluded on cost grounds alone as we need several!

and the plumbing for James’ shower room progresses ….

Oh so nearly there

Me upstairs that is … just a floor needed. The wet room is in good working order –water, lights. hot radiator & flushing loo. It looks fabulous –all that tile choosing time was very worthwhile.

 

 

Access is still slightly hazardous but I’ve now relearnt the art of long stepping from board to board …. and have been planning where to put the furniture. How wonderful it will be to unpack the library … need to decide order of books ..mmm. 

Progress also on the other side of the wall where James’ wet room now has a concrete base from which more good things will be built.

Progress on the first floor

About half the ventilation system arrived today... the other half is due early tomorrow morning. The split delivery is a mystery ...  of the ours not to reason why variety. We've also been 'playing' with the wet room tiles to decide what colour the trim and grout should be.

The weather is not up to the usual summer standard .... the tomatoes are splitting with all the rain. Chaos came to the hen house last night when Crumble squeezed through the gate while I was collecting the eggs ... a few very hectic minutes ensued and there were lots of feathers littering the ground by the time she was caught. I've learnt a lesson ... both bolt and wire catch need to be in place.