tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19469791821340474512024-02-06T21:00:35.201-08:00Greening the Coach HouseNew city, new jobs - and now a green refurb!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-63747688472470165552017-10-02T05:43:00.002-07:002017-10-02T05:44:31.347-07:00We don't live here anymore....Both IRL and online - this blog is now saved <a href="https://diepdin.squarespace.com/greencoachhouse/">here </a>alongside the new blog about our new adventures!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-476307592659460902015-04-03T08:40:00.002-07:002015-04-03T08:40:36.724-07:00parquet 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bedroom floor at last - only the hall to go! The laying of the parquet was easier this time than in the spare room, but the sanding harder - so we've left it more 'textured'!<div>
Completed over 2 weekends in June 2014.<br /><br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-51786305561183739832011-07-10T14:04:00.000-07:002011-07-10T14:21:52.292-07:00And the floodSo a few things to add to Emily's post!<br />We have also tiled by the hob, and put up the knife rack, so the kitchen is really sorted now. Only a better set of shelves to make for the left hand side of the hob and it will be done!?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923665546/" title="tiles, kniferack by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5923665546_b284be5799.jpg" alt="tiles, kniferack" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Also when we got back from seeing the early showing of Senna (great film) on Friday we came back to a paddling pool / swimming pool in the courtyard and a rather wet MVHR unit. It had done some torrential down pours whilst we were out, and while the side of the roof over the MVHR is now covered with felt, the other side isn't and the rain poured in. We were rescued on Saturday morning by Matt and Scott (our builders) coming over and putting a tarp over the other side of the roof, protecting the MVHR and allowing things to dry out. Hopefully they will have the felt up in the next 1-2 days on the other side, and then they have to re-do the middle wall, retrofit purlins, re-do the front walls and doors and windows.......only a little bit of work!?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923098327/" title="slats by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5923098327_282674221d_m.jpg" alt="slats" width="240" height="180" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923099797/" title="tarpaulin by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5923099797_70473857c5_m.jpg" alt="tarpaulin" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /><br />The other exciting news is that Gil has submitted the plans for the balcony and fence to the planners - so now we just wait - I can't seem to upload the plans tonight, but will see if I can work it out for later in the week. Now off to bed to rest very weary arms from painting.<br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/CLARED%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-7312970403405151122011-07-10T13:48:00.000-07:002011-07-10T13:48:58.031-07:00Of roofs, promontories and painting.I think C showed a pic in the last post of the roof off our shed; here's a bit more of the same sans builders on it. Currently the side nearer the house and courtyard has been felted and the slats for the slates to be nailed to have been attached to counter-slats (ie there are ones going vertically, so the horizontal ones don't trap the water running down the felt). The felt is new-fangled, breathable stuff.<br />
The other side is more complicated with a wall plate that is angled so the gully behind the parapet wall has a pitch allowing water to flow to the outflow at the house end, and to match the steep pitch of the road and therefore the wall. It's in progress though, after complications with the RSJ over the garage door (half the size it should be and almost rusted away).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923515696/" title="roofless left by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="roofless left" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5923515696_a1f7158f43_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5922949667/" title="roofless middle by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="roofless middle" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5922949667_135f34e3b5_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923512570/" title="roofless right by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="roofless right" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5923512570_c4c211f851_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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We've also finally finished knocking down the dodgy potting shed with the big (heavy!) red tiles, up at the top of the garden (the place that is best for sun in the afternoon/evening). Now it's a lovely place to sit (it'll be lovelier once we sort out the paving). Just as well, we thought we might die horribly while knocking it down (thank you Sarah for your help!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5922952391/" title="ex-shed by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="ex-shed" height="480" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5922952391_c890fab540_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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D'you like the phone-box door? Bought about 12 years ago in Cornwall and lugged about till now. We think we'll try to grow something up it, not too overwhelming and hopefully nice smelling.<br />
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There's been progress inside too. Our lovely friend Han came for the weekend and used left-over engineered wooden boards from our upstairs floor to create a promontory for the kitchen, giving us more work-surface and shelving. I understand others call this sort of thing a peninsular unit. Hmmm. <br />
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Han working <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923518110/" title="Han promontory by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="Han promontory" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5923518110_1c00482934_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5922954171/" title="new prom fridge by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="new prom fridge" height="180" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5922954171_76f6021172_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923519944/" title="new prom end by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="new prom end" height="240" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5923519944_18840a105e_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923520662/" title="new prom shelves by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="new prom shelves" height="180" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5923520662_86139bb8f6_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
And this weekend lots of painting has been done - largely by Clare as I have an elbow injury (no idea how, but v limiting as to rollering).<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5922957191/" title="painting by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="painting" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5922957191_45a423c350.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5922959019/" title="painted room by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="painted room" height="480" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5922959019_b6862e19e1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923524746/" title="painted room 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="painted room 2" height="480" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5923524746_11ce1faf52_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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A place for those cookery, garden and house books - and the oversized art ones, too. (<a href="http://www.hw-archive.com/">Hundertwasser</a>, anyone?)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5923526292/" title="shelf side of prom by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="shelf side of prom" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5923526292_aaf194db8a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
And the coffee-maker is happy at last!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5922963083/" title="coffee side of prom by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="coffee side of prom" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/5922963083_513f46ccb0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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It's really feeling as if the whole place is coming together.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-35812922966683971412011-07-01T04:51:00.000-07:002011-07-01T04:53:30.304-07:00Shed StuffSo we started removing the old shelving from inside the outbuildings, to reorganise and start the bike room etc, and found a slight problem;<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5863972199/" title="dry rot by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5863972199_9f13da6321_z.jpg" alt="dry rot" width="640" height="480" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5863973249/" title="dry rot 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/5863973249_46ed07525c_z.jpg" alt="dry rot 2" width="640" height="480" /></a><br />Dry rot - and a massive leak down the street side wall through the roof.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841265203/" title="damp sheds by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/5841265203_d2b05ba587_z.jpg" alt="damp sheds" width="640" height="480" /></a><br />So we are now back in a destruction phase, with builders back to re-do the outbuildings, which includes rebuilding an entire wall, redoing most of the wooden beams for the roof and redoing all the slates - here is where we are at....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5864531142/" title="ex-sauna by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/5864531142_37ff26c565_m.jpg" alt="ex-sauna" width="240" height="180" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5864529232/" title="dodgy lintel by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5864529232_5329e3baa2_m.jpg" alt="dodgy lintel" width="180" height="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5863975157/" title="choc block floor by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5198/5863975157_23f8d5d8cc_m.jpg" alt="choc block floor" width="180" height="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5863977349/" title="choc block floor detail by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/5863977349_87e7ceba44_m.jpg" alt="choc block floor detail" width="240" height="180" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5864526986/" title="rebuilding back wall by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/5864526986_471366fa18_m.jpg" alt="rebuilding back wall" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5884048479/" title="roof off by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5884048479_aa2e537522.jpg" alt="roof off" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Only a little work for the builders (!) - oh and no yard and lots of skips again.......Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-26151511138826148942011-06-25T09:54:00.000-07:002011-06-25T09:54:28.029-07:00some garden stuff<span style="font-size: large;">The front garden in toto:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5870023250/" title="front garden by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="front garden" height="480" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5870023250_9b3e9cd7e5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And the detailed versions:</span> everlasting peas, then buddleia,wallflower, lavenders, passionflower, more lavender, fuchsia, chamomile. The pots have some sedum and a tiny fig cutting. Mmmm.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5870018422/" title="front left by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="front left" height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/5870018422_684011747d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5869459843/" title="front middle by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="front middle" height="180" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5869459843_ab3dd4f99e_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5870016478/" title="front right by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="front right" height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/5870016478_943b5f1a2d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And</span> the elephant ears (bleurrgh, but good ground cover), something purple whose name I've forgotten, and pretty feathery astilbe.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5870019430/" title="astilbe by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="astilbe" height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/5870019430_844858ed64_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A look up the garden to the shed when we'd just planted out herbs (from Riverford, where we get our veg box).</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841802694/" title="herbs and broadbeans by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="herbs and broadbeans" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/5841802694_d366e65bf5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That was then - this is now. The shed has become a bus shelter, and the broad beans and herbs have gone BANANAS!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5869464827/" title="bus shelter by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="bus shelter" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/5869464827_52a4a78c62.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The raspberry crop, and the loganberry survives! <span style="font-size: large;">(Both cuttings from my Dad)</span>:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5870021238/" title="raspberry crop by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="raspberry crop" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5035/5870021238_ec56a807f7.jpg" width="500" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5864535366/" title="loganberry by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="loganberry" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5317/5864535366_34273fbe44_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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And the <span style="font-size: large;">new little shed</span>. Should we grow a clematis over it? Clare's done a dry-stone-wall next to it to control one of the wood piles.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5870020360/" title="new shed by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="new shed" height="480" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5073/5870020360_2a85a1923b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-22377790962255648002011-06-17T00:58:00.000-07:002011-06-17T04:08:48.487-07:00Working outsideSo its been ages since our last post. Rather unsuprisingly the decorating hasn't moved much further on, not quite sure why, but I have plans for next weekend, this one being rather filled with another triathlon and then a friends birthday party!<br /><br />Outside, however things are moving a bit.<br />We removed the shelving in the bike shed, to find a little bit of damp (or rather a massive leak from the roof all along that side of the outbuildings!?)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841265203/" title="damp sheds by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/5841265203_d2b05ba587_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="damp sheds"></a><br />After the last week of rain, imagine all of that old original, tie a horse to it, wall wet and add the inside of the sauna area too....luckily we have Scott and Matt, who worked on the house as part of the woodsends team, coming to re-do the roof, remove the flooring, remove shed 5 (I think its 5, might have to check previous shed post), plumb in the washing machine and sink and move some electrics, so the sheds should be watertight and functional in a few weeks time.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841814594/" title="rotting sheds by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/5841814594_281ac17db8_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="rotting sheds"></a><br />Hopefully no more rotting sheds.<br /><br />Talking about sheds we have also built a new shed in the swimming pool area (Dolores / Dads name for the small sunken area near our neighbours garden) and will be finishing the demolition of shed 1 after the triathlon and party this weekend!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841798752/" title="new shed by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2647/5841798752_63a247649b_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="new shed"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841802226/" title="old shed by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/5841802226_111bcbef9f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="old shed"></a><br />I also tidied up with the spare bulwell stone removed from around the windows when they were extended, and have built a little dry stone wall and wood store area.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841251251/" title="dry stone wall and wood pile by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/5841251251_a395e1d371_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="dry stone wall and wood pile"></a><br />And with some help from George and Sue (again!) we have done some gardening and got things a little bit under control.<br />Herbs and Broadbeans <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841802694/" title="herbs and broadbeans by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/5841802694_d366e65bf5_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="herbs and broadbeans"></a> <br />Outside our bedroom <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841800330/" title="outside the bedroom by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5841800330_3501876a9b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="outside the bedroom"></a> outside the front <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841253363/" title="tidied front garden by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/5841253363_cefdafa8a9_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="tidied front garden"></a> and general weeding and pruning <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841800846/" title="weeding by george and sue by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/5841800846_aa41f8bde6_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="weeding by george and sue"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841801868/" title="hidden shed by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/5841801868_fa1d690402_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="hidden shed"></a><br /><br />Also realised we hadn't posted pictures of the fantastic gable end cladding, that makes us feel nautical!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841267743/" title="like a boat by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/5841267743_c88884999c_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="like a boat"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841268265/" title="gable end window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/5841268265_06d7b4ea3c_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="gable end window"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5841815106/" title="gable end by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/5841815106_d86e607f13_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="gable end"></a><br /><br />We are also meeting Gil next week to look at plans for the balcony, hoping to submit them to planning asap and get on with that too.....<br />We will try to keep you posted!?Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-66597796782961357662011-02-24T03:17:00.000-08:002011-02-24T03:24:08.091-08:00Builders gone underSo I recieved a rather suprising text on Monday morning from the builder who was doing the most of the work on our house - Darren, to say that Woodsends, the family building company who have been doing this job, and have been established for ages had folded due to the recession. I was firstly really sorry for them, and then hugely relieved that they finished the rendering and plastering last week, and that there are only two minor jobs left to be done, and that we hadn't paid in advance on the last bill for work they hadn't done yet! Also that this hadn't happened 9 months ago in the middle of the build.<br />We will put pictures up of the finished roofing and rendering soon - and let you know how we get on getting the final bits done, and planning for the next phases (when we have more cash) of the balcony, out buildings, PV panels, decorating, kitchen unit, plumbing to outbuildings so we can have a washing machine, parquet floor laying etc......... <br />A friend did suggest that maybe we need a five year plan!<br /><br />I just would like to say Thanks to Woodsends for a great job on our house - and good luck to all the builders, plasterers, joiners etc that they employed in getting new work - rather depressing times.Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-47208809168725236072011-01-06T05:26:00.000-08:002011-01-06T05:47:09.904-08:00Painting and ChristmasSo since the last post we had a week off, during which I imagined we would get downstairs painted - I obviously need a reality check - but we did get the spare room and both bathrooms done, ready for all our guests for christmas - but it was hard, slow work, especially the ceilings<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327726070/" title="clare's legs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5327726070_1f145dbd48_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="clare's legs" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327726900/" title="clare paints shower by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5327726900_20f1b4799f_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="clare paints shower" /></a><br />But the finished results are worth it;<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327736114/" title="painted spare room by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5327736114_2cc9de21c3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="painted spare room" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327122977/" title="shower painted by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5327122977_e1836a71b5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="shower painted" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327128177/" title="painted girl and painted bathroom 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5327128177_88f266e039_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="painted girl and painted bathroom 2" /></a><br />We also got a bit more organised with all the visitors coming - and emptied all the book boxes onto bookshelves, and treated and uncovered the fantastic stairs.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327736882/" title="library by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5327736882_7711745faa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="library" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327126951/" title="more treated stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5327126951_96bd4584b2.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="more treated stairs" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327127665/" title="treated stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5327127665_97a06a2585.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="treated stairs" /></a><br /><br />Christmas was great - we had a house-full, kept warm easily, and had a needle-less christmas tree making clearing up much easier!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327741014/" title="xmas tree 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5327741014_94c03df68f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="xmas tree 2" /></a><br /><br />Now the builders are back, finishing the wooden gable end, and hopefully also doing the roof tiling around the windows, modification to the outside of the MVHR so we can change the filter, rendering to the downstairs windows, the final bit of plastering internally, and sealing around the joists between the floors to help sort out the air-tightness better.....<br />Now really looking forward to getting rid of the builders so that we can sort out the sheds and get rid of the porta loo! Obviously things have been a bit delayed because of the cold and ice - although we kept warm mostly (!) we did have one casualty the pipes to the sheds froze and have all burst, so we will have to get that replumbed, but no point until we get rid of the builders, work out where we want the washing machine etc, and then we can get it all plumbed together. The burst pipe probably accounts for a rather entertainingly shaped icicle I found in our garage. I will leave you with the icicle image, and post more after I have recovered from a cold, and we have had most of a week of next week to do more painting, with our new platform ladder from George and Sue. <br />Happy New Year<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5327730646/" title="suggestive icicle by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5327730646_e89ae77757.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="suggestive icicle" /></a>Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-55569338205942449572010-12-03T02:33:00.001-08:002010-12-03T03:20:26.723-08:00Upstairs and the SnowSo it has been ages since we posted properly about what has been happening on the inside of our house - partly due to being in it and not noticing as much, and partly due to weddings that have kept us busy for a few weekends in a row!<br />Things have moved on - even if we haven't started decorating, we have started sorting, and living in the house and finding out how it all works. The space is fantastic, works really well for us - roll on a bit more cash and the balcony and the place will be awesome.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5228842924/" title="kitchen in use by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5228842924_bb1eeb8d65.jpg" alt="kitchen in use" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5228248141/" title="dining and kitchen by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5228248141_eb8dda9986.jpg" alt="dining and kitchen" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5228842576/" title="living room by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5228842576_871e1c27e4.jpg" alt="living room" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The solar water heating and immersion are great - as long as Emily doesn't have a giant bath and empty the hot water - although there is a top up immersion function so not that bad really!? It will be very satisfying when we have solar electric as well to run the immersion.<br />Heating is slightly less great at the moment - we need the stove on, most of the time<br />that we are here. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5228247141/" title="stove by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5228247141_8760b0ea01_m.jpg" alt="stove" height="240" width="180" /></a><br />Upstairs gets warm within a few hours, downstairs not really. Sleeping is fine, we are warm in bed, and in the morning after keeping the house warm during the day, the warmth has spread more evenly through the house overnight, warming downstairs a little bit more, so clearly the MVHR does work. Apparently according to both the architect and the MVHR man, this year will be colder than any other whilst we get the thermal mass of the place warmed up - and with it minus degrees outside that is clearly harder than at other times! It does give us an opportunity, however, of some great snow photos.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5211505678/" title="owl face by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5211505678_04ccc78d1a.jpg" alt="owl face" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Do you like our guard-owl?</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5211504738/" title="tall tower by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5211504738_733f112efa.jpg" alt="tall tower" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />Very glad we did go for a stove, and not have nothing at all, as was originally suggested otherwise we would have been really cold.....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5228797354/" title="window icicle by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5228797354_1fdf17b9c9.jpg" alt="window icicle" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The metal work around the windows has also started now. It was originally going to be light grey, then changed to dark grey to match the window colour, but accidentally has been done the light colour. We "hummed and hahed" for a day as to whether the light colour was right (the fact that it would be another 4 weeks at least if it wasn't helped the decision), but actually the light colour looks good, and increases the light coming in to the house lots. Unfortunately the weather has stopped them finishing it, and also means the rendering won't happen for a while, as the temp needs to be 4 degrees minimum for the rendering to happen......<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5210901547/" title="balcony doors by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5210901547_0be62884c4_m.jpg" alt="balcony doors" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5211501982/" title="kitchen windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5211501982_345a808f8b.jpg" alt="kitchen windows" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5210900777/" title="bathroom window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5210900777_8619bab649_m.jpg" alt="bathroom window" height="180" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5211499722/" title="step by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5211499722_25b39777dc_m.jpg" alt="step" height="180" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5210899217/" title="stair window cill by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5210899217_97f2809608_m.jpg" alt="stair window cill" height="180" width="240" /></a><br />We have a week off coming up soon, so hopefully will get some painting done, and be able to show some more photos, particularly of downstairs, ready for the family invasion at christmas!<br />Finally feeling for our builders in this weather....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5211502732/" title="portasnow by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5211502732_626be3cc78.jpg" alt="portasnow" height="500" width="375" /></a>Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-11967808556923244572010-12-01T10:19:00.000-08:002010-12-01T10:21:46.666-08:00A splash of joyous Sydney colour!A parcel arrived yesterday, it was sitting on the doorstep after we walked home from town. We'd seen "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" (excellent) and when we came out - it was still snowing, and the buses were all cancelled. (No problem for us, we live pretty near town).<br />
<br />
And this morning we looked in the parcel and experienced a flash of Australian summery colour.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5224371690/" title="sydney tea-towels 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5224371690_f4bd5362f3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="sydney tea-towels 2" /></a><br />
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(I know they're Marimekko, and hence Finnish, but look at this!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5223773987/" title="sydney tea-towels 1 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5223773987_5886c78e35.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="sydney tea-towels 1" /></a><br />
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A lovely house-warming gift from <a href="http://manainkblog.typepad.com/">M-H</a> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/WittyKnitter">and</a> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/SandraH">Sandra</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-26011668244068259972010-11-04T03:40:00.001-07:002010-11-04T03:44:27.389-07:00Air tightness testSo I appreciate we haven't blogged for ages - once we moved in the excitement of being here overtook actually posting, however we want to keep a record of things so here is the latest update.<br />We had the air tightness test - essentially pressurising the house and measuring how many times the air changes to keep the pressure. We were aiming for <3 but it was 4.8 and some gaps have been found under the french doors both upstairs and down, and in the upstairs loo. It seems that the builders will sort these issues out within the contact, but there is also some leakage around all the beams that make up the base of the first floor - the old roof joists. This means sealing round all the front ones with some sort of silicone sealant, and then taping all the rear ones prior to getting the back of the house rendered once the balcony is done. These bits are of course not in the original contract - so more money here we come!<br />Just to add some entertainment the shower is leaking this morning......<br />Luckily the plumber has been round already and it is the sealant around the shower tray that needs to be re-done - the bad news being that the parentoids come to visit this weekend and not good having a leaking shower. Oh well!<br />More pictures of downstairs and an update will follow soon........Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-50715136660133895262010-10-11T12:15:00.000-07:002010-10-11T12:15:28.326-07:00We're in! (And slow to post).We had the stuff that had been in storage delivered on 22nd Sept, but moved in ourselves on that Friday - moments before my brother and his family arrived for the kids birthday weekend!<br />
Here's an idea of what they found - just a little chaos.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071617285/" title="study chaos 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5071617285_421803e2ae_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="study chaos 2" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071618457/" title="study chaos by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5071618457_792ef89062_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="study chaos" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5072222184/" title="sitting/dining chaos by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5072222184_01d836f2aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="sitting/dining chaos" /></a><br />
Clare doing the hostly thing:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5072218498/" title="first guests by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5072218498_e07e6af986.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="first guests" /></a><br />
D'you think they had fun?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071614491/" title="first guests 1 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5071614491_8ac40ffaa1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="first guests 1" /></a><br />
Actually, I think they did - we took the kids to <a href="http://www.stomplondon.com/">Stomp</a> which was fantastic (though just a bit long for Ben) and then they ran about through the fountains in market square. Childhood bliss! (Alice really seemed to like her neck-warmer I'd double-knitted for her - may have a pic somewhere...).<br />
A little detail of wool getting put away...<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5072219452/" title="yarn! by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5072219452_20ae1c592b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="yarn!" /></a><br />
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Anyway, things are moving on with the unpacking - here are a few pics of upstairs. <br />
The study (Clare's desk on the left all tidy, yarn store to the right)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071623529/" title="clare's desk and wool store by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5071623529_df8e9d9c0d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="clare's desk and wool store" /></a> <br />
and my desk on the other side (chaos of course)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071624311/" title="my deska nd shelves by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5071624311_e668291e56_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="my deska nd shelves" /></a><br />
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And the rest of the upstairs - going in a circle from the kitchen <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5072223070/" title="kitchen getting there 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5072223070_a49f805e48.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="kitchen getting there 2" /></a><br />
more kitchen <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071620847/" title="kitchen getting there by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5071620847_3f6ebbf29a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="kitchen getting there" /></a><br />
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sitting area <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071622323/" title="sitting area by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5071622323_b972996404.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="sitting area" /></a><br />
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and the dining area <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5071621627/" title="dining area by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5071621627_86cde16e11.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="dining area" /></a>.<br />
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More photos to come from downstairs and outside - Clare's been sorting out her bike and tool store. Hope to get those up soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-33318320092605658632010-09-19T11:22:00.000-07:002010-09-19T11:36:07.826-07:00Two weeks no post, so sorryA combo of busy-ness and stress got in the way of posting - we even uploaded pics last week!<br />
<br />
The guys have been working very hard, specially Darren, managing the whole endeavour on the ground).<br />
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the stairs are in, and look fabulous! The blue you see in these pics is paper carefully wrapped around the handrail to avoid staining and damage, and the treads are covered in hardboard for similar reasons. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4982940953/" title="hallway by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="hallway" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/4982940953_3731f9f762_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4983543070/" title="hallway 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="hallway 2" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4983543070_ef31de138a.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
In the first you can see the front door, the beam and the curved wall of the bathroom; in the second the corridor through to the door to the spare room.<br />
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Every window is in now, even the door to the courtyard, though unfortunately there seems to be a very slight bend in this, and despite the guys best efforts it may cock up the airtightness test and need replacing. Ho hum. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4983546546/" title="door to courtyard by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="door to courtyard" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4983546546_0bb8fc1c74.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Last weekend we slaved to get the kitchen part of the floor finished so the purple English Rose double sink unit would be ready for the plumber's work (it's still waiting, though in position).<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4982957793/" title="paintjob by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="paintjob" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4982957793_0000f60c82.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
The floor is done with a coat of 50:50 Treatex matt clear and spruce stain first, then another of the matt clear; the wall is Earthborn clay emulsion in fresh Air (brilliant coverage).<br />
As well as the ceiling over the kitchen we (=Clare) did a roll over all the holes where the light fittings were due to go, so we don't have to cut in round them when finishing painting the ceiling. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4983551776/" title="weekend's accomplishments by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="weekend's accomplishments" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/4983551776_a75d0e1b5d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5004787259/" title="english rose in situ by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5004787259_c579938512_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="english rose in situ" /></a><br />
(The colour isn't quite right - less burgundy, more aubergine, though not quite that either).<br />
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This weekend we've done most of the rest of the floor upstairs (there are a few areas we couldn't get to due to the ever-present piles of insulation). We did it much better this time after our trial run last week!<br />
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Everywhere is plaster-boarded and almost everywhere plastered; all the light-fittings are in upstairs, and several sockets have been corrected (meant to be brushed metal upstairs not white plastic). So between Monday morning and Tuesday night they only have to plumb in all the loos, the kitchen sinks; <br />
fit a fuse-board and complete the electrics (including ANY lights in the shower-room); <br />
finish the plastering; <br />
finish the railing round the stairs;<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5005397852/" title="railing by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5005397852_7d5c0df364_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="railing" /></a><br />
finish fitting the hot water tank and the MVHR (for which parts awaited AGAIN). <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5005397038/" title="mvhr, tank by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5005397038_bca9ff89fe_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="mvhr, tank" /></a><br />
On Monday our ecokitchen arrives and the hob and oven need to be fitted in that (should be v easy for an electrician though). The hood needs to get up on the wall.<br />
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And the yard needs clearing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5005394426/" title="basin by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5005394426_6fce6cd3a3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="basin" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/5004783971/" title="bath by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5004783971_72a5935f53_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="bath" /></a><br />
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No worries about guests on Friday, then.... At least it's family!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-23204324328252967782010-09-05T02:07:00.000-07:002010-09-05T02:07:35.854-07:00Our week offWe've both had most of the week off (I worked Friday, but that's all) as we had previously hoped to be moving in this week. Instead, it's been a productive week in other ways (including seeing Toy Story, The Girl Who Played with Fire and Scott Pilgrim and the Evil Exs and chilling together).<br />
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Our oven has arrived, we are waiting for the extraction hood, and the other kitchen unit is confirmed for mid-September (we need to order the hob to go in it).<br />
<br />
We've painted the stairs (really this is more workshop p*rn for you, Tony!)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956635602/" title="painting stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4956635602_25805e24b3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="painting stairs" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956045199/" title="stairs painted by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4956045199_9d4d18f228_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="stairs painted" /></a><br />
<br />
The rooflet has fallen off the door to the road, happily missing Darren who just moments before walked under it!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956045587/" title="rooflet off by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4956045587_0012a76612.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="rooflet off" /></a><br />
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Most of the ducting is in (and the MVHR due to arrive this week...).<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956045861/" title="ducting by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4956045861_47411cb453_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="ducting" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956636976/" title="bedroom ceiling by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4956636976_443507899a_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="bedroom ceiling" /></a><br />
We've got kitchen windows <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956046857/" title="kitchen windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4956046857_93d82146b4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="kitchen windows" /></a><br />
A sliding door onto the (imaginary) balcony<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956638490/" title="balcony window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/4956638490_88f3c7bb89.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="balcony window" /></a><br />
and a lovely over-stair opening window we will never be able to reach!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4956047263/" title="overstairs window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4956047263_bae614b847_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="overstairs window" /></a><br />
<br />
The two little windows in the south wall upstairs are rather darker than we expected, but we like them.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4959066453/" title="coloured windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4959066453_22b91546a2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="coloured windows" /></a><br />
<br />
And the floating engineered oak floor is partly down upstairs. Looks lovely!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4959066767/" title="flooring! by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4959066767_b8dded85e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="flooring!" /></a><br />
<br />
We've done some sample paint squares upstairs too, deciding between white and fresh air (a bit cooler). We've ordered the Treatex Hard Wax oil for the floor (spruce ie white half/half with plain).<br />
<br />
And we've handed in our notice for the end of September and arranged for our stuff to arrive from storage on 22nd Sept. We should be in for Alice and Ben's birthday visit! (Though chaos will certainly still reign).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-51908598847396675592010-08-31T02:07:00.000-07:002010-08-31T02:21:36.086-07:00There are moreSo yesterday we got back from a weekend away for me to do the triathlon, and saw the outside of the house with 6 windows in BUT THERE ARE MORE! Our architect Gil sent us some photos he took on Friday, from the inside of the house, and they have done loads.<br />Here is a collection of window photos.....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944184187/" title="bedroom windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4944184187_a2e19cb150_m.jpg" alt="bedroom windows" height="180" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944184085/" title="front door by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4944184085_f66ac79742_m.jpg" alt="front door" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944183997/" title="spare room windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4944183997_235619f452.jpg" alt="spare room windows" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944183925/" title="spare room windows 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4944183925_7b37c42a73_m.jpg" alt="spare room windows 2" height="180" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944183775/" title="old window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4944183775_f590c2f0e1_m.jpg" alt="old window" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944183693/" title="shower room window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4944183693_8cb29de7c2_m.jpg" alt="shower room window" height="180" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944768148/" title="shower room window 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4944768148_18ddfc8685_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="shower room window 2" /></a><br /><br /><br />My favourite bit being that the windows onto the pavement (spare room) are in, with the UPVC still in situ outside complete with net curtains still!?<br /><br />Finally an example of the architrave and a close up of the pale grey inside colour; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4944768062/" title="architrave by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4944768062_85a84119c3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="architrave" /></a><br /><br /><br />So we have been brave and are handing in our notice today - we are getting <span style="font-weight:bold;">a little bit excited</span> about the reality of moving in at the end of this monthClarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-52195267066142334602010-08-30T11:23:00.000-07:002010-08-30T11:23:42.028-07:00WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We dropped in to have look round on our way back from Bristol/Exeter/Monmouth shenanigans,<b>and we couldn't get in! </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
You might think that this would be met with fear and loathing in las vegas<b>, </b>but NO! For the reason was - this:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941996643/" title="front door by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="front door" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4941996643_82e46ef090.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
Why yes, that is a beautiful new front door, to which we currently have no key. And here's an upstairs window:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941995483/" title="windows! by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="windows!" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4941995483_8eb5ac1356.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The balcony doors:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941999401/" title="balcony windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="balcony windows" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4941999401_5c45ba30eb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
bathroom windows (if you squint a bit):<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4942584922/" title="bathroom windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="bathroom windows" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4942584922_a06fd1073e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And <b>maHOOSive<b> </b></b>bedroom windows, too:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941998135/" title="bedroom windows by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="bedroom windows" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4941998135_9e5456f5d5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Totally craptastic photos, of course, but such is life.<br />
<br />
<br />
I must add that Clare has finally done a triathlon - she did the 'Little Woody' (I know! I'm calling it the Little Ted) half ironman.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941980345/" title="start by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="start" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4941980345_8d9343e479.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941982905/" title="transition faff by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="transition faff" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4941982905_8efdbee6f9_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4941984905/" title="biking in by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="biking in" height="443" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4941984905_89f419fbcf.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
She did well, timing good etc. Details on facebook, I understand!<br />
<br />
Congrats my love....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-60571430976962471002010-08-22T01:41:00.000-07:002010-08-22T01:50:44.659-07:00site meeting update.....So another site meeting on Friday - some progress but also some frustration. <br /><br />We now have an installer and plan for the flue, which will be a fan assisted flue so it is shorter and doesn't need planning, but he is on holiday and no-one has chased it up or worked out when he will fit it......<br />Our main builder and joiner Darren and Chris are going to put in the pipework for the MVHR as they cannot find another installer, and then hopefully the green building store will attach it to the machine. Unfortunately no-one seems to have chased up why we still don't have the main machine, when we are going to get it and when it will be installed....<br />The windows HAVEN'T arrived - hopefully the end of next week, although no-one had phoned after Monday to check if they had arrived in the country yet.....<br />No plans at all about who will do the air tightness test, and when it will be done....<br /><br />Seems all a little bit frustrating as other than more insulation downstairs and in the roof space we haven't really got any further forward than when I got cross 2 weeks ago, the same issues that were stalling progress then, are still stalling progress now. However, I did let them know that we have to be in for the end of September, as we are handing in our notice on September 1st, and have family coming the last weekend of September and they need somewhere to stay - this has given us another provisional completion date of September 17th - not holding my breath though!Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-28453857254185126872010-08-22T01:35:00.000-07:002010-08-22T01:35:40.360-07:00Stairs making progressI got to go to the workshop at William Woodsend's (our builder) to see our staircase in progress. Clare was at work (she got to the site meeting the next day when I was at work! We're both doing lots of extra shifts at the moment...). The workshop is LOVELY - the building was built (for and presumably by WW) in the late 19th century, backing onto the canal. There's the smallish office area at the roadside, then a vast workshop, with glass pitched roof high above. I only had my phone with me this time, but when we go back I'll get C to take some proper pics. <br />
<br />
Arthur, the stair-builder extraordinaire, told me they used to have 25 people working there - now it's only 3. There are massive old benches, full of drilled holes and dents. The floor is dented and has drops of many different paints. It smells <i>great</i> - very woody!<br />
<br />
Anyway, the stair is well on the way. The main flight is largely built, with some treads and risers still to be added. Arthur explained that the string (stringer?) - that is, the bit up the side of the stair tying the different steps together - is made of one straight part and the triangles to go out to each tread are cut separately and allowed to sit for a few days, so once in they won't dry and distort. Then they are jointed into the main straight. <br />
<br />
You can see the newel post (which will be cut shorter) slotted onto the stair here, and the next tread/riser combo in front of the stair.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4915515042/" title="lying down stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4915515042_b70356e9f8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="lying down stairs" /></a><br />
<br />
And here it's like looking down our new stairs....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4915515380/" title="looking down the stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4915515380_76830ef31a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="looking down the stairs" /></a><br />
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Arthur feels we should paint the stringer and risers in the workshop before the stair goes to site (so we don't make a mess, and so we can reach! Also, we can do it before the oak spindles are attached to the stringer). So that's our week off booked up, should be fun. <br />
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On the way out I saw all the cutting shapes for different mouldings - going back years, scattered over a bench. They sharp and shaped, and apparently it would be illegal to make ones like this now (they don't have a safety thingy) but theya re things of beauty and work well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-89519885778716682682010-08-15T11:51:00.000-07:002010-08-15T11:51:45.846-07:00toys out the pramThat was Clare at the meeting a week ago. We think we got the point across re getting ON WITH IT... we'll see. I got back today from Knitcamp to a Clare who said that nothing new had been done this week - in fact, she was Wrong diddly wrong re that.<br />
<br />
<b>Update from last week, by Clare</b><br />
So having had a date for completion a month after the original, the most recent site meeting gave us a further few weeks on top of that, at which point I got a bit fed up and grumpy. I explained (slightly toys out pram style) that the MVHR and flue had been on the original plans, and the fact that they still hadn't sorted contractors to put them in was not OK, we were originally held up for the windows with expectation that everything would be finished by the time they arrived but now they are due next week, and we are a long way away from finishing. That we weren't going to pay for the things we had taken off the original electric plans, that were being put in anyway due to the electrician not circulating the correct plans, that it was also not OK that the electrician has pierced both airtightness membranes in 5 places!? We think the builder felt bad about the air tightness breaches, and will fix that, and there seems to have been some movement towards getting contractors for the flue and MVHR - we shall see..... <br />
<br />
The good bit about the site meeting was a long chat with the joiner doing the stairs, and seeing plans, getting an idea about how they will work etc. Really exciting and hopefully we will get to see them being made this coming week.<br />
Here is Emily chatting with Charles before I threw the toys!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4872859000/" title="IMG_3829 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4872859000_9e50dcd0e4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_3829" /></a><br />
<br />
And evidence of progress that week. They have started to insulate in the roof space, hot and unpleasant work.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4872861072/" title="IMG_3832 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4872861072_30c1fb17bc_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_3832" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4872252213/" title="IMG_3830 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4872252213_780b1a6a9d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_3830" /></a><br />
<br />
The curved wall for the bathroom has been started<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4872254309/" title="IMG_3833 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4872254309_314b72a899.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3833" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>And now this week... by Emily</b><br />
<br />
A window has been formed externally, cutting back the stone.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4894398262/" title="external window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="external window" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4894398262_089444f3a0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Most of the insulation layer is done downstairs.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4894404624/" title="more insulation by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4894404624_e5dbdbdcb6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="more insulation" /></a><br />
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Plumbing is done in the bathrooms - well, pipes are in positions.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4894400774/" title="plumbing 1 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="plumbing 1" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4894400774_e354522340_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4893809499/" title="plumbing 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="plumbing 2" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4893809499_0af1fc5253_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
And the spitfire (aka English rose) kitchen has arrived! It's all wrapped up in the garage but we peered in and we LIKE the colours in the flesh, hurray! The dresser isn't too big (we had no measurements, foolish us) and should fit where we want it, we think.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4894407140/" title="kitchen wrapped by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4894407140_11291441e7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="kitchen wrapped" /></a><br />
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We are still waiting on the MVHR getting sorted, so in turn the solar installation (basically the tank etc) can be completed; for the flue to be sorted for the stove (now seems it'll be a powered one, then doesn't need to be so tall and no planning permission or weird strapping required. And Gil says the power use so low as not to matter much).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-63853553957544568362010-07-31T11:16:00.000-07:002010-07-31T11:16:34.914-07:00Nearer, ever nearer.Just popped into the house, not expecting much change from our last (brief) visit 2 days ago<b> but </b>in fact, they've got quite a bit done - cleared what will be our bedroom so they can get insulating in there (they've done about 1/3rd of downstairs, I'd say).<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846854544/" title="our bedroom by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="our bedroom" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4846854544_aabf4f4058.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And they've started the detailed insulation of the tops of the walls in there.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846236941/" title="bedroom ceiling by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="bedroom ceiling" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/4846236941_1d1c7c46b4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Can you see the huge pile of insulation behind the studding here? (With Clare for scale!) That's all that's left of the many heaping masses all over the inside and outside of the house a few weeks back! <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846238491/" title="mighty pile of insulation by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="mighty pile of insulation" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4846238491_abb98cbb9a.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Also downstairs they've started hacking away at the windows in the stone wall. These nasty uPVC ones will remain pro tem on the outside, but eventually we'll replace with either <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crittall_Windows_Ltd">Crittall</a> or salvaged stained glass. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846859782/" title="cut back round window by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="cut back round window" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/4846859782_76feb9961e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
And the other window that's in the roadside wall (which has a cavity) is getting insulated!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846239575/" title="window insulation by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="window insulation" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4846239575_269e653910.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
On the way up the stairs we now have some bookshelves (they're by the quarter-turn landing and the last 3 steps up). One day we won't be reaching from a ladder...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846868442/" title="shelves on stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="shelves on stairs" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/4846868442_68f2172164.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Even the upstairs loo is plastered on the inside and all ready for the 'sanitary-ware' as I believe it's called (and which we hope has been ordered).<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846244131/" title="upstairs loo by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="upstairs loo" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4846244131_f8e41fa0a3.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
Clare now has some shelves by her future desk <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846866924/" title="Clare's shelves by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="Clare's shelves" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4846866924_41f7263fd7.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
and we have an insulated roof-hatch! <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846865514/" title="ceiling hatch by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="ceiling hatch" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/4846865514_b934a62d72.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
So, upstairs is all plastered apart from this <i><i>leetle, </i></i>tiny corner!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846250489/" title="bare ceiling by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="bare ceiling" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/4846250489_59bb203e9e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is where the flue is to go, but the method of ensuring airtightness around it is still uncertain. What is for sure is that we'll need planning permission for the flue because the HETAS guys feel it needs to be 4.5 metres tall above the top of the stove. And therefore 2.5 above the roof. Oh well! We'll go for it at the same time as putting the stove in, I think.<br />
<br />
We've gone ahead and ordered the kitchen elements from Ecokitchendesign (in for a penny, in for a pound!)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846256265/" title="ecokitchen by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="ecokitchen" height="279" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4846256265_79ed96ce3f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Out the back the garden is<span style="font-size: large;"> wild! <span style="font-size: small;">We really need Mum and Dad/Sue and George to come and help tame it some time. </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846252393/" title="wild garden by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="wild garden" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/4846252393_25d97d6ca7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Giant rhubarb like Cornish Gunnera lurks at the top of the garden, <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846875312/" title="rhubarb by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="rhubarb" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4846875312_473f6189f0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
and the garlic is taller than Clare!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4846873388/" title="garlic (and Clare) by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="garlic (and Clare)" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4846873388_49ce5a8d6a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Hard to know where we are with money, as there have certainly been variations from the initial agreed work/price - those wall problems early on, the windows are more expensive in the end (just a bit), the gable end rotten so new fascia (and it's oak); the stairs more expensive (lots!), having to sort out the undulating floor upstairs. That's all increase in price - but also the plumbing should be much less as we are not paying for a gas boiler or radiators, in fact the plumbing is v little, some having also transferred to the Solar Boys as we call them (<a href="http://www.t4sustainability.co.uk/?about">T4 Sustainability</a> is their real name) whose payment is outside the builder's contract, and half of which we've paid already.<br />
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Who knows, in other words!<br />
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Very exciting to see downstairs start to look a bit like a house, and upstairs really almost ready to move in (ha ha).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-77359310325483449102010-07-31T01:44:00.001-07:002010-07-31T01:44:35.138-07:00Newport, Newport, Newport! (non sequiter, but so good!)<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aNfbX6uvA6s&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aNfbX6uvA6s&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-5535204757090067362010-07-25T02:43:00.000-07:002010-07-25T02:45:16.803-07:00Beginning to feel real...Last weekend we dashed to Exeter to see C's Ps and their new house. The dash was interrupted by a quick trip to Ikea Bristol, who assured us over the phone that the Varde 12 drawer unit was up and visible in the shop. Not so much! The aggravation of this was reduced by food with my Ps and a planned visit to another kitchen place. Before all this we were really thinking maybe the Ikea unit (cheaper, available stat), but we would really want to see it in the flesh...<br />
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So off we went to Taunton, where we met Tim Rigby, the designer of <a href="http://www.ecokitchensonline.com/freestanding-kitchen-units-c-329_83.html">ecokitchensonline</a>, and the chap who makes the kitchens, in his workshop. We should have taken pictures! They make lovely free-standing units, using FSC oak or other local woods and strawboard, with proper wood jointing etc. And recycled coffee cup worktops! We're sorely tempted to get a wide 3 drawer unit for the hob and an under-counter oven housing. We'll see how the quote is!<br />
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Clare's parent's new house fed into ours - here's how to do a parquet doorway:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4802793928/" title="how to do parquet doorway by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="how to do parquet doorway" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4802793928_44effb5686.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Anyway - when we got back we nipped into the house and our little robot had arrived!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4802167007/" title="robot stove by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="robot stove" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4802167007_ffba1357fc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And our upstairs engineered floorboards!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4802796766/" title="floorboards by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="floorboards" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4802796766_c21f70b376.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Downstairs, the solar pipes are in (though not connected). Can you see the top of the tank?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4802164223/" title="solar pipes 2 by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="solar pipes 2" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4802164223_7fb8ecd29a.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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And the insulation of downstairs has begun, including keeping a bit of the original wall shaping with a diagonal detail to the walls at the corners that meet the window end of the spare room.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4802795948/" title="spare room corner by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="spare room corner" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4802795948_03666d841b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Due to the Exeter visit, and me (Clare) feeling a bit under the weather, and an early site meeting (Weds rather than Fri) we hadn't posted before visiting again.<br />
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(Back to Emily writing - we're eating breakfast so swapping about).<br />
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The site meeting was a useful one - I'd had a phone-call to chivvy the builders re various issues last week, and we got quite a bit more info. A price for the lovely stairs designed by Gil (lots more than we initially intended but we love these stairs... so have said yes). A first suggested date for window delivery of 16th August, which if it really happens would mean a move-in in the first week of September , which is the week we have both taken off. Seems too good to be true, and it isn't a definite window date, so I'm borrowing a bit of pessimism from Clare for the moment! Clarification of contractors for stove insertion (!) and MVHR doings, and prices for the electrician and plumber. <br />
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And when we looked upstairs - lots of progress we can see! It was good we had the meeting on Wed, before the second fix electrics and the plastering of the wall where the kitchen units will go, as we've changed our plans rather... As a result of the timing of the meeting, we <b>did</b> have the right boxes in the right places when we popped in a couple of days later!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4826319792/" title="second fix electrics by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="second fix electrics" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4826319792_35bceceef5.jpg" width="346" /></a><br />
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An overall pic of the site meeting - pipes visible for the kitchen sink, and you can see where all the wires around the kitchen <b>were</b> before we got them moved. Phew. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4825709763/" title="site meeting by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="site meeting" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4825709763_11516cea99.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Here's the plaster drying on the upstairs loo (the first completed room! Of course, it's the smallest...).<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4825708981/" title="upstairs loo! by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="upstairs loo!" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4825708981_2d63492ed2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And Torie pondering that fact two days later.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4825710561/" title="torie ponders by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="torie ponders" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4825710561_d7ac08f00f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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We've also got the beginnings of some lovely bookshelves cut into the wall by the stairs. There'll be two higher up on the other side (in our study!) They will have backs and be plastered out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4826320688/" title="bookshelves on stairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="bookshelves on stairs" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4826320688_a5b22f336d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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After the potential good news about the windows there does of course have to be a downside. The HETAS stove installers say we need a flue of 4.5metres from the top of the stove itself- which means about 2.5m from the roof. This means we need planning permission (well, in fact apparently we always would have needed it whatever the height. Gil presumably assumed we knew this... Anyway, he's on the case now). We're going to go for retrospective, but he'll be discussing with the planners before the fact, and thinks it will be fine. The real issue with the required height is that it'll need to be tied into the ridge or the gable end somehow. Also, apparently we don't yet have a plan for the airtightness round the flue...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-28678812177296184782010-07-11T00:21:00.000-07:002010-07-11T00:25:41.645-07:00Congrats in order, and it's not really quite so bad as C makes out...The congrats are to our renovating blogger colleague <a href="http://hillside-renovation.blogspot.com/2010/07/15-interlude.html">Tony</a> and knitblogger <a href="http://rooknittting.blogspot.com/">Ruth</a> on their delightful new production - Thomas, born on Wednesday. He looks lovely, and can only be an impetus to your endeavours (well, maybe he could be a little hindrance too - here's hoping for a night-sleeping future for him!)<br />
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Back to the mundanities of our meandering house - it is a bit depressing to think that we might not make it in by the end of August, but what the heck, progress really is being made! Upstairs the plumbing is in for our kitchen sink (do you remember? It's a purple/pink unit!) under those lovely big windows.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4781744037/" title="where our sink will go by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="where our sink will go" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4781744037_24a7c8b9ba.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And most of upstairs is plasterboarded, to be skimmed this coming week.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4782378782/" title="plasterboarding by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="plasterboarding" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4782378782_e106b688df.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<b><i>(That's not a Jedi Knight with light-sabre, that's Darren, on-site builder boss). </i></b><br />
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Insulation and airtightness is progressing downstairs <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4781742943/" title="osb and tape downstairs by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="osb and tape downstairs" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4781742943_48eaeb6284.jpg" width="500" /></a> and should move much more quickly than upstairs - waterproof membrane taped onto wall, build with battens, insulated and whack up the OSB. Tape that then the Intelligent Membrane goes on. They're speeding along at this!<br />
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The floor for upstairs arrives on Tuesday (but no stairs up which to carry this - entertaining, I'm sure!) It's <a href="http://www.chauncey.co.uk/floors/fsctectonic.php">Chauncey's FSC Tectonic,</a> which is an engineered board 240mm wide and quite long, in standard/rustic (ie cheaper) oak. Mmmmm. And the kitchen comes in a fortnight (when I do not believe stairs will be any more in evidence, given that we're yet to get a PRICE for our plans! Which are lovely....). Oh, and the kitchen doesn't arrive flatpacked...<br />
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Of course, the most important news of this week is that <span style="font-size: x-large;">Clare has got her new bike!</span> She was knocked off her beloved carbon fibre one (happily, Clare was not broken and literally landed on her feet) and the insurance is now through. The bike whisperer Mick at <a href="http://www.langdalelightweights.co.uk/">Langdale Lightweights</a> has built her a new bike (they've been in cahoots about supersplendidness) and it is beautiful. Even if it's baby-snot green...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4781768143/" title="new bike by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="new bike" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4781768143_4e29a5c84b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And I've got a lovely cabinet for (some of) my yarn in a Betel closing-down sale. The bike is just decoration.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21548594@N00/4782402700/" title="new bike, new knitting cabinet by GinnyUK, on Flickr"><img alt="new bike, new knitting cabinet" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4782402700_9dfdfc49ba.jpg" width="375" /></a> In a perfect world I'd have all my yarn in glass-fronted cabinets, as for me it's out-of-sight, out-of-mind. So this will save money!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946979182134047451.post-91313577816151548872010-07-09T23:30:00.000-07:002010-07-10T00:07:48.534-07:00Frustrated....So I have to admit that when we took this on, despite having watched lots of Grand Designs (back when we had a TV) and realising that things take longer and go over budget I thought it would probably run to schedule and not be too bad - I should have paid more attention to Grand Designs!<br /><br />Currently I am feeling a little bit frustrated with the whole thing - whilst there is progress every week - it often feels like it was just a bit more insulation each time (which I am sure the builders would agree with!). And the windows are still a saga - after having been ordered eventually, there is now a possibility that it will be 10 weeks - which is another 8 from now, which puts us mid-september before we move in. Hopefully it won't be that long, but we have ended up in the summer, and therefore coinciding with factory fortnight (factories closing for 2 weeks) which if it happens in this factory will definately delay things.<br /><br />The progress update this week (there has been some) is that all the insulation and first fix of electrics and plumbing is done upstairs and plasterboarding the whole area has begun. Also the first bit of wall insulation has begun downstairs, after long discussions of how to minimally fix the studwork to the brickwork to avoid cold bridging (builder Chris coming up with the final solution, an extra horizontal piece on the studwork which then only needs 3 or 4 attachments to the brickwork). This means that the solar boys can come back next week to put in all the pipework and the tank, and after that the heat recovery system should go in. We are getting upstairs plastered next week, and the upstairs floor delivered for it to sit for a while and acclimatise before being put in. All this is happening without windows, so we have to hope that the openings are weather tight!?<br /><br />Whats left still to do: all the insulation downstairs, insulation in the roof, first fix downstairs, staircase, heat recovery system to go in, solar to be sorted, second fix everywhere and windows. Decorating and downstairs floor and any storage will be us apart from tiling in the shower which we think will be better executed around the fittings if the builders do it!<br />Ready for the second fix we have chosen all our sanitaryware - so hopefully the plumber is ordering the right stuff and there won't be a delay! We are in disucssion with each other about how much extra to get for the kitchen. All we have so far is the double sink unit and aluminium dresser. We have decided which induction hob we would like, and are just working out about a unit to put that in, and what we do about fridge, freezer, cooker, island, etc. We think we have decided on a unit and worktop for the hob, and will probably get that and a decent fridge and freezer before or almost as soon as we move in, and then work up to the other units and cooker once we know if we have any money left (or have earnt some more). We are negotiating about the extractor fan - Emily has done some excellent research finding really quiet, efficient, <span style="font-style: italic;">expensive</span> hoods so we haven't quite agreed on which one yet!<br /><br />I guess things are progressing - and 8 weeks from now isn't that long - its just that when we move in it will be 12 months after we bought the place, 18 months after we moved to Nottingham, and 32 months after our stuff went into storage!Clarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01835391745214984911noreply@blogger.com2