certifiable

On Friday we got the completion certificate after an inspection by a twelve year old building standards officer. Clearly someone back at the office had told him to look serious and focussed throughout, which only succeeded in suggesting constipation, but he found nothing amiss and passed the build as habitable. We're now in residence and wondering how on earth we're going to pay for it. And how did I get all this stuff into the study in the last house ?

birthday

The day of my birthday the weather cleared and we lit the firebowl for the inaugural fire at the new house. Here's the table set for dinner and the dog making herself comfortable in her new home.

Emergence

Latest pictures show the change in 6 months. Slow, difficult, infuriating, but finally looking like a place we could live in.

strangely abandoned

There's a strange sense of an abandoned building about the house just now.

liquidity

Mortgage funds got released today. One cheer for the bank. It's about the only liquidity that's around today as it's minus 18 outside.

Now, where's that pile of bills....

Snow Progress

Despite the freezing temperatures and blocked roads our builders have soldiered on with the internal fit-out of the house. Plasterboard is going in, wiring and plumbing is networked through the walls, insulation and baffle-boards pushed into place.

Our funds are still elusive, now stuck in the solicitors' bank account as they argue about liability and indemnity if we default on the payments at some future date. The bills pile up on the kitchen table. So far our tradesmen have been very forgiving and patient, continuing to work away on the project and accepting such payments as we can scrape together.  Once the lawyers sort out their internal spat we should get our release of funds and have sufficient to finish the job without having to go through this silly business again. My list of complaints about institutional arrogance to be made after the build is safely finished grows daily: the planning department, building control, bank. Hmm. What's the link ?

Deliveries have been hampered by the early snowfall. The external cladding is now due in January, the rendering on the front wall can't be done until the temperature rises, the landscaping will have to wait for the permafrost to retreat.

More photos soon.

First fit water and power

Pipes and wires are now all in, and insulation in the outer walls. Windows still delayed but due on Monday. Roof tiles go on this week. Our application for funds from the mortgage is STILL being "processed" by the Bank and the bills are piling up on the kitchen table. Generous family and friends have kept the project afloat so far, but now we need the bank to get its finger out.

The space feels like I imagined it would, and we're looking forward to living there.

winter

First snow yesterday, Minus 4 outside this morning, thick frost, blue sky. Second week in November once again; so reliable.

A machine for living in

First fit plumbing has gone in, the roof is on awaiting tiles, roof windows in, insulation and plasterboard about to go up.

Much discussion of bath taps, basins and shower heads has replaced the talk of concrete in just a few short weeks.

We are still awaiting mortgage funds being released; mired in paperwork and needing my urgent phonecalls to be kept at the top of the solicitor's pile of other routine business.

Frustration, anxiety and excitement in equal measures.

Roof

A slow-down last week while roof framing went on and weather deteriorated. Today most of the roof sarking went on, and tomorrow it should be weather-sealed. More photos soon. Snow is on the hills and on its way down...

Monday, with clouds gathering

Monday

Today was an hour earlier all day. Odd.
Slower house progress as all but two of last week's turbo-charged builders have gone off to Valencia or somewhere. The two remaining built the gable ends before it started raining and the sun set in the middle of the afternoon.
More pictures soon.
This evening I cooked indian food with boys from a youth club in Hawick, a job through You Can Cook. A great bunch of young teenagers with real interest, energy and good knowledge of food. 
Drove home through a blizzard of wet leaves.

Saturday morning. Dust settling.

Friday 3pm

Friday, 10.30am

Friday 9am