A bits and pieces day

After the epic progress of yesterday, today has been pretty cool as well. Let's get into it.

Sorting out inside Dutch's House

Halil works on the grout for these tiles

Bekir puts some more tiles in

Fixing the damage to our roof

Evidence of an owl roost

Light fittings going in

The first thing the men did today was look at the chicken and treat her (however I missed seeing this) and then they finished up their tasks in Dutch's new home by clearing out some of the old pipes and then putting a pallet in for his bed. I'll need to get in there to do the next steps but that'll be tomorrow. After this they headed inside to do some finishing up tasks upstairs. First of all Halil did the grouting of the slope by the stairs while Bekir put some small tiles by the roof terrace doorway. The next task involved two trips to the shop as initially they got the wrong size of roof tile for the ridge however now I'm very happy that all of this is fixed and repaired as we have weather forecast incoming. While he was up there Bekir pointed out an owl is living under some of the tiles and he took a picture to show me. The final task of the day occurred after I legged it to town to try and buy some lights for the stairs up there. I found some and they began fitting them and then we found I'd picked up the wrong size bulbs! I've now ordered the correct size online and they've already shipped so hopefully they'll be here soon!

Rosie's playroom is back!

She's very excited to be back in her bedroom

Angela had a super busy day today getting the playroom and bedroom completed cleaned and made ready for things going back in, and then put everything back in. It looks great! After school I spent time with Rosie (and when I got distracted ordering the previously mentioned light bulbs Angela took over) going through the toys we had packed up a couple of weeks ago and sorted them into each of the red boxes. She's got plenty of space for more stuff, and it all is kept nicely tidy now.

So there it is; a good day indeed. Tomorrow hopefully we can start (and maybe finish) putting up the pictures on the stairs, and then we'll be done! Thanks for reading, back tomorrow.

Return of the Men

Today is a day of two updates as I managed to complete the Christmas/New Year one first thing and then the men returned so now it's time for regular style updates.

Red sky of pre-dawn

Bekir working out heights

Mesh and sand for drainage

The slabs are laid

Angela and Xena tidying up the Glass Room

Slab progress; they look great

Halil chips old mortar off the slabs for reuse

The strong wind of yesterday had fortunately died down over night and this morning was a calm and sunny start and it stayed sunny all day. The men were back and able to work outside trying to get the garden finished before the weather closes in again and their task for today was to work on the paths around the raised beds. First off they laid the mesh material over the top of the stones and covered it with sand and then once they had the sand to the correct height the old concrete tiles from the patio were recycled and laid on top. Angela had a very productive day as well and among other things she tidied the Glass Room and planted a load of seeds and sorted out some other things in there and generally made it a much less messy space. Outside the men were cracking on and finished the middle path and also got started on the sand for one of the side paths. The forecast is for rain tomorrow, however, so we'll see if they're able to get back to this. They missed a whole week of good weather for this, sadly (and frustratingly).

New pan in use

This evening we had a lovely steak and stout pie that Angela made in her Christmas present and it was so tasty and awesome to get first use from the gift from me, my mum and my sister.

So there it is; back to it but for how long who knows. Thanks for reading.

No workers Friday, the weekend, and now Monday

 Here we are again, after a longer weekend than expected as the men weren't in on Friday due to college calling Halil and he having to leg it over to see them.

Rosie riding the trolly, sat on the shelves

Tiles for the roof terrace, waiting to be unloaded

Rosie sweeping up in the lounge

Jumping in puddles and getting soaked

Helping mummy with the noodles

Saturday was a cracking Daddy Saturday. First thing we went out shopping to buy more shelves (you can NEVER have too many shelves!) and collect tiles for the roof terrace. Rosie was most impressed with the fork lift truck that put the pallet into Thomas. When we got back it was TV time while I unloaded the tiles, then talking to Grandma and Auntie Nods then play time them nap time (and everyone slept) before a fun jump in muddy puddles session. After THAT Rosie helped mummy prepare dinner. And then she slept while I had a really enjoyable paint and chat session with a good friend in the UK.

Fog in the valley, clouds in the sky but no rain

Rosie bouncing high in the air

We all had to enjoy the sunshine

Rosie's fairies and their house

Walking the puppies

Moon and stars

Sunday was a cracking Mummy Sunday. We woke to the rain finally stopped though it was still cloudy first thing. I got to spend time with Rosie on the trampoline first thing before she went out with Angela to do a few more bits and pieces shopping in town and I did some hobby and my vlog and other things. At the end of the day we did a little play in the garden then Rosie asked to take the dogs for a walk and so we did. We went up through the village, down the hill and a bit further than our usual round eventually making our way back up by one of the new tracks that have been put in to assist the electricity workers. Rosie walked every step of the way and held the lead for Louise all the way as well. She was awesome. Sunday night we saw the moon for the first time for what feels like weeks as well.

Finishing up for now in the games room

Going up the ladder

Taking good tiles off now

Louise finds a sunny spot

All the tiles are lifted

And so we get to today and the workmen were in on time and finishing up the tasks from Thursday, such as fitting the last of the shelf supports that I have (more are on their way) and then finishing the wiring and putting bulbs in the lights on the balcony. After that and after some discussion we decided to do the entire roof terrace now, much as it upsets me to be pulling up good tiles now. They made good progress on this and the early fog burned off until it was a lovely day. Unfortunately Halil headed off early as he wasn't feeling well and now we're set with no tiles at all down up there and the potential for more time off from the workmen. It's feeling less and less likely that we'll get everything done before the weather really closes in now.

Heading down the hill for another walk

A beautiful autumn view

Dark clouds on the horizon

Rosie saying "cheese!"

Thelma, Louise and Rosie run

Amazing colours

Rosie moves the chair back where it "should" be

Once again after school Rosie asked to take the puppies for a walk, as our walk on Sunday had started late so we hadn't been able to go as far as she wanted. We got ourselves set and headed out, going through the village again and down the hill but this time we made our way all the way to the bottom of the hill by the sheep farm and then climbed back up the long way towards the new pylon. It was a glorious walk, with beautiful views across the valley to the changing trees. We saw a few people on the way, and some cows, and then when we got to the headland the puppies (and Rosie) were off their leash and went for a run. We ended up right at the end of the headland looking down on the river before heading back for dinner. It was a lovely walk and when we reached home Rosie saw that one of the chairs was no longer in its right place so she moved it.

And there you have it. I don't know if we'll have the workmen tomorrow so we shall see. Thanks for reading.

Rain day so roofing

 Today has been a day of two halves, with the threatened rain closing in after lunch.

Rosie with her rocket

Making a start cleaning up the tiles

Halil grinds the old mortar off

The pipes for the petchka up in Room 13

Before school I got to spend time with Rosie again which was lovely; I had a very bad nights sleep so was late down but still got time and that cheered me up to get the day done. Bekir and Halil arrived to a dry but very threatening day and got stuck in to cleaning up the tiles that were piled outside. I really wanted my petchka reconnected, however, so after moving all the furniture out of the way I asked them to come in and fit the pipes back up. This took a bit longer than expected as somehow we've got a shorter run than before however if the temperature drops I can now stay comfortable up here. Angela has already been lighitng the fire downstairs but more on that later. After the pipes they got some more time outside on the tiles before the rain started falling and very heavily so they had to come in.

The men get started on the ceiling

Rain rain go away

Plasterboarding progress

Dark, dusty, nasty work

The first task we asked them to do inside was to put up the new curtain rail at the end of the library however we discovered that the pack was missing its wall mounts so that has been put back. The next task was one that made me very excited indeed. Years ago long term readers may remember Angela and I putting a huge amount of effort into carrying plasterboard into the roof, and then attempting to insulate and line the short corridor and vestibule out towards the Roof Terrace. This hasn't been touched since then however today Bekir and Halil have got stuck into finishing this off. It's a horrible dusty dark job but they are cracking on. This will be the task for them to do while it is raining over the next few days of work and it will be so awesome to have it completed.

Thelma happy in her cave

And so that's that. The fire is lit downstairs and Thelma is the happiest dog in the world again. I've got the door shut up here while I do this update so it's not too chilly however I do have a rug wrapped around me so winter is definitely coming. It is still raining.

Thanks for reading, back Monday.

Lifting tiles

The update this evening is going to be short as I'm not feeling all that well; the cold Rosie had has jumped to me and I'm a bit run down so an early night is in order. Onwards.

A threatening but beautiful sky

All the tiles lifted that need to be

The crepuscular rays

Chiselling the old glue up

Steel for the chicken enclosure

Angela plants bulbs. Lots of bulbs

The weather changed suddenly today, it was much colder and with lots of clouds around almost all day apart from a short time in the afternoon. This meant a beautiful but threatening sky first thing and, while I was up on the roof terrace getting a picture of the state of play, I snapped some crepuscular rays as well. The men were finishing up removing tiles and then spent a lot of time cleaning the surface below, finding some cracks and other evidence of where the water was getting through to the rooms below. Mid morning the steel we ordered yesterday arrived so that is now stashed and ready for cutting and painting. Angela had another super busy day today, getting lots done in the garden including planting loads of bulbs, and then heading to town to pick up a new power driver as my one has died. I need to order new batteries for my old one.

Tiles to be cleaned and relaid

Resorting to machines

Starting to waterproof

Halil used the hammer drill to lift the last of the old mortar then carried the lifted tiles downstairs preparatory to cleaning them while Bekir got started on putting a layer of mortar down that will water proof the roof again. We need this urgently as we now have eight days of rain forecast. Typical. It took longer than I expected and they didn't actually get started on cleaning the old tiles up today. It'll be interesting to see what the weather is like tomorrow if they'll be able to get that done and get tiles laid or if they'll be forced to secondary inside tasks. We have plenty of those, though, so even if it rains they'll be busy.

So there you are; thanks for reading.