A week of inside and outside progress

Despite my best intentions this week I've not blogged daily, mainly because of wanting to not lock myself away with the computer for the end of my mum's visit. This is a good decision and one I'm happy with, but now I sit looking at lots of pictures and hope this doesn't turn into too long an update.

Strolling around at the Mountain House

The other house is collapsing quite fast now

Ready for a game of SBG

Rosie escaping

A gift from the lovely waiter

Back to last Saturday and in the morning my mum and I went up to the Mountain House to check it out. It was overcast and cold but still so glorious to get up there again. I do hope to get started again on that soon but think it won't be this year at all. The other house is collapsing more every time we visit. When we got back I set up the table in the lounge for a game, then we headed to our favourite restaurant for lunch and Rosie had a GREAT time, running around and even getting a little twirly thing from the waiter (he's the one who gave us the lovely note when Rosie was first born). In the afternoon A and I even got to the play the game we had set up, which was incredible and a lot of fun indeed.

Three generations on a lovely Sunday Stroll

Looking along the valley from the headland

Sunday mum and I got out again, this time with Rosie and the puppies, to walk to the end of the headland. I thought it was cold so we were all wrapped up but it turned out to be quite warm and carrying Rosie in her snowsuit, as shiny and slippery as it is, turned out to be quite a challenge. It was lovely, though, and Thelma got a stick and we had a great time. It was a relaxing day and just what we needed, with a gorgeous roast chicken for dinner.

Brambles being cleared

Primer on the walls

Fine detail priming

Running power

On Monday we had an extra body as Hikmet came to clear the brambles that I just haven't made time to do. He used my old scythe (which Bekir mended) but it quickly broke twice during the day as he got stuck into this unpleasant task. It was great to go out and see the progress. Inside there was work painting primer on all the walls while Bekir finished off all the wires to go through the partition wall.

Hikmet hard at it on the brambles

The partition wall takes shape

Tiles for both rooms

Air conditioning for both rooms

Lovely night sky

Arena all set up and ready to play

By the afternoon Hikmet had made huge progress, despite the problems with the scythes, and inside insulation and plaster board was being applied to the partition wall. A had chosen some tiles and went to collect them at the end of the day, so these are now ready for laying, and also the two airconditioning units were delivered during the afternoon. The sunset was lovely so we all went out to enjoy it and then in the evening A and I got another game in, this time Arena: The Contest. It was a great fun game though we didn't manage to win sadly.

Plastering begins

Hammering in wedges to secure studs to

Nearly done behind the Green Building

Making a good start behind the chicken house

Lots of plastering done

Shifting a pile of brambles for burning

We can see that back wall again!

Fitting plasterboard over more insulation

Out for a beer with a mate

Tuesday began with the excitement of the plastering being begun by Sally, while Bekir and Halil worked together to begin putting studs on the brick wall so we can insulate it. Outside Hikmet had brought along a different tool, almost a bill-hook with a short knife on one end and a pitchfork on the other, and with this he was making much better progress. He finished along the Green Building and then got stuck into the tangle behind the chicken house. After lunch progress continued at a great pace. Sally was nearly done on the walls and ceiling for the play room while Hikmet had made a huge dent in the brambles out back. Bekir and Halil had finished putting studs up and were now fitting insulation behind plasterboard. What exciting times! I had a social life as well and went out for beers with a local friend and it was a lovely walk back up in the dark for a cuppa and to see my mum before we all went for a sleep.

An absolutely amazing sunrise for Wednesday

Bekir preparing for the plug sockets

Hikmet nearly hidden by brambles

Halil with the drill trying to penetrate reinforced concrete

Joint strips on the partition wall

The power for both rooms going to the main feed

An unusual sight as Bekir does some plastering

Halil getting in on the plastering action

Hikmet carrying on his amazing work

Wednesday I was up a bit early and able to catch the most glorious sunrise I've seen for a while. It was stunning and I took a fair few pictures. The men arrived and got stuck in with Bekir and Halil working on fitting supports for the plug sockets while Hikmet just kept on ploughing through the brambles. He had now almost cleared the orchard and was starting work on the bank and the old vehicle access up to the top bank. Incredible progress! The final tasks for the electrics were also completed with cables going towards the supply box and then Bekir and Halil picked up plastering tools and got stuck in to help Sally. All hands on deck to get this completed. Hikmet had meanwhile done the orchard and cleared a huge chunk of the bank as well.

Family photo at our meal

Bacon and cheese and spuds

Roast pork in a superb gravy

A cuddle for Grandma and Rosie

As it was my mum's final night with us we went out for dinner and tried a new place as recommended us by SandS. It was lovely - the food was superb, the service very good and the price was really reasonable. We had a lovely evening and Rosie was also very good and enjoyed a little bit of each of our meals. It was also a sad moment as we were saying good bye to Grandma.

Rosie being an airplane for Grandma

Corner reinforcement

Hikmet clearing by the front now

After the rain, a rainbow

Venus and the New Moon

Thursday was up and gettin ready for taking mum to her bus. She had lots of cuddles with Rosie, and then when the time came to say goodbye Rosie decided she wanted to fly as well. It was an easy drop off but as always with me I'm OK before I leave then I drove off feeling very sad and wishing she could have stayed longer. She had a very good trip home, however, and arrived safely in good time. For the building progress A headed out with Bekir to pick up a few bits and pieces like corner reinforcement while Hikmet dodged the weather (and it was a very stormy day with hail and thunder and heavy rain) to finish the back bank and get stuck in down by the driveway. I shot a short video while I went to check on progress - he makes short work with the correct tool for the job. That night it was incredibly clear and I got some beautiful shots of the New Moon as she was setting, with Venus is close company. Stunning.

Halil scraping and cleaning the windows

A study in greys

And so we reach today and it has been such a stupidly busy day at work that I literally only got a photograph of Halil cleaning the windows in the play room, and the sky after the men had left. They have smashed on today, however, with plastering and the sanding the walls to make them smooth. The playroom is basically done and ready for painting and tiling and plug fitting and air conditioning and lights while the bedroom is a bit further behind but not far; they still haven't closed the gap in the wall however I think that'll be done once the playroom at least has been tiled. Hikmet didn't come today so no more progress outside.

So there you have it; a super long update and I'll be trying to avoid this from now on however it's been a good week and I was glad to not be distracted and to spend more time with my mum.

Thanks for reading.

The remainder of the week

I have left this update until Friday night as while progress has been good it has been repetitive and my updates would have been very much the same for Wednesday and Thursday.

One thing to say straight off is that today is a tough day for us all here at The Old School as it marks a year since my father's tragic accident. We miss him every second of every day, of course, but today marks a particular time of reflection and of course brings his passing home even more bluntly than a normal day. A difficult day, but we must keep on going.

An absolutely stunning sunrise

Sally finishing off his wall

Halil back to traditional methods of channeling

Desperate for a brew

Hand tools all the way

So what has been going on. Wednesday was a frustrating day as the electricity was out for most of it so I ended up taking the day off work, not earning anything. This also meant that while the men could get on with tasks (Sally filling in the gap at the top of his wall, for one thing) a lot of the jobs that normally have power assistance had to be done by hand, like chiselling out the channels for the electrics which Halil got stuck into with a will. I made brews with the old kettle on the gas. Myself and Bekir headed out on a shopping trip to look at air conditioning units and other items which was pretty successful. I've got a petchka now for the tool room downstairs.

Running cables through the partition wall

Halil creating a path for more cable

Sally finishing around the windows

Yet more channels

Cement over the newly run cables

Wednesday afternoon was more of the same; lots of time channeling out, but this time making use of power tools which sped it up quite a lot as the power returned mid afternoon. The day really did involve a lot of drilling and chiselling however we had a good laugh as Sally was chasing Bekir round; as soon as cable was in place there was Sally with his cement looking to cover it over. They are going at a very good clip indeed.

Sally making sure the window is square

A nicely finished off window surround

More cables to cover over

Covered van delivery

Cables in the play room

A smile as that beard takes ANOTHER picture

Thursday was a wet and miserable day; a day for working inside. Sally got stuck in early to squaring off around the windows in each of the two rooms while Bekir and I went out and bought not one but two air conditioning units, slightly smaller than originally planned, so there'll be one in the bedroom and one in the playroom and it'll be more efficient and comfortable and easier to control. It was also more expensive, but for Rosie what is "too much"? When we got back it was onwards with chiselling and chasing and then the delivery of extra wood, cement, plastboard glue and plasterboard arrived in a covered truck. The day ended much as the previous one; lots of cabling, and lots of cement over wires.

Rolling up the dusty old plastic sheeting

Digging out the floor again

Bekir showing his agility again

Insulation and reinforcement down

Father and son at the cement mixer

Sally laying a floor

And so we get to today. We are not going to complete the gym this round of work however it made a lot of sense to get a floor put down to at least reduce the dust, and allow us to move things in there for storage, and so first thing the room was cleared, the plastic dust sheeting rolled to one side, and lots of digging was done by Sally and Halil. While this was going on Bekir was very busy running all the cables for the lights and plug sockets. A went out with my mum and Rosie and was able to find some lovely tiles (due for delivery on Monday) and also get the extra electrical stuff we needed. In the gym the waterproofing, insulation and metal reinforcement went down and then the cement mixer was put to use and the concrete pour began.

Running the cables through the wall

Sally nearing completion of the floor

Halil making sure the mixer is very clean

Wires for plugs, lights and air conditioning in her bedroom

Runways over the fresh cement

Bekir was continuing with the electrical work, this time very creatively making use of the hollow bricks to run the cables. He has done this throughout and it's a tidy job. This wall will be completed soon, as we have no plan for a doorway there, and then the cables will be out of the way. Sally was really smashing through the floor in the gym and finished it entirely today, when he was done with the cement mixer Halil went out and gave it a very thorough clean. It's so good to have responsible people looking after the equipment.

All in all it has been a very productive week; next week we will take delivery of the tiles, the walls will be rendered and then painted, the air conditioning units are supposed to arrive and be fitted on Thursday if we're ready - we are rushing towards completion. This is VERY exciting indeed.

For my dad.