A week of progress

What a week that has been; I've been back in the UK and while I did get home yesterday afternoon I was too tired to even think about writing this update. So here I am with a whole week to cover in this post. I'll be away all next week as well so there may not be any updates then either. Let's get to it.

All of Rosie's cuddly toys out in her play room

Cuddling up with teddies and Xena

Getting on a plane face

It'd be awesome to be walking those ridges

Frost on the Peak District

I'll get my trip out the way, then show you what the men have been on with. I spent as much of Saturday as I could playing with Rosie and enjoying time with her before I was off to the plane early Sunday. I did get to go in and give her a kiss goodbye just before I left, which was a bit of a relief for me. I got to Sofia easily, boarded the plane first and settled in to an easy flight to Manchester. I really enjoyed seeing the mountains poking out through the low clouds just after we left Bulgaria, and the sight of the snow on the peaks as we were landing was cool also. I collected my car and drove down to my destination without any problem until right at the end when I couldn't find the car park however my colleague, staying at the same place, had sent me a pin which took me there really quickly. Without that I may still be driving around looking!

A really nice meal out with a friend

Pretty good breakfasts at the hotel too

Part of our quiz team, ready to win/lose

Lamb Jalfrezi, waiting for my peshwari naan

Flying home over the French coast

I went out for some food with my colleague that evening which was a really nice time but it was an early night (and every night, actually, as I managed to keep myself in Bulgarian time zone mostly). The hotel was nice, the breakfast was good, and my visit was very profitable and fun including an enjoyable pub quiz where we called our team "In First Place" and duly came last. On the way back to the airport I went to see my old school friend and we had a lovely curry with his family. I then napped a few hours, drove back to the airport and travelled back home. It was another long day but easy enough and I was home just before Rosie got back from school which was great.

Testing the heaters and they do make a difference

The access holes are nicely filled

Putting rock wool insulation in

Up the scaffold to reach the high ceiling

Lots of boarding being done

End of the week, just past the half way point

For the men, they have spent the week working in the balcony first of all getting the wiring done to be able to turn on the two heaters we had bought and then filling in the gaps, including putting the plaster skim back in place. After feeling the heaters we decided they are good but two more were needed so now we have a couple more that will be fitted next week. With the heaters up we decided to carry on out there and get the insulation and plasterboard up which was by no means in the plan but it will really help with Rosie's birthday party, and generally in keeping those nasty flies out we hope. By today they had installed all the insulation and are working their way through the plaster board. It's a very high ceiling and is a bit difficult to do but with the scaffold that has helped. When the plasterboard is up they will fit the other two heaters, then fill the gaps and we will probably leave it like that and not paint it just yet. It's great to see this room being finished; another unexpected bonus success.

So there it is; back travelling again next week as I said so I'm not sure if there'll be any updates - it's tough on your own with Rosie! Thanks for reading, and back when I can be.

Heaters in the balcony

Last night there was such strong winds and heavy rains that the earthquake that occurred about 60km away from us or so didn't even register. I felt it but thought it was psychological from the howling wind. Thankfully there was no damage.

Angela made some pickle

We'll open this update with some preserving that Angela did first thing, which wasn't the only thing she did - lots and lots of clearing and tidying went on and Rosie (who was off school again sadly) helped. I was even able to find some time to sort through the Christmas Things boxes and tidy them out of the way.

Bekir and Halil getting ready for today

Halil rewiring to remove the plug

The two heaters are now hung

Here is where we'll have the switches

Precariously cutting out access

So to the day, which was a thundery, rainy and windy day with patches of sunshine. Honestly it feels more like March or April than January right now. Still no sign of the snow. For today I asked the men to hang the two ceiling heaters we've bought for the balcony to warm it up for Rosie's birthday. First off we spent some time working out roughly where they would hang then they legged it to get more heavy duty cable and with that done they got to work. It didn't take long at all to hang the heaters (we may end up with two more I think) and the rest of the day was spent in the wiring. We removed the plug cables that they came with and have hardwired the power in as we'll be having switches on the wall to control them. They cut small holes into the insulation and then ran the cables between the holes, to minimise the damage to the wall. It did take a little longer than I expected, but then it always does with electrics, but hopefully on Monday they'll be wired in and then we can decide if we want two more.

Very strong rainbow (and faint double)

I'll leave you with this photograph of an awesome rainbow (the second today, as it happens) that Angela saw and called Rosie and I to see. Amazing

Angela will be doing the blog next week so it'll happen when she gets a chance. Thanks for reading today.

Mainly more lights

Last night I was in bed for 8pm and slept through, other than a bit of disturbance from Rosie, and I've really felt the benefit of it. She was back to school today as well which really freed Angela up.

Bekir and Halil get the ducting in place

Fitting the plasterboard back up

Angela using her shredder

A nice fine mulch for the garden

Lots of spots in the ceiling

The men have been working on the electrics and lights all day; first of all they were running the conduit behind the plasterboard and then wires through these. They did have to head out briefly to collect some more materials such as more lights as we've decided to use these spotlights throughout this area of the roofspace. Angela was busy as well, outside and inside planting and clearing and getting ahead of the spring. We also got the new garden shredder working and she had a quick go with a branch. It shreds very well, though it is slightly violent if the branch isn't dead straight. By the end of the day the men had pretty much done the lights for the end room and also the left hand storage area. Tomorrow they'll be onto something else.

So there it is. Another day done and what a windy day it has been - it is still howling outside and I really hope it calms down soon; it has been blowing a gale for days now. Thanks for reading, back tomorrow.

Now onto lights

Days when the men are working on electrics (as is going to happen for a while now) always feel slower but it's stuff that needs to be done so that's what they're working on.

Catching dust while drilling

The little display is completed

Bekir working on running cables

Smiling through the tears

The first job of the day was not electrics but to put up the display shelf I made for the Canberra I've been building in memory of my dad. I'm so pleased that this is now up on display next to his lovely picture that Angela got me for my 40th birthday. It's taken a long time to get it finished but at least it is done now. With that completed they were up into the roof and, as I've said, were running power for lights and plugs in the new space. They had to head out for more materials as well. Angela had a busy day with a house sitting visit and then gardening. Rosie was back to school and when she got home she did some hobbying, but then scared herself slipping off her stool however a Tunnocks that we received in a delivery put a smile back on her face.

So there it is; a short update. Back tomorrow and thanks for reading.

Walls done

It has been a really good day of progress today, the roof space is really taking shape.

Cutting the wooden column to size

The new column goes upstairs

The side of the doorway in place

Making sure it is very secure

Filling the gap with blocks

The first thing the men did when they got in was started to cut and trim a 10x10 beam to size to act as the side of the doorway into the back part of the roof. With the trimming done Bekir lifted it up and then set it in place before securing it with metal brackets. We've gone for a two meter wide double door here and it looks very much big enough. Once the upright was fixed in place the blockwork began again and this went quick, even though Bekir tied each course into the wood with more metal brackets.

Working on the raised beds

Unfortunately Rosie was off school again today as her sniffle still hasn't cleared up but Angela got them outside into the garden for some of the day to do some clearing and plant some new stuff. We hope this year to make more use of the garden and be more productive.

Very nearly finished all the walls

Measuring up for doors

Bekir cutting the final piece to size

The men cracked on with the blocks through the afternoon and had reached the very top of the wall by late in the day. The window people arrived towards the end of the day to measure up for the doors that we want installed up there for access to the storage and also between the two sections of roof. Hopefully they will be quick to quote and come and fit them. The end of the day saw the last section of block cut (though actually there is one more piece to be done at the other end which is waiting for some small fixes on the plasterboard) and now we really can see what the space looks like and it is great.

Rosie outside her awesome den den

I'll leave you with this picture of Rosie next to her "den den" that she built (with our help) by the front door. She is loving making these things, something I'm sure I used to do at her age as well. Fantastic.

So there it is; thanks for reading and back tomorrow.

Camping, toilets and blockwork

Well it's Monday once more so let's get straight back to it.

Rosie enjoying her hot chocolate

I actually took very few pictures over the weekend. Friday night Rosie and I camped and it was great; we had our hot chocolate and it was raining lightly so you could hear that on the tent and then Rosie woke me in the morning "wake up wake up wake up" etc. It was fun. After that we didn't go out as we normally would but played games and just generally had a nice "in the house" day. On Sunday I set myself a crazy hobbying challenge and it took me all day to achieve, other than some very welcome breaks to sit with Rosie and also eat. And that was the weekend.

Extra security for the wall

More toilet problems

Back to block laying

Epic progress on the block work

This morning the men were in and went up to the roof to continue working on the block work. Bekir was tying the new wall above the stairs into the existing wooden frames using bits of metal going into the joints and they were making good progress. I then went out to the toilet pump block as the upstairs toilet has a little problem and I found that the downstairs toilet pump seal had broken (we discovered it is exactly the same problem as the other pump experienced) and there was poo everywhere; I helped to clean up a bit but mainly the men hosed it out and pulled the broken pump out. I'm getting seriously close to just going with normal toilets and being done with it. Anyway after they had finished that task they headed back upstairs and cracked on with the blocks and have reached the ceiling in a lot of places. It's looking great.

So there's the update. Thanks for reading and back tomorrow.

Block work

We've reached another weekend, can you believe how fast time is flying. Let's get to it!

Thelma hanging off her ball, through the bars

First of all a picture from yesterday evening after I did the blog; Thelma had her ball on the other side of the gate and rather than go round to get it she was just hanging off it, through the bars, for ages. She's very stubborn, but not very bright.

Bekir fits the final bits of plasterboard

Cleaning up the floor ready for brick laying

A wall is appearing at the top of the stairs

Starting to turn the corner

The wall is rising

Sweeping up loads of dust on the stairs

The men were back in and first of all finished off the final bits of insulating and plaster boarding to support the next block work. With this done they swept up and then used water to clean the final dust (and there is a lot of dust) from the work area and then got stuck in. They were laying blocks all day, though they had to go out to get some more supplies this morning, and got quite a bit done at the top of the stairs. At the end of the day Halil was sweeping the stairs and there was so much dust - I really can't wait for this to all be finished and floored and plastered and painted so no more dust comes down!

Gonna do some winter camping (it doesn't feel like winter!)

Firey sunset

Before Rosie got home from school I put the tent up as this winter has been so mild I think we can camp tonight. There was also a lovely sunset this evening, I took this picture from the roof terrace while up there with Rosie.

So there it is; thanks for reading and back Monday.