Weekend, fun and friends

Once again I embark upon writing an update on a Monday and I'm late to sit down and exhausted. Let's see how this goes, shall we.

Walking across our land

Our other house is falling down

Rosie ate the big blackberry

Having a run across the lower field

Looking at the neighbouring house

Rosie by the lake

Thinking back to Saturday after a nice early morning Rosie and I headed off up the hill to the mountain house to check it out. It was warm enough up there, though cooler than down where we live. We had a lovely explore with running and eating blackberries and we checked out the neighbouring property that may be for sale then on the way back to the car bumped into the neighbour who helped us demolish the first house which was very nice. We then paused at the lake and Rosie watched the frogs jumping in and then dipped her toes. A nice way to spend a morning

Rosie helps pick apples

A single pear (not yet ripe)

Sun shines through cloud

In the afternoon Rosie and I harvested apples and admired the pears and then it was time for a rest and relaxation for a bit. It was a nice day all round.

Thelma after the vets

Chopping and peeling apples

Bubbling away

Jarred up marmalade

Sunday morning started with a trip to the vet with Thelma who had a very sore mouth for a day or two. The vet was very concerned, more so than I've seen him before, and he gave her three injections and said to come back on Monday and if she hadn't responded she may be "very sick". She joined me in Room 13 while I was waiting for Angela to get back with her shopping. With these supplies I got stuck into making Apple Marmalade with our apples and it took me literally six hours to make six jars but it tastes great. I was so tired after that I was in bed by 8 and fast asleep.

Final bits of plastering

Lights fitted

Screwing the door frame back in

Lights on and paint applied

Chicken house floor repaired some as well

And so we reach today again and it has been a ridiculous day for me today, so busy. First thing Halil was finishing the final bits of plastering while Bekir worked on the electrics. He got all of this finished in the time Halil and I went to the garage to get Maisie's wheels looked at; tomorrow she'll go back to get new rims and tyres. By the end of the day Bekir had fitted the door back in place and finished the electrics and they had run out of paint (so will need more tomorrow) and also had done a load of mending on the floor. Great progress.

Chicken and sweetcorn on the BBQ

After work I escaped to our friends here who had planned to come on Sunday but the rain and storm we had made us cancel. It was still super windy today but we had a nice time in the pool and then lit the BBQ and Rosie had a wonderful time playing with their daughter and all round it was a brilliant visit and a lot of fun to see them again.

So there it is; that actually wasn't so bad to type up. Thanks for reading! Back tomorrow.

The Week End

Finally after such a busy week we've made it to the weekend - now just a full day with our little cherub Rosie to survive hah. Anyway, onwards.

Rosie in mid bounce as the sun rises

The wooden boards are removed for reuse

Halil puts his back into lifting this section

Watering down the new concrete

Bekir clearing the trench ready for lining

I had a play with the scythe for the first time for years

Making a start on the shuttering

A deeper trench this side

This morning Rosie asked to bounce before she got ready for school and so I took her up, before Angela took over as I went back to my desk. It was a lovely start to the day (and it has been lovely all day actually) and great to watch her have fun. The men were in and taking down the shuttering from the concrete pour from yesterday. It looks very good indeed and will be a great solid base for our wall and fence. With the wood all removed Halil soaked the cement several times during the day to prevent it cracking in the heat while Bekir got stuck in with a shovel round the other side of the orchard to clear the trench to begin lining it. Halil had scythed a path through the long grass in the orchard and one time I went to see how they were doing I needed a break from work so I did a bit as well. They did some good progress today and the trench on this side, much deeper as it happens, has wood going a fair way up it. Angela was busy today as well; Thelma has eczema on her nose so Angela took her to the vet for some cream before later on heading into town to drop some of her art at an art gallery for a show next week!

Rosie zooming on her scooter

Rosie drew and awesome face on her own

Apple growing on a tree

After school there was play time with Rosie which involved scooters, footballs (and me doing some weeding while playing) drawing and fun on the balcony. I also got to check out the orchard and there seems to be quite a lot of fruit this year which is great.

So there it is; a long but satisfying week. Thanks for reading, all. Back Monday.

Working in the rain

Against all the odds, and the forecast, the men were in again today so here I am with an update. Let's go back to the weekend, first, before dealing with today.

Greeting the morning with Rosie

Clouds really threatened for a while

The sun came back out

Big storm over the school

Thelma and Rosie playing together

A swirl of cloud passing overhead

Beautiful thistles

Blue sky and clouds

Saturday dawned misty but was warm and we were able to get outside quite a lot though the clouds kept gathering, sweeping in, threatening then dispersing. I was tempted to stay inside but Angela (yes, now Angela - getting rid of that "A" business from now on) nudged me and out I went and I was so pleased I did. Rosie found puddles and played with Thelma with the Frisbee and I watched the clouds swirl and pass and then took a walk down the drive with Rosie and admired all the nature that is growing everywhere right now. It was a lovely day, and much needed.

Baby gate fitted with not as much hassle as expected

Rosie does not like being limited

Outside in the rain, briefly

All the flowers are starting to bloom

Sunday was less lovely, indeed it pretty much rained all day. First thing I put up the baby gate into the play room which is a task I'd been putting off for a very long time; it turned out to be far easier than any of the reviews on Amazon let on however Rosie does not like it. It will be a challenge to get her used to being limited as she's had the run of the place all this time. I did get her outside at least once during the day though she wasn't that happy with the rain as she kept looking up and getting it in her eyes. One good thing is that all our flags are flowering now and looking amazing.

Bekir saying hello to Rosie

Sally measuring for insulation

Chiselling out for a junction box

Roof insulation all in place

Plasterboarding the ceiling

And so to today; as I say it's rained all day and been miserable and I thought the men wouldn't bother coming in and even turned my phone on in case Bekir called however the TV had lied to him and told him the rain would not last long and so they turned up on time. The task for them now is to complete this porch while we wait for the fittings for the toilets to arrive from Germany. Bekir was working on running the power out to where we want the light to be while Sally got the insulation ready for the ceiling. This was then stapled into place and Sally and Halil started putting up plasterboard while I went to town with Bekir for a few supplies.

Working to get the wire through a small hole

He's wiring the junction box, honest

Skimming the joint strips and boxing off

A bee that Rosie drew on

Rosie signs her name

Sunset behind the trees

After lunch the final touches of the electrics went in and the mesh and skimming was begun. It pretty much took them the rest of the day to complete this and now we're ready for tomorrow when the windows and doors should arrive and be fitted, which is super exciting indeed. Bekir had given Rosie a workmen's pencil and so Angela took her to play with it and she drew on the plasterboard; this is now on the ceiling in the porch and while it will be plastered over we will always know it was there. This evening after the men left and between dinner (fun self feeding time with Rosie) and bathtime I took Rosie for a nice stroll outside as the rain had finally stopped and she really is only happy when she's outside. The sunset just now as I came up to start writing this blog was beautiful as well.

So there you are; here's to windows and doors happening tomorrow.