More plastering today

Another day and we're back to the update. Another short one today so let's get to it.

Bekir starts working on the shelf supports

Halil starts plastering for the day

Bekir working in tight spaces

Lots of cleaning!

Looking at the leaky tap

Shiny new tap

Bekir plasters inside the new window

When the men arrived I asked Bekir to pop up into the roof to swap the uprights that were the wrong size for the supports however because the screw holes were in a different place it was better to ask him to do the drilling. While he was doing that Halil mixed up plaster and got stuck into applying the second layer. Bekir joined him as soon as he could and went into the really low area to do the plastering in there. Angela was getting a really good deep clean going on in the kitchen which is looking great! Mid afternoon Angela noticed that the tap in the kitchen was leaking so Bekir had a look and found the broken part however we were not able to source a replacement so got a new tap instead. We'll now get the old tap repaired and it can be held in reserve for another application. The final task for Bekir was working on the outside of the new window. Halil was just plastering and plastering all day.

Rosie with Sammy

When we got home from school there was time for a visit to Sammy and then a little playing outside before we got to our Lord of the Rings video.

So there you are; thanks for reading and back tomorrow!

Angela's Art Success

Another day has gone past and so here I am with another update before collapsing into bed exhausted once again.

Bekir replacing the kitchen tap

Brush taken down round the side

Halil rakes in the backfill

Pouring concrete into the forms

Cement truck on the slope

Almost complete, just a bit missing

Halil mixing the extra

Tidying for the end of the day

First thing this morning Bekir was in to replace the tap in the kitchen that broke last week; this took him a little longer than he thought it would due to a corroded rubber seal but now we have a nice new tap and can once again access our drinking water supply in the kitchen. While he was doing this Halil was out with the chainsaw cutting down lots of overhanging branches to make space for the cement truck to get round behind the chicken enclosure and up to the top bank. We weren't quite sure if the truck would arrive today and while they waiting Bekir and Halil got stuck into filling in the soil up against the foundations that were poured first. During their lunch the truck arrived. I ran down with Rosie to watch and then went back to the balcony to keep working and continue watching as it made its way up the ramp. It had brought just a tiny amount too little which is perfect as after it went the men mixed more with my mixer machine and filled the last gaps. This is very cool progress. By the end of the day they had completed this and were working away again on raking over and filling in the soil in front of the front wall. We were heading out early, before they left, so I didn't get to see how far they got.

The fantastic old build the art show was held in

Angela's wonderful paintings on the wall

Daddy and Rosie time for dinner

The reason we were heading out is today Angela had an art exhibition with her paintings hanging on the wall and it was awesome! She went on ahead and I followed with Rosie and we met her there. There was some speechifying before we were allowed in (Rosie did pretty well at staying relatively patient though she did keep asking "when can I be loud again?") and they gave Angela a lovely welcome and introductory speech. Then we were allowed in to look at all the art in the really fabulous old building. The standard was superb but honestly Angela's stood out to me so much; there was a lot of technical ability on display but hers have soul. That's my opinion anyway. Rosie and I didn't stay that long as she was getting hungry so we went to the fast food place for a quick bite before heading home.

So there it is, another day done. Thanks for reading, and congratulations to Angela for her exhibition debut!

Long break, and then the men return

It has been a very long break indeed since the last update and, of course, there are hundreds of pictures that have been taken in the intervening time. I'm not going to do my usual full update, however, as there's just way too much to go over.

Rosie plants her lovely little daffodil bulb

The dryer collapsed on Angela

Bekir fixed it up though

Rosie flying her kite

Angela mowing the top bank

Rosie sat on the bus stop bench

Dug out ready for spuds

Building an epic sand castle

Exploring the top corner

To briefly sweep over a large chunk of time, however, here are nine pictures bringing some highlights out. Rosie helped plant a daffodil which has since bloomed with many lovely flowers and has now died back. Angela had the newest dryer land on her head as it fell out of the ceiling and Bekir came past for a very quick repair job to get it re-situated. Rosie and I went onto the back bank to fly the kite and got so annoyed with the thorn bushes tangling the string (though she did very well with it as you can see) that the next day Angela to Mo the Mower up and cut it all back. Mo is amazing, I used him again today to cut the entire front garden and was done in less than an hour. Anyway, Rosie and I have been for lovely walks, I've dug out an area in the fenced garden for spuds (which are now sprouting very nicely) and Rosie has made lots of sandcastles in the sand pile over the weeks. I also got to take her for an explore around our land to the corners we don't get to much and she had a lovely time doing that.

Very excited before the circus

An awesome performing racoon

Very large snake

Rosie helping with the spinning plates

Acrobatics time

A kangaroo or a wallaby

Angela and Rosie head off

Before Angela and Rosie headed off for their holiday to visit with Angela's parents we went to the circus that came to our town and what a wonderful decision that was. We had a truly superb time, Rosie loved it and she got so involved and excited at every animal and performance. She even got into the ring to help with the spinning plates trick! How proud were we! At the break she got to ride on the little Shetland pony as well and frankly it was just the best decision ever. A truly marvellous time. Too soon, however, they were packed up and in the car and heading to the airport to go for their trip, leaving me on my own with the puppies.

Meet Maisie the Mercedes

New shelves up, and tidying in progress

Christmas present finally hung

So many thistles

So much water!

While they were away I bought a really nice new car that is very lovely to drive, I spent a fair while tidying the workshop and putting new shelves up and also hung some pictures including this awesome Christmas present. I got out to the front lawn and dug two wheelbarrows full of thistles out which was very tiring but very satisfying and also we had a huge storm come through that caused more flooding which was stressful. I was also a bit unwell most of the time they were away and I was very happy when they came home again last week.

Angela and Rosie meet Maisie

Bubble lawn mower in action

Mowing the back bank

Out for a drive with Rosie

An awesome village sink

Rosie on the climbing frame

Finally they did return and were very excited to meet Maisie (the new car). Rosie helped me mowing the lawn, with her bubble mower, and I got the back bank done which I can't do with Mo the ride-on as it's too steep. This past weekend we had a lovely time as I took Rosie for a drive and we found a lovely park with and awesome water fountain and then yesterday we went to our favourite restaurant and had a lovely time in that park also.

And so we're caught up. And that was me being quick.

Bekir and Halil are back and working

Digging out foundations for our new sink

Pouring cement into the foundations

Planning the next day

Lots of sandcastles and evidence of much fun

Rosie with some daisies

Today the workmen were back and the first task they have this year is to replace the rickety standpipe (fitted so many years ago now when I first ever arrived here to stay) with a full sink and multiple tap arrangement, plus a proper inspection door to allow access to the water meter and other stop valves rather than the damp and horrible pit we currently have. They have done a fair bit today and tomorrow should start with the actual plumbing and building the walls with blocks. It is good to have them back and get these tasks outside begun. After school (and after I did another quick mow of the lawn on Mo) I played with Rosie in the sandpit for the final time before another load of sand is dumped tomorrow. Rosie was most excited by all the daisies that are growing up by there and it was a lovely after school time.

And there it is; I'll be back to regular daily updates tomorrow that will be much shorter. Thank you for reading!