Rain rain go away

 Well, what I can say. It's rained. A lot. And that's about it...

The puppies aren't impressed

Even I lit the fire

Rosie jumping in a puddle

Louise hiding in the duvet

... but you don't get off that lightly so here's the update. I worked all day Saturday pretty much (having been woken at 3.30am by Rosie who heard the rain and woke and wouldn't go back to sleep) so Angela and I swapped Daddy Day to Sunday. It was cold enough that I even lit the fire while I was in Room 13. On Sunday it was still raining most of the day but we did get to town and then a bit later I got to go with a walk with Rosie to jump in puddles; we found some on the land but the most fun was had on the lane. It really was cold and miserable and yesterday the men called in that they weren't coming to work. At the time I was disappointed but I really couldn't blame them at all.

Cloudy start and more rain

Bouncing before school

Roofing and insulating

Ready for a game

This morning there was an epic thunderstorm that woke me at 3am again and this time I couldn't get back to sleep (Rosie wasn't bothered) so I got my work day done early. The men were in and they spent all day up in the roofspace lining the ceiling with insulation and plasterboard. At the end of the day they were about to start doing the lowest down sections and they'll probably continue that tomorrow. The forecast is for more rain all week and then from next week to dry up. Here's hoping. We've set up a gaming table in the lounge this evening to play a game on for the first time for ages so that's going to be fun.

So there you are. There's the update. 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.

Roof terrace and materials

Today has been the day we've moved on quite a lot with the next tasks, which is very exciting.

Looking towards the Mountain House

About to fix the drains

Next door has a cement delivery

Bekir hanging over the edge of the roof

The first tile is lifted

Cleaning the dirt

Lots of bad tiles

The day started early again, the stars were still out when my alarm went off, but Rosie woke naturally after Angela opened her door and let her come to on her own. I went onto the balcony with her for a very brief bounce and then we sat and looked at the view for a bit until it was breakfast time. I dropped her at school today and when I got back I found that Bekir and Halil were already getting stuck into the first task, putting the downpipe back in place. This did not take long at all however we were all slightly distracted by watching the cement pump come to The Little Lady's house and attempt to drive up the side track. Eventually it succeeded, which was impressive. With the drainage pipe done Bekir and Halil were onto the roof terrace and first business was fixing up the damage from the woodpecker. This involved lots of hanging over the edge and I couldn't watch. After that they set to onto the tiles. Some of these were actually cracked which they began lifting but then they found that there was more damage than we had originally realised so they've cleaned and lifted quite a few tiles and they will repair the material underneath and then relay them.

Rosie waving a stick to cause a shadow

Mid afternoon I went out with Bekir to the shops, having measured and calculated the block and metal requirements for all the tasks after the roof terrace which includes replacing the raised beds with block built ones, build some more flower beds, and putting the wall and fence around the extended chicken enclosure. This took a fair while but the metal is ordered for delivery tomorrow and we're waiting for a full quote from the normal builder's merchant for all the blocks, fencing, barbed wire etc. Exciting times. After school Angela, Rosie and I were in the garden, I took some more of the raised beds down, then played with Rosie on the patio.

And there you have it; finally more interesting stuff to talk about. Thanks for reading

 Today is a day of celebration. The final log has been split and that task is complete. Yay!

Glorious colours, and a slice of moon again

Bekir and Halil get started

Louise found a sun patch on the sofa

Angela cleaning and planting

Just an arty farty shot

Deconstructing more raised beds

The day started early with a very beautiful sky indeed. It has been another glorious sunny day all day however it was pretty cold before the sun came up. The men were in and again only Bekir and Halil and they got stuck in to the final pile of logs, Bekir doing the cutting and Halil stacking inside. I found Louise on the back of the sofa in the lounge having found the sun and she was very happy indeed. Angela wasn't feeling great this morning with the cold that Rosie gave both of us however she got stuck in to clearing out the gardening room and Glass Room and did an awesome job, planting new seeds and generally tidying and clearing. When it got to lunch time I got an arty shot of the axe in a log then did some of my own task, taking down raised beds. Unfortunately the screw driver bit fell out and I lost it - I spent AGES looking, and that stopped my progress. I'll be back to this tomorrow.

Bekir splitting the final logs

Halil brings a box of kindling in

A very very full wood room

Rosie's frizzy hair

Through the afternoon the splitting continued and then suddenly it was the final logs and then they were tidying up and bringing in kindling for fire starters. The inside woodstore is more full than I've ever seen it and we couldn't fit much more in if we tried. Incredible, and very good to have as we probably now have enough for two winters and can keep this level stocked up every year. This evening just before bed time Rosie went for a bounce on the trampoline and her hair got really frizzy with static; it was very funny.

So there you are; tomorrow on to the next tasks. Thanks for reading.

Weekend and more wood

 After a weekend that was too short I'm back to updates. Here goes.

The Mountain House, very much falling down

The property next door

Rosie watching as Angela splits wood

Angela lit the fire!

Rosie getting her bounce on

Daddy Saturday involved a nice drive up to the Mountain House, which will now have to wait yet another year to be done. It was a chilly day and we wrapped up warm. It was a little disheartening in a way being up there and knowing it's going to have to wait however the stuff getting done at the School is absolutely more important. Next year! Angela spent some time splitting up kindling as she had put the barrier back up round the fire downstairs and then Saturday evening she went and lit it; winter is coming. Rosie had a bounce before bed and then it was Sunday and I spent all day stuck to my computer working on software. Yuck.

A slice of moon

Going for a morning walk

Rosie by her flowers; they came again after Angela's efforts

And there is the sun

This morning blew that yuck away. The first thing Rosie said to me when I got her up this morning was "Daddy, I have a really good idea; let's go for a walk" and even though the sun was not yet up this is exactly what we did. We wrapped up and went for a walk around the garden then down the drive, out the gate, along the lane and back in the side gate. It was not a long walk but honestly it put me in a good mood from the very start and has stayed with me all day. We got back just as the sun was breaching the hills across the valley. The perfect start to the day.

More wood chopping

Bekir chainsawing

Out for another walk!

The remaining wood to be chopped

The men were in, but only Bekir and Halil as the other guy doesn't want to work. Such a shame, but never mind. They cracked on all day and have now really filled up the wood room inside. Indeed Halil cleared out another room in there to make space for all this wood. Crazy amounts, but better to have it than not. After work and school I did a little bit of picking up of kindling from around where they are chopping the wood and then, pleasure on pleasure, went for ANOTHER walk with Rosie, this time up round the back bank and down the hill and back through the village. It was lovely. Before dinner we played on the balcony for a bit and I got to see how much more wood there is left; so much!

And there you have it; a day made by Rosie. Thanks for reading.