A ‘Retro’ View of the World

Our main activity this last month has been fitting the windows and lifting the potatoes, most of which were rotting in the ground or else rotting once we got them out as we had nowhere to dry them – that is until I remembered we actually have a house.

The big windows are still outside but we have fitted all the windows on the front of the house and all the upstairs windows. Because they a) come apart and b) are not full height we could just manage to haul them up with 2 blocks and tackles and manoeuvre them into position. Once we got the technique right (in time for the last one!) we were able to do it fairly easily. The recommended technique for final adjustments is to swing on the hinge but we weren’t convinced. Fortunately only one stuck really badly and we resorted to wedges.

We were very excited when the last one above the front door went up (with help from Andrew – it was a big heavy one) as it finished off the front facade. It is wonderful not to have flapping tarpaulins and plastic everywhere. David next door has given them the thumbs up – “very retro” he says. Not sure if that was Chris’ intention but we are certainly pleased that we didn’t give up on the mullions as the horizontal lines are very important in lining up the different heights of windows.

Of course we are still waiting for merry Mick to finish the roof. We have got him to agree to come even just for a few hours as the chances of getting full days without wind and rain are decreasing and John is going to labour for him to save him having to find (and pay) someone not to do a full day’s work. Until the roof is finished we can’t remove the scaffolding and until the scaffolding is away we can’t get a manitou in to fit the big downstairs windows.

The other jobs that we are setting up are the completion of the drains and installation of the septic tank and reed beds. We can then get the services transferred to the house and the holes around the house backfilled. Unfortunately Ali is tied up with a backlog on the farm and it’s proving difficult to fix up anyone else with a machine to do it at reasonable cost.

We’ve ordered the WC and basin for the downstairs loo but the shower was costing £90 extra to deliver so we are going to pick that up next time we are in the Central Belt. I’ve been getting annoyed with internet companies who claim to give free delivery on mainland UK but really mean England.

Indoor work is stuffing insulation in the gaps round the windows and finishing the reveals with leftover panelvent. After a chat with Chris we have decided to stick with the clay in the ‘wet’ rooms but just use plasterboard everywhere else.

We have also discovered that a neighbour from down the lane, Gordon, is an electrician and he has agreed to keep us right on the electrics and to sign them off. He has some lovely ideas for lighting!

On the good days John is finishing off the cladding that he can reach round the windows. For the picture he has ‘photoshopped’ in the missing bit between the front door and the upstairs landing. Would that it were that easy in real life!

On the wildlife front the swallows finally got away and it is back to the robins, tits and finches. The days are getting noticeably shorter but with Emily now on holiday visiting Jo in Australia and having a wonderful time, we are beginning to think about our own trip, scheduled for next February.