The Silence of the Windows

Quite a few things are happening all of a sudden. Keith and Darren delivered the kitchen from Ikea on the 18th of October at exactly the time agreed. It took them a mere 20 minutes to unload 119 items and bring them into the house across the bridge into the utility room. We were their 4th delivery and they had Strachur, Tighnabruich and Dunoon to do (without ferries) before finishing up. If only all carriers could be so reliable. Of course we had to put up a few units to check the exact positions of the drains!

While waiting for Mick to finish the roof we are trying to get everything that punctures the walls done before the insulation. The 5 ventaxia units were delivered in 3 loads to Lagavullin House down the road for some reason, so we met another friendly neighbour.

On the 22nd, the WC and basin arrived (bargain from Plumbworld) but we collected the shower cubicle from Broxburn as it was costing a ridiculous amount for delivery. We have finalised our plans for the underfloor heating (hypocaust only) and gravity system with Alan Johnston but are finding the availability of multi fuel stoves problematic since the fuel prices escalated. We may not be able to get our first choice in time for Christmas. We’ve also worked out a better route for the flue so that it will not stick out of the roof quite as much.

Yes, Mick put in a final spurt and finished the roof with Lucas. We will miss him! But he will probably come back and help with the plasterboarding as he doesn’t like working on roofs in the winter. It’s been a bit of an epic but that’s it done now and it has been tested and it doesn’t leak! We moved the scaffolding and fitted the gutters and downpipes in anticipation of Len arriving to dig the drains and fit the septic tank.

We were also doing internal drains and vent pipes but the weather has been too wet and cold to bring the machine in. Once the wet went away, Len and Stephen turned up and the semi-frozen ground was quite tidy to work in. The drainage trench and inspection chambers went in fine but the septic tank is sitting a bit higher than we’d have liked. It’s not a disaster as it can be mounded and landscaped. The reed beds are in too and we are just waiting for the reeds and irises to be delivered.

Len left the machine and John cleared the garage apron and part backfilled round the garage. The rest will wait until we sort out the levels finally as well as deciding about the steps and storage cubbyhole at the side of the garage. John also began the final rainwater trench but didn’t get it finished before we had to go to meet Emily coming back from Australia. (Actually, I think he was relieved as he was worried he might reverse into the pond!)

Emily has had a wonderful time but fortunately not so wonderful that she wants to go permanently. The trip enabled us as usual to buy a few things I had missed from the order for the electrical stuff and to exchange the planer thicknesser that John had bought which you can’t get spare parts for but which should be ideal for cleaning up the hardwood flooring.

When we returned yesterday morning, Len was finishing off the trench (without falling in the pond) and we started to put the windows in. We managed two and a half before dark. They had to be cut free, lifted, the protective wood removed, spun round, then swung into place, the straps removed and roughly positioned. Then we had to tip them back to fit the cills, then finally position them. It was quite a fiddle and the final two cills are too short so have had to be patched. Which reminds we that we never got a reply about the mismatching door handles. Must follow that up. Anyway, although very fiddly and slow, it all went without mishap. We lashed the final window to the campervan as strong winds and rain were forecast for Sunday (today).

Fortunately, they seem to have passed by the morning so we were able to get the third cill fitted and the last window in by lunchtime. Although there is still the final fitting, adjusting, taping and cladding to do, it is fantastic to see them safely in. No more blue and green tarpaulins – and how oddly quiet without the almost constant flapping. (If only the noise of the rain drumming on the caravan roof wasn’t such a ready replacement.)