June Progress

June has been quite a hectic month socially, I did spend my birthday at the house with The Spouse taking down the ceilings on the top floor (more later). We appointed a builder and a great architect to draw up the plans for the extension, I met him at the house with my initial drawings back in May and I know he knows exactly what I want. He has come up with some fabulous ideas for the roof too.

Having discussed with the builder things that The Spouse and I can do to help keep the costs down, he suggested we take down the ceilings on the top floor. Armed with crow bar and club hammer, new steps, gloves and masks The Spouse and I started taking down the ceilings.

Our approach? Bang it hard enough and it will eventually fall down.

The reality? As The Spouse was working on the high areas using the steps, I was limited to working on areas I could reach. Luckily, the rooms at the top are in the eaves of the roof so there is plenty of ceiling area within reach. (I use the word 'luckily' very loosely) After taking down a couple of meters of lathe and plaster we began to hear a frightening slipping noise coming from outside, on the roof. the sound of heavy concrete roof tiles perhaps slipping gently downwards. I rushed outside and looked up at the side of the roof I'd been working on to see a scarily sized hole (approx 40x50cm). I wasn't too phased by it, as I knew the builder would be replacing the roof in a couple of weeks and it was summer, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. So back to the roof I go to carry on bashing away at the plaster. To be on the safe side, I thought I'd work on the opposite side for a bit. My arms were getting slightly tired at this stage, we were both covered in black dust and visibility, well it could've been better. So when I missed the plaster and hit the the roof felt a few times I wasn't prepared for the cascade of sliding concrete tiles that I heard. Neither was I prepared for the vast hole I could see from the road. The Spouse being his usual resourceful self in situations of crisis was running around crying like an hysterical female lead in a 70's disaster movie. The Spousal problem was easily resolved with a quick but stinging slap to the face, the roof would take a little more effort. The builder was consulted. He came up trumps and sent over his small but very strong son, who had to assemble his 3 way ladder up to the roof, in blistering heat, with only a scorned Spouse to hold the ladder (rather him than me).

Many thanks to the builder's son, the house was water tight once again. There was no more summer sunshine after that day, just the wettest June since records began.

Initial Excitement

After several fraught months of dealing with the vendor/agent (yes the same person) we ended up owning the house at the end of May. We sold our house in April and agreed to break the chain because our buyers, Dan and Jane, had a cash buyer for theirs and they were keen (read desperate) to get in. Luckily, Phil and Tam invited us to stay with them for a month until we could move into ours. Once we were settled (terms of our tenancy verbally and therefore LEGALLY agreed - it'll take them months of legal action to prove otherwise) I could focus on planning the renovation and extension. Luckily, Tam and Phil said we could stay as long as we liked (saving themselves a few quid on legal proceedings). Seriously, thanks so much guys, we really appreciate it, would like to say we'd do the same for you some time... but we won't.

The first task was to clear the house of anything that wasn't actually nailed down and many things that were. The first weekend after the house was officially ours, we (read I) were keen to get in and start work. Carpets needed taking up, furniture needed removing and we took out the kitchen with some help from The Spouse's brother-in-law, Phil (thanks so much, more on your help later) and my sister-in-law Tam (in this case: more moral support than potentially-breaking-a-nail assistance). Thanks to Penny and David for providing the lovely lunch and birthday cake for the Spouse. Yes, so it was my lovely husband's birthday, but you have to remember that we had waited ages to own the house (problems with tenants) and patience not being one of my virtues I was VERY eager to get in. The Spouse was keen to be celebrating his birthday, ah well maybe another year.

I have been planning the renovations for months, and in my head everything was running like clockwork. So not sure how I had The Spouse in a starring role of DIYist extraordinaire. His inital task of removing the kitchen threw up a barrage of 'skills' issues. Luckily Phil was on hand with 100% common sense and a fully stocked tool box. Incidentally all the units and appliances were reused - I gifted them via freecycle.