visiting angels

16.9.2011

BUILDING NEWS

Everyone disappeared after Wednesday. This has suited us as we are still feeling ill and it has given us time to organise things on the phone. I got out today and picked up the splash backs from Bayswater.

The quote has come for a new spa. Our old one was totally destroyed by the fire. Al has identified an area he thinks it should go into and I am beginning to form plans for a private relaxing space for Edd and I. What would we need? Music, a soak in hot water for aching bodies and perhaps a glass of wine. Friends too might be good, and a house to retire into. I would have to have rocks, and stones and possibly plants.

We already have the view, a clear vista of the night sky and the sounds of nature. I care less about the look of kitchen cupboards. The house just needs to be comfortable and easy to keep clean and tidy. If we build it with all the features we planned it will be interesting without too much in the way of fancy fittings.

OTHER NEWS

We have had gastric flu, and have felt far to sick to do much of anything non- essential. Somehow everything must be fed, goats need milking twice a day and the dogs need walking. Who ever felt least sick at the time did the job.

Amazingly we have still made enormous progress, but this was due to our wonderful volunteers from Eaton Vehicle Group. A very serious team arrived on Thursday and set about the horrid task of separating rubbish and undergrowth. Wooden rubbish was burnt, total rubbish went in skips and possible useful stuff was stacked elsewhere.

I thought it would take all day to do the area by the house but it was done before lunch. This meant that the team could clear up the old drive and move the last of the fencing wire. Someone got Edd’s angle grinder and cut up the old water tower and they even started on building a bridge over the gully. I got all the spoiled food out from the cellar and the wet mouldy material and that went in the skip as well.

One of the men borrowed Skiddy and filled in the holes that I keep falling into and also dragged out difficult stuff. I think that is most of the junk gone now except for the mental waste and building materials. We will dispose of them when we have finished building.

Today I mowed all the grass in my newly cleared areas. What an enormous relief it is knowing the rubbish is finally gone. After the fires we worked on priorities and so some problems just had to be lived with. I tried to clear it up every now and then but it was far too difficult on my own and the last thing I wanted was to take Edd away from his work building the new house.

I am still feeling so weak after being sick that just writing this makes me feel like crying, we are so grateful for all the help we have been given. I do not suppose any of the people who helped yesterday have any idea how much their contribution has meant to us. We have been enormously lucky to have Eaton’s support.