slow but steady

18.1.2012

BUILDING NEWS
Work continues slowly on the house. Richard is now rendering the snug and I am grouting the floor in the guest bedroom. Edd has brought himself special tools and is preparing the hardwood planks he brought so that they have the right profile to be made into doorframes. I just want to move in.

About 32 years ago I moved into our old house. We had been living in the shed but it had no walls and only dirt floor so that once the roof was on the I decided winter would be easier in a half a house. Moving in was relatively simple. I had two heavy things to move, the gas fridge and the potbelly stove. We relocated the stove in the ingle nook and it could then be used for cooking and warmth. I had a huge old cast iron pan that I could use to heat water.

We still had to walk to the tank beside the shed to fetch the water. There was also no electricity on the property in those days but we did have the phone and we just dug holes for toilets. When they got smelly we planted a tree in the hole and moved to the next one. Life was pretty simple in those days.

I am, of course trying to work out exactly how soon I could shift into the new house. We would need the phone down there and a fire. The fire is in but the chimney needs sorting out. A toilet and running water would be bliss. I cannot see any reason why the drains and reed bed could not be put in now but I suppose it would be better when the earth works are complete and the last of the piles of soil moved. Then we can work with the final contours of the land.

OTHER NEWS

Edd has gone to choir tonight for the first time for months. Josh has gone out and I have had the donga to myself for a few hours. This has been great because I have managed to clean up a bit and sort things out. Everything got a bit out of control around Xmas but I am fighting my way back to the top of the problem pile.