A sign

We've run out of oil at our old house - I'm taking it as a sign that it's time to go! Our new house is lovely and we can't wait to get in. Our builder is even lending us his van to move some of our stuff. How decent is that? I haven't mentioned Adrian very much, I'm not sure why when everyone else has had a mention. Maybe I was trying to keep him on his toes :0) At the start of this project I was dreading having a builder that I couldn't work with but thankfully my fears were unfounded. Adrian's "can do" attitude is a breath of fresh air, especially when you have ideas like mine! He makes it easy to ask for what you really want, knowing that he won't laugh (well mostly). He is genuinely interested in new ideas and always gives good advice. Thank goodness he is patient and has been more than generous with his time helping us to get to where we are today. That sounds like a reference! Not a bad one either :0) Right that's enough being nice, off to bed now, busy day tomorrow.

OMG! We're moving...

You wouldn't think it would be a surprise to me but it has come as a bit of a bolt out of the blue that we are moving this weekend! Until today we weren't totally sure it was going to happen because the carpets hadn't come in. However, I got the call at midday today to say they had arrived, so they are being fitted on Friday. McAuleys kitchen people are delivering the electrical appliances as well, so its all go. Gerry the tiler has been doing a lovely job on the ground floor. I am going up tomorrow am. to just confirm that the grout (which has been changed!) is to my liking. We are short a box of tiles to do around the bath panel but they will be available on Monday, so there's a wee bit of work there after we get in. The horrible plastic has been removed from the window frames and they look fantastic (make for boring pictures though). Joe has been working away on the patio, it was half completed today so hopefully almost done by now. The guys were working away on leveling the back "lawn" area and the granite kerbs have been put in place. A replacement loo has been delivered for the family bathroom at last, but we have had a wee problem with the shower enclosures, quite bad scratches on them so they need to be returned, but I'm assured they will be replaced tomorrow. A lady is coming on Monday to measure for blinds. I'm scared I will forget she is coming with everything thats going on. Kitchen worktop is being fitted on Monday as well, at least hubby will be there to supervise. Outstanding issues - I still haven't got a post box or a door bell, nor shelving for the larder. Sounds minor but not having a post box is a bit of an issue, we've already had mail returned. Not sure how I have fitted it all in in the last 3 months, mostly on my own. I have had the kids, homeworks (including 11+ stuff), school runs, swimming lessons, housework and food shopping, builders queries, suppliers deliveries and various decisions to make. On top of that I have had viewings for this place and I dare not forget that the hubbys fortieth birthday is looming. Is there any wonder I've been in bed at 8:30 a lot of the time? On the whole it's a bit of an emotional time for me and the wee girls (hubby seems to be immune to it all). Kids were crying this week cos they don't want to go. We have been very happy in this house and we have a lot of good memories, but it is time to go. Time to make new memories in our beautiful new house :0)

An update for the distant husband

Good progress is being made. I have to choose grout tomorrow and go and pick up more tiles. I really need to get a letter box sorted as well as we are having mail returned.

The lights in the hall, they will light up and down when all the bulbs are in!

Sink has been installed in family bathroom:

Garage has a window now!

Interesting light fitting above garage door!

Kitchen diner tiles well underway:

No. 34 update

I've had 3 more viewers in the last week but unfortunately although they love the house, they are not in a position to make an offer as they cannot get their own houses sold. First time buyers appear to be few and far between and the help for first time buyers announced in the budget wont help much either because it applies only to new builds. Personally I think that is very limiting with regard to the choices available to a first time buyer.

One Week To Go

Next weekend will see me celebrate my 40th birthday. Imagine, 40 years of age!

I'd always hoped that we would have moved in to our new house in time for my birthday and we would've loved for friends to come along to a party in the new house. However, the kitchen won't be ready in time and the upstairs carpets will miss the deadline by 24 hours.

The idea of taking this coming Friday as a day off from work in order to perform the lift and shift of all our worldly possessions just can't happen. At least, not entirely.

Moving over the course of the weekend still might be possible, though that would mean moving on my birthday - some birthday celebration, eh?

That said, no fault can be assigned to our builder who has been brilliant. Internally, we merely have the floor tiles to be laid, wooden floors to be laid and some minor electrical tests. Externally, we have a bit of paving to do and a driveway to be laid. All of these tasks are still on target - apparently.

The paving and steps around the house look terrific so far:

Obviously there is a lot of dust around, but it should give you an idea of how it is coming along. The path at the back looks like this:

And internally, our wood burning stove has turned up and has been installed. Try to forget the cement mixer sitting in front of it:

So this day next week - I'll be 40 and we may be in our new house!

Progress

The view from the kitchen into the hall.



The sink in the ensuite.




The wood burning fire in the kitchen diner.

We have handrails on the stairs now.

Front steps. Aren't they looking good?

It is Saturday, isn't it?

Stephen and I went up today and there was Joe working away! He is doing a great job on the paths and steps around the house. Backbreaking work but what a lovely result.

The family bathroom has been grouted now and it looks beautiful. My father-in-law and his wife were up with us and were impressed with the work that has been done.

My lovely fire has been installed and I can imagine sitting there on a winter evening with it lit. Just needs finished off around the edges and it will look great.

The kitchen has to be measured for the Corian worktops but nearly there.

The utility room.

Next week we have yet more tiles being delivered on Monday - to that end, the heat has been running all weekend in an attempt to get the floor completely dried out.

On Tuesday, the rest of the bathroom suites are being delivered - so hopefully they will be installed next week as well.

I had the upstairs measured for carpet on Friday afternoon and have various carpet samples lying around. I have a very good idea what I want but the samples look different when you get them in the rooms. I also need to start thinking about some blinds and curtains.