Nearly There

The scaffolding has come down and the outside is being landscaped with the decking framework being completed. The final push has started and the interior is changing rapidly. The kitchen is nearly completed and ready for tiling. The staircase arrived and has proved to be quite a puzzle for the poorcarpenters as it has arrived in small sections, we had expected it to come in the first and second floor sections.The carpenters are now getting the sections sorted and making good progress. We are confident that it will look lovely once completed. Theelectricians have got the electric into the house and busy fixing lights etc. The plumber is working hard to get the heating system completed, the fans which work the air source heat system are much larger than we had imagined.

We should be moving in on 19th December just in time for Christmas so very busy packing up at home. It will be much better when we can start to move things to the house as we are getting cluttered up with boxes.

New Additions

We have been looking for some more goats for a little while and have managed to source another Billy and two Nannies. They are called Winston, Misty and Mo. We haven't introduced them to Horis and Gladys yet as we are letting them settle in first. The new goats are a smaller breed so we have made the decision that we will have to sell Horis. We will be sad but know our hearts must not rule our heads. When fully grown he will be too big for Misty and Mo.

The house is beginning to progress at a fast rate. The roof is now finished and looks handsome.

All the solar panels are in position, they will be commissioned once the electricians do the second fix. It is all go inside as the plasterers, tilers, plumber, carpenters and decorator are working hard. The top floor is nearly completed apart from the electrics second fix. The tiler has completed the upstairs en suites and now working on the main bathroom. The windows are nearly completed and we have a back door in place although that has to be altered as it is in the wrong way. The bricklayers are back building the external wall. The ground floor is being prepared for the screed and the first part should be completed next Friday then hopefully the kitchen can be fitted.

Scaffolding Away!

The scaffolding has been taken down from part of the house and it is lovely to be able to stand back and see the front properly. The rendering has been completed and windows are going in. The single story section is being roofed and should be completed by the middle of next week. The very top floor has been plastered and the en suite is being tiled. The internal doors have arrived and the carpenters are busy making door frames and fitting the oak window sills in the lounge.

Red Roof

At long last we have a roof going onto the main part of the house. To our amazement the roofing contractor has been working hard today throughout the pouring rain. We had expected them to leave it today and wait until the weather was better but no they have worked hard all day. The tiles are a lovely deep red and we think they look magnificent. We are thrilled with them. Whilst the roof has been going on there has been a lot of activity inside. The frames for the studding and upstairs partitions are coming on at a great rate. The underfloor heating is also going in. The pipe work for the en suite bathrooms have also been installed. The electrician is due to begin first fix next week after the holiday and we are hoping the windows will be arriving. The single story roof can't be completed until the scaffolding for the main house is down. The bricklayers have finished and moved on to another job now so one trade completed but an awful lot more to come.

Work on the farm continues and the combine has been busy. All the corn has been harvested and we just have the beans to do. It will be at least another week before they are ready to harvest. There have been many stories of a bad harvest because of the dry spring. Our crop has been very variable. On the light land the yield is down but on the heavy clay land the yield is average.

Although harvest is about finished it is still all go as the land has to be prepared and next years harvest is sown.

Up, Up and Away

The crane arrived this morning and could be seen for miles. When we arrived on site we were amazed at how quickly the trusses had been lifted and in place. It is a lovely feeling to know that we will soon have a roof on our new home.

The carpenters have been very busy and next week the bricklayers will be back to finish the gables and the chimneys. The roofing contracters are due to arrive a week on Monday. Once the roof is on it will be all go.

It has been fascinating to see how the trusses fit together and it was hard to believe how the different shapes and sizes fitted together. The first floor boards were also laid so that the safety cushions could be put in place before the final lift.

Meanwhile the water supply is being sorted. We are going to use water from a well as there is no mains water available. The animals already drink this water but to make it fit for humans we have to install a mini water purifier etc. The water is very hard so a softener is being installed also.

Hallelujah

After a few hic-cups we are finally at the stage where the roof trusses are going onto the house. Last week there was no work carried out at all because the builders were waiting for steel beams which were being made. The roof trusses were delivered but could not be put on because the beams were needed to support the roof. The beams finally arrived and the roof has commenced on the single story section although there are a few alterations which have to be made, which can be done by the carpenters. Next week the crane is supposed to be arriving to erect the roof over the main part of the house.

Meanwhile harvest has begun and the barley has been combined and the heifers have begun calving. The Belgian blue has produced a beautiful calf.

Ups and Downs

The house is up to the first floor and the joists have been put in. We have had a delay as the arch over the front door did not arrive as scheduled. It finally arrived nearly two weeks late and this slowed progress up as well as the building company having a weeks holiday last week. Since coming back this week things have been all go. The arch is in position and looks super. The stone headers above the windows are in place and again we are delighted with them.

We are now beginning to think about kitchens, tiles, bathrooms and other finishes so the next few weeks we will be trawling around showrooms.

All very exciting now.

Alistair has been on a sheep shearing course and able to shear the sheep this year rather than employ someone else to do it. He has done very well and nearly completed them, about 15 more to be done.

This week has had its ups and downs and we have been very upset as our beautiful sheepdog Millie became very ill and has had to be put to sleep. Our vet sent her to the specialist centre run by the Animal Health Trust at Newmarket. They tried very hard to find out what was wrong and save her but it became apparent on Friday morning that she wouldn't pull through. At the moment we are waiting results of a post mortem as they did not know what was causing her symptoms. We also need to know whether her condition was genetic because we are worried that Lass could become ill. She was only 18 months old.

Next week the builders are hoping to put the first floor down and install the underfloor pipes as they think it will help with the bricklayers work more safely and quickly.