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.