well... it has been a little while that's for sure. So, what has been going on...
Since Christmas I have spent most of my spare Saturdays, Friday evenings and Thursday evenings helping a chum out by redoing his bathroom. This has been a big job, involving building a stud wall, re-doing electrics, replastering, knocking a wall down, new bath suite, new plumbing, new ceiling etc. sound familiar doesn't it?! It has been good fun on the whole though, and we are nearly done... which is good as their first child will pop out any day now!
This has meant that work on the cottage has been minimal, but this was anticipated as it would be rather unfair on Amy anyway!
Hannah has been super busy with uni work, work, quartet, placements, church and sewing. The end of uni is in sight though! Happy Day!
French Drain
Pops in Law Jon Ward and myself took 2.5 days at half term to dig a French drain... although it went a little pear shaped as the drain that we wanted to plumb in to was about an inch below the surface, so we couldn't drain away in to that. Instead we dug the drain, put some land drain pipe in and drained in to a sump with a pump in which then pumps the water to the rain drain. seems to do the trick. As part of the job we removed all the earth from next to the kitchen wall and dropped the ground to the internal floor level. As we aren't allow to remove the step in to the kitchen we filled the hole with gravel and put down a couple of stone slabs (old roof tiles dug up while putting the drain in) as stepping stones. Looks nice, and hopefully it is working in drying the walls out! It was a hard few days sifting a fair few tons of earth and gravel, but we were fuelled by a big box of treats from Ma Evans. Thanks to everyone involved!
Brew Time
Gravel Arrives
I have managed to get a planning app in for internal works, which I'm confident should be approved without too much hassle (famous last words!) and a discharge of conditions document for the external works...
Which brings me to the windows...
Windows
The windows arrived today from the joiner with workforce in tow... however, they were foiled by the Huddersfield wind and rain and decided maybe tomorrow might be better! So they left, and I went to work, but we do have the windows in our living room... so one step closer to concluding the saga.
On first impressions I'm very pleased. They look good, will let lots of light in and are nicely crafted. Well done Wadsworth and Sons - Highly recommended so far. Jonathan Wadsworth has been super helpful doing various drawings for the conservation department and making a couple of visits. Good price too... lets hope they all go in the holes ok!
Also, a shout out to Doortique in Paddock, Huddersfield, who we got the ironmongery from. They were also very helpful when we went in to choose handles and catches etc. They look top, and weren't too pricy. Good work chaps.
So hopefully Friday and Monday will see the new windows and doors be fitted, which will be exciting and make a huge difference! It also means that the external render can be whacked on. I always wanted to do it myself... but I'm beginning to be tempted to get a pro to do it partly due to the skill involved, but also the time required that I would have to take from work... but we'll see.
It is however quite pressing once the windows have been fit due to the removal of some of the render around the windows, so a quick decision will be required!
Hopefully I will have some photos of our new windows early next week! For now, these 'before' photos will have to do.
Note the gravel and drain to the right
New windows
Authentic Ironmongery - lovely
One step Closer
Note the gravel and drain to the right
New windows
Authentic Ironmongery - lovely
One step Closer
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