Since I last wrote we’ve been away from holiday but progress has been swift. He’s an update:

• Boiler - we have one and it’s warming the house. It’s great to have the place warming up and gently drying out
• Utility room - the first cupboards are in and despite a sink being the wrong side, it’s starting to take shape
• Flooring - probably the biggest improvement, the oak flooring is down in the hall, downstairs loo and most of the lounge and dining room - looks really fab, just hope we can protect it enough until all the heavy work is done
• Windows arrived - and they look great. They’ve been prefabricated off site and are already first-coat painted which saves them from the winter weather. I can’t wait to see them in.
• Doors and handles on - looks great
• Lounge fireplace is in - really grand, it’s the original one from the rear dining room with a refurbished grate, and a new black slate hearth.
• Dining room secured and almost complete
• Bathroom calamities - we need to make some changes to the bathroom layout cause we cocked up - more later…

The original fireplace from the rear dining room is now reinstated rather grandly in the lounge (needs cleaning): The brick feature in the dining room looks good - although we’re getting rid of the dodgy brick hearth which didn’t turn out as planned New doors between the lounge and dining room: Dining room door into kitchen, just waiting for the extension to be built… Refurbished original fireplace - it’s going to have a gas fired coal-effect fire installed in due course Door handles now on: Utility room starts to take shape: Nice detail in the cupboards - that’s hard to do right: Storage cupboard from Ikea: Bathroom, we have some changes to make here: Door frames are on - We’ve got a bunny boiler in our house The house is warm now and the plaster is drying out

Shock horror! Some photos below for those who want a quick fix of progress. The house has lights with switches that work and everything! This is a major milestone and makes it come alive for the first time. I can now feel what it’s going to actually be like to live there. Nice feeling. Big jobs left are getting the boiler in (it’s nearly there) and the heating on - and then the windows and finally then the floors and the fireplace downstairs. The stress is getting to us now - the relentless need to make decisions and get everything ordered at the right time. S has done a sterling job chasing the various suppliers (including actually visiting one of the delinquant ones…). I think we’re coping quite well but both of us have “lists of lists” of things to do and chores to run all the time. I managed to get the many copies of the new plans to the surveyer to finally get the party-wall proceedings underway again today - so that is a result too. Here’s a few notes, more for us since we’re both travelling to the US in the next days.

• In the utility room they need to add plumbing for the washing machine - so far only the sink has plumbing. Where does the waste run?
• The dining room appears to have only one light switch - we need another just inside the main concertina doors from the lounge
• The electrical sockets and switches are all white plastic. This is cool for now but I think the eventual plan will be replace them with brushed steel - only the budget means we should wait!
• We need to arrange a call with the project manager while we’re away to check on progress
• Oh yeah, and from here on in the money gets held back until all the snags are fixed

And the next jobs: * Tim to order worktop for utility room * Tim to chase surveyor * S to chase toilets… * Plan lighting and electicals in the kitchen * Sort out the concertina doors for the rear of the house * Plan and purchase for the bathroom in the loft Gas feed finally connected. We have gas! Attractive light in the stair well: New radiator, old bannister: Shaver socket to be: Working switches: And spotlights: Random deliveries - is that the top to the cupboard? Awaiting a sink: Downpipe (slightly disappointing but we’ll forget about that): New towel rail - and it’s a radiator too: Hallway: Spots are on:

We’re very nearly there - thanks for the feedback, we rolled it into our latest view: Ordering commences today.

Here’s our current favoured design… comments welcome

I have to give the builders credit. It was Saturday and I decided to go round when the builders weren’t there and try to install some underfloor wiring for the surround sound system in the living room. It’s one of those things which you really need to do while the floor is up - otherwise it wrecks your skirting boards. So I spent a couple of hours on my belly, on the dusty floor, trying to pass cables under the floor joists with the help of various bits of wood, tape and wires tied together. Eventually it was all done, but working in the house is cold, dusty and tiring and I only did it for two hours… Those builders work hard.

Some more photos of the latest state of the house of horrors: The new fireplace, made of recycled bricks from the removed chimney breast: Steel beam: Work bench: Doors go in: Steel beam detail: Pink testicles, mind the gap: Door to the new kitchen: Understairs WC: Fanlight required: Drencher shower in place: Spade: