Getting My Hands Dirty! – June 2006

I had decided to spend 3 weeks in June in Colondannes to get some work done myself and I chose a great time. The weather was sunny and hot, with temperatures for the duration of my visit up at 35o. It was wonderful and despite the heat I managed to do a few jobs:

· give all the ceilings and walls an emulsion coat
· fit the utility room cupboards, worktop and sink, as well as getting the washing machine operational

Most importantly, I also managed to spend lots of time getting the field into a manageable state. When I arrived the grass and weeds were over a metre high. This took about three goes at progressively cutting with a strimmer and having to clear the area and burning the remnants.

I had also bought and took out with me a Flame Gun to burn the major weeds and the perimeter of the property to avoid too much weeding by hand. It was great fun, but dangerous in the dry conditions!!

All Coming Together – June 2006

It was a big surprise that by mid June considerable progress had been made and the end was really in sight. At this time the following had been completed in 4 weeks:

*Chimney Pipe was installed for the Wood Burning Stove*
*Second fit electrics were in and our light fittings installed, both inside and outside.
*The galvanised Guttering was installed.
*The pathway and drive aggregate was in around the Grange
*The fosse was all installed and the field landscaped a little!
*The Buderus Oil Boiler had been installed and was operational
*Under floor heating had been completed and the floor tiles were looking great downstairs.
*Final fit plumbing was in the process of being done.

We had a project meeting as normal, but the major point of discussion was the Oak Staircase, which had not been delivered, and had not even been started. After some involved discussions on the precise requirements we were assured that is would be completed and installed by the time we visited for the Summer Holidays on 25th July 2006. For the first time I was worried and concerned.