The arrival of the Aga

For me, one of the most exciting events thus far.  The Aga, ordered over a year ago when I bought the house, arrives.  Apparently, it went in a lot easier than I expected and soon it's fitted and running.  Now I just need to learn to cook so I can churn out shortbread & scones for the village!

New Windows

Great excitement as the hotly contested roof lights go in today - the planners weren't at all keen (thinking the one small window at foot level in the bedroom was enough), but we hung on in there and finally got agreement for three windows in the new master bedroom/en-suite & a replacement for the small window on the 2nd floor.  We had to use conservation roof lights - about 3 times the price of vellum, but they look great and the room has come alive with the light flooding in.  Now the roof lights are in, the guys can finish the insulation & plaster the room.

Woodstore

The old outside store is almost falling down and so it's carefully dismantled and is being rebuilt.  We will replace the rather unattractive tin roof with a cotswold stone one which is more in keeping and has the added benefit of providing better weather proofing.  The area between the store and the house will be a very sunny spot ideal for morning coffee or a glass of something chilled later in the day!

Progress....

So, now we have most of the planning permission the guys crack on - this will be the top floor bedroom in due course.  The insulation and insulated plaster board go in and then the room is plastered or skimmed (I get a bit lost with the technical terms) before a coat of white paint goes on.  It will still need to be painted once I chose a colour - suggestions anyone?

   

Hip Hip Hooray

The public consultation on the revised application closed yesterday and much to everyone's surprise, the consent to the application came through this morning.  Phew! After months of incompetence and very slow response, the local planning authority seem to have pulled their fingers out.  Much cause to celebrate......but still have the appeal to do now for the extension and the tie beam on the top floor, but at least now Johnny & the team can crack on with the rest of the house.

Gardening

While I'm having to contain myself and not do any gardening yet, the garden has become somewhat overgrown over the summer & so Brian uses his mini digger to remove all the weeds and self seeded flowers, bushes etc - it looks a whole lot better.  As the house is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, you have to get permission from the planning authority to remove any and all trees which is a bit of a pain.  Given my ongoing troubles with them, we'll leave that until the house is finished and then ask for permission to remove a couple of trees and tidy up the pine trees at the back of the garden

The Glass box

We're having major problems with the local planning authority who don't want me to put the glass extension on the back of the house.......so that will go to appeal once the initial planning permission comes through, but in the meantime, the builders lay the cement block that will form the floor in the "barn" which will form part of the glass box.  They're making the most of the glorious autumn we're having here and doing as much outdoor work as possible