Week 5......from 2D to 3D

Good news or bad news??.......Jud has unfortunately had his mobile stolen along with all the footage to date from the build (including my digger exploits!) and no he had not backed the photos up. Rookie error.

But nevermind worse things could happen and everything on site is going well so far, despite having to write some rather painful cheques last week we are still smiling (in Jud’s case not frowning) and a new phone is on it’s way!



And plus, we now have Digger's little brother Red on site so maybe I will hijack that at some point this week!

Good news, as you can see the ‘dream team’ Mr D and Mr S have finished the wall plate level and are now making a start on the block and beam floor.



The little red digger has been bought on site to remove (yet more) soil from within the foundations to allow the airflow under the block and beam floor for the underfloor heating which we are having throughout the ground floor.

This is Jud in the kitchen - right by the sink...!!



This is me stood in front of what will be the fireplace – toasted crumpet anyone?! I believe it is still Jud’s intention to build the fireplace himself – I would like to point this out now for the sake of our builder!! The foundation you see in the bottom of the picture runs through the middle of the living room - it was an extra foundation we had to put in to support the floor as the span is too wide, without it we would have had to have a much more expensive block and beam floor (thanks to Mr D for that one!)



My last blog did unfortunately bring to an end the nice weather as this morning the rains came. Sorry for that!

We have now met up with the people who are providing our timber frame, Klaus EcoHomes in Torquay and have some 3D drawings to show you - minor amendments still to be made but they give a good impression of the timber frame and layout.







The timber frame arrives a week yesterday and I have booked a few days off to watch the process.....scary after 3 years the house will be up in less than 3 months!!!

Week 4: Patience is Key!

Unfortunately we did not meet the guys from the timber frame company as planned, due to thieves in Torquay stealing laptops and memory sticks, and so the meeting had to be put off for another week.......this has been the story of the build so far (the delays not the criminal behaviour). It didn't take long to learn that if you want to finish a self build project the one thing you need (other than a bottomless pit of money perhaps) is the patience of a saint.

NOTHING happens when you expect it to and EVERYTHING takes longer than planned........by now I have (almost) mastered the art of patience. Mainly by taking out my frustration out by just nagging Jud about it!!

A few more of you have been introduced to my blog, and perhaps will come back to check it occasionally so I thought I would mention that it has been pointed out to me that:

a) I have not mentioned our builder, who shall for the purposes of this blog be known as Mr D.



He has done a cracking job so far, along with' Mr S' and I think he has managed to even get the neighbours on side...well almost anyway!

Some top notch trenching has been demonstrated and his skills as a digger driving instructor, I can say from first hand experience, are excellent (video to follow)


and,

b) That I cannot spell hamster. (I cannot spell. Full stop.)

Back to the build - The progress on site continues to march on, as the concrete in the foundations was setting the soak away was dug (basically a big hole from what I can tell). We put some bright orange plastic netting around it...hopefully nobody falls in....... ;)

Blocks arrived on site



and then Mr S started building the walls (I don't actually think these are called walls - maybe something about wall plate level??)




Meanwhile Jud and I thought we would lend a helping hand to move some of the excess soil which we had (400 tonnes but who is counting!!)



I am afraid that Jud, who is somewhat inept with cameras, managed not to get a photo of me mastering the digger, following my lesson from Mr D - probably because he was rubbish at it and didn't want any evidence of me 'winning' at diggering!! :0) Instead he videoed the event....to follow I promise....for now here is the view from the window



Anyway, regardless of childish competitions on the digger it is suffice to say we were not much help (I managed three loads and Jud one - I think it would have taken about 6 months for us to load the lorrys!!) So we left it the professionals for the next two days and suddunly the four piles of soil had reduced and we could see the view again.

On another note we have decided that building a house will have to become an annual project as it seems to bring with it such lovely weather. Current forecast:

Sat Day weather - Sunny Intervals

Sun Day weather - Sunny Intervals

Mon Day weather - Sunny

...apologies if this optimism causes the snow to return....fingers crossed it stays dry.

Week 3.......trenches and concrete

Sorry for the lack of posting for a couple of weeks.......just been busy busy busy. We spent last weekend shopping for brick and cedar cladding....not quite the usual shoes and handbags!

Lots has been happening on the site. After the soil was cleared to lower the site the house was marked out.................

.........OMG IT IS TINY......!!!!

I am not even sure you will be able to swing a hampster inside!!! I was warned that this is a typical reaction....but honestly look it is a house for the Borrowers!!!



This is my kitchen...cup of tea anyone?



Well nothing we can do about it now so it is on with digging the trenches (I am yet to have go on the digger but as it was the first word I ever said I think it is obligatory that I do!)




Once the foundations were all dug we were left with a LOT of soil....please let me know if you need some...free to a good home (not the digger!)



The next step....into the trenches went the concrete....






To be honest this bit of the build so far is not the most exciting....but I am looking forward to writing my next blog...we are meeting our timber frame contractor tomorrow to go through the 3d images of the house.

Let's hope it looks a little bigger (i have a lot of shoes to house!)...at the moment I am not convinced....