The boys come calling

The "boys" inspect our new porch floor


Jan hard at work

Not a great degree of activity this week, but we now have a floor for the porch. As you can see, Gill's "boys" have inspected it and seem to like it as I found them sunbathing in the porch earlier in the week. These cockerels really are entertaining. They have been tracking us today as we dug the borders in preparation for the hedgerow plants. As we dug so they pecked away. Not sure what they were looking for, let alone finding, but juicy worms were instantly devoured by the darker of the two, but were regarded with some suspicion by the golden one who, whilst apparently fascinated, did not want to go so far as eating one. As for the porch, everyone seems to like it, including Keith the builder working on number 3 Brookvale, who thinks it looks very Mediterranean.

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As we've been digging over the borders today we've found all manner of rubbish - from mattress springs to unidentifiable bits of cast iron, masses of pieces of old clay sewer pipes and more weed roots than we had imagined. After filling the wheelbarrow four times we're ready for Adam to come along and plant the hedgerow.

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I've now ordered all the wood for the internal fitting out - that should be with us in the middle of next week, along with the internal doors. I've also now got all the electrical sockets and light switches and will be ordering the downlights on Monday as Andy, our electrician, has promised to start fitting these next week. We're getting closer to deciding on wall lights too - amazing.

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After some fun and games with the bathroom and shower room fittings, we finally took delivery at lunchtime today. (driver had wrong delivery address - tried to call me at work - despite having given my mobile number - so couldn't contact me. I called them as it was getting late and just managed to turn the driver round as he headed back to Bedford.)

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Chris from The Polish Stair company visited on Thursday, took measurements, and emailed me a very acceptable quote, and CAD drawings of their proposals, by Friday afternoon. Very efficient. Just before Chris arrived, Clive from the screeders came to see why I wasn't too happy with the finish of the floor. He agreed that the guy hadn't trowelled into the corners as he should and promised to get someone along in the next few days to sort it out.

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I've got a meeting with Roy and Darren the plumber on Monday to agree final details and get the remaining plumbing (boiler, tank, etc.) underway.

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We're still undecided about tiles but have to make a decision very soon now that we have the bathroom stuff. Jan's drawn up one of her infamous lists with everything we need to decide in the next few weeks. Think I'd better have a week off work........

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Jan & Rog