Getting there

New garage door, new car, new fence, new gravel

Darrell our affable garage door man called to say that the door had been delivered and he wanted to fit it on Wednesday. This makes the garage almost finished now - just a final coat of paint on the door posts. Fortunately, Darrell took the old, very heavy doors away with him so we didn't have to get another skip just yet. The new "up and over" door is much easier to use and looks the part with its pseudo oak finish. One good thing - it is a plastic coating so doesn't require painting.

I'm struck by the fact that we have what could be a beach and a boat is poking its nose out from behind the garage!

I called Darren, our plumber, on Thursday as it suddenly occurred to me that he had keys for the old garage doors which were no longer attached to the garage. "Ah" he said, " we were talking about you yesterday - saying that we ought to do the work on the rainwater harvesting system". He duly promised to come on Friday to fit the stop cock and drain plug that Anglian Water required. This he did and also lagged the pipe as demanded by AW. We're now ready for another inspection. I wonder what daft rules they will have dreamt up since last I saw them?

I'm a little puzzled not to have heard from Roger McEvoy, our usually reliable rainwater harvesting specialist. Our last communication was over three weeks ago when he suggested that he could fit the new pump (required by the sprinkler company) in three weeks time. I emailed him on Wednesday evening and have not received a reply. It does seem that we are doomed with this darned sprinkler system. Better call him on Monday and find out what's happening.

We heard from John Lewis that our sofas will be delivered next week, and that coincides with the delivery of a sofa bed that we ordered from John Lewis this week, together with a dining table and six chairs. So we'll soon be able to relax in comfort, eat in a civilised manner (well, as near as we can), and offer our guests a bed to sleep in.

I've been working on the cupboard at the end of the guest room - filling up the gaps between the plaster board, and sealing the plasterboard surface so that I can apply the Glasstex wall covering. I've also started making the rather odd shaped door for the cupboard. Hopefully both tasks will be finished next week.

The postman delivered a letter from Anglian Water today - fume, rage, rant, etc! This was from the billing department who seemed to be under the impression that we were using water that we weren't paying for. The letter was addressed to the occupier. Can you believe it? After all the grief they've given us, the cheeky so and sos are now suggesting that firstly they don't know who we are, and secondly that we are taking free water - I wish! I've drafted several replies in my mind, none of which is overly polite. Perhaps I will be more tolerant by Monday when I do write the letter.

With the two surveys on Manor Close apparently OK we now await news from our buyers with a moving date. We are aiming for an early to mid October completion which should tie in nicely with our schedule. Its really the curtains and blinds that we need news of - promised in six weeks or less three weeks ago. As long as there's no delay on these we should be OK.

Jan & Rog