Lesley home begins to take shape

Posted: 08th November 2007 15:51

'It's a bit like popping eyeballs into empty sockets – the house is beginning to look less like something out of a horror movie and more like a real home...'

Well, winter must be just around the corner because there's a menacing gang of birds huddled together in the garden, all pressing their beaks up against the window in a silent attempt to intimidate me into putting out food for them again. I've held off during their autumn berry fest, but now they're hankering after the odd fat ball, or three.

The weather has continued to be kind to us for the build and the schedule is still progressing. Glass is now being fitted into the window frames, which, in my books, is a cause for rejoicing. It's a bit like popping eyeballs into empty sockets – the house is beginning to look less like something out of a horror movie and more like a real home.

The terraces on the ground and first floors have received their layers of screed, insulation and waterproof membrane and are now waiting to be paved. The under-floor heating is being installed during the first week of December and we are also expecting the massive sheets of glass that run the whole width of the south-facing side of the house at around that time too. I'm already imagining one of them shattering during the journey down from Weston Super Mare, or the poor, unfortunate lorry driver relying on sat-nav, only to end up wedged in a remote, overgrown lane with no way of getting out, and having to eat badgers for a whole week until help comes. OK, that last bit might be a bit melodramatic; it's more likely to be hedgehogs – they're quicker to roast. Joking aside, if something did happen to one of the sheets, it would be weeks before a new piece could be cut to size and ready to transport down.

Husband has become obsessed with the boiler that's soon to be fitted and has taken to patrolling the site at odd hours to make sure that no other workman has sneaked in and STOLEN THE SPACE WHERE THE BOILER IS GOING TO GO!!! There are so many different pumps, control boxes and thermostats to shoe-horn into the utility room that individual spaces on walls have to be guarded. A turf war could break out any time.

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