31. A spot of gardening.

Back in the summer, while the builders were busy making a mess in the house, I thought it might be a good time to investigate the garden.

It's a bit of a jungle when viewed from above....

...and ground level.

 However, a weekend's work lopping and shredding....

...starts to clear a path.

 Another weekend reveals that the garden doesn't just go on for ever.

Some assistance arrives...

 ...and off we go to the tip.

All that hard work reveals our first good view of the extension.  I am happy with the result although I think the comedy tree will have to go...

30. Update number two

In this episode, the external walls are battened and insulated, the first fix electrics and plumbing go in and the walls are plastered...

External walls are battened ready to receive insulation.  One day this will be the lounge.

 False wall to house all the smart tv gadgetry...

Kitchen gets some insulation.

Utility room.

Quite a lot of cables.

Master bedroom getting the insulation treatment.  That will be a little roof terrace out through the door when we are finished.

Ensuite being kitted out.  You can see the frame for the wc and the built-in cabinet.

 Lounge is plasterboarded.  The pink bit is where the logburner will be sited.

Kitchen gets boarded.

 View out to the garden from the kitchen.  Obviously the garden still needs a little tlc.

 Bedrooms are plasterboarded...

...and plastered.

 Kitchen area is plastered...

As is the lounge.  All I need now is to add the tv...

Not quite there yet but it is starting to look more like a house again now.

29. Hillside Resurrection

It's been a couple of years since my last post but, believe it or not, the renovation of Hillside is still ongoing.  Christmases have come and gone, two children have arrived on the scene but one thing has remained constant.  Pedestrian progress on the house.

Earlier this year, due to a lack of time to spend on the project, we took the decision to employ a builder to speed things up.  Quite a lot of progress has been made so I thought it was about time I updated my blog.  I'll try to keep it brief....

The squeaky old floorboards are removed and replaced by nice new flat glued 'n' screwed flooring.

The upstairs looks huge when you don't have any internal walls.

The timber arrives for the upstairs stud walling...

...and is installed in just a few days.

The old stairs are finally removed...

...exposing a dodgy electricity supply....

...which Western Power put right for several hundred pounds.

Ground floor is levelled and insulated...

...requiring the excavation of several tonnes of soil and concrete.

Installation of downstairs underfloor heating pipework...

...and manifold.

 Freeflow screed laid over the pipes.

Some temporary stairs to make it easier to access the first floor.

Installation of the upstairs underfloor heating...

...and the all important boiler.

This doesn't quite bring us up to date but I need to collect together a few more photos.
Tune in soon for the next exciting episode.