28 Sept 2013

Our first visit to the Reclamation Yard



Today we spent a happy hour or so pottering about at a local reclamation yard. We were there to collect a sample of reclaimed slate tiles.  The upper level of our house is to be clad in vertically hung reclaimed slate. Really interesting to see all the crates with different size slates and the different colours of the slate.  We definitely preferred the blue-grey to the purple colour of slate (beginner blogger error - i failed to take photos of these to share with you). 




There were lots of other interesting things to look at though!




After a huge and cathartic purge of stuff last week (8 bin bags of clothing, baby/children/pregnancy related) and my visit to the charity shop/tip/recycling centre it felt really good to be looking at how to reuse items.  The recycling centre makes you reflect on the consumerist culture in which we live.  



Not sure what this item is, but it's bulk and solidity was alarmingly magnetic.  My godmother has been winding me up by talking about fountains in the front driveway but you know what, i could seriously dig this baby as a gentle and still water feature...the huge stone thing behind the blue flamingoes obviously!




(First post with photos - look at me!)

3 Sept 2013

learning the bloggin craft and making beginner's mistakes!

At the moment there's not much to write about.  Everyone else (architects, engineer  & builder) had a technical meeting today (i think!) where I would have just been a spare wheel and taken up valuable time trying to have everything explained to me.  So I've been spending all my time writing the story so far under the headings of the various pages under the title.  So that you can get the full picture of the journey so far... 

I just spent 1.5hrs writing 'the plot' section and then my computer crashed - AARRGGGHHHHH!  I'd forgotten what it was like. Having composed things in gmail for the last few years which regularly saves everything I have lost the habit of regularly hitting "save".  Well that will learn me!  I will see if I can re-summon the strength required to do it all over again in the next few days.  At least I should be faster next time.

1 Sept 2013

Ready...?

It is exactly two years from the date I started our search for a plot of land on which we could build a house.  We now have a plot, architectural designer, finance, a house design, planning permission (and an approved amendment - more on that another time) a structural engineer, and a builder!  Looks like we're nearly ready to begin.