The Sandbag House Reno Record - a step forward

I can't believe that this time a week ago, I fled from inside my house. Not to bask in the lovely winter sun, but to get away from workmen and noise. I sat with my coffee and I knitted. Because I could not work. By the end of the day, as I reported here, I had power.

In addition to the electrician and his appies, the builder was there with the carpenter and his helper. They started putting in the new staircase.

Needless to say, things didn't go to plan. They never do in a reno, so what should have taken a day, took nearly three. Sticking with the knitting parlance, on day two, they discovered that they had to unpick a lot of what they'd done because walls and floors were not where they "should" have been. Anyway, after some fancy step work, they're in, and if I really want to, and overcome my fear of heights get really stupid, I could use them before bannisters are put in. I shan't.

I'm not so keen on coming up through this hole in the floor before it becomes a proper landing leading to the void which will become a bedroom. Gandalf, however, has no such aversion!

Here (above) you can begin to get a sense of what's unfolding. Ultimately, will be a wall and a door installed at the bottom of the staircase, effectively splitting the house into two separate units. Much more still needs doing. I must be completely "in" my "new" house so that the other section can be renovated to create another living space from the existing guest room and office.

I'll do a "proper explanation" post in the next day or so.

In the meantime, I have new "tenants" on my plot:

B the builder - and his family - are also an aspirant farmers and already have an allotment out of town and a small herd of goats that they graze in the village. These calves are a new addition to their livestock and I was only to happy to agree to these calves - Betsy and Khaya - mowing my plot. It really is a win-win: by the end of winter, it is very overgrown and when it dries out in summer can be a (wild) fire hazard. I have to get it dealt with every year. This way, Builder B doesn't get paid, but feeds his stock for free.

Besides that, I do love having those little beasties lying and peacefully chewing the cud at the fence-gate when I pass them.

When's the next step? I'm not sure: I'm still in recovery from last week's almost melt down. That said, I'm angling for soon. I have no plans to become a "Patience".

Until next time

Post script

I blog here, on Instagram and via WordPress to my own website. I write for love and a living and you'll find out more about that here. Content for the first two, and sometimes the last, cross pollinate.

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Original artwork: @artywink

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