Fan Fare and Drum Roll - We now have electricity!

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It’s surprising how the mundane can be so exciting when taken in the proper context. After first applying for electricity a year ago and much stress and anxiety in between, we finally have our own electricity in barn 1. The electrician arrived last Friday and installed the consumer unit and some electric points. He then announced that he probably wouldn’t be back to finish everything off until after Christmas…….oh my gawd, the saga continues. We are hoping that a sob story and violins will persuade our builder to schedule time for the electrician before Christmas. But, it seems that everyone wants to be in for Christmas.



Electricity connection underway!

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Whoop Whoop........our electricity connection is finally underway.  I know it doesn't look like much, I mean we are talking a trench with a tube and cable, but for us this is epic progress! Western Power are coming next week to do their bit and then EON will come to connect to the meter. The next step is to get the electrician back to finish inside and...........no, slow down, take it steady. I think I mentally moved in for a moment.

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Site Progress

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What else has been happening whilst we have been waiting for electricity? Around the site there has been steady (if slow) progress.

Panarama banana shaped barns......but just look at those clean and neatly stacked bricks!

Panarama banana shaped barns......but just look at those clean and neatly stacked bricks!

Brick cleaning..................is finished!!!! After a herculean effort by Richard and to a pressing deadline, all the bricks are cleaned and stacked, or have already been built into barn 3. It's not been a fun job and friends and family have all chipped in (geddit?), but the vast majority of it was done by Mr Brick himself. I think it would be safe to say that he would never want to clean another brick in his life. The front of the barns has been cleared of bricks and looks much tidier, and the bricks are all nicely stacked onto pallets in the courtyard.

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Windows in barn 2 are installed and make it look so much better. The 'barn' doors are also fitted in both barn 1 and 2. These look like half timbered barn doors from the outside but from the inside just look like a window. The idea was to preserve the appearance of stables and cowsheds but without having a load of long glass doors and windows.

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Barn 3 is almost ready for the roof. There is some final brickwork to finish off the apexes and then the felt, battens and tiles will be added. The bricklayer is back with us next week so we are hopeful of some speedy process in the good weather.  We already have residents in the kitchen - I startled a baby blackbird yesterday which had fledged from it's nest in the floor joists. The tell-tale droppings in the middle of the kitchen gave it away. At least it has time to grow up and leave home before the roof and windows go in!

Electricity update

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It's getting very close for a final go ahead for electricity.  We thought we had passed the finish post after all the documents were signed and we had paid a kings ransom for the privilege and had a date from Western Power for installation in September. However, after instructing our builder to start the groundwork it has now transpired that we haven't had the final go ahead and there a more bills to pay. Funnily enough, starting the work seems to have prompted some action. Talk about a tortuous (and expensive) process. It has been a traumatic time with a 3 way solicitor exchange and deeds discussed and signed by board of trustees at their quarterly board meetings. It has been beyond a joke, but we are looking forward now to completing barn 1. We may actually move in this year!!!!!!

Again, still no electricity

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Indoor water feature

Indoor water feature

The scaffolding is getting higher and so is the brickwork.

The scaffolding is getting higher and so is the brickwork.

We are wondering if we will ever get electricity. The paperwork has (finally) been drawn up and has been to the charitable trust's quarterly board meeting. Yes, I did say quarterly. There is no wonder this is taking for ever. However, we have heard nothing yet. And no-one has asked us for money so all we can do is send emails and make phone calls.

Meanwhile the build is continuing on barn 3 with a mad scramble to clean bricks to keep up with the brickie. The weather has been either summery with 25C temperatures or pouring down with rain and cold and horrible so it's been a case of making walls while the sun shines!