We’ve been framed!

So, it has all been happening in Vann Lane this month.

December started as November finished – with rain, rain, and yet more rain. And the weather forecast certainly did not fill us with much confidence that the tight building schedule could or would be adhered to.

Inclement weather aside, our more pressing concern was to identify a scaffolding company. The oak frame company had provided 11 detailed drawings of the requirement, but these clearly frightened off many of those who were sent tender documents. In the end, we appointed the firm who had moved the grand piano from the Water Tower to Hambledon (involving the construction of a large platform to the first floor and the large landing window being removed and then replaced).

However, the current job proved to be much more of a challenge and Rod had to spend a number of hours working with the foreman to help him understand the plans and the site (it seems we had the wrong type of both!) Of course, the unwelcome rain could only hamper progress further and a two day job extended to five (and then a bit more).

We climbed up the scaffold (with all the required H&S gear of course and accompanied by Pinnochio) to renew our acquaintance with the views from the first floor. At the far end (between the yellow safety gate and the green Porta loo) will be the two person bath looking up towards the north field.

 

Monday 10 December was a ‘red letter’ day in our build project – when the crane and the first elements of our new house were due to arrive. These duly came up the driveway in the early morning (thank goodness we had improved and strengthened this). The Oakwrights team were a little frustrated that the scaffolding work was not completed, but it did provide them with an unexpected opportunity to organise all the materials to their satisfaction.

It was stressed to us with both mirth and seriousness that the lorry driver was ‘the worst one’, but both Rod and I thought the driver managed perfectly well and we were extremely thankful that we were not the ones who had to negotiate that so very narrow gap between the hedges. So, I was almost speechless with the unfairness of these comments when we observed the driver emerging from the cab – a ‘slip of a girl’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, full acceptance of equality has a way to go in some quarters.

We have to confess that the sight of the first oak load being craned off the lorry caused us both to feel very emotional (I maintain that Rod had tears in his eyes long before I did, but he begs to differ!).

 

The next ten days saw our house start to emerge like a phoenix from the ashes. We will let the pictures tell the story, as they can do do this far better than ever I could.

 

We think we can now truly say ‘We’ve been framed’.

 

Cats’ Corner

Hello! Freddie, Moses and Layla reporting in for the final time in 2018.

BATMAN

The fallout from our recent bat story seems to just run and run. We were very amused to discover the gift received by Mr Rod this year in the CityStore ‘Secret Santa’ was this:

BAMBOO

This made a very welcome relief to the other hot topic of the month – scaffolding. What a lot of fuss about a load of poles and the like. We had originally maintained a modicum of interest in the subject after spotting some interesting photos taken by Mr Rod and SWhoMBO in Hong Kong as bamboo sticks would have given the Hambledonians something else to talk about.

Sadly, the reality has been nothing like these pictures. But maybe with the next house …………………………..!!!!! (You three have to be joking, This is definitely the last one! Ed)

 

THEY ARE BUILDING – A ZOO

For most of the past month, our property has been a disgrace in terms of the interminable mud and yet more builders disturbing our peace and quiet.

How very true was our friend Ci’s wry observation – we all know Rod wants to have al pacas, but we had not realised he wanted giraffes too!

CHRISTMAS

We three just love Christmas and all the preparations. Mind you, with the new Hazels construction firmly in our minds, we were more than a little disappointed that there has been no evidence in Hambledon of any gingerbread house like this one snapped in Yttermark, Finland.

However, there have been some really great Christmas cards which have afforded us much entertainment. Here are a few that we believe our readers would enjoy.

Whilst the Scandi-look birch twig thing is indeed very pretty, what is wrong with a real Christmas tree? We can only hope that ALL the proper traditions will be adhered to (in full) when we move into the new house next year.

However, we were all rather taken with the lights on the frame of the house, even if they do create a distinct feeling of spookiness.

We would like to thank all our loyal readers for their kind support and contributions in 2018. We look forward to sharing with you more of our suggestions and thoughts on the Edge building project in 2019.

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year  – the card below expresses our sentiment exactly.