October 2020 -Wintirfylleth

October 2020 – Wintirfylleth

 

Exterior View of Hazels from the North

Exterior View of Hazels from the South

 

Enjoying the last of the autumn sunshine

Layla here again reporting for duty and, whilst absorbing the rays, I have been musing about the various associations with the month of ‘October’:

• The Saxons called the month Winterfylleth because it had the first full moon of winter season.
• October 2020 has had two full moons. The first  – the Harvest Moon – appeared on Thursday 1 October. The second – the Hunter’s Moon – could be seen earlier today on Saturday 31 October and is special for two reasons: it’s a rare Halloween full moon and also a Blue Moon. (I am convinced that this Blue Moon must have influenced ‘some one’s’ crisis of confidence about the two-tone hues planned for the kitchen……………….)
• The Welsh for October is Hydref (originally Hyddfref), a word signifying the lowing of cattle;
• The ‘October Revolution’ in Russia in 1917 took place in November, but at the time Russians had not yet changed from the Julian calendar;
• October is not mentioned in any Shakespeare play or sonnet.

I am incredulous that our intrepid duo ventured to IKEA in Southampton today (Halloween), in advance of Boris’s latest message to the nation this evening. They have returned safely with some ‘stuff’ and are still married (just!) 

The stake of moving in by the end of November has been planted very very firmly in the ground by SWhoMBO but even she appreciates that some things just cannot be rushed. And now that we are about to enter a second phase of lockdown, there could be further inevitable and unavoidable delays. 

I can hear you ask what about progress on the house build? Well, what about the progress indeed! There has been great activity on the part of Michael/Tonic, Phil, Dan, Carol and Robert, so the interior is now starting to look more like a proper dwelling at long last.  

Progress by Tuesday 6 October

Dining Hall

Garden Loo

Hall

Kitchen – undercoat applied

Pantry in the making

Utility Area in the making

Sauna/Bastu area being painted

Phil at work laying Landing floor

Landing Lighting

Landing beams still clad

‘Oriental’ Bedroom Floor Complete

‘Oriental’ Bedroom Looking North

Study – Car Boot Sale anyone?

‘Scandi’ Bedroom awaiting wooden floor

View from ‘Scandi’ Dressing Room

‘Scandi’ Bedroom – and the paint goes on (and on)

‘Scandi’ Shower Room – tiling almost complete 

Progress by Friday 9 October

Kitchen Family Area

Kitchen Island

Kitchen Island ‘feeling blue’!

Utility Area Tall Cupboards

Utility Washing/Drying Area 

Pantry

Sitting Room

Landing Wooden Flooring 

‘Oriental’ Bathroom

‘Oriental’ Bathroom Shower Area

‘Scandi’ bedroom flooring nearly complete

‘Scandi’ bedroom men at work

Progress by Tuesday 13 October

Kitchen Craftsmen

Cutting in for electrical sockets

Progress on Monday 19 October 

Hall

Dining Area

Atrium

Bath In Waiting

‘Scandi’ Bedroom Floor Completed

Progress by Wednesday 28 October 

Ready for quartz work top to be fitted on Monday 2 November

And the ‘blue’ goes on!

Painters Paradise

Utility Area taking shape

Post Bag

I was so amused to observe that after Moses completely failed in his duty to issue his September blog before the end of the month, some readers added to his shame by commenting upon his lapse! The Compton Couple even wrote a poem:

“We’re sorry sweet Moses
In doghouse you poses
But now we supposes
You’re back on your toe-sies
As info you noses
So all will be roses
By weekend we’ll know-sies
How progress did grow-sies”

“Can’t wait Moses. Get your pen out.” Puttenham Pal

The ‘usual suspects’ were then very quick to wield their quills once Moses had finally got his act together:

“Oh my, Moses! This is all becoming so exciting! The end is nigh, in the nicest possible way.
What on earth will you three do when SWhoMBO and Mr Rod finally move in and there’s no more reporting to do??? Can’t wait for the ‘almost there’ blog.” Guildford Girl

“Looks fantastic and what great progress this month. As you say ‘not long now’ but I do hope Layla Moses and Freddie have sorted out where they will be claiming as their spaces in their new home. The jokes were fun as well and I particularly like the idea of a wine bed.” The Foundling

“Well done Moses! It all looks wonderful especially the beautiful beams against the newly painted walls. We were very relieved to see those ‘electrifying’ photos, taken on SWhoMBO’s birthday, of the trench connecting the house to the mains. They were particularly apt BUT, knowing SWhoMBO and Mr Rod’s penchant for chilled G & T’s, rose wine and champagne, can that little cable really provide sufficient power to fulfil their needs?” The Compton Couple (What can they possibly mean? Ed)

“Another brilliant blog and I’m so thrilled to hear that you should be moving in by the end of November. Can’t wait to see the pictures when it’s all finished and ready to go.” Spa Sister

Maikl’s Mate: “Just read the blog and wondering if you will be able to sleep or are you fine-tuning the plans and schedules. Or maybe you will take the more feline approach – ‘wake me up when it is all over!’ Cannot wait to see the painted kitchen cabinets.

I thought you might like to like to see this ‘environmental art with power’ in Helsinki –

The little watermill produces the power you can see……..

……… in the meter reading above

– and the USB port gives passers-by the chance to charge their mobile phones!“

From further to the west of Finland (on the Gulf of Bothnia) the Ekman family sent these photos in relation to their own exciting new building project:

Sunset near Vasa/Vaasa in early October

The new Bastu/Sauna – by night

The new Bastu/Sauna – by day

A little closer to home, Nick the Lens shot these stunning photos in Hambledon Hurst:

Magical toadstools

Tree mushrooms

CAT HUMOUR

Mr Rod celebrated a significant birthday this month. (Mind you, considering that he is supposed to be a grown up now, it is extraordinary how much pleasure he derives from three and a half weeks’ proclaiming he is a year younger than SWhoMBO!) Moses, Freddie and I were very entertained by a number of his greeting cards:

Guess how many of these I have tried?

Team Sport!

Some of Mr Rod’s friends have such vivid imagination!

Definitely my way of thinking…………..

Again, I felt compelled to include some topical humour here:

So many questions………….

Well, it’s very possible!

You couldn’t make it up!

A good read!

It just might catch on

Last weekend I understood just how he felt!

Looking forward to November

There is the excitement of the quartz kitchen worktop arriving on Monday 2 November and further work will continue in the kitchen, utility area and pantry, as well as in the bath/shower rooms.

Just in case they want to build another house, never say I don’t do my homework!

Maybe there will be a crock of gold at the end of all this…!!