Christmas 2007 (before & after) And so it was time to remove the nasty wooden ceiling in the kitchen to reveal the true horror of the old ceiling and the huge RSJ holding most of the black room floor above. The wiring for the 70's style eye-ball lights was typically iffy, but safely removed. They'll be on e-bay later!  
Boxing Day over, and the utility was gutted and some temporary fittings installed so we can move out of the kitchen for a while. Fortunately the previous owners used that special 'non-sticky' tile cement, so it didn't take too long!   Christmas dinner was a Anglo-French effort with 15 sitting down to two turkeys on Christmas day on a hastlity built 16ft table in the sun-room.   As the weather turned, inside jobs were order of December; the black room ceiling was replaced and re-papered, although as yet no lights. Big rush to get the pantry finised cut through from the kitchen so that all the food could be moved out of the office... and finally the cooker arrived. Had to take out a few of the cupboards and move a few more 1" to the left, but it went in and was connected on 20th December!   
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November 2007 - Walls & Ceilings The south gable end needed most TLC having sorted the roof; the original lime mortar had been bodged with very shallow sandy pointing that just fell out. This had to be raked out and re-pointed - proof that we did some of it ourselves, although to be fair, Graham & Simon did the donkey work... Next decision was how to finish it - and we've opted to re-paint in brick-red colour, to match the tiles and also to tie in with the original front of the house once the nasty white rendering is removed (next year!)    Meanwhile, inside, there are further 'improvements'. The ceiling in the black room was so poor from damp it had to come down. The original lath & plaster making quite a mess, but we're pleased with this bit of the project that we managed entirely on our own (although Jo did stand on a 300yr-old nail - not quite hospital treatment, but a definite wine break). Over in the green room (that's actually purple) the built-in wardrobes are no more. We discovered from proud scrawlings dated 1978 from a Capt. Keith Chadwick who apparently built them... Nonetheless, it's made the room much bigger and better proportioned, even is some of the ceiling came down with it! Finally, the new kitchen door to the pantry (what was the redundant hall) has uncovered an original door opening and oak lintel. This is due for completion before Christmas when 14 are denscending for lunch on 25th...   
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October 2007 - Roof & Pipes One step forward (the tiles are going on) two steps back (another botched and collapsed ceiling)  
But the new boiler's LOVELY! Pete the Plumber has transformed the heating and we are now super efficent - not to mention that the luke-warm-water-cylinder in the black room can at last be removed. Only have to do a bit of remedial work on the wall before it's finished...   
The roof is progressing, with one of the gable ends re-built, slates off and rafters on, and felt laid ready for the new tiles. Well half the roof anyway. Graham & Simon have been dodging the rain and spending every good day up in the sky and wet days indoors working on some of the other 'little projects'. Pete the Plumber is doing great work replacing the wheezy old system for a very efficient un-vented condensing system; we now have the shock of hot radiators, warm rooms and hot water on demand - and that's without a roof and any insulation... Only downside is that we think the kithen ceiling (and associated bedroom floor) needs replacing before it collapses... onwards and upwards?   
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Autumn 2007 - The Roof Project Two days back from holiday and we come home from work to find the scaffolding's up. Next day, the cladding's off. Glad we came home in the dark as by now bits of the wall were coming down too. Yes, the rain's coming in (a bit) but on the whole, the remedial work does not look as bad as it could have been. The previous bodged attempt to repair the wall will need to be sorted out, but the bulk of the wall and the original lime mortar is OK. At least with the last of the summer sun we get some lovely views of the gardens from up on the scaffolding over towards Longleat. As soon as the tiles arrive (probably along with the wet weather) then the big job starts of stripping it all off and sealing it back up again...    
 
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Summer 2007 Several projects on the go at once... firstly part of the front tree had to be felled to make way for the scaffolding. It will also lighten up the spare bedroom and stop the gutters clogging with leaves. However, we'd never attempted a tree this big before - a tad scary at times, but it came down in the end without any harm to man, beast or car.   Next was the dodgy patio that (a) hardly got any sun, and (b) was laid over the damp proof course of the extension. At least our predecessors hadn't enough money for any cement as it would have been slightly more difficult to lift. However, it does appear to have been laid on the old stock yard which will have to be dealt with. On the plus side, we've located two drains we never knew we had!   Finally, we've held our first BBQ of the summer - sharing it with our friend Chris Farrell and good mates Mr Pinot & Mr Grigio (hence the need for a handrail on the steps) - other than that, Jo's mastery with the mower is keeping the aboretum looking much more cared for.  
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July 2007 Some scary summer fashions and builder's bums on display; Jon demonstrates how to screw down decking whilst balancing a baseball hat back to front and Jo shows she's a dab hand with the chop-saw.   With the help of John & Barbara, the decking is almost comlete, with only some planting and the all important steps to sort out...  
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June 2006 Not content with finishing off any of the projects alrady started, it was time for another one. Well actually, the thought of a summer with nowhere to BBQ or sit in the sun was more of an issue. So, several trees hacked back revealed the origninal patio, from which the pergola/decking idea came. Currently at the halfway stage, at least it was an opportunity for Jon to buy a bigger chainsaw... boys and their toys!  
 
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EASTER 2007 Gardening Gift of the Year; 8x10ft greenhouse of John & Barbara... only have to dismantle it and transport it back to suffolk... in a Mondeo: Yes, it does fit... just, and only one pane broken - just have to put it up in Wiltshire now ...!  
  
Not content with spending £1,000's on rabbit proof fencing (well a few quid) the buggers still got in. Read in the Telegraph that they don't like the smell of lavender... bought some, and the little sods ate it! Higher fenecs are currently protecting the crops... all growing well; tomatos, letture, cucumber, melon, blackcurrants, sweetcorn, beans, peas, spinach, radish, beetroot, carrots, parsnips, and even red strawberries in April in the heat of the poly tunnel. (42 degC last week) Big Easter event of the year - Lawrence & Nicola's wedding; FAB!  
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SPRING 2007 Seeds are planted and sitting on the kitchen window-sill. Poly tunnel has been stripped and cleared out, and veg plot dug and rabbit-proofed ready for the growing season. To date we have two tomato seedlings - fingers crossed the rest will come up...  
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WINTER 2006/7 Along with several other items (eg: bigger mower and new rotavator) - a trailer was required; Very pleased with purchase from e-bay, however a very unfortunate accident resulted in the back end of the car being speared when both parted company... at least no-one else was involeved or injured.  
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AUTUMN 2006 First job is to tidy the annex - strip out, re-tile, re-paint and re-carpet. All that practice on other people's houses seems to have paid off!   
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