National Grid arrives...

The gas main & meter needed moving, because they were in the extension that will be knocked down.  Only the National Grid can do that.  I saw a surveyor to check the site a few weeks ago, a second surveyor came down from Nottingham the day before the move to check the site again, THREE people came to move the gas main, then the next day a man came from Sheffield to move the meter.  Don't wonder why your gas bills are so high.  At least they were a cheery bunch....

The Bathroom...

has all the pipework installed now:

and down below in the study a false ceiling is installed to hide the outlet pipes.  (The alternative was to take them around the outside of the house, and I didn't want that.)

New Floors

Things are moving on slowly - the horrible stained chipboard on the floors is gradually being replaced by floorboards.  Bedrooms first:

Main Bedroom

Guest Bedrooms

The Garden - before the builders arrived

I couldn't resist starting to clear the overgrown front garden, even though I knew it might get trampled later, and this is the result.  

Front Garden

 It's looking a bit different now that we've had scaffolding put up and lots of to-ing and fro-ing, but it was fun to find some rosebushes and plant a few violas to cheer it up.  I was too late to enjoy the daffodils. but they will be back in the spring, I'm sure.

The Garden

I can't believe I forgot to post some photos of the garden - I'm hoping to have some fun designing a small walled garden at the back of the house, and planting some topiary at the front.  However, that is all a long way off, so to start with are the photos taken not long after the house became mine.

The Front 

The Back

One week in

Work has started, and the builders seem to be in almost every room, destroying as they go. I know this is how it will seem for a while before things start to come together again, but see what I mean:

Grand Entrance

Storage  for various things, and the downstairs cloakroom excavations....

 

Dining Room

Study

Very much another storage room, but see, the shower enclosure has now gone...

Kitchen

And here the serious destruction is getting started:

while the new kitchen cabinets reside in the sitting room. 

The Old Kitchen

...is yet another storeroom...

...and upstairs work is starting on ceilings and floors.

Main bedroom

Guest Bedroom 1

Guest Bedroom 2

...and finally

Bathroom

So not much is going on in the utility and shower rooms, but nowhere else is left untouched.  I'm glad I'm not living there yet (thank-you Vicki).

The plumbers start this week, more excitement.  I'll keep on posting.....