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 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

The beginning - May 2014

Finally the proud owner of an old and slightly wrecked house, I'm going to post photos of the progress made turning it into somewhere I want to live, as I have promised friends & relations. Here goes:

Alexander House

For those who don't know, a joke between me & Chris was that we would buy a B&B when we retired, and call the house 'Alexander House'.  So, in my mind at least, this is Alexander House, though I'm not so sure about the B&B... 

Grand Entrance

Sitting Room

Dining Room

Study

This room was the bathroom, so there will be quite a bit of work needed here.

 Kitchen

And this was originally the dining room...

Utility Room

The Old Kitchen

...will disappear - I want more garden.

 Main Bedroom

Shower Room

Guest Bedroom 1

Guest Bedroom 2

Bathroom

Work is going to start on the 9th of June, I'll try and keep the progress posted.