So much has happened since the last blog post that the pictures I posted seem barely recognisable already. The second timber frame is now mostly constructed so you can see the proportions of rooms very clearly now. I had no idea that my veranda would be so big or that the decked area along the whole building would be so wide. I have no budget for outdoor furniture, I may need to rethink this!
We’re currently getting roofed too – the double storey timber frame is tiled bar ridge tiles, the old coach house has Veluxes and there is scaffolding everywhere.
This week however has been a week of frustration and excitement. It feels like months ago that we ordered the windows (which is because it was months ago) but this week was the week. Its half term and Jonny and I are splitting the childcare so I was a bit gutted when the delivery company called to say that the windows would be here on Tuesday, the day I was working and Jonny was at home. However I consoled myself that Jonny would have to deal with the stress plus childcare and a day in the office felt really quite a relaxing option in comparison.
At the very beginning of this process we applied to Grand Designs but were rejected (I suspect our budget just isn’t grand enough). However, the whole process has played out like an episode what with groundwork having to go deeper, disappearing builders and mounting costs. Because of this I wasn’t massively surprised that the delivery of the windows turned into somewhat of a saga. I’ve watched enough episodes to know that windows are troublesome.
Tuesday came and went – no windows appeared. I dealt with builders the window company and the delivery company from work (so much for my easy day). The delivery company said they would come the next day which in fairness they did. When they called to arrange delivery initially they told me the windows would arrive on an articulated lorry (a massive one to those of you who like me are still learning the terminology to describe non-standard motorised vehicles). They also told me there would be no lifting gear and that I’d need a crane or a fork lift. I, having neither of these items squirrelled away in my garden shed, told them I’d get my building company to talk to them. This all happened – we were assured that the windows would arrive on an appropriate vehicle with the appropriate lifting gear. Guess what? Yup, articulated lorry complete with Polish driver arrive at 7.30 AM. Neither the window manufacturer or the delivery company man their phones until 8.30 – so it took until nearly 10 before said lorry, Polish driver (who was very pleasant and not at all perturbed and did valiantly attempt to back it into the driveway much to the delight of the rush hour commuters on their way to work) were send with windows still on board to the Manchester depot. Goodbye windows.
But today my hours of phone calls were finally rewarded with windows! They are beautiful, possibly, no definitely, the most beautiful windows I have ever seen. They are also massive! I’ve lived in Victorian terraces all my life – this house is going to be so amazingly different but I think I’ll get used to it.
So hurry up CJS and finish the frame and the roof – I want to see my windows properly!