In no particular order

We have finally moved in (April 14th), well we moved in with the workmen still on site and they are still here finishing off bits and pieces.

We now have a kitchen and worktops, we have a lovely sink and when it is plumbed in next week it will be functional as well as pretty.

The kitchen should be finished next week if all goes according to plan and the plumber comes back.

The utility room sink is plumbed in as is the rest of the house so all is good on that front.

We are still awaiting the blinds and shutters for the house, cardboard boxes and a duvet cover suffice as window dressing at the moment, it looks like squatters have moved in, shouldn't be too much longer till they arrive.

The garden has been turfed and the patio finished, it looks very good and very big, have to spread the garden furniture out a bit.

Still unpacking boxes, but the house is starting to feel like home.

Carpets down, chimney up

Today on site we had the carpet layer, he has completed the whole of the upstairs and done a great job.

Status are still laying the Karndean flooring on the ground floor, must be a big job it's taking a long time.

The fire place has been built in the lounge and we are really pleased with it, it's always a worry when you order something months and months ago, it's hard to remember what you ordered, but thankfully it does look really good.

The kitchen fitter has arrived on site and is installing the Nolte kitchen, so far so good. Only one glitch, the Corian worktops have to be molded from a template taken of the kitchen units. Due to the Royal Wedding and Easter Bank Holidays the work tops will not be fitted until May sometime. Not to worry we will survive.

The drive people have been on site again today and should be finishing tomorrow. Looks good, we have our very own car park.

The weather has been brilliant and our move in is getting very close now.

It's been a long time coming.

All trades on site

We have had a rather hectic day, a site meeting with our builder and Kevin our Architect which as usual took us up to lunch time.

We have made a structural change to the rear steps and Kevin is sorting out the finishing touches to our glass roof. We are in safe hands with him, we work on the same wave length.

The kitchen and utility units have arrived from storage and have now filled up the study. The kitchen is being fitted on Monday, should take around 5 days. Only one glitch, the work tops are being made by Corian which means they have to take templates once the units have been fitted and then manufacture them. With the royal wedding and Easter bank holidays it looks like they will not be fitted until May at the earliest. Oh well, washing up in a bucket will be fun.

They should have fitted the kitchen this week but the flooring was delayed.

Today on site we had Status Flooring, they are laying the Karndean flooring in the lounge, followed by the rest of the ground floor. They have already latexed all the floors down stairs.

In the same room we had the fireplace builder/installer working. Tried to get a really pretty in-efficient gas fire, but unfortunately they have become extremely effecient, with our under floor heating we are not too sure when we will be able to turn it on, but it is very pretty. The installation will take 2 days.

Steve the electrician and his trainee were on site doing all sorts from alarms to lighting to wiring in the extremely complicated solar heating system, beyond me, you need a PHD.

The carpenters are on site fitting bathroom units and finishing off all sorts of bits and pieces, they still have lots and lots to do.

The plumbers (3 of them) were also on site fitting toilets, sinks etc.

The painter is varnishing, painting and repainting. It's getting like the 4th bridge, no sooner does he paint something, let it dry and then someone puts dirty finger prints all over it. Not a job I could do.

In the garden Kevin and co are constructing the patio and it looks pretty good, some way to go though.

The front drive is under construction, they have started, got about 3rd done, they will be returning on Friday to finish.

Anyway that's the update, we are still planning to move in next week, furniture arriving Tuesday with our main furniture coming to the house from storage on Thursday 14th.

Almost there

Well, we have work men on site and things are slowly coming together.

The pictures are not in quite the right order, the Internet keeps going down and I am not getting the chance to put them in order.

The first picture is a spot the difference, just in case you can't see it, we have had the white aluminium pillar on the right changed for a brick pillar, looks a lot better.

The photos show the stairs, the outside step lights, our burgundy bedroom wall, the front drive and the lounge with the latex on ready for the flooring. Also a couple of pics of Hamworthy Beach, bit overcast but still beautiful.