The Big Move

Three years and fifty days after knocking down the old ruin, cometh the Big Day - 12/12/08. (Actually, its the Big Night, we've spent plenty of days here after all!) We're now living in our own (literally) self-built house and, I have to say, its a rather pleasing feeling and slightly bizarre as well. After all, three years and three months ago we didn't even know that we were going to build it ourselves. I often wonder what we would have done if we hadn't. Work for a living, I suppose. What a dreadful thought. These two shots are taken from the same place: summer 2005 and winter 2008.

I think we're both slightly non-plussed at the moment. All of a sudden after a daily routine of going over to the site, we now live in a house there. No longer a 'site' but a home and here. It seems to have sneaked up on us. I guess it will sink in soon enough, meanwhile, we will be celebrating with a fine bottle of Dom Perignon and a special dinner cooked on our new range cooker in our new kitchen before snuggling up in front of the woodburner and dozing off.

Its an anxious time. Will the electric keep going, will the water heating keep working, will the water supply keep running, will there be leaks? God - give me a drink! Once we can, its an appropriate time to relax a bit, fiddle around with some furnishings, chop down a pine tree and stick a fairy on top, light the fire, pour a brandy and nod off. (More sleep, I think we need it.)

OK so the house isn't complete as such. Our bedroom upstairs and bathroom still needs completing as does the guest bedroom downstairs which will be last of the internal building. Another three months, I guess. I'll get going in the New Year, meanwhile, I think piccies....downstairs bathroom, woodburner, kitchen area, champagne moment.

It is a slightly sad time to be leaving our village house. It has served us well but it is in a poor state with the roof leaking more than ever and the paint falling off the wall as always. We are not sure what to do with it - probably take the roof off, raise the walls of the hay loft and generally refurbish it. We will see, no rush.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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