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Nearly a full year from completion and we've settled into the extension quite comprehensively. In fact, I don't think we can remember how we lived without the added space. The yellow-ness (if that's a term) has faded from the timber and a silver grey patina is setting in. No, we've not painted the windows yet...or the roof...but, you know, we've been, uh, busy...
While last year was pretty much only about the building project, this year we have focused on the garden. Beds were added, potatoes dug in, trees were planted. The results of this hard work (mostly D's) have been enjoyable. Spuds, raspberries, strawberries, carrots, blackcurrents and yes, apples!
The latches and handles were fitted to the doors some time back. The last of the painting was finished two weeks ago. Aside from an issue with the shower hose (ruddy thing!) its done. Finished. The bathroom is being fully exploited; showers, laundry, a welcome ground floor loo. The bedroom however is sitting empty. Its availability has come as a bit of a shock. We wander into it every so often and stare in
wonderment and disbelief at the extra space; trying to imagine what we'll do with it all. We then slip quietly back into the house in full denial. One of these days...
Away for two weeks, we came back to significant progress by those who toiled away in our absence. The joiners finished the exterior cladding and guttering and the internal timber framing, insulated the walls and roof and hung the drywall. This was followed by taping and filling.
In fact, more was accomplished while we were away than since we've been back--going on two weeks now. We should go away more often...
Upon our return, decisions had to be made (quickly!!) regarding things that are soon required (lights, paint, doors) and panic ordering ensued.
In the meantime, the laminated glass back panel onto which the shower in mounted in the World's Greatest Showering Cubicle required alteration as it didn't come with the blank, drillable panel that it was supposed to.
[Begin rant...]
This shower has caused problems from the start: it took forever to arrive, came flat packed instead of assembled (so the large, inconvenient, gaping hole left in the external wall to accomodate it's delivery was utterly unnecessary), has large gaps at the top so a homemade lid is required to keep water getting between the shower and the wall, and, as mentioned before, came with the wrong back panel. The latter of these was not really a problem as, according to the manufacturer, the panel provided could be drilled. Imagine our suprise when this supposedly drillable panel shattered into a million pieces once drilling commenced! Ahhhggg! Our poor plumber will be having nightmares of showering in glass for weeks. Not to mention the endless guilt he feels at having halted our project dead in its tracks and leaving us to sleep in the same room as a very greedy 7-month old who wakes hourly to make sure the all-night breakfast buffet is still sleeping next to him for an additional week or two (really S., it wasn't your fault...).
[...rant complete]
We love our shower and look forward to spending the first hour of every morning wallowing in this marvel of 20th century technology and celebrate its long anticipated arrival into our home. We have no regrets. However...it's been a complete pain in the #*%.
But I suppose that is to be expected in The Land of the Bath.
An apparently drillable panel (according to the manufacturer) has been ordered and is now eagerly awaited. Once the panel is installed, the shower and the last bit of plumbing can be completed, the last piece of plasterboard can be hung, taped and filled, and then the painting will commence. Followed by installation of the flooring, skirting boards, window sills, doors and facings, a bit more painting and then final fix of the electrics (plates & fixtures), et voila!
Fini. (typed with fingers crossed, touching wood, tossing salt over shoulders, turning three times to the left, and performing any other superstitious jinx avoiding gesticulations one can think of)
In the meantime's meantime, the 3 year old has been in an extremely excited state since our return. Now that the extension can be accessed directly from the living room he's often found taking important dimensions for the amendments which he still believes are required to the design.
And finally, a first glimpse of our bathroom suite (without seat) as installed last Saturday.
Now that's progress...
The latches and handles were fitted to the doors some time back. The last of the painting was finished two weeks ago. Aside from an issue with the shower hose (ruddy thing!) its done. Finished. The bathroom is being fully exploited; showers, laundry, a welcome ground floor loo. The bedroom however is sitting empty. Its availability has come as a bit of a shock. We wander into it every so often and stare in
wonderment and disbelief at the extra space; trying to imagine what we'll do with it all. We then slip quietly back into the house in full denial. One of these days...
The Inspector of Floors has made a visit. He carried out the coefficient of friction test and the drool test. The floors seem to have passed. He approves of the whitish oil finish to the timber flooring and the high contrast classic pattern in the shower room. The 3 year old suggested a game of chess, which apparently he knows how to play. Wonders never cease... 
The electrics have been hooked up for a few days now. Making the late night painting sessions a bit easier.
Away for two weeks, we came back to significant progress by those who toiled away in our absence. The joiners finished the exterior cladding and guttering and the internal timber framing, insulated the walls and roof and hung the drywall. This was followed by taping and filling.
In fact, more was accomplished while we were away than since we've been back--going on two weeks now. We should go away more often... 
In the meantime, the laminated glass back panel onto which the shower in mounted in the World's Greatest Showering Cubicle required alteration as it didn't come with the blank, drillable panel that it was supposed to.
In the meantime's meantime, the 3 year old has been in an extremely excited state since our return. Now that the extension can be accessed directly from the living room he's often found taking important dimensions for the amendments which he still believes are required to the design.
And finally, a first glimpse of our bathroom suite (without seat) as installed last Saturday.
