Millside
Millside: retiring more peacefully? The Bakers have taken the plunge and are slowly moving to South Holland; exchange and completion in May 2009, giving time to enjoy the garden and walnut tree. Address and contact details as they become available on the Resources and contact page.Stripey lawns achieved with the mower on Whitsuntide Monday - with Andy learning how to mow in a straight line eventually. Hedges trimmed, too, and only our second day... Very good to meet the neighbours; Cuckoo Junction was lost with Dr Beeching's prunings in 1964, but the level crossing gate posts remain - along with wire fence posts all over the place.
Decisions, decisions: good stewardship of resources is helping to inform the exploration of the heating system, lighting and glazing. An opportunity to do something inherently good!The views inspire and relax; this picture shows the early sun on the silver birch.
First things first: move the garage back a little and replace with a taller door. Move the wood hut and replace Mr Howell's old woodworking shed with something that doesn't leak. Stage one completed by Wednesday 17 June with the help of a couple of wise and capable local lads. The move if the wood hut was very similar to the pigsty in Lovejoy ('Highland Fling' episode, part 2 ).
Yew to replace the leylandii with a lot of prayer. And, perhaps, the privet, too. Even if it takes a year or two to sprout forth. And so the leylandii were removed by 10 July 2009... Then again, Jeff Freeston's wisdom has again inspired us to create a mixed shrub border. More on the garden page.This picture includes a view of the walnut tree - before the renewed garage arrived - and another of notre Privée Anglaise.
Anyone seen our missing leylandii? The oak is breathing a sigh of relief!A fine job by Barry, Neil and Sean on the windows early August, with an interim pic of the breakfast room (!).
In the garden, the Ood lights have been joined by the weeping water stone and two barrels from Tuscany... Pics of the fruit trees available along with details on our small Labyrinth.
The stove is almost in place, with just a little cold water from an outside tap for a cuppa. With Christmas (2009) approaching, the triple coil cylinder was almost connected to the stove and we were close to having heat and our own hot water.
After a few drips and the replacement of the 5" flue with one insulated 6" version at the end of January 2010, the stove draws well, heats the water and the hallway radiator.
They say it doesn't snow in these parts; unsure where to use a toboggan, though!
Our gratitude stretches to yet more who have contributed to the works. Tom spent a week fitting together many of the thirty seven drawers from Mr Ikea. They're designed to save bending, reaching down and stretching into the farthermost reaches of the usual kitchen cupboard. Contents have been mostly allocated based on the regularity of their use with herbs and spices in top drawers followed by tins of tomatoes. The drawers nearest the kitchen table are packed with breakfast goodies making the consumption of toast a delight.
After the long cold winter, Keith and Paul knocked out the internal walls to the pantry, 'utility' and gardener's toilet and we have the makings of a breakfast room - or an extended breakfast kitchen. The pic on the left shows the kitchen sink set up on 27 May 2010 (at last!) and this split picture on the right shows the doors 'before' and 'after'.
Keith popped back and fitted the soldiers above the French doors, smartening them up in the process. We spend far too much time cheering one another up when he calls by - so welcome is he.
The summer of 2010 saw good progress with the en suite rooms, with Sophie wielding percussion and cordless drills.
We dared to paint the purple guest bedroom in yellow and not change its name - until it was obvious that we hadn't enough yellow paint... Andrew moved into the bedroom mid August before the fourth coat of paint was dry. The en suite wall panels proved easy to trim to size, even around the window, and pipes have started to spring forth trailing from the rainwater storage tank, past the toilet and into a holding tank. Where to put the water gauge?
