8 February 2011

Garden Room - Day 2

Work continues, the base plates are mostly rotten so its a case of props in, chop out and replace



Nothing happening tomorrow as they are finishing off another job, but back on course on Thursday.  Lets hope the rain holds off as we have lots of open space!!Posted by Picasa

Day 1 in pictures and completed 10 stitch





7 February 2011

Garden Room - Day 1

Work commenced 8am sharp. 

It was dark when I got home today, but I could just about see that the end window has been removed, the hole for the french doors cut out, also the hole for the stable door.  I'll have a better idea what else has been achieved in the morning when its light. Its all very exciting ........ I'll remember to take my camera out with me

6 February 2011

Garden Room commences

Tomorrow work starts to turn this old barn into a garden room, somewhere to sit and look over the garden when the weather is rough.  The one thing we dislike about our house is that we cannot see our back garden from the house, due to the barn blocking the view. So rather than pulling it down (we wouldn't be allowed too anyway as we live in a conservation area) we decided to spend a bit of money and have it repaired and made into a usable space - its been a repository for junk and other peoples stuff for too long.  I have visions of long afternoons curled up with a book and my knitting, trying to ignore the work that so obviously needs doing in the garden. 

The one draw back to this work is that we have had to removed all the plants around the barn. Some were ready to go others not so.  If we manage to save some then its a bonus.  If not, then I'll be paying a visit to the garden centre.  This does however allow us to re-design areas of the garden that we inherited from the previous owners and that until now we have not changed, its a big job and I can see it taking us most of the summer to complete

The entrance will be via a stable door in the rear of the barn - view not shown here

 

These doors will become shutters and the whole space glazed



The window here will be removed and french doors will be added to bring in extra light and provide the 'view'.  The little door above will also be glazed and the door will also act as a shutter. I'm hoping for a deck area here, which involves re-routing some steps and removing a low brick wall


Rotten timbers - there are lots of these

 
The old wood burner from the house which will be installed to provide winter warmth.
I will post more pictures as we go along.  Not too sure how long the work will take, but once Neil has finished his bit there will be lots for us to be getting on with, both inside and out so watch this space.
Posted by Picasa

5 February 2011

Is this fair?

Today we popped into Cambridge. I normally hate going shopping but needs must sometimes.  We were browsing around Marks & Spencer and I saw some trousers I liked. Flicking through the sizes I saw they had no long lengths in any size, just short and regular, which I thought was a bit odd.  Checked a few other styles, same thing, so I went and enquired at the desk to see if they had changed their leg lengths, to be told that they hardly ever get any long lengths for the stores as they are mainly reserved for buying online!!?  What rubbish, do they want everyone to buy on-line thus killing the High Street? Is this discrimination against people with long legs?  Should I send a letter of complaint, or am I wasting my time? I was so cross I was nearly beside myself, took a coffee and a muffin in Cafe Nero before I calmed down.

The upside of the morning was that I did get some really nice short boots in the Clarks shop with 50% off, and some new underwear with some gift vouchers I had for christmas, so all was not lost, but I'm still feeling pretty cross!

2 February 2011

Jolly good reading

In the last week I have read and finished two novels, first being Barbara Erskine's Time's Legacy.  I love Barbara's books, Lady of Hay being my all time favourite.  For a while some of her books seemed a bit samey (I have them all) but this one was much better and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like historical novels then give her books a try.

The second was Room, the first Emma Donoghue book I have read, I couldn't put it down, usually I only manage a few pages at night before falling asleep, this book had me reading till 11:30, and then I had to force myself to turn out the light. Very thought provoking.

My biggest problem is I wish I could read and knit at the same time