12th. Took a sneaky drive to the house today. They re-opened the site this week under new rules that exclude site visits but promise photo up-dates. They have lain the ceramic tiles in the living area, I couldn’t see if this extended into having done the wall tiling in the bathroom as well.
The company that is going to do the garden also got started last week and have dug the holes for the fencing and lain the foundations for the terraces front and back.
I have hand sewn four face masks for my son Paul in Cape Town. As I fear he is vulnerable with his lung condition and the fragility of the health service there. I now just have to find a way to get them to him. My first four attempts are not pretty although there is certainly a marked improvement between “mark 1” and “mark 1V”
However with four layers, extreme coverage! and the two middle layers being cut from a water repellent old fabric shower curtain, I can pronounce then EFFECTIVE!
I am afraid that mask wearing will become the new normal as we slowly come out of lockdown so I am now starting on some for myself. It would be so much faster with access to the sewing machine but goodness knows where it is packed among all the stuff in the garage! Latest model is much more streamlined.
15th. A nice change and a lighter note with Wisteria blooming over a gate we passed on this morning’s walk.
17th, The latest addition to the masks wardrobe, “The Harlequin” model.
18th. Another sneaky visit to the house today. No progress on the interior as far as I can see but work in the garden is moving along with the back terrace nearly finished and the back fence going up. I am opting to leave out the privacy slats on the back fence so that I retain the open view across the field. I can always install them later if I find this doesn’t work.
25th. Another sneaky visit and more garden progress with the front terrace now installed and a start having been made on the driveway. My ancient Olive tree has also been planted and is full of flowers so I am looking forward to a good harvest.
In the back all the fencing is in place the terrace laid and the Calcrete put down to support the fake grass.
communication with the site foreman last week indicated that the plumber is going in on 4th May. All he has to do is wall mount 4 radiators and one towel rail and connect them up.And install the inside and outside components of the heat exchange system and connect them up. All the plumbing pipes and electric cables are in place for this so it shouldn’t be more than one day’s work. What remains after that is the light well in the bathroom, the wall tiling in there and the installation of the bathroom furniture. After that they came pump the insulation into the roof cavity and it is all done. However the site foreman said he did not know when the remaining sub-contractors will come in and doubts I will have delivery before the end of the month. This is disappointing.
capetocarpe 