Sorry!

 Not so many blogs this week as we have been working very hard and for long hours on the house, so our apologies. 

We had really hoped the foundations would be done as we had the grant folk out assessing the house again but unfortunately it didn't happen.

We still have a big hole, which is a nightmare for Rob getting in and out.

Bruce has still been working on the shutters and today started working on the ditch for drainage to replace the original land drain but he hasnt been able to do as many hours recently..

Jim is back. Yay  he has done a lovely job, with some help from Bruce, putting the ridge tiles back on. It's all been pressure washed too.

Jill has continued working in the lounge. Sorting skirtings, tackling the coving( with some help from Jim) and flooring. Jim has been working on the old water supply to the kitchen so it is tucked away but we can still use it temporarily.

The weather has been pretty food so the cats are getting plenty of exercise. 

Busting a gut

 Yet more work grafting to get the house ready. Friday saw Bruce finally staking down the foundation frame. The bedrock has been a beeping nuisance!

Jill painted some more ogee round the cupboard door and we cut out the bits round the lightswitch and door ironmongery upstairs. Also, with the new lights in the lounge, we decided we weren't happy with some of the joins on the ceiling, so Jill did some more skimming.

We did stop to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics but found it a bit on the slow side and a bit flat.

Saturday we were up early and started on with putting the last ogee on the wall. Jill also began putting the floor down in the lounge and was still at it up to 11pm. It says on the box it's easy laying. Yeah, right!

Sunday, more floor laying. We have done as much as we can for now as there is a hole in the concrete where the water pipes where for the old kitchen. We will need that a while longer until the extension is up and our new kitchen is in there.

Our friend Penny came over for the afternoon. She hasn't seen the house since December so, we think, she was impressed with the changes. Jill took time out for a lovely walk to show her the cliffs and little beach below the house. It was lovely weather and there was a bonus of a mother tufted duck with 11 ducklings over the far side of the loch.

Still some lovely flowers about.

Lousewort

Marsh Cinquefoil.

Sneezeweed

And a new one with a mouthful of a name Hastate-leaved Orache  - or so the app Flora incognito says!

Nice to see some fulmar chicks on the cliffs. Not so many this year.

We did see an interesting bird on the way back. It was definately a falcon but wasn't right for the local merlins. It was surprisingly big for how far away it was with long wings. Some think is a hobby but we both think the wings were too long for that and the wing action was slower and more deliberate than on the hobbies and peregrines we have seen downsouth. Rob did put it out as an Eleonaras but some other birders don't agree. Unfortunately it was very distant at about half a mile away.

 After Penny left Jill sanded the ceiling again 

Its very messy!

Phew!

 The bits of bedrock have been causing Buce trouble but the shutter frame is now level. He likes to be precise! He also got very muddy. We reckon we could bottle the mud and make thousands. Must have some good minerals in it!

Jill has continued with painting skirting. Coving got added to the painting pile today.

Today Jill tackled the worst flat pack ever. We were still working on it at 8pm. We knew it was a tight fit bt we got it in!

It was mighty hard putting it together.

Our lovely electrician came out again today, fixing more of the last companies work. Such a shame they don't have enough pride in their work to want to fix it- we gave them plenty of time and opportunity. Very glad we have someone we can trust now.

 We now have the new lights up.

The towel rail upstairs is finally working after a year, and he found another unattached cable too.

Geri doesn't know whether she watches what's going on inside or out, so she's exhausted!

Getting ready for foundations

 Quite a few bits worked on yesterday. The last coat on the big window, paint on the ogee, door handle on, trim round the arch,  and some other bits and bobs.

We took he afternoon off for some puffin time and stopped at our friend Penny's on the way home.

It was a lovely afternoon and Jill  had a lovely chat with a couple from Caithness.

Today Jill carried on doing bits and bobs along with some more pai ting. Handles back on the windows too. Bruce started building the frame for the foundations for the replacement porch extension 

The new bed has been unboxed and Jill will tackle that tomorrow.

Lovely cloud formations today