What happened to Spring?

Our long holiday in Asia with warm/hot and dry weather is over.  We had a great time and hoped that building work would continue apace, but on our return it seems that the UK had not shared in the good weather and it has been decidedly unspringlike.  On the positive side though, it appears that our return has heralded the start of warmer drier weather so although things did not progress well whilst we were away, the builders have really made a difference in the last couple of weeks.

Before we went away, the roofers had started on our Welsh Slates.  When we returned nearly all the roof had been slated, except for the part over the dormer and the location around the chimney.  The section of the dormer cannot be completed until the final solar panels are in place.  The final solar panels cannot be fitted until the dormer window has had its zinc coating.  The zinc man has gone AWOL.  This seems to happen a lot in building!  Anyway, we do think that the slate does look good, but wish that it didn't cost 4 times as much as other good quality slate!

The main roof ridge

The kitchen roof (with inlet and outlet for ventilation & heat recovery system

As soon as we got back, work started on the chimney.  One of our neighbours advised us that jackdaws have a habit of trying to nest in chimneys in the village, so a suitable cage was bought and fitted on top.

  

Finished chimney, awaiting the last few slates

Work has finally started on the external brick wall of the house.  Each morning large tubs of pre-mixed mortar arrive in sufficient quantities to support a day's-worth of bricking.  This is necessary as the colour of the mortar has been specifically agreed with the planning and conservation officers.  The mortar company can supply mortar to a specific colour whereas if it were mixed on site there would be some variations in colour.  Currently nearly all the brickwork for the ground floor has been completed and the scaffolding has been moved further back to allow the brickies to work on the first floor.

Corner of the lounge-diner and the terrace wall

The ground floor wall facing the canal is complete

Internally, all the rooms have had their plasterboard fitted.  Who knew that plasterboard came in different colours?  As well as the usual grey plasterboard, we have pink heat-resistant plasterboard around the wood stove, and green water-resistant plasterboard in the bathrooms.

Pink plasterboard on the left with a smiling 'Jack' 

We currently have 6 plasterers on site, and by the end of today, it is hoped that all the plaster skimming will be completed.

Mixing plaster by the bucket-load

Our bedroom plaster is nearly dry

One corner of the lounge-diner completely dry.

As well as trying to pin down our missing Zinc-man, the next job is to put a 'mist coat' of white paint on all the internal walls.  This is a mix of white emulsion and water.  Following this, the painters get to work and paint most of the walls white.  One or two walls will have 'accent' colours for a bit of variety.
Also, with all the plastering complete, final measurements for the staircase, internal doors and all the windows can now be made and these items put on order.

Since the weather was so good last week, we took the boat out for a few days and met some friends on their boats near Braunston in Northamptonshire.  Before we left, we had to change the gearbox oil as is recommended after 25 hours cruising.  This was a first for us and was a somewhat messy job, but it was successful.  Once we met up near Braunston, a pub became the venue for the reunion.  Leaving the pub in the dark we watched a spectacular lightning show, and just made it back to the boats in time before the thunderstorms hit.  This is the first time we have stayed overnight on 'Charlie Mo' and we found it very comfortable.
Charlie Mo has now done 72 miles on the canals as well as 80 locks.  Not much more cruising will be done until the engine has had its first service which is booked for 10th May.  Since the interval for subsequent services is much longer, later in the summer we are planning to take 'her' further afield.

Leaving Cropredy,

Tranquil Oxford Canal

Land-locked Narrowboat

Lesley honing her driving skills...

...whilst I worked the locks

Since we have no long holidays planned for a while and things are moving a little quicker now, we will endeavour to update the blog slightly more frequently!