Week Decisions

I've just woken up at 6:00 am and today is my 39th birthday!  I feel pretty good waking up early having slept through the night not thinking about house issues.

The house has immersed us in the cycle of having to make decisions.  I thought that we had done lots of research in years gone by but until you get into the detail and finally make a decision it just doesn't stop.  Take one single element i.e. we (Flora mainly) really wanted a rainwater harvesting system rather than Matt's strategically placed raised water butts.  It took not only the internet time but many discussions with Gary and Dave and then more time with the tree expert from the council who was worried that our C graded trees were being possibly affected by the large hole.

Quick summary of where we're at: -

1. Block work about 7 ft in height.
2. Windows and doors finally ordered apart from garden door that may be made separately.
3. Wood burner stove - from Stovesonline now ordered (double insert back boiler).  It's going to give out 5 kw to the room and 14 kw to the thermal store.  I thought we were going for the smaller version 5kw and 10 kw but maybe it's better to have too much than too little?
4. Kitchen 'range / chimney' insert dimensions adjusted and starting to be re-built.
5. Money leaving our bank account at a fast rate of knots... mortgage application sent to the Ecology Building Society.
6. Kitchen confirmed from Howdens but need to get Garry to order it and confirm the trade price.
7. Accepted expensive water connection quotation from Wessex Water.
8. Sent Gas and electricity paperwork for estimates.

Flora and Tilly standing in the kitchen / dining area

Things to be done soon: -

1. Expensive seasoned oak beams to be ordered for above the cooker.
2. Make a decision about the fireplace wood storage.
3. Order the MVHR (mechanical ventilation heat recovery) from the Green Building Store.
4. Confirm prices of wavy edged oak weather boarding.
5. Research more plumbers that can instal solar thermal and back boilers (easier to find fairies at the bottom of the garden).
6. Come up with a estimated lighting cost from the Original Lighting Company. Went up to London for the Olympics and at the same time visited their showroom to take some pictures.

Looking from the dining area to the play room and beyond to the sitting room