Where did it go?

We first saw the plot in September 2018

and today went to the local standing stones to see the sun rise – marking the end of our first year in Argyll. A skylark sang, the mist receded.

We arrived early evening on Thursday 19 March 2020, a few days ahead of schedule as a national lockdown (whatever that was) was looming. The insulated slabs had been cast before spring and were ready to be built on.

Lockdown was announced on Monday and on Tuesday the builders, Andrew, Aly and Patryk, collected all their stuff and left site. It was a strange welcome.

Although we lost three months to the first lockdown, subsequent restrictions preventing us having the help we’d planned have put us back another month, maybe more… but here we are. This is home although there is much to do.

I’ve been using the past week of dry weather to concentrate on the cladding, which should have been finished in the autumn. On the house all except the rear of the plant room (half done and awaiting holes for electrics) is done.

The workshop west gable is next.

In the house I have a bathroom wall to build, radiator circuit to plumb (though we might never connect it) and kitchen layout to mark out in preparation for the first fix electrics (that’s the threading of all the wiring).

This evening we lit a fire by the vegetable plot, drank a glass of wine and watched the eastern sky as the sun set behind us – I almost forgot my sunburnt chilblains (only joking).

People keep asking me when I plan to have the house finished. I can’t answer. I don’t have a timetable, just a list of tasks that need to be be done. I don’t know how much help I’ll get or how long any job will take me, but I’m looking forward to seeing where we’re at in six months…