Mars and Venus ?

Well, from the desperation of Friday 13th we have moved on to a new week.

Firstly, the weather has really improved and the outside is drying, only slowly as it is so cold. However we can see an opportunity to start the next phase of garden restoration.

Inside quite a bit is happening. Simon, the joiner, is installing the kitchen to his very high standard. We made a few last minute changes to the design and these seem to be for the better. The kitchen will be a little idiosynchratic with, almost, two rooms in a small area but it produces some important elements for us. We wanted a traditional cottage style with modern facilities and a little bit of luxury. In addition we wanted space for a traditional kitchen table and chairs but nothing was to interfere with the light and views from the large windows.

Quite a demand but we think that we are achieving something close.





The mini fridge has arrived and has been installed.

Our poor old plumber is close to breakdown being confronted with installing his conventional heating and hot water system to our very contemporary biomass boiler arrangement but he is coping. The whole system is pressurised but he is limiting us to 3 bar. He says any more would take our skin off in the shower although the system will allow up to six bar. The very high tech pressurised hot water tank is installed.

No, it's not a Dalek

Our futuristic biomass boiler is here and somehow moved up to the first floor. It took five hunky men, ropes, slings, pulleys and quite a bit of bad language but it's there. At first viewing it seemed so unconventional that it was odd but we are really beginning to like it. What we want now is some heat from it.

We have been defeated on the solar panel front as everybody involved has let us down. The regulations require that we have one of those ridiculous EPC (energy performance certificates - like the ones you have on your fridge) before the system can be registered. We have five of the damned things and paid for all of them but they are not registered. We need an electric supply and don't have one. Electricity North West have, following the email to their CEO,  leapt into action. They are pulling out all the stops, now, but they have to follow all of the procedures and cannot advise a connection date. They have now promised a back-up generator supply but we are told that this would be incompatible with a solar PV input. We will put all of this onto the back burner and will lose the Feed In Tarrifs even though we have paid for the installation.

A little diversion. Those that know the immediate area will be familiar with the lovely stone arch bridge over Cinderdale Beck (hence Cinder Beck) just a few yards from the barn. The banks of the beck had been destroyed by fly-tipping and consequential wild undergrowth. It had been an ambition of Dai's to restore these banks and Andrew has enjoyed considerable R & R from removing, tons of stone waste and digging out substantial tree stumps. This has now been achieved and the area is ready for grass seeding and bulb planting to form an idyllic picnic area.