Well here I am again. My last Whisper’s post for 2016. The year has flown by and I have neglected my writing. Not because I didn’t want to write. More like I kept telling myself I couldn’t. Things seem to be somewhat messy. Isn’t it interesting how there is a flow on effect to other parts of your life when ‘things’ start to get away from you? When I say ‘things’, I am referring ‘things of significance’ in my life. I must and I will continue documenting my journey and try to be more organised. (New Year’s Resolution!)

Over the last couple of months I have been working with the builder (whom I chose) to do my extension. In hindsight choosing the cheapest quote was probably not a good idea. I am finding I am having to do a lot of things in preparation.

I am hoping the end result will still be good, we have already met with unexpected and costly challenges.

Everything takes way longer than expected however things have progressed over the last two weeks and the builder assures me that once they are back on board after the Christmas break, everything will progress quickly. So, where are we up to? We have a slab. Wall frames and some roof frames. The room is taking shape. The doors and windows have been delivered along with the roofing material. As stressful as it is, it is still exciting for me. Take a look and see the progress!

This is the first stage of the demolition. As you can see the kitchen now has no back wall and we are pretty much exposed to the elements (and cockroaches). The house has been boarded up so we have no back door. The washing machine was moved outside and no longer works properly so now that my mum has gone home again, I will be using the local laundromat!!!

The ground underneath the concrete was softer than expected so a geotech engineer was called up to assess the soil and prepare a report. In the meantime the timbers for the exposed beams were delivered and I had to get to work on the bogging, sanding and painting.

The concrete pump arrived and it was touch and go as to whether it would fit under the wires and across the garden without damaging the house. Phew! Just made it within cms!

I have to say these guys were very professional and did a great job! I am planning to paint the concrete floor white so the finish was really important.

And the room has started to take shape! I feel like I’m on a teeny tiny version of Grand Designs – I love that show! It really is starting to become a reality now.

The ending of 2016 couldn’t come soon enough in some ways. On a personal note I am very sad to say that our delightful little Tommy Pickles passed away. I can’t even tell you how much I loved that gorgeous little bunny. I am so sad and miss him terribly. He now has a special place in my beautiful front garden where I say hello to him every day.

And on another sad note, well….some things are just too personal to mention. Everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not alright…..it’s not the end.

Welcome 2017!!!!!