Chapter 5 - Cracking on!

We signed the exchange and completion on our building in St Leonards Road the 21st April this year. The building was and is mighty handsome BUT the work that needs to be done after so many years of neglect was enough to put off 4 or 5 punters before us who had looked, surveyed and run. I am not in the least experienced at building and restoration but my instinct was to be slightly wary when exposed to small rivulets of water running down the wall, strange trifid like foliage running under the floors and the overwhelming smell of damp. However, not only credit to Rose and her team, but to the building itself. What looked like a mega disaster is slowly revealing itself to be a thing of great and awesome size and stature.

There is still a good way to go. I was hoping that the shop would open by late September – clearly not! Late November? Sadly, No. In all reality, I am being advised that January, February may be more realistic. Here’s the thing. The electric cable that has to be run from outside under the pavement into our building just inside the front porch, ie. 4 meters, so we have an electric supply to the shop and each of the two residential properties upstairs is going to cost an eye watering amount of money AND the timeline is 5 – 8 weeks! Let’s not even talk about the water connection from the mains outside into the building as well. Thank goodness we were utterly ignorant of all the extra costs and charges and the time it would take for each and every particular thing… don’t get me started on the various taxes and levies. We are therefore having to take more of a ‘hands on’ action to the building. Joists in the roof a case in point. Erected by husband over a weekend. A triumph.

On another and much more interesting subject. My husband, in his wisdom and clever psychology where his wife is concerned, (the promise of new additions to my wardrobe always appeals), has encouraged me to take a small part in the ongoing building and decorating although as I have mentioned before, an area of absolutely no expertise or interest. BUT……

 I am now the very proud owner of a fine pair of work overalls and some very fetching builders boots. It’s the little things!