It really feel as though the countdown to our Africa journey has started. Lorraine got a fine pair of walking poles the other day and I had to buy a new pair of boots as my others had perished beyond repair. The weather holds cold here although the snow has virtually all melted from the lower ground. Just a few snow mounds remain in gardens and on the road. The photos were taken on 30th Dec from the west side of the Pentlands.

Winter has settled in around us with its extremes of beauty and damaging and deadly cold. We have seen it well below -10 here on occasion over the past 2 weeks.

Well, the house is up and inhabited! We have a lodger and are seeing how the building likes winter! The exceptionally heavy snow caused some gutter damage and the low temperatures revealed a weak spot in the water supply to house which is easily remedied. Other than that, the project can be deemed to have been completed well. Thanks to Rob, (architect) Arthur (builder)and his doughty team.

Nearing End

Well, we are nearly there. All bar a few snagging details.

Day 46 Fri 7th May

Posts are happening less frequently now because there are fewer changes of dramatic proportions. This is where we got to this week! However the putting in of the insulation is a dusty wearisome task as the stuff has to be cut to size and then jammed in between timbers.

Day 41 later

By the end of the day this is where we had reached!

Day 41 Friday 30 April

It's more difficult to see dramatic changes on a day by day basis, but the inside is slowly being licked into shape, or getting plastered!