Just had a 1/2 hour phone discussion (by mobile from HK) with Neil our builder/project manager about how things are going. It all sounds good. The rainwater harvesting system and soakaway are in, the underfloor heating pipework is laid and first fix plumbing and electrics are just about finished.
They've also been doing some regrading of the 'garden' and building a small retaining wall behind our (future) shed and laying a stone base for the (future) shed. It's all (future) because the planners won't let us put up a shed without planning permission - which is OK, except that if we apply now we'll have to pay a planning fee whereas if we apply once the barn is completed and is habitable (and therefore is a house not a barn) there will be no fee as it will be a householder application.
Mind you, it seems like we have tapped a spring, from the amount of water that is flowing from behind our new retaining wall. We have to find a way to deal with that - seems like we might be having a water feature after all.
Neil is also frustrated by the utility companies. Both the electricity supply cable and water supply pipe the are in, but not yet connected. This despite the fact that we paid up front - last July for the water and mid-Dec for the electric. These companies do things in their own time, not yours.
We hope to get some new photos this weekend as Shaki is visiting the barn just before she comes to Hong Kong in a few weeks time. When we do we'll post another blog, but until then ....
They've also been doing some regrading of the 'garden' and building a small retaining wall behind our (future) shed and laying a stone base for the (future) shed. It's all (future) because the planners won't let us put up a shed without planning permission - which is OK, except that if we apply now we'll have to pay a planning fee whereas if we apply once the barn is completed and is habitable (and therefore is a house not a barn) there will be no fee as it will be a householder application.And some good news about our front wall. It seems the stone wall is in fairly good condition and has a reasonably deep 'foundation' that means we shouldn't need another small retaining wall inside it where we intend to create the car parking area.
Neil is also frustrated by the utility companies. Both the electricity supply cable and water supply pipe the are in, but not yet connected. This despite the fact that we paid up front - last July for the water and mid-Dec for the electric. These companies do things in their own time, not yours.
We hope to get some new photos this weekend as Shaki is visiting the barn just before she comes to Hong Kong in a few weeks time. When we do we'll post another blog, but until then ....
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