And I'm comfortable in the main bedroom :-)

Justin's comfortable in the cottage - we have a kitchen, a bathroom, and basic luxuries - like a fridge and microwave, tv and playstation!

I'm still deciding if I want to build the new bathroom now, or wait. I'm tired of breaking down walls - but not sure I feel like coming back to this in a year. The builder has said we can construct the new bathroom, and once done, then we can knock the bedroom wall down. I'll think about it this week...

The bathroom - will hopefully get done this next week. The cottage bathroom presents some challenges in that it produces about 2 small buckets worth of hot water and the toilet is prone to blocking - very tough for two people! We're waiting on the tiler here - the builder wants the tiler to start and finish all the tiling in one set, se we've had to wait for the entrance area to be ready. Also, spot the new wooden window.

The toilet - same issue - hacking up the concrete to make it level with the wooden floor once tiled. Also, spot the new wooden windows.

The kitchen scullery - where this presented a problem is the step between the wooden floor of the kitchen and the concrete of the scullery - once tiled the areas will be uneven... hacking out the concrete took 2 days!

We've ripped the overhead industrial sun shade off and will begin building the patio on Monday. The kitchen and loiunge will both lead out onto this area so its important to get it right. The other issue to follow soon is repainting - the outside walls have layers and layers of patterned paint which is going to be a nightmare to level smooth and repaint - but I guess if I do it all now there won't be anythign to do next month :-l

Looking out onto the pool - the sliding doors are going to be amazing in summer. This week I focus on the outside area a bit - creating a patio between the lounge and pool.

The entrance into the lounge - the ceiling basically had to be rebuilt and new lintels installed. As you can see, the house is still dusty and dirty - and this after we've swept and cleaned. The couch was meant for Sunday afternoon chilling :-)

The view of the lounge from the kitchen. The gas hob will be installed against this wall, with an island extractor overhead.

Standing in the Dining room looking towards the kitchen and lounge. The kitchen walls have been plastered and ready for installation of a new kitchen on the 8 Aug. This week the electrician will install the ceiling spots, but for now we have spent some time laying new cables for the new kitchen appliances and the most difficult - chasing the gas to a new point for a gas stove.

The new entrance hall from the inside. One of the most difficult jobs is getting the tiled area to be level with the wooden floor - hence the delay. The ceiling is drying, so within a week we should be tiled and ready to move the furniture in.

The new entrance hall is now complete - the roof is ready and tiling can begin this next week. I need to select light fittings for outside - hence the electrical points. The old cottage door to the left of the pic has been removed and replaced with a wooden framed window.

First night!

Spent my first night in the house last night and I love my new home! Justin got some essentials out of storage - couch, fridge, microwave, mattress (forgot the duvets!) - and we moved in to what we thought would be a cold shell, but surprisingly, the house was warm and pretty comfy, despite dust and sand.
The plastering continues and tiling will still only happen in 2 weeks, but for now, happy to be more settled after 3 weeks of limbo. Thanks to friends for putting up with me in this period!
I'll take some pics of the camping spot tonight :-)

The front doors are now on, and can lock. The new alarm system is installed in the morning, so technically, i can move in - but I think i might just sit some of the dust storms out. Since seeing the doors, I have also decided to knock out the door on the left, which leads to whatused to be the cottage. I have decided to incorperate the cottage into the house, so a separate entrance will not be necessary. The door will be replaced with a large glass wooden framed window.

Of view of the kitchen without walls from the lounge. The ceiling is still a little unstable, hence the pole. The opening on the left will have an island extractor over a gas hob, and should look quite nice from the lounge.

The final wall to go down! The kitchen is now open, the doors are all on and have glass, the gas is being reconnected and the new kitchen cupboards get installed on the 8 August. This area of the house will definitely become the nicest - its open and receives the most sunlight.

Connected! Adsl, laptop, carpet and camera - all you really need :-)

The bathroom and toilet windows have been knocked out - they'll be replaced by wooden framed windows. I thought it better to do this now, before tiling.

The kitchen door and window has been installed, and the kitchen has been stripped of tiles and cupboards - the new installation of cupboards and gas hob, eye level oven and shelves should be ready in 2-3 weeks.

This week I have to choose tiles for the entrance floor, and for the passageway to the left.

The new doors for the front entrance will go up this week - which means I may be able to move in next weekend. The engineer and architect need to approve the new ceiling on Monday.

This area is outside the main bedroom. I may decide to complete this ensuite now, while all the house renovation is happening.The window to the bedroom will be removed to make an double entrance, and the steps will get a sliding door leading into the garden. its a huge space for a bathroom, which is quite exciting. There will be a no division between bathroom and bedroom.

The kitchen wall has been demolished, allowing for a new door and window. The dogs have had a difficult time in the house, being alone and frightened by the constant building and banging - I come through every day to see that they're ok and put their ridiculous but warm hunting jerseys on...

The new dining room and entrance hall looking out to the khoi pond area. The wall on the top right going into the lounge will be demolished this week - allowing for a view from the entrance hall to the back garden.

A view from the inside of the new entrance - the door frames are already installed - great progress!

Sam, the foreman, is working Saturday to get the walls finished.

The oddest thing - inside one of the walls we found an old window pane. The old front door on the left will be removed soon, and more of the wall knocked out, opening the new entrance hall into the passageway, into the dining room. In the top left of the pic you can see where the flatlet window has been bricked up, as this will now be an entrance.

The new foundations for the front entrance have been laid. Once the doors have been added, and a new ceiling built (which takes 21 days), I can move into the house.

The entire facade has now been removed - the house has a new face - and a dump of rubble.

Finally - I have lockable folding doors from the lounge onto the pool!