We're Here.

So we've made it. All went smoothly for most of us. Though not neil and the cats. Blackie (cat) had a shit just on the other side of Leyburn (nothing personal) so all three arrived looking pale and cold. Else very uneventful. Amazing removal company, all as smooth as you could hope for, sun is shining and alls well. Till ...

Of course the bastard won't light. Neil, Mark (electrician and plumber) and his mate Charlie all poke and look at it for some time and we all agree to try again when the oil arrrives in 3 days. So it's a bit cold but ok, plug in heater and open fires, some coal has been found in the dungeon tho not by me obv. and look at it, it really is heaven.

You may notice that rather nice box in the foreground. That is the where the compost goes and I made it. It's really rather good, very solid and weighs as much as the boiler. So here's a close up.

Bloody amazing or what. But its not all fun leisure projects. Most of last week was spent unpacking boxes (in the garage), cleaning, doing a bit of shopping and mainly trying to unfreeze our bank accounts due to the fraud division being alerted by us suspiciously moving house. Yes thanks Santander, only about 4 hours on the phone, a two hour round trip to our nearest branch and then spending about two hours getting the problem resolved with the amazingly nice and helpful staff in Thirsk. And to be fair today we received a hamper from the bank thanking us for our tolerance and understanding!!!!

The oil has arrived and alls well with the heating system which is a result. Faint smell of North Sea ferry's but nice and warm. And now we've started working, initially taking apart the top floor. I have a small "ladies" crow bar that only weighs about 4 kilos instead of Neil's manly one which is about the length of my leg. I am dressed in an attractive combo of old gap jeans which seem to be the same width from waist to ankle and a very Crouch End (circa 1996) t shirt + about 25 old jumpers so cut a real dash in the builders merchant I'm sure. Today has been spent de nailing, pretty self explanatory but with the added excitment of being on top of a ladder in the spidery old eaves. Mmmm spiders AND heights, how ideal. Spiders are dead but not sure that helps. They still look the same and although they can't run at you they can't run away either. Also sawing an awful lot of firewood don't know of how much use this really, is secretly suspect Neil gives me things to do to keep me quiet / out of his way rather than aid the renovation project.

And the old place is starting to function as a home and we love it and couldn't be happier. The animals are settling, Dennis is a bit confused (not unusual) but getting the hang of it, Moleskin (cat) makes the odd guest appearance when she deigns to come downstairs - at present seems to spend most of her time furring up my knicker drawer. And Blackie has been outside with eyes on stalks and yamming away and loves it. Last seen wandering off down the mill race with a very large, very pissed of looking Burmese cat sitting in the middle of his drive with its paws pretty much on its hips awaiting his return. It's contented exhaustion all round.