Moved in and dusty

Move day was Saturday 26 February. Team Thompson were on hand to ferry three van loads of stuff from Clifton to Bishopston, and all the way up to the attic, well out of the way of the impending devastation. All approached the mission as if it were some kind of time trial and our work, plus several Maria-made-cake breaks, was done by 5pm.

Fit to flop, we set off on our first foray into the local hostelries and got as far as the Flyer on Gloucester Road for an easy pint / glass of wine and some decent pub grub.

Team Thompo were on form again the following morning, helping to organise us into some kind of domestic shape.

Keen to get cracking on the building work, we already had a few builders' quotes by this point. After a couple more the choice in the end was Wayne and his Inspired Builds. See my other post about choosing a builder.

I'm writing this in a dusty corner of the living room, just two weeks after we moved in, and one week after the boys started on site. We already have an entirely new roof on the extension section of the house, including all new insulation, timbers, tiles and fascias. We have electrics and plumbing for a kitchen in the current dining room, and plumbing for a new downstairs loo and washing machine under the stairs. We also have a hole and lintel in the chimney breast ready for a range cooker in our new kitchen. Pretty impressive rate of work.

Though we're discovering new issues as fast as we're meeting the neighbours. It's a friendly street. They've been knocking at the door and introducing themselves in the street. There are lots of parties apparently. And no one ever leaves. "Once you've moved in, you leave in a box."

We're learning about our seller: a bit of a recluse with lots of cats. That would explain a few aromas. The neighbours tell us the house has not been touched for many years. Um, yep.

Under a thick layer of dust now, but grinning and bearing it and thinking about how it will all be worth it in the end.

But it feels like a happy home already. A dusty, cosy, happy home.

Blocked up in June 1952 - when the Bristol Evening World was advertising new season nylons for just 9/4

The new kitchen, if you use a little imagination

Picture stylish range cooker here