No writing for a while, indeed no building work for a while -- but hours after I wrote my last journal entry our first born decided to make an appearance. After a somewhat confused and distressing 30 or so hours our baby boy arrived after what was actually -- once it actually got going properly … Continue reading The Smallman Cometh →

That's it, the end of my annual leave taken to work on the house. Given I was driving through Milby as the morning service was starting I decided to pop into Milby church, which I found most welcoming. I shall certainly return, although the young vicar seems to be taking some liberties -- perhaps we … Continue reading Working week, day the eighth →

Frustratingly slow start this morning, but at least there was some progress at Milby when Mrs & Mrs H and I got there. Mr H spent most the day doing electrics to get down the final stud wall to the utility room, meaning the tiles can come up ready for a damp proof course to … Continue reading Working week, day the seventh →

Today Mr G made the Donald proud, completing his fantastic curved wall. This will provide a really elegant horizon for the sight line from the front door, and I can't wait to see it plastered and with cornicing, skirting etc applied. I again laboured around the house and again got frustratingly little done. This is … Continue reading Working week, day the sixth →

More labouring for Mr G today - after a healthy and nutritious breakfast of bacon, sausage, and egg I got to work cutting concrete blocks with the big diamond blade angle grinder. Having done that and mixed mortar for him, Mr G got to work laying the next wall -- this time a tight radius … Continue reading Working week, day the fifth →

While I've had two full days dedicated to work through Tuesday and Wednesday, I feel like I've achieved frustratingly little. On Tuesday Mrs Revivalist and I had an unexpected hospital trip to check to on baby -- who thankfully is fine and growing very nicely -- before intercepting Mater and Mr R on their way … Continue reading Working week, days to fourth →

Important day today - the building materials cometh. Of course we are again delayed going to the house from Raveloe with the needs of pregnant wives and toddlers. Mrs Revivalist is due at the midwife's this morning so again Mr X and I head off in the morning alone. As it happens the builders merchants … Continue reading Working week, day the second →

To my great relief I've got a week off work to make some progress on the house. I've some mixed emotions on this -- glad I've got a clear run to swing a hammer but Mr H, my building expert and father in law is in London for the week so I'm without someone to … Continue reading Working week, day the first →

My week away from the house has been one of mixed emotions -- both the joy of visiting family and Christmas, and the constant agony of owning a house you're not in, and worrying it has either burnt down, collapsed, or been flooded by bad pipes. Yes, I've had a lot of bad nights sleep, … Continue reading Return to Milby →

A change of pace today -- given my mother and sister don't celebrate Christmas as Pagans we get together to celebrate the midwinter or Winter Solstice instead. We normally do this at mum's up north. But this year given Mrs Traditionalist's advanced state we agreed to meet up down here in Loamshire instead. Morning was, … Continue reading Yuletide Day →