Well, we have been living 'normally' in the house for 18 months plus now, so here are the gas and electricity numbers

Electricity:

We have the TV and computers on for much of the time plus I like lights!  Which probably explains the electricity consumption - I expect the lights explain most of the seasonal variation.

Gas:

The gas obviously varies a lot - during July and August it is probably just the hot water and hob.  I don't know how the peak of 125KwH compares to other people but the combined bill is acceptable for having doubled the house size...

Finally Painted

Finally got the lounge painted last month. The red looks great and makes a contrast with the white of the units. Looks really striking coming in from the front hall.

Dressing Room

We spent ages looking for kit to do the dressing room. Its the last stumbling block before we can get everything unpacked and begin putting things where they belong properly. Way back when we had some money, we looked at Hepplewhite fitted furniture but that is very expensive. I trawled the net and found Elfa at aplaceforeverything.com. They drew up a design from the plan and after a bit of negotiating we bought a few bits and bobs and - voila! instead shelving and railing.






Still plenty to do - all the clothes are in boxes after being stored in the loft for months - the guys at work got a shock when I turned up suited and booted instead of wearing my usual works polo shirt!

So what's left.....

The new loft is part floored, but the eves need boarding. The RSJs need final bricking in. The thermostat for upstairs is still not connected but Darren has been to quote so we should be able to get him back to do that soon. We have the CORGI certificate for the boiler so I can now get the manufacturer in to commission it - that'll be the heating done at last.

Some of the windowsils and doorsils are still missing endcaps and the drain outside the backdoor is still pretty lopsided and a bit low. And the Velux still need a bit of adjusting so they stay up.... The flooring bods (TJ Hill Flooring) are coming back to sort a couple of lifting planks and also to patch where the kitchen unit legs have been moved.

Kitchen - DONE!

Well, almost.... it's done in white.


All the doors and handles are on, the walls are painted. A couple of niggles with the floor where the unit legs needed moving but otherwise, good enough. Now it's time to paint it properly....

This little vid shows how the room has changed between April and now.

Update 22-08-08

The kitchen is looking good. Two doors to go on (the dishwasher has no front) and some painting and some tidying up and all done.... Starting to look worth the effort now.

Eric the plumber came today and the heating system has been flushed. He is coming back on tuesday to fit a strainer to the boiler return then that should see the heating system finished.

Phil is back on tuesday to finish off everything else - the kitchen, the bathroom tiling, the ensuite tiling etc. Except the bath - the electrician's insurance company are replacing that as it cannot be repaired.