We've not been slacking. Honest!

I realise I haven't posted any updates for AGES. So I have created a  bunch of photo slideshows to update you on where we are. I've tried to organise them thematically or by room to give you an idea of progress. I've also made them small and dinky so they aren't brilliant on fullscreen, but easy on the bandwidth. You'll find the original video of the plans here to help put things in perspective (I hope!).

Here's the ground floor entry, where we used to have a shower under the stairs:

Progress of our ground floor bedroom - which we refer to as the Victorian bedroom following the discovery of the original fireplace:

Here's one of the bedroom on the first floor - the one with the art deco fireplace:

Here's the ensuite...

And courtyard and basement extension, where you will see they had to dig a massive hole. The soil was extremely dense clay, so this took a really long time. But it did mean that we didn't need to dig down further for the foundations - but the builder who had to dig it by hand told me he lost over a stone digging it all out.

The mezzanine!

Theoretically, we are supposed to be moving back into the house in just FOUR weeks. The house looks far from complete, but the foreman is making all the right noises that the top two floors will be liveable and that the glazing will be in the week before we move in. Our lease has run out on the rental house, so we are holed up in a small one bedroom flat in the same neighbourhood until we can get in. But that makes it convenient to pop by and keep the pressure on.
I am so glad to be back on this side of town - relieved even. We've just spotted a new Japanese ramen and bento place about to open up at the top of the street. I think that is definitely a good omen!
Rita won't be fully finished when we arrive and the builders will have to work around us for a few weeks, finish off the outside and complete the kitchen. For the first week or two, we'll have to make do with a bar fridge in the laundry, a microwave, and an electric frypan *(check out the Aussie!) - but we'll be in! Keep your fingers crossed - especially as Mum and Dad are planning to arrive to visit on the 3rd of November!
I'll upload some more in a week or so of the loft, the bathroom and laundry, and the stairs and hallway (where the tardis loo used to be). Progress is moving quite quickly now and we are doing weekly site visits. For a while there it felt a bit slow, but now we are getting on with more of the fun and visible things like tiles and furnishings and fixtures so it's all systems go.