Week 17 of our new life

Monday, really early start today to get Mick and Pauline to Almancil to pick up their coach for Spain.  Got some more new bulbs from Pauline in pots, Gladioli that have already started growing, also some new dishes so packed our car up and then off to Almancil and Guia looking for a pool table.  We have now decided to put a roof on our Sun Terrace and put a pool table and dartboard in it, that will make good use of it and we get the games room that we wanted without having to extend the plot.  We need to get an exterior table which they do over here as plenty of people have them outside, so it will be suitable for the weather here.  We have got someone coming up tonight to have a look at the space and to help with the logistics of getting it up there as we have a spiral staircase leading up to it which will definitely not be able to accommodate the carrying up of a pool table. We also need to speak to Adrian regarding the building of the roof, but when we went to the house he was not there, not too worry as we can catch him any-time now because we are staying right above ours.  David was busy chopping out the walls ready for the new windows and doors, he has achieved a lot in one day, which is great to see.  Carlos was also up today to remeasure the small bathroom for the door, again we might have to chop a bit of wall away to fit this, well after so many walls, windows etc coming in and going out what is another one!!!  This is beginning to feel like an actual rebuild rather than a renovation.  Probably doing the sun terrace will set us back another week, again another week does not make much difference.

Getting ready for Sliding Doors Lounge

Getting ready French Windows Master Bedroom

Sun Terrace

Half a New Roof Extension

Tuesday, off to see another pool table supplier this morning, all seem positive Ross is going to get back to us next week and let us know supply dates etc.  Hans visited last night and there is no problem with him supplying us, we would just need to get a scissor lift to raise it up to get on to the terrace, one thing once it is up there it wont come down, so no chance of anybody stealing it.  Douglas had a slight accident today, he thought someone had an accident at our house so he went running to see and forgot to open the door with the mosquito net on it, he ricocheted off the door, saw stars, cut his nose and was pole-axed on the floor, it was so funny that I was laughing and crying at the same time as I got a fright, Douglas got the bigger fright but all is ok now, I had only just said yesterday that we would need to watch with children about as it would be easy for them to forget to open the door and could cause injury, they are very strong and now we have a door to repair.  The Stone did not get delivered last night but finally arrived at lunchtime today, so David and Adrian are frantically trying to get the door and window recesses finished ready for the new ones tomorrow.  Ashley has been busy demolishing the interior kitchen wall and now I can get a feel for what the kitchen is really going to be like.  Bought an electric Saw and a workbench today so that Douglas can start chopping the wood etc ready for the winter fire, also bought a small BBQ as although we have the big one it takes so much lighting etc that a small one is ideal when there is just the two of us, will christen that one later on.  Still no parcel has arrived for me getting quite worried about all my goodies

Last Wall Going

Last Wall nearly gone

Stones finally delivered

Wednesday, windows did not arrive today it will be tomorrow, amazes me how you get told one day but then find out it is the day after!!.  Went up to Mick and Paulines to water the garden as they are not back until tomorrow and then done a bit of furniture searching.  Received our residency papers today in the post, so it is now official, did not receive my parcel though!!  In to our house, the stone has all been put in for the windows and doors, a slight problem with the kitchen, a column needs to stay in as it is a support for the roof so am going to need to try and make it a feature, also the oven is going to be too near the front door as the door is not going where it should originally have gone, so have had to swap that around as well, every time I try and visualise the kitchen something else unexpected comes up, I give up until it is done.  Another major issue as of Monday is the road right outside our house is being dug up for the ew pipes, they have done the road leading up to ours but now need to do the rest, this is going to cause major problems trying to get in or out, there is another dirt road that we can possibly use but only if they clear it of all the boulders etc, think they think we can just stay housebound for two weeks, we wont know until Monday lunchtime how we are going to get around this, oh happy days.  It has been a bit cooler today and rain has been expected but so far has not arrived, it will probably wait until tomorrow when the windows are going in.  Douglas is still suffering from a sore neck and shoulders after his run in with the mosquito door, am feeding him paracetamol by the ton, keeps him from moaning, bless him.
Thursday, windows did not arrive today, needless to say we were not happy chappies, on the phone to them appears to be some confusion as to whether the builder was ready or not, they will now be here tomorrow and will fit them all in the one day.  Douglas is still suffering from his neck and shoulders, so had a lazy day, took in some sun and had a swim, so good to get back into the swimming.  Went to pick Mick and Pauline up in Almancil after their four days in Spain, went back and had a quick drink with them, worthwhile to go to Seville and Grenada, easy to drive to Seville from here so it is now on our list of things to do, the list is getting longer as there is so much to do and see, we will get round to it all eventually.  Went for Pizza in Sao Bras, made on the premises really tasty, weather still warm so a nice evening.
Friday, windows and doors have finally arrived and are now fitted, the house is still so much of a building site that it is hard to enjoy them just now, but they do make a big difference.  We have had some really heavy rain so the big doors for the Living Room and our Bedroom were fitted just in time, the kitchen did not fare so well as the roof was not fully finished so all the rain came in and the kitchen is like a rather huge puddle, rain is forecast for the next few days so hopefully no damage will be done.  Jwow and his lads came to do the garden and pool, the garden is beginning to look so good, this weekend Douglas and I are going to clear out the Garage and start chopping up all the wood ready for winter.  Adrian has now taken out the 3rd Bathroom ready to start on next week

Living Room Sliding Doors

Plot 3 Getting Tidied

Plot 3 Tidy

Master Bedroom French Window

Living Room Slding Doors

Saturday, phew had some really heavy rain throughout the night, and today has ot been that much better.  Strange as in between the sun comes out and it is really warm.  Market day today, first to Loule bought Atum, Franco Pera and Porco Reichardi, cabolas and baguettes (Tuna, Chicken with Peppers, Pork with Herbs, Onions and Long Rolls), then we went on to Sao Bras Market but they were closing up as we got there, think the heavy rain put people off.  Then up to our house to see if any more rain had got in, didn't look as bad as yesterday so I guess the patch up worked for now, windows are looking really good, and I am very pleased to say that All our curtains will fit, we will need to get alterations done as some windows are smaller, but happy to say that they will all fit so can go and see the people on Tuesday to get them to come out and measure properly.  Joaquim came to deliver water today as he will not be able to get up the road for at least two weeks, he asked if he could have our old front door and grille so we got our water for nothing this time, good deal. 3rd Bathroom has now been dismantled so guess that is on the job list for next week along with the extension being finished, still not 100% per cent sure that this is going to be finished for the 12th October, just seems like there is still so much to be done, we are waiting on the stone being delivered for the front door before the front door can be put on, but at the moment that is a good thing as there is still half a wall to be knocked down plus all the cementing etc that is to be done.  Hopefully tomorrow will be brighter so that we can get the garage cleared out.

Shark or Salmon !!

3rd Bathroom coming out

3rd Bathroom Door Extension

Sunday, cloudy and wet start to the day, off for a drive in the morning, ended up in a lovely village called Querenco, beautiful tiled church square with a lovely little church and museum surrounding the square, a cafe overlooking it and plenty of people milling around going about their own Sunday business.  Then back for some lunch and off to our house to start a clean up, it is that difficult to see what starts where and what finishes due to the amount of mess, I understand it is a building site but nothing seems to be cleared up don't know how the builders manage to work in such a mess.  So clean we did, swept up, picked up all the old tile packaging, empty beer bottles!! of which there were quite a few everywhere and put all the old wood in a pile to go into the garage, this will be chopped up at some stage to use as firewood, then loaded all the rubbish in the car, then down to the garage, this is another area where we have not decided just what to do with yet.  It will never be used as a garage, the door is hanging off and is really in a state.  Thinking that it would be better to knock it down and then rebuild it, we have the license for it so we can rebuild it, make it a bit higher and then open it out at the top as another terrace adjoining the pool, this way we do not have to apply for planning permission.  We also need to do something with the Pool Room which houses the pump etc for the pool, this is quite dilapidated and there is still leakage from the pool so needs a bit of work doing to it.  Hopefully we will get away with waiting until next year to do this work on both areas. Two weeks to go, will it be finished!!!!

Querenco Church Square

Querenco Museum

Querenco Church