Week 21 of our new life

Monday, early start today as it is hair cut day, didn't go as bad as I thought just need to keep brushing up on my language skills so I can get exactly what I want, was nearly there but not quite, never mind the first steps taken to getting my hair done over here.
After that Douglas just took the mickey out of me all day, but he did take me for lunch.  Then back to do the housework, washing and ironing, the weather forecast is not good here for the rest of the week so thought I better get it all done before the rain comes.
Had a meeting with Adrian late afternoon, he took on board all the points we made, and we now have a date for first week of November, whether the house is finished or not we will be moving in then as everything is now on hold, curtains are ready, TV and Equipment is ready, furniture is being delivered next week so we will just have to go with it.  The outside of the house will not be finished so hoping Winter does not come too early.
Tuesday, had to go and collect the stone for the front door today, so a drive to Moncarapacho was called for, found Pedro quite easily and had a good discussion with him about the Granite for the Kitchen, Adrian has not mentioned this to him, but we have got a price and know that it will be a two week wait once kitchen is fitted, we can now go Granite hunting again to see if we can get a better price.
Our road has now become passable again from our main gate so we are parking our car on our main drive now and the builder is parking his in our lower drive, this means that we can at least access the road rather than the dirt track, although we now have to negotiate the walk from where we are staying to ours which could be a bit problematic depending on sobriety LOL.
This is good as was getting a bit worried about deliveries next week if the road was still not useable.  Some good news for us today we received our exemption from paying property tax until 2016, as we are new residents, so that saves us a bit of money.
Also managed to get my contact lenses sorted out and despite what I have been told they work out a lot cheaper and I can also get them for six months at a time rather than the 3 months I was getting in Scotland so something to make us smile.
Visit to house saw the kitchen units being made up and also half of the kitchen floor tiled so perhaps a message has been given!! Also had a really heavy downpour for most of the day and only a couple of leaks, hoping that this is because there is still a part of the kitchen to be cemented outside and also the windows have yet to be sealed outside, fingers crossed.
The house is also looking a lot cleaner.
Got the quote for Douglas's pool table, still waiting on the quotes for the Sun Terrace and Pool side extension also exterior blinds for the terrace, hopefully they will come in this week.
Wednesday, very early start today as going to Glasgow, raining here at the moment.  Had a good flight arrived at Prestwick and got the train to Glasgow Central, easy journey and time to do some shopping before Douglas's eye appointment.
Stocked up on T bags and toothpaste and a little bit of clothes shopping. Went for lunch to the Drum and Monkey, very disappointing.
Douglas's eye appointment was also a big disappointment for him, very blunt nothing more they can do for his eyes, there is another operation that could be had but not recommended, Douglas is absolutely gutted and this has put a damper on things.  Back to hotel, staying at The Pond, time to freshen up and then Laura and Eilidh arrived, both looking really well, cannot believe how Eilidh has grown and how good she is. Had a good couple of hours to catch up and they got something to eat, we were waiting on Danny and Lesa arriving but Laura needed to get Eilidh home for bed so got them both fed first, shame we could not eat altogether also a shame that Andrew was working. Enjoyed seeing them both and lovely just to catch up with them.  Danny and Lesa arrived so it was goodbye to Laura and Eilidh and Hello to Danny and Lesa, had a good catch up with them over dinner, so have a better idea now of wedding plans etc as well.  Great to see them all and sorry we did not catch up with anyone else, we will be back end of November beginning of December so will do the rounds then.
Terrible thing though I did not get any photos on this visit, which is very unusual for me, I think I was that busy chatting that completely forgot about photographing the moments.
Thursday, another early start flying back home today, seems like a whirlwind visit, again heading home to rain.
We felt the difference in temperature in Glasgow much colder than here.  Again nice easy flight from Prestwick and back to warmth although raining.  Very difficult to get to where we are staying because of the rain, it was just Mud Mud and more Mud, our shoes and jeans etc were sodden.  We got in and then walked down to our house, very scary and squelch squelch squelch.
At least the road to our house is OK now it is just a bit further up the road where we are staying that is now being done.  Because of the rain the outside cementing could not be finished off, David had cemented some but the rain washed it off, Adrian was busy putting the kitchen units together and setting them out in the kitchen.  We need to go and buy another cupboard, anther two lights for under the cupboards and get 21 pairs of silent closing hinges, great to be back.
Friday, heavy rain throughout the night, there are some damp patches in the kitchen which will only be remedied when the roof is done, I am hoping this is going to be done as a matter of urgency as do not see the point of painting etc until it is done!!!  The Road-workers had built us a nice little wooden path this morning so that we can cross the mud safely, very nice of them so Douglas has bought them some bottles of beer to say Thank You LOL.
Jwow was in today putting a waste pipe in for the pool so that when it is at the proper level any excess water will go into the garden, as this hopefully will stop the leaking of the pool!! he is also fixing the valve which will stop another leak, hopefully then when the sun comes back out tomorrow it will dry up and then David can get that cemented next week as well.
The man was up seeing about the Granite as well so hopefully he has done all the measuring and Adrian has ordered it, he left for the weekend without telling us, not to worry will catch up on Monday.

Posh Path towards our House

Going to where we are staying

Saturday, after a fantastic electrical storm well into the night woke up to wonderful sunshine again, and it is going to be sunny and warm for the next week.  The storm was amazing forked lightning and such loud thunder but no rain the skies were alight.  Went down to our house to have a good look around, but after it being clean and well organised all week, even up to yesterday morning the kitchen units were all set out, thought I could get some photos today.  Not to be don't know what happened during the course of yesterday but everything is up in the air again the place is a mess and very difficult to make out anything again.  We are going to start calling Saturdays depressing days as we always end up feeling like this after going in to the house.
Have discovered a few leaks which still need attention, mainly from the sun terrace roof and the fire place, need to discuss this again with Adrian on Monday as want this fixed before any more painting etc gets done!!!  Seems logical to me but nothing seems to be logical at the moment, so very frustrated.
Our bedroom and bathroom were supposed to be completely finished as well as we have furniture being delivered on Wednesday, that has not happened either. Two more weeks and we are moving in, god help us.
We need to try and track down someone that does fire and chimney repairs, we are going to drive towards Faro today as we have seen one place on the N125.
Off to Almancil for lunch and then off to visit some furniture shops and the fireplace shop.
Most places are closed today as that is what they do on Saturdays, we found the shop we needed so will revisit on Monday.
Today was also a day of finding strange beasties, Douglas rescued something that was swimming in our pool, really don't know what it is but it looks disgusting and we also found a snake outside our gate.

Douglas to the rescue

Safe and Sound but What am I?

Sammy the Snake

Sunday, woke up to another lovely day but with puffy eyes and a sore head, think I have a cold coming, so much for our time back in Glasgow!! So a nice lazy day is on the cards. Somebody ran over Sammy the Snake (dont think it was us!) but it was another day for strange beasties appearing.
Went down to our house just to go over the kitchen once more, things do not seem to be working out as they are supposed to, well that is no surprise just now!! another conversation with Adrian tomorrow. Thinking I am losing the plot completely.  Two weeks to go and we are moving in and I know that it is not going to be finished just by walking in at the moment, but never the less we shall be in and will have to put up with whatever.  So the next two weeks are going to be busy for us.  It has been quite a strange week but after today my batteries will be recharged and ready for battle yet again.

Sunsetting 6.30pm

Sunsetting 6.00pm

Another strange beastie