Water water everywhere...

but luckily it looks as if there will be a drop to drink.

Yesterday there was drilling on site (preceded by some dowsing, I believe, although that might just be West-Highland speak for standing around with a cup of tea and a biscuit and asking Alec Sutherland what he saw when he was driving the digger around the site) and the initial signs weren't good. Mention was made of "taking the water from the burn and sticking it in a holding tank and purifying it". Then they drilled a bit further and at 140m (I think) they struck water. About 15 gallons per hour, which is classed as fairly poor. That would also need to be put into a holding tank to make sure one could get through baths & showers & so on.

Today we had a message from the builders that the flow is now 80 gallons per hour, which is Much Better. That wouldn't need a holding tank, even. So looks like you'll be able to stay clean when you come to visit. Which is good.

A Roof is Not Necessarily Something That Keeps the Rain Out

The Roof is Going On

Livy drove all the way to the Wood and back today, so that we could see what building a house in midwinter in the Highlands looks like. Wet. As you can see from the pictures, there is a frame covered in a green plastic bag. This does little to keep the wood dry, in the present circumstances. There are some wonderful huge holes in the walls which will eventually be vast windows.

The main roof timbers are up and Stanley the joiner was damply balancing on the scaffolding constructing the lean-to roof at the back. When we arrived at lunchtime he had put the timbers for the shower room, the entrance hall and the utility room. As we were leaving he was beginning the bit over the woodstore, the water cupboard and the piano. There was sarking and roofing felt and windows in the south slope of the roof. Water was still penetrating around the edges there, though.

We were allowed in, which we thought was kind, given that the site belongs to the builders for the time being. The kitchen seems absolutely huge. The sitting room does, too; and there is room for two pianos in the piano extension. The downstairs bedroom seems to have plenty of space for two single beds and other necessary stuff. The ceilings seem nice and high, though this is a bit hard to gauge when the floor is an unknown amount below its final level and the ceiling consists simply of joists.

I am not totally sure that the right Velux windows have actually arrived; and I did rather wonder if gathers in the external plastic bags is something done in the best circles; but this is not something about which I can comment. (Though I suppose Mary might.)

In general, I was very happy to see the actual more or less final shape of the house. It seems very tall and long; but the builders said it will seem smaller when it is finished. I think it is an elegant asset to the glen: not outrageously imposing; respecting traditional shapes; sitting well in the landscape.

The road was wet and churned up but the builders have not had any difficulty getting up and down it. We have taken several pictures of it for Janet to remark the drainage and so forth.

See the captions to the pictures for my other comments.

More photos (those taken by Livy) below:

Livy's photos from 5 December

We have - planning permission

The title says it all. We don't have the piece of paper yet, but Mary has been told it is in the pipeline.