Meanwhile...

As I am still waiting the building certificate and news of any further foundation work, I thought as mentioned, I'd tell you of some of the purchases I'm making in advance of filling a container bound for Faial. (Although this could still be some time away ... there's nothing better than being prepped and ready, or at least, planning).

After having got a rough estimate for a half container to the island, and doing a fair bit of research on prices and what is available locally there, I thought it best to consider what was worth buying here in the UK. It goes without saying that the choice from our local shops in the UK and online retailers is broader than that available in the Azores. Also the prices here are sometimes (but not always) a little cheaper. I guess that is just down to a competitive marketplace.

White goods are a mixed bag - some are much cheaper in the UK, but you have to offset that against the cost of buying in the UK and shipping them out. After all, I am looking at just half container - and if you fill it with big and bulky items then it is going to fill up fast.

I've pretty much decided that a fridge-freezer, oven and hob have negligible savings buying in the UK and their weight and bulk is considerable. Plus of course, I would like these fitting by the builder rather than bringing them in at the last moment, after the build is completed, and having to get them fitted as a separate job.

Same goes for the washing / dryer combo machine. I'm not bothering with a dishwasher - it's one for the pussies, and living mostly alone I can cope with a few pots, pans and plates everyday in the sink.

However, I have purchased a free-standing microwave, as I was able to get a great deal here, and much cheaper than I have seen locally on the island. But, it's more about the choice though, and its functionality.

Nice Microwave - my item is stainless steel though, but similar functions. Top.

I mentioned a fridge-freezer. True enough, these seem stupidly expensive on the island, but I'm going to have to suck it up. I guess on an island that has mild weather in winter and can be toasty in summer - well, the outlets think they have you by the goolies! And guess what - they do.

I have bought some lamps (uplighter and bedside lamps) as there doesn't seem to be a supplier of really modern fittings - much is quite traditional. Also, I have a few essential kitchen wares that fit my style. Not that these items are not available, but just that I want certain finishes and styles. So I have topped up on Kilner Jars, Ovenware, Crockery, Glassware and the like.

Simplez - yes, keeping it reasonably minimal; this is an everyday dining set. Another will be added for posh dining, perhaps. My current set at home is past its best, so I would have been replacing anyway - meanwhile this is staying in its shipping box, ready to go, good for breakfasts, lunch and solo dining....

Spice jars... where would we be without them? Really important in regions of high humidity such as the Azores. In the UK you can get away with leaving your spices and herbs in a cardboard box - in the Azores they will be ruined in no time. So a nice pack of jars will compliment the kitchen and keep everything good... 24 ordered.

Similarly, you're going to need to keep your olive oil and vinegar in good nick - with nice table ware. I'm really trying to keep things minimal but sweet here. Not an essential, but certainly desirable. I ordered two of these for the purpose...

Rice and Pasta are another item that could suffer in high humidity, so a pair of these tall jars are in the box ready to go. Normally I keep rice and pasta in their packet, but this will not be good in the Azores. These Kilner Jars will keep everything fresh and dry...

I love cooking - Unfortunately I dropped my previous mortar and broke it, so here is the new one I have bought - bigger, better, stronger. In retirement i hope to do much more cooking, inspired by local dishes. This should rock.

Out go my old chopping boards, and in come the new ones, with hygienic colour coded surfaces. This will be of great benefit should guests be using my house. Think "health and safety". Also, they just look sweet and do the job.

It is amazing how the cost adds up! However, this is all stuff that I would have bought had I been staying in the UK. Also, I have some nice bathroom stuff, such as soap dispenser, bin, toilet brush, toothbrush holder and the like. All stuff that just needs putting in place and will make my new house seem more like home and nicely colour co-ordinated.

I purchased matching soap dispenser, toothbrush holder and soap tray for the bathroom. Again, this is something I would have purchased anyway for my current house - but it remains packed for transport, so it is fresh and ready for my new place. Small things like this can make a new house feel like home.

A bathroom bin - not glamorous, but needed. On Faial, the disposal of waste is through a septic tank, so disposing of anything but toilet paper down the pan is out of the question - so sanitary products, ear buds and wipes must be disposed of thoughtfully; hence the bin.

...and the matching loo brush... essential since bleach can not be used with a septic tank. There are bio-friendly cleaners available, but flushing half a pint of Demestos down the pan is not an option!

One of my largest financial outlays has been the 'smart home' stuff, including switches, sensors, dimmers and the like. I might well do separate post on this aspect, as it is quite involved. Essentially a lot of the house switching can be automated or timed.

A LightWave RF Thermostat. This device can control multiple switches to switch the heating on and off in various 'zones'. Activated by voice, remote, timer or temperature or even IFTTT ...

Voice control is available if there is good internet connection (which sounds likely), but if not, remotes can be used along with the sensors and timers. In essence, I'm attempting to make the house efficient and cope with an ageing resident! For the purpose of this, I settled on a system called "LightWave RF" - mainly for it's ability to work by remotes if there is no, or sporadic internet, also because it's devices are the best looking on the market for the money.

I have limited the automation purchases to dimmers, heating switches and sensors / controllers - so no wall sockets, bearing in mind the euro plug style and any likely legislation regarding using the UK style wall sockets.

A LightWave RF wall switch / dimmer. This one controls three circuits. It can be operated locally as any other switch, or by all the other methods, such as timer, voice, remote or IFTTT.

So, what does this LightWave stuff all mean? Well, sensors will switch on and off lights, for example to the dressing room and bathroom, lights can be dimmed throughout, underfloor heating will be thermostatically controlled and if a patio door is open the heating is shut off and the outside lights turned on if it is dark. Obviously, everything can be manually overridden or voice control used. Yup, I'm into my smart house.:) Also, no fear for technophobes, LightWave RF kit can be operated manually just like a regular house.

Most of this equipment has been bought - I have a few odds and ends to fill in... but mostly it is there.

On the "to buy" list is a new sofa, and armchair... I have specced this out, as long as I can get it before it goes out of production, as is so often the case with furnishings.

Seriously, do you know how hard it is to find a yellow leather sofa? I really should order this pronto before it goes away... Yellow? Yes, it is bright for sure... but will lend a beautiful 'in your face' look to a large open plan area, teamed up with white and grey walls. Ultra.

Also on the shopping list is a mattress and bedding.... you may wonder why... well, I have a really nice bed frame (and they can cost around £500 and upwards) but European mattresses are a different size - so It's a case of getting everything to match.... and of course in the colours I want, that fits my frame.

Well, here's another £450 ... jeez... It's a long time since I bought a mattress and now I want a quality job - after all, I'm getting on, and at least I should have a decent place to lay my bones... but how much? Cheaper options are available, but nothing good... this is actually a compromise.

So, there you have it - there is much more to discuss, so perhaps we will revisit this aspect, and of course look at what I'm filling that container with that I already own.... and more importantly, what I decide to ditch.

Also there is the question of a car. Long story short - I will buy a little "shopping trolley" over on the island. It will be murder to dispose of my beloved BMW z4 though. The subject of cars probably needs a separate post, so I will leave it at that for the moment.

Next Up: .... Foundations?