Interior Works - Three
The clock is really ticking down now. Work on the interior is progressing well and meanwhile nearly all jobs are taken care of in the UK. Nearly.
For sure, I've still got a bunch of letters to send off, phone calls to make and importantly the main pension to authorise. Yesterday I got a letter from them with an updated estimated figure and surprisingly a request for proof of I.D. in the form of a birth certificate. Quite a pain, as that is in the container! So, I have had to spend over a hundred pounds to get three emergency, fast, duplicates sent out to me from the GPO. Does the pain never end?
Additional expense has come in the way of 'pier fees' levied by the importer in Lisbon. Bang goes another three hundred pounds. Yes, the container is currently sat on a dockside in Lisbon awaiting forwarding to the island.
Now, I think mine is a red container... that one there... it says 'This Way Up' on the side.
I'm not holding my breath that there will not be more expense when it reaches the docks on Faial! Please….no! I did, after all, pay for an inclusive service.....
Fortunately, on the up side, the UK house is sold subject to contract; this gives a little more fluidity to the cash situation, eventually. It does not however provide 'mega-bucks', as I had one of those dodgy endowment mortgages that had a shortfall of several tens of thousands of pounds. Great.
But at least the mortgage will be cleared with a surplus (read: I get my deposit back).
Then there is the house clearance to pay for, as the house needs to be completely empty. Bang goes another £500. You get the idea. Closing up shop here is proving to be a bit of a nightmare as far as expense goes. One I didn't really budget for.
However, pictures of progress in the Azores have kept spirits high, and news of the floor being laid shortly is brilliant. Interior plaster boarding should be finished at the end of the week, and then the plan is to work down from the mezzanine with the flooring materials. Simultaneously, the kitchen fitters have been informed that the are is now ready for millimeter accurate measurements; measurements taken previously where only for the planning and price quotation - now it gets precise, as this is a tailor made bespoke installation.
On the mezzanine, things are looking decidedly tasty. The low eves are not a problem, as this will be the ideal place to put the futon - sofa and coffee table, with most of the studio at around full height. I'm betting that I am going to need some sound absorbent panels though with all of that lovely wood around.
A slightly fuzzy picture of the plasterboard around the main patio window. I see another health and safety issue here. I do worry about these guys.
This is the dining room under the mezzanine - it looks very bright and airy, considering this has the lowest ceiling in the living space. It is going to look brilliant when it is plastered and has its final skim.
The completed stove surround. My original idea was improved by my rather excellent project manager - his alteration gives more of a balanced look to the feature and provides shelves either side. Behind the stove will be tiled in bright red, which will contrast well with the black log burner. The surround will protect items either side of the stove, but is large enough to let air (and heat) circulate freely.
Above the main patio window / door. This image gives an idea of the height of the main living room at the eaves - the roofline then continues down outside to give a fully covered patio area of around 40 square meters (around half the size of the average UK house at 85 square). So, the living area is reasonably compact, but with opening the door, the inside can be let out, or the outside let in! Visual space inside is maintained thanks to the open plan design, with a 5 meter vaulted ceiling and useful mezzanine over the dining area and some of the kitchen. Indeed the mezzanine stops the house being too 'cathedral' like and provides a comfortable feel, whilst still being light and airy.
Well, that's it for this update... it's my birthday today too … so enough. Time for a celebratory drink. Only another two posts to go from here in the UK before I fly out... and then of course I will be on site and able to give some personal observations. Also, let's hope the container arrives in a timely fashion as I've only got three pairs of underpants :)
Next Up - Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, its a floor.
