A glorious sunset....midsummers day on site

Another fabulous day yesterday, sun set at nearly 10.30pm. It was mid summers day, and at last we were sent a day worthy of the name!! See I kid you not, you may think I've gone a bit "Father Ted" with the religious figurines, holy medals and all, but I swear that Child of Prague is working!!

Wednesday 24th June 10.30pm

yes I know that's late to have the kids up, but they are on holidays!!

Wednesday 24th June

Checking out the windows in the guest bedroom also known as "grandma & grandads" room!

Wednesday 25th June

view from guest room through to games room

Wednesday 25th June

"sitting in our soon to be games room....thinking about this time next year when it will all be for real"

Thank you Child of Prague

Since joining the "Ireland Deserves Sun" campaign and getting my freebie 'Child of Prague' the sun has been out almost non stop, even got to use suntan lotion (oh the excitement!) Apparently this little fella actually guarantees sunshine, so if you want to get one and join the cause click onto www.irelanddeservessun.ie, you'll be helping me out no end, cause sunny days = speedy blockwork!!! Check out the progress made on site in the last two days..............

Friday 19th June pm

Not so sunny, but more importantly NO rain

Friday 19th June pm

Monday 22nd June pm

We have walls...well nearly!

More Monday 22nd June pm

Monday 22nd June pm

Can see where my windows will be!

Monday 22nd June pm

Tuesday 23rd June pm

Oh it was hot today!

Tuesday 23rd July pm

yes, definitely have walls emerging!

Tuesday 23rd June pm

Keep up the good work Oh little one!

I'm easily distracted........

Today I should be concentrating hard on getting the heating spec for the house nailed down....well I have made a few phone calls and sent a few emails, however I'm very easily distracted and that not just by the kids!

I clicked into the lovely "not on the high street" and instantly fell in love with these beautiful things.....so much more interesting than checking out boiler specifications....ooooh am having a "blonde" day today more Bradshaw than Beeny!!

These gorgeous rose & lily porcelain flower mugs are from the Isabel Ballardie Interiors store and are by designer Lynn Lange. I'm contemplating a white, wood & stainless steel, theme to my kitchen and these would be perfect on the open shelving I'm planning!!

Also on my wish list from the Isabel Ballardie Store is this fab water decanter, so cool!

Irish Weather Forecast

Came across this snap on custardbydesign blog, apparently it was on display in the Morgan Hotel, Dublin. Have Checked weather forecast and it's looking good for the next week (fingers tightly crossed)

and even if the sun doesn't shine I'm going to

I just love this print from Studio Mela on Etsy, a must for a life here in Ireland!!

Week 3 Pics

Just a few snaps to record the progress made in week 3!

sky looking beautiful, even though heavens just about to open

really do need to get a pair of wellies

Guest beds & games room & bit of lounge

Entrance, kitchen & family room to right

more rainbows

stream looking very muddy

Somewhere over the rainbow

A beautiful rainbow ending right at the bottom of my new garden....hope it brings us luck!!

Taken June 15th 2009 8pm...it's light til very late here in the summer.

A very busy week for me, kids broke up from school for their summer hols on Wednesday...yes 10th of June is REALLY early...and have been trying to get to grips with the mechanical (heating & plumbing to you and me) and electrical budget, which is causing me lots of stress especially as I thought I'd hired someone who would be "taking care" of all of this for me.

We hired a "Mech & Elec" consultant, mostly at my insistence I admit, to ensure that we get the most efficient system for the house and to make sure we weren't ripped off by some dodgy plumber or electrician, as we had had experience of this in the past (long story, long time ago, still bitter about it!).........mmmmm this is proving to be probably not one of my better decisions, jury is still out, sure his spec will work fine, it's the affordability bit thats the problem!

Anyway, have spent a good while 'tearing up' over the quotes which were returned, based on the said consultants specification. They were so far over the budgeted amount (am talking 60K over folks, and that's just the mech!) it was kind of funny, that is before the mild hysteria kicked in at the consequence of the budget over shoot!

The advice so far, as regards to getting the price down, has been to ditch the heat recovery & ventilation system and get trickle vents drilled into my triple glazed passive house spec aluclad windows.....not really an option I want to consider!! Oh and to omit solar panels too....basically dumb down the whole spec, again not something I want to consider, in the words of Sharpay Evans, "I want it all."

Ok, so I'm now feeling slightly like the Emperor, listening to the tailors telling him what a wonderful suit he was wearing and sending him down the street naked......the lesson here for me I guess is that it is ok to listen to the experts, but not essential that you act upon their every word.... and yes Mr C, I know that's one of your favourite lines!

Taking this on board I've spent the past week investigating alternative suppliers myself. So far it's looking very promising, there seems to be a good chance that we can get this whole "mech & elec" thing back on track, especially if the main components are sourced from UK suppliers. I just need to keep reminding myself that it is only shopping around after all, and I'm well qualified in that department, I'm imagining myself now as a cross between Carrie Bradshaw and Sarah Beeny.....oh my heating system will be fabulous sweetie and will work like a dream (fingers tightly crossed) x

Week Two......Guess what's under our foundations

We have been so lucky with the weather here in Ireland over the past week, it has certainly helped with the foundations going in smoothly.

I got a call from Mark the builder early on Wednesday morning asking if I had a blessed Holy Medal at the ready to set into the foundations, as they had already started to pour. A mild panic set in, as this was a tradition I was completely unprepared for and needless to say NO, I didn't have one to hand . However, one quick phone call to my mother-in-law and all was sorted! We now have safely encased in our foundations the following:-

1. A medal of Our Lady. This was blessed at the children's service that our girls had attended, at the Murroe Mission earlier this year.
2. A blessed medal of St Anthony, apparently he will help us find the things we are always loosing!
3. Finally a very special medal of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed and brought from Fatima by Mr C's aunt.
   

Mr C not being the overly religious type, thinks that this is all a bit "Father Ted", however I'm of the opinion one can never be "over blessed", so thanks Maureen!

We were so excited on Friday to see the blocks arriving on site, and to see the house finally begining to take shape.