"Proper job", as they say 'ere down West...

At long last the roof timbers are going back on. It seems a long time since the old rotten roof was removed back in April. Since then it's been slow work on the walls, but at last we are feeling that the shape of the building is coming back and the space is becoming enclosed again.

As with the rest of the country, we've had all weathers thrown at us over the past month and a bit. We've been boiled, drowned and blown about like paper kites, but thankfully our big scaffolding box has held fast, not melted or been blown away and had been a God send to shelter the builders and their work from all the weather has thrown at them.

Pretty much all the new openings have now been made in the thick stone walls and we really get a sense of the views through the windows and doorways. The rebuilt stone is nearly complete and has been a challenge like trying to do a 3D jigsaw puzzle of a complicated design, with no plan, the pieces weigh 20kg+ and are scattered over an area the size of a football field. Oh, also there are lots of extra pieces that aren't part of the puzzle!

As well as still ploughing through the roof tile cleaning marathon, Andrew and I have started the next huge job of preparing all the beautiful oak lintels ready for placing above the doors and windows - good practice for when the enormous oak roof timbers arrive! As I watch the oil sink deep into the oak and rub my soft builders hands together, I can't help but start to form a cunning plan for my next business venture of skin softening products made from Tung Oil (another of my 'hair brain ideas' I guess!)

We are now most definitely on the recycling train. While sifting through the pile of 'rotten' timber destined for the bonfire, we rescue two tatty old doors and some beautiful old timbers that will be great for the fireplace bressumer. Treating the woodworm and rot, slapping on some wood hardener and the old timbers start to look amazing.

One of the doors, which I believe is an old garage door, will be perfect for a stylish sliding barn-style door I have planned to go by the kitchen and the other, an old ledge and brace door, is asking to be a table! So out comes the sander and more oil, get a husband on the case to make legs and matching pair of benches, all using reclaimed timber along with steel bolts salvaged from the portal frame we demolished... and da-da!... we have a perfect garden table. The old garage door is destined for the interior of the barn so needs a little more attention as it's covered in old flaky paint and broken glass panels, but it WILL be beautiful when hung on sliding rails with chunky wheels on top!

So we've got our work cut out over the next few weeks with all the rest of the roofing oak arriving. Andrew and I will be preparing the oak and once up will have the job of oiling it - I think we are going to know every inch of this building quite intimately by the end of this!

July was full of work and play, especially as we made hay (while the sun shone!) for the first time from our own grass. Much more than my two little ponies need for the year, so that was a bonus! We've managed lazy boozy barbecues, with our very basic facilities, which felt well deserved after all the hard work, and we have been delighted by friends and family visiting us.

It's been a difficult month too in some respects. The build has thrown a few challenges at us of course and the passing of Andrew's dear mother has left us with a sense that life is to be treasured; not wasted and not trivialised. Stepping out of our comfort zone has been good for us and we'd highly recommend it. We of course hope that 'Old Dairy Barns' will be here long after we have left this mortal realm, and that what we will leave behind will be something that future custodians will appreciate and enjoy, feeling (hopefully) that we did a fairly reasonable job, or a "proper job" as they, or should I say we say down West!

More photos added to the gallery, so do take a peek and if you haven't already you can subscribe on the home page, to get notified of my new posts (which I hope won't be as long a gap next time!)