10. The 'Big Dig' finished

The excavation is finally completed and the rock removed.

The builder has erected profiles around the perimeter of the house and tomorrow the surveyors are due to mark out the exact position, then the real construction work can begin!

Update on Jonathon's injury: he has waited until today (Monday) for the surgery to insert a plate in his ankle. Hopefully he will be able to come home tomorrow!

9. A setback

On Thursday morning we went to meet Adam at the site, and unfortunately Jonathon slipped on the edge of the excavation - right near ground level. He only fell a very short way (about a metre), but he heard a loud crack and didn't move. When I went to see if he was OK it was clear that his foot was at a rather strange angle. We called an ambulance and he was taken to the local hospital. He has a disclocation and fracture of the left ankle, which requires surgery to correct. As I write, he is waiting to go to the operating theatre - the staff are hopeful that it will be tonight, we hope so too. If so, he will probably be allowed home on Sunday.

8. The 'Big Dig' begins

Monday morning the excavator started pulling out the shale and loading it into trucks to be taken away (apparently there is a large hole on a property nearby that needs filling).  After a couple of hours, it became apparent that this is a VERY BIG dig, and would take several days.

7. Preparing for the 'Big Dig'

The next stage is the 'Big Dig'. A large part of the shale bank behind the old shed position has to be removed to accommodate the new house. This was due to happen this week, but the excavator operator was held up at his previous job, so it is scheduled for next Monday.

6. The pool goes in

The swimming pool shell is the first part of the building to go in, then the rest of the house and deck will be built around it. It was a very quick process, only taking four days from lines on the the ground to the concrete shell. 

5. Approved

 
It might seem a little late in the day, but we received the formal approval for the building on Friday. We knew from the certifiers that the application had been approved a long time ago but various administrative procedures meant that they couldn't release it to us until the last hoop had been jumped through and the last piece of paper received.  Whew!

Not much to report this week, the surveyors pegged out the pool; the construction of which is due to begin on Tuesday.

Watch this space.

4. Demolition and Installations

What a big week! 

Saturday morning a shipping container was delivered to the site. We'll use this as a temporary 'shed' while the house is being built. The delivery wasn't without incident (of course). Because of the wet weather the access road to the top of the block was quite slippery and we were concerned that the truck would have trouble getting up there. After one failed attempt the driver reversed back down and told J that he'd try again in first gear! No trouble at all that time.