The Windy Gap in November

Elaine is off up to Portballintrae on the North Coast today for her weekend felting course with Feltmakers North. Charlie and I dropped her off near Moira so she could get a lift.

We'll miss her - hope the Gallery is busy!

On the way back, to cheer ourselves up we stopped off at the Windy Gap Viewpoint.

Only a mile away from us, it feels on top of the world, an exhilarating experience on this spectacular November Day.

the panorama

you can see our house from here - and the mess it's in!

Famine Fields, Slieve Croob - and Marian Shrine

looking North to Belfast and the Antrim Plateau

always a treat for visitors

Replacing the roof - Day 5

Despite starting the roof renovation over a week ago, we've only had 5 days actual work on the job  mainly due to very wet weather.

We are not crestfallen however, what our superb builders have achieved is amazing:

We now have the roof off, the masonry and chimneys taken down to make ready for the steel and new building, and all the scaffolding up to enable this.

Yesterday an inspection by building control - the authority who determines what we can and can't do in the name of safe building method (and we're all in favour of that) gave us the thumbs up and the OK to proceed. 

Also, all the materials for the roof were delivered, so we are all set, brilliant.

The bricklayer comes tomorrow or the next day - he is busy too, which is a good sign - at the same time the roof timbers will be cut and the steel erected. Exciting prospects ahead!

the view from the deck

what would we do without this jolly green giant?

a new roof - kit!

look at he size of those steel ridge beams

conserved slates

and furniture

view from below

sadly. not everything will be salvageable

a very sad sight

what was once a sideboard

these will make the cut though!

our salvage yard - all tongue and groove wall and ceiling cladding - mostly good, it will be saved for reinstallation somewhere in the house

the guide rafters - new wood - the restoration has begun!

scaffolding all over

the living room settee and curtains

still beautiful

"So, what have you done with it?"

I am not in the slightest bit afraid of heights!!

homework and treasure

Clearing The Decks

The devastation of demolition is behind us now, and we prepare to erect the scaffolding for the builders - yes builders!

All is ready, subject to building control approval for a start next week.

Here's a review of what we've got left to build on!

great view through the doorways

a  hidden find on the back of the door - old airplane stickers - anyone know their provenance?

not only tongue and grooved wooden ceilings, but walls as well. We hope to conserve enough to re do at least one room

Charlie is tired out by all his supervision!

amazing linoleum flooring

and lovely door furniture

the view from bedroom one across the upstairs sitting room to bedroom two - can you see that?

perhaps we should just leave the roof off!

lovely flat firm wall topping, ready for the ring beam

and on the floor, even after demolition and clearing up - a little white disc....

A Bambi button. Disney rules!!

The Only Way is Up Now

After what amounts to only another day - it has been raining heavily for most of the intervening work days, we are just about at base level.

Our poor house had been bashed and thumped, torn and twisted, and now lies a shadow of it's former self.

It's quite shocking really. But mostly only the bits that were structurally weak and rain damaged came down. 

What stands now is a new beginning - let the renovations begin!

builders at large!

removing the timbers. Note the purlins on the 'new'roof c.1927. Not present on the older bays on the left

you can see traces of whitewash on this wall - evidence that this was once an outside wall

half way gone

a garden full of roof!

this chimney stack was a unstable as it looks

all timbers off

cutting back to a firm wall line

we're being specially careful with these lovely 'cartouches'

and an October poppy!

careful demolition of the dummy chimney

and... gone!

this is the kitchen range flue - note how wide it is

wow!