The end of the first week of February and we have completed a major stage of the build - the complete frame is now up.  

The week commenced with putting up the last of the bracing sheets and getting the roof trusses on as well as the battens.  A smooth run to the finish was not to be with the rain cutting short one working day, cancelling another and on the other days causing many frustrating stops and starts for the framing guys.  








Still they had a goal and that was to finish by the end of the first week of February and perseverance got them there.  




That's my studio up there!






























 
It's done and the framing guys leave for the last time on Friday.  I think I'm going to miss having them around.  
























All weekend I have been walking around in the house getting a feel for the spaces and picturing what will go where.  Via a ladder I have been climbing up to my eyrie and loving the views.  I know exactly where I'm going to put my various art work tables and bits and pieces - oh and of course a comfy day bed to just take in the views.

We attempted to have our water tanks delivered this week - five in all.  Unfortunately, the truck came on a day of intermittent showers and there were sections of the track up the last part of the mountain that were proving a little testing.  There has been more traffic in the past three weeks on this track than I've seen in eighteen years.  While the work I had done to seal the track was holding up well enough other sections which I had not had sealed were becoming a bog or too slippery.  The truck driver delivering the tanks took the first two up and refused to take the second lot up, which were waiting further down on a trailer.   That is to be rescheduled to this week.   This weekend has been clear and hot so the boggy bits of the track have dried out nicely.  

The roof sheeting plan has changed in the last couple of days.  The contractor who I had chosen is unable to get on to the job for at least two weeks as they are now trying to catch up with all their work since the break in the weather.  That's too long for me as I need the roof on to get at least two tanks connected before any more rain comes.  The new plan is for Nick (our mentor and a retired builder), Anthony (son of Nick and one of the framing guys) and Paul to sheet the roof.  Nick is figuring out all the materials required and then I will be doing a very hurried whip around for quotes for supply.  Hopefully, the roof will start in a week or so.  

The plumber came up today to start measuring and figuring out pipe lines.  He will start work in the next week or so.   Meanwhile, I have to make final decisions on tapware and bathroom fixtures.  That's a fun bit.