Finally, over the weekend I had done more cleaning of the walls on the stairs and landing. I still have a lot more to do here but at least I have made substantial headway now.
I had also cleaned out the passageway at the side of the house as it had got full of rubble too - I bagged it and that went to the tip too.
Today (Monday Bank Holiday) I took all the bags of rubble to the tip .. there were 20.. plus two large cardboard boxes. It took two trips and I was completely knackerred when I got back. I then washed the now exposed flag stones that were under the bags with cleaner.
While Steve did that I chipped off the hard rubble on the remaining yard flag stones and bagged the rubble and then used yard cleaner stuff on the stones. At least I can see the stones again.
Here you can see the sets of sockets in the study around the bottom of the wall. Plenty for computer equipment and other toys. Need to get the wall plastered now - but there is no desparate rush.
Then he drilled through the brick pillar from the existing socket in the back corner alcover into the new study and threaded a cable through.
Steve came round on Saturday morning and moved the socket on the passageway wall nearer the door so Dave Cottam can swap the radiators and have the socket still accessible.
One final one of the hob and fan in the evening with the lights on .. and kitchen present at the back :)
Here is a wider photo to the active hob and fan
Hooray - got the hob connected to the gas .. and the extractor fan wired properly.
I still have to chip away at some mortar still stuck to the flag stones. I will do this tomorrow - after the rain has stopped. It is forecast to rain heavily tomorrow morning. Then I will brush yard cleaner (basically hydrochloric acid) over the wet stones to clean them. The box is going to the tip tomorrow along with the 17 bags of rubble.
This a view from the end of the yard of the newly reappeared flag stones and the 17 bags of rubble.
In the afternoon I bagged the rubble in the yard and took 8 bags to the tip. In the evening I filled those same bags again plus 9 more to finally clear away the rubble and the excess mortar from the building work inside.
Spent today doing the little jobs it is easy to put off. The first in late morning was to steam off the paper on the wall on the landing. The grey thing on the left is a wall board left over from Martin's last plastering session.
This is the final view of the whole fireplace after pointing, and with the stove (which still has to have the flue installed properly) back in position.
This is the inside of the fireplace just after pointing.
Here is a close-up of the pointed stones on the left hand side of the fireplace.
This is the whole fireplace completed - including the sides and the fireplace itself. I am hoping that the mortar will dry to a lighter colour over the next few days.
Today, Martin had a cancellation and so was able to come round for the day and 'point' the brick and stone in the front fireplace breast. This picture show the top almost complete with some still to be finished on the bottom left. The bricks under the lintel and in the fireplace still had to be done.
Last Friday (19th) the Gas people came round to change the gas meter - so I now have a white one This gave me the chance to make the base more rigid and generally tidy up the space. Interestingly, the guy said the new meters were not as technologically advanced as the old ones (which had the capability to be read remotely but had never had this feature activated) but it was 10 years old and was part of a normal replacement program. Go figure.
The electrics still need connecting as does the gas but hopefully this can be done this week or early next week. The overall effect looks pretty good, I think.
And then Lee was able to come at the end of the day to install the Hob and Cooker Hood. He has attempted to do this on Monday but the blades in his drills had broken.
Finally today Martin 'made good' the edge of the wall at the door entrance as it was all exposed brick and old plaster. Hw will plaster that the next time he comes - as well as 'skimming' the remaining walls. So the downstairs walls and ceilings should all be finished by early June.
Here is a wider view of the walls plastered today.
Then Martin plastered the two middle alcoves.
