Mid-June update

The pack-and-move was a steady slog. Lost count of the number of vans involved. Almost of the number of types of vans involved! We thought we were discarding loads of stuff, but looking round here now, I think we were wrong about that! (It is, however, an exercise wholly to be recommended at some time in the 6th decade, I think). At any rate, the actual evacuation day was totally under control. My dear grandma Dora, a soul sweetly unfamiliar with irony,
would survey the empty table at the conclusion of a family feast and remark "Well, I think I judged that just right!" There was something of that about it, but we were fit for nothing the first week we were 'really here'.

As I write, we're in the seventh week of residence. The first week was a write-off, and we've had two weeks since then significantly interrupted by other events - Nina's birthday trip to the Lleyn peninsula, and a visit to Harrogate for her nephew Tom's wedding.

'The area' -clearing and first improvisation of water-harvesting

We've also had a monsoon season. Which is all introductory to saying that we're not remotely into the real slog of repair and renovation yet. On the other hand, we certainly have made a definite impact, even if in ways we possibly hadn't prioritised in advance. The wet period made it quite urgent to sort out some of the mysteries/inadequacies of the outside drainage system, which lead quickly and naturally into water conservation. We now have about 1500L storage capacity, a small pump to move it around, and control of where the water from the roof goes. And this very morning we had a water meter installed, so now we have to put our effort where our mouth is.....

Improvised water-butts on parade (they're cheaper per litre stored than the dedicated article!)