Maintaining momentum

It is a bit demoralising looking out at the scene of a part built extension. There has been no demonstrable progress in almost a month.

The priority is to try and maintain momentum but it is difficult when you’re waiting for others to do their stuff. I keep nudging our planning/design agency who keep hassling the local authority planning department. The target date for a decision on the non-material amendment to the full planning application to amend the roof height is this Thursday. However, there is no sign yet of progress with our listed building application to make the same change, which we believe needs to go out to full consultation. Our builder Ken is continuing to be exceedingly patient.

So I’m focusing on other elements of the project. The company making the sliding doors that will open out onto our garden have been to measure up and I’m waiting to sign off their designs. I’ve updated the concrete flooring company on the delay and given them the measurements for the floor insulation.

We are continuing to work on our kitchen plans and have now spoken to a number of kitchen companies/designers and are getting quotes. We won’t make a final decision until the floor is in and we’re certain on the colour scheme. So there’s not much more we can do as the floor will only be laid once the track for the sliding doors is in place and that can’t be done until the roof is on. All roads lead back to the local planning department!

So what of the other aspects of living the dream? I now have more headspace to plan in the things I said I never had time for when I was working. I’m back swimming and going to Pilates once a week. I’ve signed up for French lessons and I’m actually enjoying having homework to do!

We haven’t done much of the travelling yet as we’re still really tied to home in the hope that work will restart soon. We did have three days in Paris at the end of August, no need to worry this time about what the builders were up to!

We wandered around Montmartre, took a river trip on the Seine and enjoyed a fabulous tasting menu at a Bib Gourmand listed restaurant Le Reciproque. A perfect way to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary.