And they're off! Beth and I heard on Monday that the Listed Building Consent had been approved (subject to the usual restrictions concerning mortar colour palette) so can finally get cracking. It's been a long wait but we're grateful for the time we've had to establish ourselves in our new home and surroundings.
We've delighted in the coming of spring in our Cotswold setting, the banks of wild garlic infusing the air down every lane, the dawn choruses and abundance of lush green trees. The lack of respectable oven has forced us to endure more barbecues in the past three months than probably the past three years. The horror, the horror.
After our initial 'townie' blunders like running out of heating oil just as the Beast from the East's little brother swept in we feel like we're getting to grips with our settings. Beth's delighting in all the country lanes to run down (she's preparing for an August marathon so is getting quite familiar with them) and is settling into the morning commute, albeit the first encounter of an accident on the Bristol ring-road caused a fair amount of consternation. A glass of wine was the only placation possible.
We can't wait to get cracking on the old girl though. Much neglected in recent years (the 70s still have a lot to answer for in my book), it's about time someone lavished a little love romancing the stones. First up is making room for a skip, that all important vessel responsible for spiriting away the past, then... We'll probably make it up as we go along!