"Concrete is, essentially, the color of bad weather." William Hamilton

and if there's bad weather, then this will be useful

Brian is due back next month, and his first job will be to install the stove into the heating system. We just need to choose some tiles for the plinth and lay them

"If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight." George Gobel

This visit saw the installation and connection of the upstairs lights 

Ok ok so it's not spectacularly visual, but it was the first lighting I've installed completely on my own.

and I was really chuffed to reuse an original bulb and shade on the top landing

"Office hours are from 12 to 1 with an hour off for lunch." George S. Kaufman

The next room is destined as an office/study/workroom. 

but with a view like this, I'm not sure how much work will get done

"It is the neglect of timely repair that makes rebuilding necessary." Richard Whately

A look at the history books will establish the relevance of this picture

However, more to the point is the development, or redevelopment, of the garden wall. Wes - an island resident, has agree to take on the repair and rebuilding of the garden wall. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

"Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation." Robert H. Schuller

 Preparations for wallpaper and painting in the study are completed.Walls stripped, filled and lined. Hopefully Robert, the achievement will be spectacular next time I'm there.

"If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." William Blake

It turns out that Brian, the plumber, had been an antiques restorer in an earlier life. When I was just about to take a jigsaw to remove the top four panels of this door to fit glazing, he showed me how to remove the dowel pegs holding it together and dismantle it.

I stayed up till past midnight to complete it but...

I reckon it was worth it

"Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchet

Think I'll stick with the former, although hopefully this baby will be capable of staying in overnight. 

Ready for installation next time!

"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." John W. Gardner

The only thing I have not had a crack at myself is the plumbing and heating system. I figured that water and waste is best left to an expert; and the island has one of those in Brian Gardner (aka Birmingham  Brian) Much quicker than DIY and avoiding the potential for disaster - especially as I have not being able to get insurance against flooding. On this trip the central heating for the first floor was completed, primed and commissioned.

A thermal imaging camera would have shown that these were hot

Roll on winter!

"I live in a dumb house. Which is not to say that I don't love its quirky charm, its drafty windows and leaky fireplaces and an electrical system that protests when too many people are trying to vacuum and microwave at the same time. But charm is not always user-friendly." Nancy Gibbs

The Manse has a doppelganger!

That's two less drafty windows Nancy. (or draughty as we say this side of the pond)