I need a little help from my friends...

Rinky Many thanks for responding. I am full of admiration for you and the way in which you've coped with massive upheaval.

For my pals who wish to be updated, here goes...
The half hour meeting with a lovely, helpful gentleman from one of the biggest construction companies in the area, was, we thought, successful. Mr soop's comprehensive presentation of our hoped-for project, [something he's been beavering away on for yonks], was impressive. I felt enormously proud of him. The file will be looked at in detail, and by late next week, we should have an estimate for the build. Off the top of Mr Mac*****'s head, he quoted a figure that didn't dismay us.

We then had a further meeting with another helpful lady from SSE. She has opened a file relating to the proposed electricity supply to the plot. Again, the costs involved are not unreasonable.

The kitchen planner should be back any day now with an estimate.
We've seen a stylish bathroom suite...with a walk in shower [no bath required] again at reasonable cost.

Friends are prepared to help get the garden ship-shape in time for spring, which is when we'll put our home on the market. In the meantime, local people know that we hope to sell. Once we do, we have to decide whether to purchase a used caravan, or spend money on renting our friend's apartment. Either way, we'll be living on site. Swings and roundabouts!

We're in high spirits. Thank you all for your ongoing support, which has helped to settle our minds. We're no longer afraid of the upheavel. All in a very good cause.

Sounding good!!

Hopeful!

soop how exciting for you, we'll done for taking the plunge.

Glad things are looking positive, soop!

Grannyeggs Gracesmum and Ana My son phoned last night. He commented on my up-beat mood. I explained that Gransnetters have helped steer me through an episode of the heebie-jeebies and I'm confident of a successful outcome. I cannot thank you lot enough.

Glad everything`s looking favourable Soop xxx

so glad soop that you are more upbeat about it all now.

Sounds like a plan put house on market in spring.

All positive things to look forward to one step at a time!!

Glad it's looking good!

soop well done to both of you

...I love you lot xxx

We love you too, soop.

I love her too cos she is my little ray of sunshine xxxxxx

Looking good soop - Fingers and toes crossed.

Time to call in Grand Designs!!

Well now, last night we caught up with the wonderful home two ladies had built on the Isle of Skye. We are hardly ever envious, but this build made us so. The constraints that the planners have put on to a new build in the orchard, are very strict. The building must be parallel with the road. The roof has to be double pitch, with each slope matching the other, and these are to have a slate covering. The windows must have a vertical emphasis. The walls have to have white or off-white render.
Also, the ladies had something like 90 square metres to play around with. We'll have a little over 50...which means that everything has to be pretty basic. Mr soop and I would relish designing and living in a timber/glass/turf-roofed contemporary home. However, we'll do as we're told, and no doubt be contented with our creation. Please note: Kevin will definitely not be interested.

Well good luck anyway soop.
Always wanted to design own place.
Oooh. Just remembered I did! Many years ago when things still looked good financially. Wonder if I still have it? Doubt it. Much too big and posh for me now and I think I would rather go down the green roof and built into the earth thing with ground source heating, recycled grey water, own well...and...and...!!

I agree Rinky Eco friendly houses with renewable energy are far more interesting and think of the money that could be saved in the future. I agree that you are doing the right thing soop and I am really interested in the design of your new house. Has Mr Soop incorporated all of those things? Does the winter sun warm the house, are the walls insulated and soundproof? Eco friendly, green energy retirement homes are far more interesting than some of the huge energy guzzling boxes some people build.

Modern building regulations do make for a better insulated house. Since we built an extension and remodelled the rest of the house it has become much cosier, I now need only a summer duvet in the bedroom

Faye That's just it...we're not allowed to build the eco friendly home of our dreams. Regulations are extremely rigid. It will be small and as open-plan as we can make it...however, on the outside, it will appear somewhat "bog-standard". Hey ho!!! As Bags would say!

Soop - 50 sq. metres - that's a mansion!
Can you keep a log for us, so we can watch the work as it progresses?

Rinky - you have come through some awful times - I hope you are in calmer waters now.

I think there are squares and square metres. I would be interested to see it being built too soop. I wish regulations were tighter here, some new houses have black roofs and no eaves, in this climate they use a lot of energy just to cool them.

Greatnan 55 metres internally. Quite large enough to enjoy and small enough to manage cost/work-wise [Grin]
Faye regs specify that the home be heated using the Ecodan range of air source heat pumps - Mitsubishi Electric living Environmental systems

Remember, we've yet to sell, in order to purchase the plot, on which to build. Very early days! Top priority is being given to costing every aspect of the construction, installation of services - including creating a driveway. Not forgetting legal/planning fees. The figures must balance, otherwise, it's a big, fat NO-NO!