One of the joys of doing Lackan Cottage up has been taking old ‘stuff’ and making something of it. Wherever possible we’ve reused things from around the house – for instance the kitchen units are made from the old ceiling in the extension....
On Sunday we went to Newcastle to see the handiwork of S.O.C.K, (Secret Outside Crochet and Knitters) who yarn bombed the promenade. Their handiwork was very fine, and we got there in time before it was all taken down. You can see more of their work on the BBC website...
A slightly random picture to celebrate the fact that my plumbing initiation is over, and that we have piping hot water from all the taps, heated purely by the sun, and that nothing is leaking, for the time being at least. Of all the jobs in the house, plumbing is...
After a couple of frantic days activity, we have what passes for a kitchen. It came in a form that I like to call ‘extreme flatpack’ – ie some lengths of 3×2, and pine boarding. The old pine ceiling from the extension has come up well, and forms...
One of the benefits of having two and a half inch thick cedar work tops is that although cutting them is exhausting, it does make one of the nicest smells imaginable.The kitchen (such as it is) design is evolving as I go, but I think I know where I am going now. A...
Today, I breathed a huge sigh of relief as the Holly’s Horse Haven lorry pulled up and Joe unloaded Mel, aka. Melbourne Lad, who is absoloutely beautiful, and a retired racehorse. At last a friend for Sherafey, and after the usual introductory face pulling, they...
Well that was a busy day – we all learned something new. Brendan and I finished laying the slate through the kitchen, into the hall, and on to the bathroom, and Claire went off to Welig Crafts learn how to make baskets with Clive Lyttle -So all in all, a very...
Finally some sun! This afternoon the mountains were especially clear, and the crickets were out and about.The little field next to the house is surrounded by mature trees, and is a real sun trap in the afternoons. One more bonfire and we’ll finally be rid of the...
Our entire cooking and heating world revolves around this – the Doric range cooker, which seems to have been pretty widely used. Trouble is, information on how to best use it is rather thin on the ground – does anyone have any tips?
Now that we are more or less done with the really big jobs, the race is on to get all the million and one little things sorted. The little gas bottle woodburner moved home today, and took up its new position in the living room. Thankfully it seems to draw well,...
