Drainage surveys and other such fun…

We’ve sorely neglected everything over the last few months as we focused on getting the bulbs in the ground – so this weekend has been focused on doing all those jobs that we’ve delayed. And getting through the list has reminded us just how long everything takes! Even clearing the leaves from the front of the house and the drive takes far longer than you expect! At least the garden looks much tidier now – with the leaves mostly cleared and the lawns mown and neat. 

So onto more exciting things. We now have two phases on the go with our build. The first one (the conversion of the main barns, which we got planning approval for in September), is in the detailed design phase – which means visits from different tradespeople to check the current state of the buildings, and then work out what needs to be done next. Given everyone seems to be building at the moment, and with the Christmas break just around the corner, it’s taking time to get these visits booked in. This week we’ve somehow managed to have two!

First, the drainage company came out to check the current state of the drains for the farmhouse (spoiler alert, neither the kitchen soakaway or the septic tank are up to scratch and will need replacing). Then, the excavation contractor visited to see where they’ll need to dig trial pits around the barns and what equipment they’ll need, so the structural engineers can check for foundations and any structural support work required. It’s been interesting to see how many companies specialise within the construction industry – for example the drainage company doing our first survey is a different company to the one who’ll design our new solution – and then we’ll need a third company to actually install it all. And the excavation contractor is nothing to do with the structural engineering company either… you can see why major construction projects need a project manager to keep on top of it all!! 

Our farmhouse building is still in the planning stage… we submitted our application towards the end of November, but a couple of weeks ago the council asked for additional designs showing the cross-section of the building before and after. The change we submitted was to the top floor – to add a shower room into the larger bedroom, and to take out the tiny attic to allow for better headroom across the whole floor (no more banging your head on the light shades!). We’ve got no idea if this means the council timelines have only just started, or whether this is part of the estimated 8-10 weeks they say it’ll take. But we’ve not received our planning notice to put up outside yet so that’s not the best sign!! 

With Christmas next week, we’re frantically getting everything ready; while squeezing in a few of those small inside jobs that have been waiting for months now (the odd paint that needs touching up, or the new mastic around the ensuite sink to stop water leaking down the wall). And as fast as we do one job- another one appears. We’re fast learning that in a house as old as ours, there’s always something that needs doing!! 

Reflecting towards our second Christmas and New Year here at Ley Farm, it’s been a tough year at times – the drama with our first planning application dominating till September; and the amount of work we’ve done ourselves being overwhelming and depressingly never-ending at times – but we have high hopes for 2022 and the progress we want to make. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us and encouraged us throughout our challenges – we wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas.