Another week – more progress. Our carpenter Dave has been working incredibly hard and has successfully finished the laundry expansion – we now have another washer and dryer in our laundry which will make it much easier to cope with the additional washing. The Farmhouse changeover alone typically requires between 9-12 washes and 5-8 drying cycles – by the time all the bedding, towels, blankets and dog blankets are washed – more if anything is stained and needs an extra wash(es). So it could easily take a few days to get through once you account for having to time the various cycles around daily life. Having extra machines will make such a difference.
Having the extra storage – in particular the wall units – and the new worktop (fitted this week) means everything has been removed off the top of the machines and I’ve got space to lay items out and apply whatever stain remover is required, or lint roll the dog blankets. It’s a bit of a luxury but the room already feels calmer and easier to use – always a bonus since washing is not my favourite thing to do!
As well as fitting the laundry worktop, the stonemasons have fitted worktops in the kitchen and in the ensuite. We’ve gone with a similar design in the ensuite to our house – with the worktop connecting the toilet and sink and providing space for guests to put all their toiletries; and a built-in cupboard underneath. We’re delighted with the kitchen worktop – we were trying to find a colour that closely matched the walls so it made the room look bigger – and while not an exact match the two colours definitely complement each other. Dave also fitted the remaining kitchen cupboards and doors so it’s looking much closer to being finished – it’s exciting seeing everything come together.
Our builder Dean has also been installing skirting boards this week. We were hoping for all the woodwork to be finished so I could spend the weekend painting it, but the architraves are yet to go in so I got to spend the weekend working outside in the sunshine instead – shame!! We did go round cleaning and then caulking the ones that had been fitted though to try and get ahead a bit. Although assuming the woodwork is completed this week it does mean we’ll end up working on John’s birthday next weekend. It won’t be the first year though we’ve lost birthdays in favour of getting jobs done.
Our [resubmitted] planning application for the listed cottage finally got validated this week. Our previous application to restore it (first approved in 2022) lapsed last year – originally we wanted to know we could get permission but weren’t planning to do any work on the ‘Moneypit’ for several years until we could afford the whole renovation, so we didn’t think it was worth doing enough work to make the application live to then leave the rest of the building. However as part of the back lean-to has collapsed, we need to do remedial work to restore it which requires listed building consent. Our intention is to properly rebuild the lean-to so that it forms part of the future building – but work can’t be started until Autumn because of the number of birds nesting in the vegetation. It’ll probably take that long to get planning permission anyway, based on past experiences!
Outside, the grass seed has started germinating in the Farmhouse back garden so the bare patches are gradually disappearing. I want to do something more with the flower beds round the back but until we install an automated watering system there doesn’t seem much point as everything dies over the summer. That was on our 2026 but I have a feeling it might be next year at this rate! Always too much to do…
We’ve finally started planting out more of the vegetable seedlings we’ve grown. I’ve given up on anything not yet planted as it’s getting late in the season and we just don’t have the time. We’re trying something new this year – potting up tomatoes into troughs and putting them along the Old Barn wall where they’ll get plenty of sunshine and hopefully be protected from the wind. If they grow well enough then we’ll invite our guests to help themselves – we’ve tried to plant a few varieties including cherry tomatoes to pick and eat straightaway – yum!
One of the big selling features of Ley Farm Cottages is the fact we have two pubs within a mile (and a little bit, but who’s counting). So it’s really important to us that these keep going – hence we try and pop in at least for a drink when we can. Our closest pub, The Kings Arms in Stockland, is actually community owned and managed by a committee of locals – so given its importance to us, John took up the opportunity to join the management committee and was elected this week!
Ley Farm Cottages 