Trip to Swindon II

This time they'd found the door-key and the Self Build Centre was open. The aim of yesterday morning's visit was to have a look at and compare some of the bits of technology such as ventilation systems. Which we did. But, as you wander round, it reminds you of all the countless things you have to decide when building a house. Not just big things like construction method, heat pumps, roof type and tiling. But... Door handles! Mains points!! Floor coverings!!! Light switches!!!! (We went into the Potton Showhome and concluded that we will NOT be getting clever programmable light switches as most of theirs didn't seem capable of actually switching lights on.) I think I'm going to keep a list of all the things we have to decide in the house-building process. The worry of all those decisions was quickly smoothed away by a very long lunch with cousin/aunt/uncle which took up the rest of the day... So today we have been working it off first at [current] home mowing the lawn, trimming the hedge and weeding the veg plot, then back at the bungalow mowing the lawn and paddock and spraying glyphosate on the worst of the brambles that prevent us getting to the north-eastern boundary. There's a lot of hedge there that's looking in dire need of trimming - Alan's parents have just arranged to come down next weekend so I wonder... Here's the lawn looking short and tidy - bit different to last time!

And here's the corner of the stable block/jungle - less tidy. Coming back to decisions, we've decided which architect we want to build the house, I'm going to speak to him tomorrow so I'll leave you on tenterhooks to hear who it will be...