First thing’s first – what do we think of the new website? My Brother’s been itching to update it since he first created the original site. I didn’t give him long to get it up and running back in October last year and as you can see, he’s learnt a great deal about web design in the past 6 months. Do let me know what you think, any suggestions would be most welcome.


Things are still going well in Swansea, we’re around half way now from the builder’s perspective and they only have the new french doors to fit, some plastering, the second fix electrics, and the fitting of the bathrooms before they can move on with the exterior. This sounds like a lot but they should be finished inside within the next 6 weeks and half of the team will be starting on with the ground works within the next fortnight – exciting times. We must all pray for some good weather.


In the meantime I’ve been amusing myself by constructing the kitchen units ready for the builder to install for me. Building the units has knocked a couple of hundred pounds off the fitting cost - although there were points during my flat-pack marathon where I would have happily paid the £250 extra and had them do the lot! It’s all finished now though, 7 base cabinets, 7 wall units and a complicated drawer unit – and may I say that it’s all looks pretty good – or ‘tidy’ as my builders would say. All surfaces are level and the soft- close drawers work and everything! I’ve taken the route of basic carcasses to keep costs down, but then gone for separately bought handles, soft-close hinges, a fantastic 1 ½ bowl designer sink with a pull out spray kitchen tap and a gorgeous oak worktop. Hopefully the overall effect will suggest a very expensive kitchen. I’m also adding both under cabinet lights and plinth lights – you should have seen the look I got from the builders when I mentioned them. I’m sure they are fully expecting me to install an enormous disco ball next.


Another money-saving exercise for me is the artwork that I’m currently doing in the evening – although ‘art’work is probably a little strong. Whilst watching the fabulous Gok Wan and ‘How to look good naked’ last night I managed to produce two textured canvases using artex plaster (ironic really when I consider how much I’m spending on removing artexed ceilings in the house), have painted them, and sprayed them with a gloss. So far so good, I’ll let you know the verdict once I’ve finished them all. I’m sure I’ll be taking commissions any day now.


I’ll leave you with photos of a rather more successful development that was completed in just a few hours and already has 6 new occupants….

‘Hen house’ as we like to call it possibly counts as my first successful new-build, let’s hope that’s it’s the first of many!