August 17th - Back in business!

I've not blogged for a few days, because after the letter from Building Control we were supposed to have shut up shop until the warrant is granted. This could take weeks or even months. Over the last few days I've tried to get the lads to concentrate on getting the place weatherproof and in a fit state to be mothballed for the rest of the summer. Mal has completely ignored all my entreaties to leave things as they are until we get the nod, and has battled on with the sheeting and internal walls.
Yesterday was high-noon, when the local building control officer came to inspect what we've done so far. I was quite prepared for him to go over the place with a fine-tooth comb and a determination to find some major problem to punish us for building a house without his permission. In the event he was with us for about five minutes, during which he stood just inside the front door and chatted about the strawbale aspect of the build and told us about his holiday in Turkey. No inspection, no castigation, and just a cheery "carry on, everything looks fine". He even seemed slightly apologetic that they haven't got around to issuing a warrant yet. I couldn't believe it. We can now bash ahead without any nagging concerns about having to keep walls open for inspection or the possibility of having to undo anything we've built. Imagine if we'd built the foundations (for which we do have a warrant), then waited for the next one before starting the timber frame.
Today Melvin left for a week in Kenya. I'm hoping to spend the next couple of weeks on the roof, slating as much as the weather will permit. Really need someone to give Mal a hand inside with the plumbing and sheeting.
It really feels like we're motoring again...

Internals & slating 170807