A house for Irene 2

Getting the roof ready. Strips of roofing felt burnt on as bridges between the sections.

I am not trained in this task and foolishly put my finger into the wet tar to see if it was soft enough. It was, and burning tar stuck to my finger. When I eventually got it off, my fingerprints went with it.

This little chap is a regular visitor, and has to be carefully put outside now and again.I tried to ferment his interest in the pretty blue lamp with the grill but he won't have any of it. Probably saw what happened to his uncle last week. Went off like a firework. Very spectacular it was.

When painted, the interior looks spacious. There are 3 smaller rooms, a walk-in wardrobe, shower, toilet and kitchen.

Jan connected up the gas, electricity and water. We were given a specification of a meter cupboard from the authorities, giving size, thickness and composition of walls, angle of roof etc ('24 degrees slope with 10.5 cm overhang front and rear') etc. And we made it exactly according to the plans. When the power chappies came to install the meters they were amazed. "Good Lord! Is that what they look like? Weve never actually seen a real one. Most people just nail an old apple box to the fence!".

Likewise the water facilities. We are informed that the pit in which the water-meter would be installed should be 90cm by 80cm and 100cm deep and of galvanised steel with a lid and a false bottom etc etc. We travelled the land to find one and buried it. No problem with our water meter housing, this one could take the biggest water meter they could throw at it. When the man arrived, he looked at the steel cavern, smiled and took the new water meter out of his jacket pocket. It was the size of a tennis ball.

Jan and Kees laboured to haul stones all the way from Marktplaats to make this stunning terrace. You can see the overkill meter-cabinet and water-pit in the background.

Your humble scribe painting the kitchen. On the left you can see the walk-in wardrobe. What on earth does that mean, 'walk-in'? Anything is 'walk-in' if you walk into it to use it. There is also a stand-in shower, a sit-on toilet, and outside is the drive-in car-park.

Kees has welded some ingenious supports for the sun-shade.

Later we will automate it using an old electric drill.

Michelle makes bouquets for the dine-on table in the live-in living room

And a result that the whole family can be proud of. So much in a very short time to build a home for this courageous lady.Welcome home, Irene.