Slowly does it!

Well, our last Post was a bit optimistic and for the first time we've had accept some hold-ups. The weather turned very cold, with snow, in January and the stove installation, requiring the chimney work on a slippery, slate roof, was put on hold. We also thought it sensible to delay carpentry work for the bookcases, as these are substantial and designed around the fireplace. 
But, in early February the weather started to get better and the stove installers re-appeared and the internal pipework was completed: 

- and after a few days hold-up again with more snow, up went the scaffolding and the chimney appeared, the wood-stove lit, and smoke appeared in the right place!

In the new sitting/dining room the change has been immediate (within 24 hours)  -  with all the insulation we put in, the big overall space has warmed up immediately and holds the heat - and it is really cosy:

The work on the bookshelves is now scheduled for mid-March  -  so we have collected the wood from the saw-mills and it is now stacked ready for sanding and preparation:

This is going to be quite a long job - about 100 metres of redwood pine. But, this is now the very last stage of the Phase 1 work and adding the books and shelving to the new sitting/dining room will make it truly feel 'finished' and overall we will have kept to our dateline 'target'  -  hooray!