Home sweet home

A month ago we moved in (more or less on time) to a campsite-style existence. There was water, but only cold and only in the downstairs bidet. The simple bed we made up at midnight on the day we moved in – just in time to collapse into it. The windows were gorgeous, but the doors hadn’t been made yet – so we were still using the draughty “temporary” doors from during the works. The gaps where the door didn’t meet the frame were big enough to bring in a long extension cable from our one plug point – outside at the meter. We were cooking on a tiny camping stove, with bottles of camping gas that lasted only a few days. The camping gas we had to use to heat water (brought up from the bidet) for washing up because the icy tap water was so unbearable. We went to the gym for showers. Heating was a small electric heater.

We expected the electrician to come as soon as we called. He had changed his number without telling us, so our calls went unanswered. Luckily I bumped into him in town, so we had some plugs and lights within a few weeks. The oven, which we had already bought, was faulty when we were finally able to plug it in – so we were still on the camping stove for another couple of weeks. Our generous neighbours couldn’t do enough to help – even offering us a place to stay! We were soon kitted out with another electric and a gas heater.

We also expected gas for central heating and hot water to arrive within days. After much pleading – it was connected today. Never underestimate the layers of bureaucracy.

We expected the joy of moving in to our big project would outweigh the discomforts. It did offset some qualms we might have had… but it’s easy to get upset when you just can’t get warm. Thank goodness for the arrival of gas!

[Since the move, I haven’t been able to find the cable to get the photos off my camera. No doubt it’ll turn up, so watch this space!]