Another month passes in the blink of an eye
Where did October go????
My expectations about more progress at the building post-strip out proved faulty. Not completely false. But there hasn’t been the injection of momentum that I’d hoped for, either.
Sigh. (Again.)
Trying to stay focused on the positive - here’s what has happened…
I have architectural drawings that are (more-or-less) complete! They took a bit longer than I’d expected based on previous conversations with the architect, but I’m happy with the result and glad that we took the extra time to get them right. I need the builder to come back to “make a few more holes” to expose structural elements so that a structural engineer can sign off on the new stairs. The builder who did the strip out has been away on holiday, so trying to get him back into the building has also been more difficult - and much slower - than I might have hoped. But in the meantime…
The quantity surveyor preparing to put the work out to tender! Ok, this does feel big. And I’m thrilled that she is able to use the drawings as they are to prepare the work package rather than having to wait for everything to be absolutely set. I especially appreciate her willingness to get started sooner rather than later, seeing as everything will shut down over Christmas.
The mystery of the damp in the party wall deepens. The roofer came back and sent a drone up to look at the bit of flashing between my roof and the building next door. Everyone (my architect, the building surveyor responsible for the building next door, friends who have been in) has assumed that the damp was caused by the flashing. But the roofer - who should know about these things - doesn’t think so. Without being able to see a fault, the roofer’s options are limited. He could apply liquid rubber over the flashing that would waterproof the area in case there is a non-visible leak (costing, of course, £1000), but I’m holding off for the moment in case we can identify a more certain cause.
I have initial branding for the shop. The graphic designer who I ended up working with was lovely and amazing. She understood the feeling that I was going for right away and was a dream to collaborate with.
I’ve been knitting away on test swatches trying to decide on which yarns I want to stock. I bought a bunch of “test skeins” at Yarndale back in September so that I could have a play with yarns from small makers that I haven’t knit with before.
I almost forgot - I have a new contract with an electricity company thanks to my wonderful energy broker. (Now she’s working on getting the water contract sorted. Commercial water here is even more complicated than electrics.)
So it’s not been a complete standstill. I’m just impatient for more visible work to get underway. I’ve had the building for 9 months now and feel like there is precious little to show for it. I’ve learned a lot, though. And remain hopeful that a real flurry of activity might be just around the corner…
