We have had a number of prospective purchasers who are waiting to sell their own properties. It is a difficult time for them. For us, on the other hand, this is a beautiful and unique place to live and I think we can stand being stuck here for another few years!

Anyway, here are a few changes we have made to our property over the past few months

• Trees: we have had a number of trees felled and trimmed around the house, particularly to the south, meaning that the house is now much lighter (and quite a lot warmer, unexpectedly!) than before, and the leaf drop at this time of year is much, much, much less. Also a particularly large oak overhanging the garage has been cut right back.
• Following the tree-pruning, we have removed the moss from the roofs that was accumulating in the tree’s shadows
• The gaps in the garden that this created have been planted up with new shrubs.
• Several parts of the fascia to the garage, and under the gutters on the house, have been replaced, and all the exterior paintwork has been renewed.
• Central heating serviced and checked over, and pronounced very fit.
• Tanks in loft reinsulated, and some pipe insulation replaced.
• Plumbing checked under the floorboards – a viewer had said that it needed checking, so we did. There was nothing wrong with it.
• Ditto parts of the electrical wiring.

29.11.11