Sunday, June 28, 2015

London House Update - Week 8

Here are the latest pictures from the house this week...


 Ryan and a friend standing in Ryan's bedroom. Two skylights will be installed in the pitched roof to allow plenty of natural light into the room.


A view of Ryan's room looking back toward the doorway.  The old bathroom used to be in the corner where the smaller window is located. The bathtub was positioned between the two windows.  Previously, the wall between the two rooms was located to the left of the bigger window and there was a sink in the bedroom under the window.  Once completed, there will be a closet on either side of the door and the small windows will be bricked over.


This is the view from Ryan's bedroom looking down into the kitchen and the back garden beyond it.  The tarp is covering a long, narrow existing bathroom next to the kitchen.  This room will be torn out to make way for the bigger kitchen.  Additionally, the open space to the left will also become part of the new kitchen. We are on a narrow lot, so it's only 17 feet wide from one side of the property to the other.


On the top floor it appears the framing for the skylight has been positioned over the future stacked washer/dryer.  We need to talk with the builder about this one! You can also see where the builders have started reinforcing the brick walls with cement. 


The back garden is filled with building materials.  


Good news - the front reception room has been cleared.  But we're not sure how or why one of the doors has been nailed to the front window.  Security reasons?  Not to worry - the entire window needs to be replaced anyway.  We noticed the builders have taken out most of the windows on the upper floors.





Sunday, June 21, 2015

London House Update - Week 7

We finally received planning permission and that means we can move forward with our building plans. There was only one thing that didn't get approved, but it was minor.  The builders have now torn off the roof and the new rafters are in place over Ryan's room and the top of the house.  A green tarp is covering everything for protection.  When we showed up on Saturday the builders were busy at work. Garett and I have also started looking at new materials for the house.



A green tarp is covering the open roof on two levels


This is the view up into Ryan's room from the stairs (the green tarp is over his bedroom)


Garett and I are debating the right finish for the wood floors throughout the house


And here is the master chef...he and 9 other boys cooked lunch for their teachers and parents at school this week.  They made starters, main courses and desserts.  Ryan made spaghetti al carbonara.


Sunday, June 14, 2015

Ryan's School Play - Private Peaceful

This week Ryan's class put on the production, Private Peaceful.  The story is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and it is about two brothers in World War I.  Ryan played two parts, Toothless Old Lady (see picture) and Lieutenant Buckland.





Saturday, June 6, 2015

London Update - Week 5

It's been a busy few weeks for us.  Ryan went to Nice, France on a week-long school art trip, we moved into a new flat, Ryan advanced to the Gigafinals in chess and the house continues to be demolished piece-by-piece.  We're still waiting for planning permission before we can begin construction.  It will probably be another couple of weeks.

Here are the latest pics...



Our new flat - very quiet and private


The new (old) building


View from the kitchen window - serene back garden


The window has leaded-glass panes and wooden shutters


Yes! Somewhere beneath this scaffolding is the new house


Ryan and Garett at the back of the house


Is the sun really shining?  Ryan and Shelly in what's left of the original kitchen


Last week (week 4) - checking out the partially demolished kitchen



Inside the house every floor has been stripped out


Looking down at Ryan and through to the floor below