Before and after photos: demolition has started
The builders started on Monday! Praise the Lord of building.
The next few weeks are noted down as ‘demolition’ as we STILL haven’t received planning permission. Apparently the local council are having problems with ‘staffing levels’. Sigh. Remind me not to bother paying my council tax. So we’re looking at a total of 4 months to get planning permission, and even longer if they reject the plans.
As we’re paying a hefty monthly mortgage on our derelict wreck, we can’t hang around waiting for the sodding council to sort their staffing out, so in the meantime the builders are getting on doing everything that doesn’t involve planning permission or party walls. And by the sight that greeted us when we got back from holiday, and with only 4 days work under their belts, it’s clear that these boys in hard hats mean business!
This was the sitting room we left:
And this was the one we returned to:
Remember the kitchen and downstairs bathroom at the back of the house?
Pretty much gone after a week of hard hats and heavy demolition tools:
The old dining room:
Now cleared out and looking very unappetising:
The hallway as it was:
And as it is now:
The builders are great. Two guys (both carpenters) from New Zealand who came to the UK because the work ran out at home. They’re extremely friendly, work like demons, and sport sets of muscles that are making my husband mutter about restarting his gym membership.
Tomorrow: upstairs.
A cup of tea and a slice of life 
Show us some pictures of the boys then 😉
I really wanted to take a photo of them but I was too embarrassed to ask. But next time I will !
I wonder, is that a picture of Jesus wearing a dress in (what was) your kitchen?
The builders have named him ‘The Boss’. They found him when they were clearing out the attic. More on The Boss soon.
Before I scrolled so far down to see the comments, the picture of Jesus did somewhat arouse my curiosity too! I notice they’ve also left the bath. I guess that’s for when the demon-like working gets all too much and they need a quick lie down 😉 Do you think once they’re done doing anything that doesn’t involve planning permission they’d be interested in sorting out my kitchen and bathroom? And would they do it for about 10p? I’d be more than happy to apply sports massage techniques to their aching muscles as alternative compensation!