Ups and downs

Today is typical of the ups and downs we've experienced so far at Lock Farm. We spoke to our planning adviser to let him know of the delays and in response he has been refreshingly positive. In the face of setbacks and uncertainty it's easy to get a little weary of the whole process. So it's wonderful that someone is on our side, that they are enthusiastic about our plans and believe we've got an excellent proposal together. Just as I'm sighing in the face of yet another hindrance, he has been reassuringly upbeat that at least we're making some small progress. Of course, he might be lying (we are paying him, after all), but those sort of lies are welcome with open arms if they can keep us going. The alternative is that by the time we return to planning permission we could be so weary of the project ourselves that we aren't able to communicate the effort and enthusiasm that has gone into designing a house suitable for the area, the plot and our needs. After all, we've had this design, or variations on it on paper for eighteen months now so our new home feels 'old' to us before it's even been built.

As an antidote to the friendly and helpful words of our planning adviser, I spent a frustrating hour trying to meet a joiner who could take an initial look at the barn. Frankly, four hundred year old listed timbers intimidate me a little. Whoever helps us rescue the barn is going to have to be good - not just a good carpenter, but able to work in sympathy those parts of the structure that can be saved. They'll also have to be able to work with the council's conservation department who will want assurance that the job is being done correctly. Whilst we're waiting on paperwork, setting out to find a joiner who meets these needs is a welcome distraction.

Unless they don't turn up when you've booked time off work specifically to meet them.