Our Builders Arrive...

We had more snow overnight - it must have come in the early hours of the morning as we didn't go to bed much before midnight and it hadn't happened then - probably too cold for snow then - we left Emba at a balmy 6 degrees, passed through Stroumbi where it was 0 (as Vix knows it's COLD there) driving up the hill into Kathikas it improved to 3 degrees (when will I see you again) and remained at 3 degrees as we got into Droushia.

The snow here is odd - it isn't the soft fluffy stuff that I am used to it is more like someone has thrown frozen polystyrene balls all over the place as it is very coarse in texture.

We might have missed it were it not for the fact that we were expecting the builders today to start erecting the conservatory and we wanted to make sure we were up when they arrived - although we weren't exactly sure that time that was going to be.  

We were up and out of bed by 8.00 and greeted by bright sunshine - in fact if it weren't for the untouched snow you could be forgiven for thinking it was a summer's day.  It didn't feel cold even though the temperature was only around 9 degrees.

We prepared ourselves for the arrival of the builders who pitched up at 10.00am.  I had decided to strip our bed and get the bedding washed and out on the line - and how fantastic it all dried!  Ironing would normally follow but they were ok enough to put straight back on the bed.  Our weather must be very similar to what our friend Wendy was experiencing back in the UK because she has emailed today to say she got washing out and dried today too.

So this was how the gap between the buildings looked this morning just before Panicos and his two stooges arrived to start the transformation.  The first job was to fit the windows and doors at the garden end.  Our first 'problema' was that the frame for the three windows would not fit through the garden gate so it had to be lifted over the fence!  Things were going well as this part seemed to slot in and fit well and was as we had expected it to be - one large door and three panels with windows on the top that push open and glass panels below that remain fixed.

This picture shows John showing the men the error of their ways as they were about to remove the wooden cross support and replace it with a metal joist and they hadn't thought about how they were going to attach it to the bedroom building!  Quite a lot of standing around, scratching heads and shrugging ensued and when they contemplated using a piece of wood that John had used John said NO as it wasn't strong enough and the whole structure would collapse.  They agreed and one of the stooges was detailed off to get something suitable.  He was gone for ages and it transpires it necessitated a trip down to Polis where a metal bracket was procured - from where we are not sure but we are glad they found something otherwise it would all have ground to a halt.

This picture was taken towards the end of the day when we have the door and windows in and working.  The roof structure is up and has been remeasured for the glass roof which has to come from Nicosia.  We have agreed on the panel and the sliding doors which will span the two buildings just by the pool.  At this point it is exceptionally cold both indoors and outdoors and they have been working like trojans.  We have no idea when it will be completed - sometime next week we hope but it will depend on how long it takes for the glass to arrive.

This view gives you an idea of the architectural nature of the structure and the area it has to span - we think it is going to look fantastic when it is finished and we cannot wait.  

Whilst all this was going on John was busying himself seeing whether or not we can make use of the doors we removed from the gap.  He is thinking of putting one set of the double doors up so that we can lock off the front garden if we want and it will also provide a bit of a windbreak.  This is just a temporary offering up of the doors to the gap to see what it would entail to make it more permanent.  I think it is a great idea and will divide the garden into a number of rooms.  

As I write this John is providing the workmen with tea and the end of my apple and yoghurt cake with cinnamon whirl.  They are very appreciative - should think they are freezing as it is only about 5 degrees outside!  They have been here over six hours without much of a break - except when they encountered a 'problema' and a fairly major problema at that but one which was resolved by a trip to Polis and a metal working place to have a bracket made up.  They must have smoked a hundred cigarettes between them today if my patio is anything to go by.  I am going to provide a bucket filled with sand for the next time in the hopes that they will use it - I can but try!  MM is desperate for them to leave as she doesn't like strangers and wants to go to the loo!

Home-made carbonara tonight - making the sauce from scratch!