February 2024 update

Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude for the efforts of our architects and builders invested in our house build; the project commenced in 2020. While we initially received strong indications of completion last year, we find ourselves still awaiting the finalization of our home in 2024.

We understand that construction projects can encounter unforeseen challenges and we appreciate the commitment to delivering a quality product. However, it does cause us sleepless nights and the extended timeline has caused inconveniences occasionally as we have to find alternative accommodation. We have travelled to all our furniture suppliers waiting to deliver and install, to inform them of the delays and thankfully they have all been understanding.

So, on to this quick update…

Last week saw the septic tank being laid and the pool area being excavated. They also, while the digger was there, started to excavate the area where the carport will be constructed. The week before, the underfloor heating pipe work had been laid throughout the house, so no work inside had been progressed. This week, the internal work was still not progressing as the underfloor pipe work was still exposed. However, a machine had been delivered to site that allows continuous mixture and supply for a concrete screed, so fingers crossed.

They were still continuing on the external area where the wood cladding was being added. Our main concern was the area around the olive tree, as that was still unfinished and we have seen water ingress after the heavy rains, with the screed being about to go in, we did check in with the builders and were given assurances that was going to get done. Touch wood, the weather has been great, so everything should be dry.

They have also been completing the roof areas where a metallic trim gets added to the apex, guttering and over the edges, which is great,. This needs to be finished off where the joins are, but again duly noted and passed on.

Alongside the excavations at the rear of the house, the drainage pipe work for the rain harvesting has been progressed. The rain harvesting tank had to re-positioned onto the lower terrace as it did not fit in the original place it was going (as Annette astutely mentioned in the last video!).

It really does seem like a building site now, and all our beautiful grassy areas have all disappeared. But we knew this would happen, and we look forward to gradually returning the land to the beautiful garden we have always envisaged. That will, of course, take time, with lots of planting and work, hence the requirement of a rain harvesting system.

There was also a misunderstanding regarding the electrical installation plans, which was impacted by the chosen solar system. We ordered it last year after being advised we would have three phase electrics. We had expected it to be up and running by now, but we have made the decision to bite the bullet and pay for a different inverter. That will save another lengthy delay, as a separate project would have been required. We will sell on the three phase inverter to recoup the cost.

So we happily continue doing our house sitting. We currently are at a return sit near Batalha and the weather is superb. So much so that it warranted a serious hair cut for Wayne (our American friends call this a cue ball cut!) We are towards the end of this one, and about to move onto our next adventure, meeting new hosts and a new pet, which we are both looking forward to. It is also quite close to a previous sit and now very good friends, so we may go and visit them first 😂😂😂.

We are also (because we thought we would be in the house by now) starting to see our first visitors. Wayne’s sister is due out mid March, so we are really hoping the house will be ready. 🤞🤞🤞. Also Annette’s sister has booked flights too, so we hope to see many more family and friends after our lengthy time away!  It has been a longer journey than we had expected with a system that promised to be a rapid construction. We had started our YouTube channel to record the progress at the same time as several other builds and we have watched in envie as those have been completed and their houses into their homes. We also have empathy with a few, who like us, are experiencing their own delays and challenges. Keep the faith guys, it will be worth the wait.

For now, we are grateful for the efforts that our builders are going to, to realise our dream. We only wish for their assistance in expediting the remaining stages of the build.

Thanks for stopping by, and if you read this far, thank you once again, we hope you tune in for our next adventure!