Floods

A lot of friends have wondered how we are faring. 

We are fortunate - all new builds have to be above the 1000 year floodline.

This is the highest it has been since we've been here; what you can't see in the photo is how fast the water is flowing.

It has not gone above our bank, but it has covered the water meadows as far as the river.

The birds are struggling - this shows the swans trying to eat their usual water cress, and the 2 ducks you can just see are the only ones we have seen.

good news & gorgeous fabric

I last wrote about the tests done for our Energy Performance Certificate. We received an A which really pleased us as we had been predicted a B and had worked to improve our efficiency. It was the first that the East Northants Building Inspector had seen. Our thanks to their department who have been supportive and easy to work with for the last 3 years.

This beautiful fabric is from mayakotan who import it from Guatemala. We met Jude at a Fair Trade fair in Oundle selling scarves, table runners & cushions. She kindly agreed to sell us some of the original fabric so that I can make my own cushions. Our thanks to her & her family.

Keith has set up his weather station ( a gift from 2 Christmases ago!) and here it is in the garden, from which you can see the flooded water meadows

APT; EPC & SAP

Or: Air Pressure Testing, Energy Performance Certificate & Standard Assessment Procedure.

LABC, who are providing the warranty for the house, did these today. Jamie came all the way from Wales. We had a good chat about the Centre for Alternative Technology (see our post on 14 September 2009) where he did a course on sustainable construction.

He taped up all the ventilation ducts, and put this contraption over the front door (to the dismay of our postie who had to leave the post outside!). The air is sucked out to create negative pressure, and we can then feel the draughts where air is leaking in. We did very well, thank goodness.

He gathered all of our information on energy use & insulation and will give us a rating in the next few days. This is our last step before being signed off by the Building Inspector, so more about that next week.

staircarpet, a wardrobe & meteorites

John Kerr has fitted all of our carpets beautifully, and here is the final one:

Keith is fitting our wardrobe, here are the early stages:

 

It will not look empty for long!

We have added another of Anja's meteorites to our collection

And I have been enjoying the new kitchen, making the Christmas cake & pudding ready for our first Denford Christmas.