Wood you be so organised?

Over the last few months it’s not the house renovation, or the size of the garden that as had me waking me up in cold sweats, it’s been the ever growing wood pile.

At the beginning of our journey to a happier life, we boldly said to our builders, ‘make sure you keep every piece of wood you pull out from the house or don’t use’. As the wood pile grew lists formed in our heads of what we might use it for; kitchen cabinets, shelves, raised beds, rebuilding the sheds, log store, a tree house and even an outdoor hot tub. Much to our surprise within two weeks the whole of the upper garden had turned into a beastly mountain of old, knackered, gnarly, nail infested wood. Continue reading

Wildlife vs. Veglife

Deer - Feb 15We know we can expect to spot a wide range of wildlife once we are finally living at The Secret Acre. Deer, badgers, foxes and rabbits all live at the bottom of the field, not to mention the birds (Slimbridge is just down the road) and a variety of life in our ponds. When we catch more on camera, we’ll post more here.

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Upstairs, Downstairs

The Secret Acre - a bungalow no more!

The Secret Acre – a bungalow no more!

When we found The Secret Acre the original 1930s bungalow on site was in need of modernisation.

Our plans for an eco-makeover included creating upstairs space for two bedrooms and a bathroom.

So it was a special moment for us when the new staircase went in. A bungalow no more!

And Emma and I no longer have to sway precariously up and down ladders to measure up upstairs.

 

One Month In: our eco-makeover

The new concrete base in the old house is in, ready for insulation and underfloor heating.

The new concrete base in the old house is in, ready for insulation and underfloor heating.

It started at Easter, with the roof coming off first. So naturally I was predicting a biblical deluge all month long from that moment. Miraculously instead we have enjoyed a month of nearly continuous blue skies and summer like heat.

Our main contractor Stevenson Building Contractors Ltd have made amazing progress in just a few weeks. We chose Stevenson because everyone in the area recommended them, plus they have a lot of experience installing the whole range of eco-measures in big Cotswold retrofit projects. Continue reading

Pole Dancing

Pole Goes Down 2015Legal searches at The Secret Acre revealed that we receive the princely sum of £1 per annum ground rent for the electricity pole in the garden.

But the wire off it that delivered our mains electricity looked like it would be dangerously within reach of small children once the dormer was built. More importantly the pole was slap bang in the middle of the proposed foundations for the timber frame extension. It would have to go. Continue reading