The site has been very busy for the last couple of days, taking on the characteristics of a proper building site: mud, noise, dust and occasionally smells. But we’re delighted with progress and relieved that the guys on site are all working well together in spite of the potential to get in each other’s way. … More 24th March 2021

We’ve had a bit of a lie-in this morning as we wait for Andrew Marr to start, reflecting on the most productive week so far and our changed views from the caravan of the garden. The bungalow is almost gone, the footings for the greenhouse and the garden store are in, and the two new … More 21st March 2021

Last views of a condemned home. Ben and Levi and a big machine have started pulling the bungalow down – it’ll take two days – carefully extracting and separating wood, metal, plasterboard and the unrecyclable stuff and leaving the rubble to be crushed. It all seems very respectful and sympathetic – no wrecking ball or … More 18th March 2021

Clouds Garden Lodge is now starting to look like a building site! It’s all very exciting, but of course we’re finding that the number of machines and vehicles here is inversely related to the bank balance …

Although living in a tin can has its drawbacks, it has proved to be very advantageous living onsite, as workmen and installers have a habit of just turning up, unannounced, ready to start work. Today we can say construction started; not on a house just yet, but the footings for our garden store or ‘bothy’. … More 16th March 2021

We have some bad days when we wonder what’ll go wrong next and how and when we’ll get over the next hurdle. Then we have great days that lift our spirits – Friday was one of these as the west gate finally went up. With Dave, the guy who did all the skilful work! Then … More 14th March 2021

We took receipt of 200 bare-rooted hedging plants on Thursday so recruited some socially-distanced help to get them planted. Gen and Ollie came over to plant, mulch and water, while Dulcie kept an eye on work rates. We’ve gone for some irregular and ‘layered’ stretches which we hope will provide a habitat for birds and … More 12th March 2021

Derek and Luke of Horton Demolition started preparing the bungalow for demolition yesterday by stripping out the inside. While we have no affection for the place, it is sad to see a (presumably) once-loved home stripped bare. It would have been quite a nice place in its 1980 heyday! It was an early start this … More 11th March 2021

This levelled area at the top of the garden is going to be for picnics and a fire pit. We’re starting to understand how the sun moves around the garden and this corner gets the last of it each evening. We’ve got the shape sorted but are wondering how to finish it off – we’re … More 9th March 2021