Renovations Update

Well we hoped it would happen in May, then June, July, August and eventually in September work started on our new roof.

When they started repairing the back roof, they found some horrors in our bathroom dormer.

But this was skilfully put right by our roofers

We have some nice new skylight windows and a completely rebuilt chimney too.

A little finishing off outside and then the work will now move inside to take down the old lathe and plaster walls and ceilings in the front part of the house upstairs, fit insulation and then drywall them.

The work on the bathroom dormer has disturbed the tiling in the upstairs bathroom - so that refit is now brought up the agenda too (which we will have to do ourselves due to cost) and then next summer we have to paint the whole outside of the house.

We are still alive, keeping busy and still in Nova Scotia.

Podcast 70

Right click the orange podcast logo above and "save file as" or "save target as" to download (16.8mb)

Just a quick update to let you know we are still doing ok and to answer some questions which Louise asked us by email.

How long has it been since you relocated?
Has it met your expectations?
What would you do differently if you were just now starting to plan your move?
What was the biggest disappointment?
What has been the best reward?
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Recorded outside so apologies for the noises when the wind got up.

Please vote for our neighbours

Friends around the world, please vote for Lawrencetown for CBC Hockeyville here - you don't have to register or anything - just complete the words in the box and vote (at least once) before midnight (eastern) on Wednesday 31st March.

It would give a great boost to the village if you also joined the facebook group and posted on the wall.

Lawrencetown is the next village to us and will be on national TV on Saturday.

Welcome to Annapolis Digby

We are taking part in an immigration campaign with our local development agency - the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency encouraging people to settle in this part of the valley. The campiagn launches today. Our short video is below:



View the full welcome video montage here.

Possible downtime

To host the podcast, we used to use the blogger.com ftp service to publish the blog. Google/Blogger have decided to discontinue this service and although are providing alternatives and lots of useful "how to" articles, there will be some downtime as we change to the new system.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience and let us know if things don't work as expected. I hope it doesn't download all the podcasts again for people.

Dogs and Snow

Aware that we have been a bit lax in keeping on top of the podcast or posting anything at all, I thought I would add this video I took today when I took the dogs out. We have had an unusual amount of snow, which makes getting around the property a little challenging - the dogs seem to like it though.

Proof that at least the dogs and I are still living. Will have to post a picture of AJ with a current newspaper.

Podcast 69

Right click the orange podcast logo above and "save file as" or "save target as" to download (32mb)

Chicken update
duck – lame duck
chicks appearing – natural rearing with their mothers/surrogates

Lotte
Produce update - 3rd summer

• tomatoes
• garlic
• onions
• potatoes
• carrots
• peppers
• beans
• peas
• zucchini (courgette)
• berries
• grape vines
• water tank

AJ visit to England

Work on house
Mortgage (short), good interest rates, buffer against future disasters
Envirofoam – basement insulation
Ecowater – water softener
New windows (energystar rated)

Non-house things things (which will not add value to it) too
New sofas and other furniture
2 new netbooks after various laptop disasters

Future works
New roof, skylights, verandah restoration, kitchen door, carpet, flooring, bathrooms, closets, insulation and dry walling. Work on wiring happening in next few weeks. But probably not solar panels for now.

Bad things AJ – his father's death
Matt – the economy

Good things
AJ – Lotte and turning 40
Matt – Skype, white woodwork, clean water, lots of produce, rainwater harvesting.