Stripping on a Sunday

This is how the room that might loosely be described as our 'Master Bedroom' used to look. Groovy wallpaper, no?

Not any more. I spent yesterday removing it, while Tim began work on a drystone wall in the back garden.

It was my first visit to Gondelim in two weeks. In fact, it was the first time I'd left Casa Amalie in two weeks, thanks to an avalanche of work deadlines. But a lot's been done by Tim during that time, from dismantling a pig sty to planting leeks, onions and garlic. I officially have a Brilliant Husband. 

In other news, the first estimate for the roof is in and I met Rita, the daughter of Adoindo, from who we bought the house. Rita makes beautiful things out of gorgeous fabrics (you can see them here) and her father Adoindo has a tame magpie that he feeds on little pieces of raw meat, which is pretty cool. In fact, one of the best things so far about buying this house is how generous the Silva family are with their time and advice.

Audition time

For two days in a row, Tim has come back from the house in Gondelim smelling distinctly of beer and port.

I thought that was my job.

But apparently, it's all part of auditioning builders to provide you with roof-replacing and cellar-digging 'solutions'. 

In other news, we are discussing a loft conversion. God, that makes me feel old.

And the New Address cards arrived today from Moo. They are lovely and I can't wait to send them out. 

A productive weekend

Here's a glimpse of Mission Control at Gondelim.

Despite heavy rain, we got a lot done this weekend. I pruned about 10 feet of grapevine and shifted a good few wheelbarrow-loads of timber and broken tiles. Fun. 

Tim in the meantime, knocked down an internal wall, to create the main hallway/landing. 

On Sunday, we were invited next door by our new neighbours to celebrate their eldest son's birthday with 25 (!) members of the immediate family. We are SO looking forward to moving here - but there's a lot to do before we can. 

Ola querida, estou em casa ("Hi honey, I'm home")

This is how Tim came home last night. 

Correction: This is a photo of Tim mid-afternoon. By the time he came home, he wasn't nearly so clean. 

While I have been confined to barracks by work, Tim has been up at the house for the past two days, taking down a roof and clearing vegetation from the top terrace. 

I'm frustrated that I haven't been up there myself since we bought the place, but looking forward to spending as much time there this weekend as the weather allows. 

I have my own hard hat and everything. Pictures (may) follow. 

Day One: 11 November 2009

Day One of our project to turn a derelict cottage in Central Portugal into our dream home. It's a vision we've assembled after much covetous, sweaty-palmed leafing through the Toast catalogue and back issues of Country Living, but a vision nonetheless.

Yesterday, Tim and I finally completed the purchase of a house in the village of Gondelim, thirteen months after moving to rural Portugal from Hackney, east London. Contrast doesn't even start to describe it. 

The meeting yesterday between us, the sellers, our lawyer and the Notary was conducted largely in rapid-fire Portuguese. But we have a set of keys and a legal-looking document, so I'm pretty sure the house is ours now. 

After 'celebrating' rather too vigorously last night, I'm heading off for an early night. But despite being pretty frail himself today, Tim has already been up to the house and removed wall tiles in an location we optimistically refer to as the Outside Dining Area. Right now, it's a bit of a sh*thole.

Wish us luck!