Man Cave Mk2

[Wingco]

Hi Mike,
So glad after all this time you have finally got planing permission. Looks great the new build image beautifully finished off.
Mellerstain House looks very nice hope you all have a great Xmas there.
Photos are stunning yet again Mike.

Hope you and your family have a great Xmas and a great new year.

[b33fy]

Thanks Duncan, Colin. Chilling at Mellerstain after a foray to Edinburgh to grab a new phone. Wasn’t going to bother but found one in stock and thought why not. TBH anyone thinking of upgrading from an iPhone 11 or later to a 14, think twice, it’s not a huge step up, especially for the dosh. I’ve gone from an 11 pro max to a 14 pro max. Other than the cost and supposedly better camera, it’s not a massive leap in reality.

Shot of Princess Street taken with the old phone from the Ferris wheel and one of Mellerstain House with the new phone.

Have a great xmas all

[DJ.]

Nice photos

I've gone the other way with phones, and bought a Cubot Pocket from Amazon for £125, it's really small and does everything I need.

I hope you all have a Happy Christmas and a well deserved break!

[greenwoo]

wow, that looks a terrific find Mike! have a good one!

[b33fy]

wow, that looks a terrific find Mike! have a good one!

Thanks Mark. It’s one of the biggest stately piles in Scotland, one of a few dotted around Kelso. Floors Castle being the most well known one. There’s a few quid knocking about here with the monied gentry. Popped into a Deli in town for some quince jelly, £25 a kilo. Ouch! Didn’t stay to check out the cost of the meats and cheeses! Needless to say it was fairly busy in there.

[b33fy]

The Covid caught up with me over xmas and the new year. Just about managed to scratch around and do the odd job though nothing hugely substantial.

Well enough now to crack on.. the game plan is to work inside if it’s wet or freezing outside all other times. Wet today so decided to start knocking the lodge about. A few internal walls to remove. Got lucky with the first one which was non supporting. Acrows turning up tomorrow for the others.. just in case.

[b33fy]

All walls in main living area are out, gotta do some remedial work then the acrow supports can come down. Ceilings knocked out as well. They were a bit bastardised with an assortment of layers of lath, plaster and plasterboard. So a new ceiling going in through out.

Hopefully Monday start on getting the supports out after a few trips to the tip. Then look to make the new opening into the proposed extension. Gonna be a tricky one tbh. Wall is made of random stone and quarry waste. It’s supporting the substantial roof structure as well.

[DJ.]

Crikey, you don't do anything by halves

Take care. Is the extension built already then?

[b33fy]

Crikey, you don't do anything by halves

Take care. Is the extension built already then?

Not yet Duncan. It’s too cold for ground works at the moment so dipping between the inside and outside dependent on the weather. Gonna take a year or so to get it habitable. Hoping to have it ready for xmas this year.

[Wingco]

Wow, its amazing what you can do with a sledge hammer and brute force and few days Mike.
That's a nice large space you have there now, hopefully that will make it easier to put your plans together.
On wards Mike long road a head