As it’s already embarrassingly late I’ll make the February update a whistle-stop tour of what progress has been made.

My clay-paint painting is going well (if slowly) although I think in places, where I’ve not been so careful in getting the grain of the application of paint quite right – by that I mean where I’ve applied paint in a direction out of kilter with the surrounding area – I may need to rub down with sandpaper before applying the final coat. So maybe more work than first expected.

The stove is now nicely settled into place waiting for the flue to be attached and routed up through the first floor, along the internal wall of the second bedroom and out though the roof. We eventually decided to opt for an internal flue as that is what we have permission for and a) we don’t fancy another visit to planning and b) I prefer a solution that will keep as much heat as possible in the building.