WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES.....168 LITTLE HOURS...

Here's me going all wax lyrical!

We've been to visit the house twice this week...Monday and last night (Don't forget we're also trying to move home in between!!) On Monday we took Ralph the plumber is birthday cake, he seemed rather pleased with it! I'm told Glucklich Geberstag is Happy Birthday in german ....i've learnt something new!

Anyway back to the house...Monday was interesting...again there were germans everywhere and whilst our haus looks superb it did also look like a building site!! A huf building site mind you!! Joiners were cutting wood, the sparky's had wires everywhere and the plumbers were beavering away in the plant room. It looked like chaos...organised chaos though!

Last night there was no one....the huf team's gone and the house is spotless, ready for the next team! So what's changed???

Well the house is wired, we have trip switches galore...the plant room is plumbed (see pictures), all the wooden pelmets are up and the underfloor heating as been laid. Check out the picture and note just how prescise and neat it has been laid! I can't believe they've done all this in such a short period time!

So now we have to wait for the English. Whilst our water connection has been made, we need the oil (for the boiler) connecting and for United Utilities to connect the Electricity. The oil is imperative because without this we can not fire up the boiler and test the underfloor heating so the project will come to halt. I am assured though this will be up and running by Monday. We are using a temporary electricity supply so we should be ok there! So the warning for anyone considering a huf haus is keep chasing your utility suppliers. The Germans can put a house up in 6 days. United Untilities have been on with connecting electricity since last September!

WE'VE GOT PLUG SOCKETS (And a whole lot more!!)

What I really love about visiting our Haus is that everytime we go down we can see a visible difference! Todays biggest change has probably been in the appearance of the floor, fiiting of internal glass and the fact that we have plug sockets and light switches (and a rather fancy devise that controls the electic blinds....very flash!!)







So firstly the flooring! The basic piping that feeds the underfloor heating is all in place. On top of this our team have laid polystyerene insulation (oh yes, I will be warm!). Because this is white, it makes the room look so much bigger...so now I'm even happier!! Is that possible!!

The next superb change is that all the internal glass pieces including top lights and balconies are all in place. It really looks fantastic and gives a true indication of just how light and airy the home really will be. I love the balcony on the galleried landing that looks over our 2nd sitting area...I think this will be one of my favourite area's of the house!



And finally the last big change is that we are almost wired up with plug sockets and switches in place. It sound daft but I also love the sockets! White fittings on white walls and black fittings on the black wood! Those Germans are sticklers for detail!! We also have tons of sockets which is good and points in almost all rooms for tv, sat and fm radio! I'm impressed! Alex (one of the electricians) is also going to put an additional light point in so I can hang a modern chandlier in the gallieried landing area!



So that is all with regards to the haus! Apparently it was Ralph the plumbers birthday on Thursday so he drove back to Germany to see his family and will be back on Monday. It's a long drive for a weekend (13 hours plus ferry time!). I'm going to get him a cake on Monday to help him celebrate!

4 HUF VANS...8 HUF MEN...AND A HOUSE FULL OF ACTIVITY!!!

Can these Germans get any more efficient?? Can they suprise me anymore??

Today has been a great day in our "huf " world! Ruddiker has been for his inspection and all is pretty much as it should be although he moved the height of a planned plug socket! Apparently it should be higher so they are all at the same height! Huf efficency!! YEAH!!! WE LOVE IT!!

We now have 8 men working in the house...electricians, joiners and of course Ralph the plumber! Their progress is unbelievable! There's been lots done including wiring, work on the internal balcony, fitting of internal glass panels and the installation of our boiler and water tank! I can now actually say the house looks like a building site inside...although admittedly a organised one!
What I like about these guys though is not only their efficency but their eagerness to help me. I asked for an extra plug socket in the plant room and guess what??? IT'S NOT A PROBLEM!! How refreshing!!

I've also had a good shufty around today...my bath has arrived (can't wait to see that fitted), I've found the wooden pelmets that goes over the wiring and come across lots of insulation panels...I know the picture isn't exciting but look at the thickness...I'll be nice and warm!!

We left site at 7.30pm tonight, as per usual the germans were still working and enjoy a well earned German Beer!! Good on yer lads!!

Ralph The Plumber!

So Ralph the plumber is with us...and as of last night (day 2 for him) he'd got tons done ...don't forget at the moment he's on his own!!

Whilst I'm not 100% as to what he's actualy doing, I can tell you vents have appeared, piping as been laid (the picture above is of the ensuite bathroom piping) and a rather interesting control system for the underfloor heating zones has appeared....see the picture! We've also got a large water tank (although we'll need that with the size of my bath!!) He's working rather hard!







I had to laugh though when I went down yeasterday...Ralph has brought with him all of his own lunch facilities...food, drink, coffee perculator and pizza oven! Yes, you've read that right...he's brought a PIZZA OVEN!!! How bizarre!! It's great!


Ralph was also telling us that there have been quite a few huf "tourists" coming for a look! I'll be honest, if it wasn't my house I'd probably be calling for a nosey too! The only thing that has stopped me going tonight is the fact that I have to start packing to move. All being well (weather permitting, it's snowing as I type!) I'll go look tomorrow instead!

THE PLUMBER IS EARLY!!

Today I went to site...one to check all was ok and two...just for nosey! There was me thinking I'd be all myself (John was working!) and to me suprise another German Green Huf Van was there!

We have a plumber named Ralph! He's here on his own until Monday getting some pipework sorted and vents into place! He doesn't speak much english, my german isn't great but we had a good chat! Apparently he is early ( a refreshing change for trades people, but don't forget he's german!) and he will work every day but Sunday from 7am -8pm! 13 hour days!

I'm made up!

My friend Carly also visited the house today! She also loves it and says I'm a rather lucky girl! Thank you for your kind comments Carly and the cheeky ones that I can't type here!

Another great plus was todays Gazzette article. It's fab...Craig has done a great job and I get 5 mins of fame (well in my head anyway) as he's included a picture with me on! I'll ask him to post it on the web so I can attach a link!

I've now got to start thinking about curtains and blinds for all that glass and odd shaped windows, some in hard to reach places! Anyone got any ideas ????

We're in the local paper!!

I have to let everyone know that we're in the local Blackpool Gazette tonight! It's a teaser editorial as tomorrow they plan to run a large spread on the progress of home! I have to say I do like it so Craig if you are reading this Thank You to you too!!

So now my mum in Huddersfield (& Sheila the neighbour) want a copy! I've promised Sara @ Huf Haus Owners Group a copy and I need a couple myself!! If the gazette sells out tomorrow it will be my fault!!

No piccies today, but tomorrow (it's my day off) I'm going to go and have another look at it!! I can't keep away!

BYE BYE GERMANS ....FOR NOW!!

Today as been the last day of our haus build! The tiles are all finished, the chimneys all in and the balconies have all been put up!!

I'm in love...the house is just something else...I want to move in now! The germans have also put the chain guttering on...the water literally sticks to it and falls into the concrete circle below! They have told us that if we find our site is too windy (thus the chains sway) we can order a traditional style gutter but in complete glass to encase it...only the Germans could think of this!!

I said in my last post that Mr Inspector man was due today...guess what the germans are human after all!! They boo booed...it's next week instead! It's good to know that they are not completly perfect...ha ha ha !!!

Anyway, today I have had to work a full day and by the time I got down to site they had finished...so BYE BYE GERMANS and THANK YOU!!!! You've down a fantasic job!!
They left site at 3pm. Can you believe this....they were going back to their travel lodge (nr b&q)..they would grab something to eat and then sleep until 2am! At 2am they then set off in their green huf van for Weybridge for 2 maintenances jobs (starting at 7am). They plan to finish these by 7pm and drive back home! If all goes to plan they get 2 days off plus wekenend and then it's onto the next job...home soil for them next though!

So thats it for now! Team 2 arrives on Monday...that comprises the under floor heating man, a sparky and a plumber...oh and Mr Inspector man!! I'll probably drive over just to look at it...but that's just me...quite sad really!!