Dramaramas

We've been away for about a week and a half and quite a lot has happened in that time Firstly, we have had to choose yet another brick... not an easy task when one is away from a computer and the brick display centres. Anyway, we have now decided to go with Austral Chocolate. I'm not so sure its the best choice, given its dark colour will absorb heat in summer and make the house hotter than it might otherwise be. I'm so over it all though, and just want to get the house built. If its really unsuitable, we can always render later on. 

From the airport, we went straight away to the house to have a look at the progress. I wasn't expecting a lot, due to the brick delay. I was pleasantly surprised (yet again) to see that some insulation has gone in, the heating and cooling ducts are in, the plaster has been delivered, the electrical wiring is mostly done and all of the windows and sliding doors are in!

Today we got a rude shock. We went past the house again so that our daughter could have a look and what we saw prompted us to call the police! It seemed that our house had been vandalised. The water mains were on and there was a punctured (drilled) hole in the plumbing of the bathroom. There was water absolutely everywhere. We turned it off at the mains and called the police. It also looked like the temporary fencing had been knocked over too. I was shattered. The pooling water made me think that the wooden frame would be ruined, the roof would have to be pulled off and we'd basically have to start from scratch. This in turn let to thoughts of us ending up homeless, as we have a fairly firm deadline to  be out of here.... not nice thoughts at all really.

When the police turned up, they seemed to think that it wasn't vandalism, but poor workmanship. It appears that a builder has drilled a hole through the wood, but not stopped before drilling partly into the piping. Today was very hot, and we think it may have expanded and split, and whoosh... water everywhere.

The good thing, I guess, is that it happened before we'd moved in. I can only dread to think of the mess that would have resulted if it happened down the track. The bad news is that we don't know if there is damage that needs to be fixed, and if it will result in any delays. I will be ringing Carlisle first thing tomorrow, and hopefully a supervisor will go and inspect.