Now that we are truly established in the house, we need to start enjoying it. But before we can get totally relaxed, we need to make significant progress on unpacking. The upper floor, where most of the living takes place, is certainly habitable and there aren’t boxes everywhere. In fact I can only count two of them.
Downstairs it is a different story. I estimate that there are 80 packing cases piled 3 high in the storage rooms, and there are definitely things therein that we want. And there is a fair amount of furniture still wrapped up. The target I have set myself is to have every case opened and a significant proportion unpacked before our first visitors from UK are scheduled to arrive in just over two weeks.
The cooking complexity is a constant niggle – still no dishwasher, no oven, no cook top. Having just a microwave, a crockpot, coffee maker and the Big Green Egg does present some catering challenges.
There is also a substantial catalogue of things that need to be done in the house. Paint problems, some small electrical issues, some plumbing things – the list is shrinking slowly. And it does mean that we have to be home when tradesmen are available – the house is kept securely locked when we are not at home. It is busy days.