Owning your own home

I'm definitely pissed about the pizza van.

It's right on your old doorstep! Once you move on from Bickley they might get one?

That new place looks good. Me and Mrs Sparky went to the Lavender place just up the road from it and it was a massive disappointment. Burnt-tasting filter coffee and a weak eggs Benedict. We should all troop up there and try it out.

#BR1

If anyone tried parking a fancy pizza van in Downham, they'd have the alloys off in a shot. It'd be up on bricks.

Wrong side of the hill now..
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THAT HOME ON MY BIKE?

Probably.

I do have Shampan 2 though.

Arlo & Moe

jesus thats on my commute! AND round the corner from Vaz .. Dangerous

saw that too; bit yummy-mummy .. this defiantly has hipster potential ..

Is v tasty there, if you can get in past the prams. The pizza van is just through the tunnel, other side of HG station. Weds and Fri apparently. So also on your commute :)

whats Arlo & Moe?

are you going to go for one of those velux cabrio type windows you mentioned a while back? (i'm sure it was you!)

also is anyone else getting it done/had it done in your area that you could ask to look at?

have you spoken to your neighbours regarding their consent for the party wall agreement? this could be quite tricky if they don't want to play ball.

are you going to go for one of those velux cabrio type windows you mentioned a while back?

Yep - it will have the added benefit of giving us more headroom at the top of the stairs, which would otherwise be too low for building control.

The neighbours are all cool - they had their loft done over the past couple of years (due to cowboy builders) and we're been nothing but accommodating to them. We're even going to be fixing a damp problem of theirs by building up the party wall and flashing over to their dormer wall.

We're knocking on doors this weekend on people with extensions that are on the go.

About to sign exchange docs and numpty solicitor has failed to include the actual contract.

Mine did that then blamed me... I was grateful i scanned everything so i could show him after.

Netatmo and vaillant.
Will it work with the timeswitch 160 (which is the cheaper programming unit)?

Thankfully our one has sent a grovelling email and is putting the contract in the post today.

Going back to the woodburner question a few pages back - mine cost something like 600 quid, and then another 1500 quid to install. That was for a lined flue too. They weren't the best installers, but it works fine. Around this time of year you have to wait fucking ages for anyone to be available, or else end up paying top top dollar - think the most I was quoted for an install was close to three grand. Oh my install price was a naughty cash one too. Wait maybe it was less. Oh I don't know.
Anyway, best thing I've spent money on in this house. I'm a country boy at heart and having a wood fire really makes everything happier in the winter. Does make a lot of mess though.

Yeah, the booking/waiting thing is going to bugger us I think. We're still faffing and haven't yet brought anyone in much less chosen a stove. I take it there are no lurkers here based in Brighton who do installations?

Just spoke to my solicitor and we are exchanging this afternoon, with a view to completing in two weeks. Can't quite believe it.

A coffee shop where you can't get through the door because of all the £900 buggies and kids with fucking stupid names.

BUT - it will make the price of my house increase. So welcome all the Rufuses and their dimwitted parents.

The price of your house goes up at the same rate as coffee shops opening up in the area and serving babycinos.

ah i see
i was curious as as an option for a window in itself they are actually pretty pricey for what they are, but understand how it will work for you. i have never really opted to stand at my velux windows and take in the view of the street so would have been a waste of money for me.
definitely go and knock on a few doors, this is what i did.
you going for ensuite or not?
i would suggest going for oversize velux's on the sloping roof, at least 900 wide shower tray if getting ensuite, and ask them to slightly raise the ridgebeam to fit in a bit more headheight if needed.

also are you going to go for new roof or tiles at the same time?

We won't be able to raise the ridge within permitted development - head height is going to be a problem, whatever happens. Building control is, however, quite forgiving on that front.

As it is, we've had to sacrifice en suite size by moving the stairs.

I've spend the past few days with the architect configuring the en suite (in particular the door) to have enough head room in the shower.

We're going for oversized windows for sure.

I think we're also going to have to suck up having the sloping roof re-done - it's old and not in great shape, and trying to shove two large Veluxes in the middle of it without disturbing it is wishful thinking.

Whereabout are you based if you don't mind me asking. I'll be going through this same process later on in the year.