Tiled roof and chimney

The walkway round the house

The Digging is done and we've struck water

Digging for the sceptic tank and water tank is finished.

The water tank is built into the banking on the far side of the house. Because of the steepness of the slope we had to terrace it anyway, so we are making use of the lower terrace to form the water tank.

The sceptic tank is closer to the road and has to got much deeper. A special digger had to be brought in to get through the hard ground and, when it reached the right depth, it was filled with water. This could cause a bit of a problem so they are leaving it to see if it drains away before they start building the tank.

The dreaded wall and more progress

The wall at the back is now in place and it makes a handy coat rack. From the photograhs it doesn't look quite as bad as we feared, especially with the earth pushed back in place.

They have started digging the hole for the water tank on the far side of the house. It will be an underground, concrete tank, 8 x 2 x 1.5 metres in size, and should last quite a few days if there is a water supply problem in the village. There is so much excess soil they are having take it off site and donate it to anyone prepared to take it.

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The roof tiles have arrived and are going on, so we'll see abig difference in April

And the central heating boiler chimney from the cellar to the roof is in place.

Progress update February 2010

Greece is bankrupt, the Germans want to buy Corfu to help with the debt and there is a threat of a huge windfarm in San Stefanos bay. And our house.....

Slowly, slowly!

We had to get over a big disappointment when we found that out builders had dug into the perfectly sound bank at the back of the house. Instead of a shrub covered bank we now have a bare, unsound, scraped back surface and have to build a concrete wall to make sure it's safe.

Thanassis was upset because we were upset but we now have to make the best of it.

Apart from that, things are moving slowly in the right direction. The electricity, plumbing and air conditioning are all in place. The outside of the house is rendered and the inside walls are plastered.

I think we're looking at 2011 before we can move in.