Moving on

I suspect many of you will know this already!

It’s happening!

After two years discussing, preparing and planning the move from Fife to North Yorkshire is virtually here. Frank leaves the Fife Men Project and FIRST at the end of the month and we move over that weekend although most of East March Street has been transported over the last two years.

We don’t underestimate how much of a challenge the move from Fife will be, as someone recently said, “but you are in with the woodwork and everyone knows Alec & Frank”, a little of an exaggeration but in some ways accurate!

Austwick is a beautiful place to discover and we hope that many of you will come and share our place where we have already made our mark, especially with Rod and Doogie helping at the village Street Market every May Bank Holiday! Check it out www.austwick.org

Avid bloggers will know by following www.sisterdm.blogspot.com just how much of a decision to move and leave our family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances this has been but decision made, now we must accept the consequences!

So to practical details:

 The telephone land line for Kirkcaldy has been discontinued – replaced by 01524251354. Mobile numbers for Alec (07721663421) and Frank (07909963479) remain the same and are operational.

 Alec’s email becomes even easier to remember adeary@austwick.org and his blog will continue on the address above. Frank has yet to decide to have an email address with the local community broadband but most certainly will not be blogging or anywhere near technology!

 Finally just in case you did not know our address is:

Highfield
Austwick
Near Clapham
Via Lancaster
North Yorkshire
LA2 8BD

A fond farewell to you all and hope to see you in our new home

Alec and Frank

The Workies

Near completion smiles all around although Derek somewhat on a slant! I expect it was the four return visits to Fife that did it!
So the master plan is that Frank finishes work at FIRST & Fife Men at the end of September and we will be fully moved by the weekend beginning October. This gives us chance to settle into something of a routine before Christmas and we hope another New Year celebration with close friends. We hope to that visitors will be welcome and unlike this weekend (29th August) when Rod and Doogie gave a surprise visit only to find we were in Fife we certainly will be about!

Mission Completed

Well, we hope so as the bathroom conversion has not been without trauma! At first going well that a number of mishaps and problems that tainted the project. However we are well on the way to recovery and with the big move on the horizon looking foward to settling into our new home!
Initially the work went well with local folk knowcking the toilet and bathroom into one area, then Scotia Joinery coming down from Fife to do a lot of the infrastructure on the walls and tiling, plus a wonderful piece of work creating the half all tongue and groove areas, taking the cupboard wall away and creating a new area as can be seen on the picture! The plumbing went well until the shower screen shattered and things went down hill from then. However as usual we dusted outselves down (literally) and started again! Derek's electrical work proceeded without a hitch and he was quite taken by the ceiling radio which he did have reservations about! We won't talk about broken down vans, speeding fines, chipped sink, bent pipes and claw hammer feet! Perhaps I will when I have recovered especially from the cost being over budget by some large amount!

Conversion

Well it's underway folks and the Scots invading Austwick again! That will the teach the local trades folk trying to rip off the Northern Queens!
So Derek and his mates (as in straight male friends - nothing to do with rubber outfits) strayed down last Friday with Derek electric as usual, John a team substitute (more of him later) the on Saturday the Scotia Joinery crowd Mark and Paul, who have forgotten to go back to Fife! They will most probably be working here until Friday when Derek and John are back for the final electric and plumbing work!
It's a marathon but already is looking brilliant!
Now to John - so the big boys went out to play on Saturday and John had my Dad's left Dark rum before the GCI! The doubles flowed because English measures just don't hit the right places! John switched to Glenmorangie and servived to tell the tale but onlu just! Sunday I had to go with him to Skipton for some plumbers gear and of course took the bendy hill roads just to see him go various shades of green!
Says he will never drink again! Biggest laugh is now the layed breakfast table found itself on the floor in the dining room! John came in from GCI and poured a final nightcap then duly collapsed on the dinning room table sending everything flying! Wonderful!