Sorry for not posting on Sunday. I had an unexpected visitor from Tokyo, and we met for pizza and sweets and wine. So much wine…
Yesterday, I met with the architect and the general contractor at the house for about 2 hours or so. We talked mainly about the office because this is the most important room for me to get done before my move. Also, we talked about the kitchen where we’ll make space for the washing machine, and we went upstairs to discuss the tatami and a possible refurbishment of the designated bedroom.
At this moment, it seems that the tatami upstairs can be done very quickly, and also the kitchen corner where the washing machine is to go should be done relatively quickly and easily. The office, where there is more to do – I want to replace the two sliding doors to the outside with a window, knock down one wall to access the storage underneath the staircase, and have new walls and flooring installed – will probably take longer. As a starting date we envision “end of November”.
Which is a bit scary, because I have tentatively set my moving date for the last weekend of November…. Everything is working in the house, so I can definitely move in, and the only thing that really needs to be done before I come with all my stuff are the new tatami upstairs. Otherwise, I and my stuff will be in the way of everything and everybody. But the contractor and the architect understand that, so let’s hope for the best.
The house does already provide entertainment. There is a garden door right in front of my entrance that has no keys, just a bolt. People don’t seem to care, they just enter – I know because they don’t bother bolting the gate, therefore it’s open every time I come to the house. All sorts of people coming to the house – the doorbell has a little camera that turns on every time somebody rings.
And I have received a pink slip from the post office with my name on it already, telling me to do something before next Tuesday. I wonder what that will be. I’ll visit a friend of mine tomorrow to decipher the cryptic message.
So yes, things are moving forward. Next step: waiting for the contractor’s quote, getting a quote and a date on the move. Things are moving forward indeed…