Tue 19 Nov

Not as productive a day as we'd hoped. The steels providers failed to provide - "their lorry's been impounded" - so the walls haven't come down. But the bricks have arrived, for the building of the back walls either side of the new bifolding door... and possibly the new front wall under the window in what was the garage.

At least the structural chaps had made a bit of a start on reducing that concrete lintel. There's now a six-inch gap, through which a cold winter wind whistles – the temperature dropped below freezing at around 10pm.  

In the kitchen extension, by the temporary toilet - hey, workers gotta wee - they've concreted over the pipework for the kitchen sink and dishwasher.

Out back, more bricks. They're designed to match the surviving original bricks as closely as possible.

More bricks. And a stepladder. Unexpected boon for stepladder fans there.

And another stepladder! Great scenes for stepladder buffs. This is the original external side wall, with a doorhole which is going to be knocked much wider, hopefully tomorrow. Those props there will hold the side of the house up while the steels go in.

The doorhole to be extended, from the "inside".