This week the build appears to be turning a corner. After slogging in ankle deep mud for a couple more weeks, and with another five 16 ton grab lorries hauling great piles of muck off our driveway, the majority of the excavation seems to be complete. Darren appear confident that no more muck lorries will be needed. The upshot then is a fully cleaned out and excavated hole where the kitchen used to be. The back wall, side wall, floor and roof have all come down, leaving a wet, clay and water filled hole. And they've extended the whole to dig out the patio space further out and back together with a trench for a retaining wall footing. The best milestone was seeing the large brick pillar that has dominated the kitchen since we moved in fall to the floor. It will not be missed. I chipped in a bit too. Asbestos cladding for the Aga flue where it ran through the under eaves needed removing, and I decided that I could do it myself and dispose of it via...