Dogs v Builders - Part Two

It became clear to us during the course of the week that dogs, builders and living in the house whilst work is proceeding above our heads, is not the ideal combination - especially whilst trying to work under summer peak season pressures.

Finally I broke down - a full day from 6.30am (yes I know, we are lucky the builders actually arrive at that time) until 7pm, with Scruff either tied up or closed inside where he spent the entire day barking or trying to open the doors or both, was just too much. So I called my local dog hotel and off he went for a few days holiday of his own. Blissfully happy, with an exuberant friend, he didn't even look back as he left.

Building work proceeded. Roof structure, waterproofing, insulation and finally the tiles began to go on. In the meantime all the debris is around the garden(?), most of the fence has been knocked down and the surrounding area is full of empty bottles, tins, you name it, its there!

Then they cut the phone line, so no phone and no internet! The noise from 6.30 each day was so overwhelming that by Wednesday we had decided enough was enough and decamped to our house at Halikounas, which luckily for our peace of mind (but not our finances) was empty for a few days. Of course it took all day Wednesday to pack up everything which we absolutely had to have to move - phone chargers, camera chargers, laptop bits, files, building plans, files of paperwork, apart from clothing and food.

We got in the Jeep, collected Scruff and took him for first visit to house with pool, jacuzzi and sea - and he is not a fan of water. However, the garden is closed, so apart from blocking the space under the gate to prevent escape, he was secure, and once a bed had been established in an armchair he was fine. Whilst we were away the phone line was reconnected at home. Useful since the mobile connection is 'iffy' to say the least.

Thursday and Friday could be said to have gone well. Peace and quiet, returning from work to a swim in the pool and getting up in the morning to sit and watch the sea. We decided we could definitely get used to this. We also got a chance to see the sunsets that all our clients describe in the villa’s guest book.

Saturday morning - pandemonium outside, vans, workmen. The phone company had arrived to change the phone cabling in the entire Halikouna area! Back to closing the dog inside, securing the garden, locking the gate - I definitely began to think we are jinxed. I also couldn't get any connection with mobil Vodafone wonder gadget! Son arrived to say the builders had cut the phone line again at home, so I couldn't even go there to work!

Whilst the phone company guys were working, I enquired about the possibility of wireless broadband at Halikouna since many villa clients do ask if it is available. Great mirth all round. Final conclusion, 'I doubt it but you can always ask!'

The rest of Saturday very peaceful. Sunday likewise, except Sunday is being spent clearing up the villa for clients arriving on Monday and for our move back to the building site. The phone line is still cut. The garden still full of debris. The roof is virtually finished but the extension is still only walls and a new roof.

Scruff is going back to the kennels for a few days whilst we work out a way to close off a piece of garden for him, since it seems the builders will be living with us for some time to come. If we go totally mad I suppose we will have to move to our small house in St. Georges, which is actually a show house – it looks very pretty but is somewhat under-equipped so probably just as bad as staying with the builders!

Apart from that, I did manage to do some work and saw a lovely house near Issos Beach, showed some land, looked at more land, went with Sarah to show a villa with stunning views up in Vigla, and looked at a potentially great half-finished house near Skidi beach. So life does go on, you just have to ignore the builders - or make them part of the family!
Diana