building work update

Our builder friends are now virtually residing in Havran Cottage as each stage of the house gets closer to an almost livable state. Our bathroom, which you see in the picture, now has wires and cables, which is certainly an improvement to the empty space a few weeks ago. A sign of productiveness amongst the chaos. Out here the general rule is that you should be able to do it all yourself, unfortunately as a foreigner I am still learning and therefore restricted to the fun jobs of digging out channels for our drain-off in the sweaty outdoor heat.                                              

Airport!

Sorry no pictures allowed where I am accommodated tonight, the airport. The joy of budget airlines at 'silly-time' o'clock as our main connection route. 
A lot has changed since I first started taking the UK-Slovakia journey, through two defunct airlines to the present experiences of everyone's favourite (according to them) Ryanair.
And it's not just the airline but the sort of passengers that take this route have changed or grown-up too. From nearly full planes of au-pairs, the odd boyfriend or two, and occasional entrepreneur to the present mix of young families with tearful babies, construction job-hunters and weekend staggers, it's funny how it begins to reflect the changes in the roles of Slovaks in both countries. And this over such a short period of a decade.
With its gleaming new terminal buildings at Bratislava, motorways finally linking and occassional Eu funded projects taking off, the next catchment for the airlines and for this country is tourism. 
There is still deadwood stubbornly resisting all the changes available in Slovakia, the sleepiness of the country can be a bit crazy sometimes, and the only acceleration you might only visually see is the Slovak car driver desperately trying to over-take you. Slowly though with more natives returning, more ideas will develop and hopefully take to realizing that the airport is not a means of escape. 
If this sounds like drivel, it's because it's late and I am tired and want to go home there too. 

Bug

A regular morning walk around the apple trees to save the fallen crop from further hornet attack.
The sweet fruit scents arousing these giants, always suspicious of why we are taking away their all day breakfast. Trying to show we aren't afraid, they smell fear otherwise.
Attacks from all sides as the potato plants unsteadily begin to wilt in the heat and from the growing army of Colardo beetle bug (see 'Wiki'!). My only source to dismantle the bug population is to drown them in our compost bucket of pee and peelings.  

Preserved

Whilst the cottage is under constant attack from our builders Jana bravely perseveres with preserves with the army size surplus from the garden.
In our first year of vegetable gardening maybe we slightly under-estimated how much might pop out of the ground.
Perfect weather has helped.
Inspired from re-runs of "The Good Life", this last week has led us to scratch around our charity haulage of old english recipe and self-sufficient related books. So far plum wine, marrow wine, marrow sirup, plum cordial, anything and everything in vinegar, kecups, tomato sauces, chutney this, chutney that..
With winter fast approaching (30C as usual today), the words 'be prepared' become more appropiate to us.

Facebook

We are now available to be 'liked' as "Havran Cottage" on facebook for more news and plans for the future. 

Pants

Whilst back doors are being fitted, vegetables constantly getting preserved, and even a stove gradually getting built ready for winter, surely the big news is the outdoor toilet on the move!
Broken down like a kit-form, hoisted onto two wheelbarrows, a struggled journey to it's new, more privat 'e' location. 
Now, sitting within spitting distance of where it will stay standing, an area is being excavated ready for all the deposits.
A new seat to be fitted to separate all the ones and twos, and utilized in an organic way..
Once put back together a beautiful view from the door onto open countryside to tempt the sitter to stay longer.
The masterplan will continue with the production of a second utility built next door. Each to have a 6 month use throughout the year depending on quantity and quality control of course!

what lays ahead

We are promised a good week of weather this week, hopefully this will prompt a decent return on the building work on the house in preparation for the winter, yes the winter! Much as we can make fun of how slow progress can be in this country, our own predicament might well be taken as a case in point too! With one cold tap still, and a stove/kitchen waiting to be built. The nights are drawing in and the clock is ticking.