I’m not sure whether our meeting today went well or badly – we’re not ‘dead in the water’ but we’ve not had a wave through either – wait and see seems to be the name of the game. So we’ll wait and we’ll see.

So, my attentions have turned to this place – the rat’s nest.

I’ve cleaned and tidied out a bedroom today that’s been under a ton of rubble, brick dust and junk ever since we moved in – in the meantime, it’s also had hot water sprayed all over it (central heating disaster) and holes cut out of the walls for wiring.

To be honest, it’s not been much fun but I do actually feel as though I have achieved SOMETHING.

I am dreaming of a day when the rat’s nest turns into the beautiful, well-structured, cosy, feathered eyrie that we visualised when we moved here. A place where we can soar over the world and see our destiny, a place where we can return at night, safe from the ravages of the elements. I know it’s a lot to ask, but one day, one day….we just have to carry on with the building and carry on putting the heart back into this place. I still believe (even though I have been having an abundance of ‘bad days’) that if you try hard enough and you work hard enough, sooner or later, it’ll happen.

Paddington Bear was in my thoughts last year.