Site visit - 13th Jan 2012

 Ciaran leading a tour by an Architectural Book Club.

View from the original top landing, looking back to the bathroom and the artist's studio.  A glass cantilevered staircase will be to the left - gosh, sounds difficult!!!!

Construction worker cleaning and preparing the original  brick rear elevation wall to be repointed.

New Year and we are back in Ireland!

We arrived back in to Dublin at 7am, after two fantastic flights with Delta Airlines, yesterday morning.  After a short sleep we headed over to view developments.  A lot had been done while we were holidaying in the States and Ciaran was pleased with progress.  We stayed on site for about an hour while Ciaran answered questions from the foreman and also explained parts of the build.  Today he was straight in to work to do further procurement and also to draw up further plans to assist the builders.

Ciaran answering questions that the builders had about certain details.

Back wall will be made of glass - it will sit close to the old stone wall!

The view from the second bedroom.

Ciaran explaining a detail to the builders.

Standing on the wrap-around element of the design, facing back to the house and the courtyard.


I was asked by a friend the other day who were the builders.  They are M&S Building Contractors - please contact me if your are doing a building project and you need to contact them!

Gone fishing!

Yesterday we went on a half day fishing trip on the Tortugua IV.  The weather was perfect and we even managed to catch dinner! Today is our last day so when I get home I will begin to blog again about the house and get a few pics up of the building work.  

I'm sure lots has been done in the last 3 weeks - I'm looking forward to seeing the progress!!

Key West

A few more pics from our Key West trip......

                            Gingerbread Men Gingerbread!

                          $5 Art from a vending machine! How cool!
                                          Studios of Key west
                                          White Street

                         Garbo's Grill Street Cart- fish tacos were so nice!
                                          Greene Street

                       Ciaran's steak in Latitudes on Sunset Key

Key West Eats!

                                          Azure Restaurant
                                          425 Grinnell St.
                                          - Beef Carpaccio

                              - Whole Hogfish in Azure

                                          Santiago's Bodega
                                          207 Petronia St.
                                          - Delish Salad!

                                          Mathisons
                                          Duval St.
                                          - The $5 Cookie!!!!

                                          Schooner Wharf Bar
                                          Front St.
                                          Breakfast......

                              Poolside treats by Pam & Alan
            Gorgeous cheese and the amazing sweet bologna from
                                          Lancaster, PA.
              And a beautiful "cheese cake" (or Boursin to others!)

                                          915
                                          Duval Street
                                          - Steak & chips!

                       - Chicken and duck fat fried potatoes!

                                          Origami

                                          Duval Square

                                          - Sushi!

Weather is great in Florida - and not too bad in Ireland either!!!

We are currently on holiday in Key West, Florida. Unfortunately for Ciaran, even being in a different country doesn't mean he can't stop being involved in the build.   The following three photos were texted to Ciaran this morning and within minutes he was on the phone to the builder to reiterate certain building details that he needed done.  We are now in the Key West Library where he is sketching up some details which he will then send back to the builders so that they are fully up to speed with what needs to be done.

                          The new extension walls are being built up.                                                    

                                    Check out that blue sky!!!
                 December in Ireland and it is nearly as warm as Florida!

 The old brick wall will make a great contrast to the new extension!

If you are ever travelling to Key West we recommend that you stay with www.historichideaways.com.  They have great little cottages many with private decks and hot tubs, located really well - our place was a short stroll to the Southernmost Point in the USA.

Cinnamon

We had breakfast in Cinnamon this morning.  It is a new cafe/deli which opened about two weeks ago in Ranelagh.  Ciaran had French toast (made with brioche bread) and bacon while I had creamed oatmeal.  We both really enjoyed the food and the place as a whole.   Check out some photos that I took this morning.

                                                              Cute pink fascade!

                          Lots of lovely pastries and cakes!

              This was the breakfast menu which finished at midday.

   It's hard to see from this photo but among the tables and 

chairs there are shelves with lots of lovely food for sale.

Each time I write up a blog post I generally have a browse around blogger and read a few different blogs.  

This is one of my favourites:

Vintage Simple

I love this lady's style!