This is the first time we've had internet access for weeks, hence the lack of updating. We're back in the house, back in two rooms, the front of the house still isn't finished and neither is anything else. We've had to have a showdown with the builder and invoke the damages clause in our contract. He is now on special measures and in generally bad disgrace as it turned out he hadn't been paying any of his workers for weeks despite regular payments from us. On the plus side we've got a separate painter and decorator in who has made the hall and stairs look lovely, and work has speeded up slightly since the showdown. We now have central heating, hot water, a flushing loo and power to most of the rooms, even if they are all full of dust and rubble. The worktop is going on my kitchen tomorrow ( again under a separate contract), and we are promised that we will have our lives back by the end of February. I'm not holding my breath....