I haven’t done much work on the mill for a while. We’re at an impasse with the building contractors of Ilze’s choice, as their quote came in at three times our budget. And then Belgians — and those who have lived here a while — shake their heads and say, “Never tell them your budget, they’ll always go higher.” But that’s why I told them my budget in the first place, so they won’t go over budget. I have nothing to go over into. But they went over anyway. By a factor of three. And the locals tut tut tut, and shake their heads, and appear to think that Belgian builders offer to do things for free as long as you simply don’t tell them your budget. Construction sites are filled with contractors and sub-contractors driven mad by the insecurity of not knowing what the magic number is, in much the same way as little old ladies of a certain good-natured Christian bent are driven to know that David Copperfield is demonically posessed because he can walk through walls and has devil’s eyes.

When, oh when, did I fall down a rabbit hole…

Categories: Finances
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At long last, we’re entering final discussions about the house plans. We have a meeting with the architect next week, when we’ll hopefully be able to sign off on the plans. We’re still in discussions with the contractor about the price of having all this built, although he did come down from three times our budget to two.

For your viewing pleasure the plans are available on Flickr.

Categories: Architecture
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