Year One Reflections #19 February 2024

It has been a year since I first started work at the hovel and a year since the first contribution to this site

. I've been reflecting on what has been achieved and problems encountered. In no particular order:-

• Every time I visit the hovel it feels homely, peaceful and it is always sunny. And when it is not sunny there is a rainbow;

• Renovation has been an interesting, challenging and an enjoyable way to spend the first year of my retirement;

• Our neighbours are delightful and helpful;

• Progress seems to have been glacially slow. Patience is required when jumping through hoops and obtaining services;

• Architectural software has been invaluable for developing and refining 2D and 3D design ideas for the hovel, including the location of pipes and powerpoints;

• Despite best efforts it was not possible to create the 250m of pipe runs (5 metres apart) required for a ground source heat pump

• Reeth has some wonderful sunrises and sunsets;

• It has been fun playing with smart home sensors, lights, plugs and automations. I've gone down the Apple Homekit route. This does not share data with providers; unlike Amazon, Google or Samsung. Development is relatively easy, but occasionally, for no obvious reason, elements become unstable;

• It snows. Sometimes quite a lot. 129mm (in February 2024) is about 5 inches of snow.