Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

So what has been going on at 62 MOntague Street - who knows for sure.  The week before Christmas was a little stressful sleeping on air beds and seeing very little progress.  The contractor assures us this is usual as they are at the finishing touches.

Jon is over the moon as the B&O TV has at least been installed in the den so we have been able to watch a couple of movies.

Friday last week was somewhat chaotic.  The movers arrived with all our stuff, which doesn't seem that much anymore - not least as they seem to have lost a couple of boxes in the process - it is a nuisance, but to be honest to be expected I suppose.  Overall the movers were fantastic and anyone in NYC reading this I would highly recommend them.  At the same time the stair guys were still trying to finish up the stairs.

A little bit of fun to the day was when Hippo was returned to us from the first floor - because all the front doors were open she took herself on a small perambulation down the internal stairs to the bottom of the building - thankfully the main front door was not open.

Chris also arrived in the midst of everything, so we then packed up our stuff and headed up to Vermont.  Lousy drive on the Friday before Christmas.  Arrived well to meet up with the rest of the Short family.

We asked for a white Christmas and we got it - hurrah - been having a lot of fun on the ski slopes.  Last night braved the elements - 18" of snow in less than 24 hours - to head to SOLO for Chris' birthday celebration.

So no photos of the flat but some of the snow:

Yeah we have our bed back and guess who is on it!!!

Saturday…..

Been an interesting day keeping out of the way of the contractors…. I know everyone says that when the finishing touches are being done you can't really see progress, well they are right.

Anyway had a lovely long walk with Hippo.  Heading off tonight to our GNO (Girls Night Out) Xmas Dinner - spouses invited…

Silence....

For those of you who do follow our blog, sorry for the radio silence.  After being looked after by Conor, Jess and Duke we moved into the apartment on Sunday night - with two air beds (thanks Emma and Leighton) and a couple of suitcases.

First 2 nights were interesting as we could not get up and down the stairs and there was no toilet on the 8th floor.  So we were using the old toilet on the 7th floor, which after 9 months of contractor use was not too pleasant - but Brian bless his heart gave it a good old scrub.  So it was out of 8th floor, down the building stairs into the 7th floor.  Bathroom in 8th floor is now almost done - see picture below.

Today Hippo has a play date with her mate Duke so that they can finish off some stuff in our master bedroom - here's hoping they get it all done today.

So things are moving on.  Couple of not very good pictures.......

Hippo quite at home on the air bed - not a lot of space left for Jon & I

New bathroom

Our temporary home

The railing is going in as promised today

Think they are trying to convince us all is well

Contractor just sent us these pictures of the progress on the stairs…….

Apparently….

We are moving in on Sunday…. Thanks to Conor and Jess we have a roof over our heads this week.

Had a lovely weekend in Vermont which included some very good skiing (limited runs, but good skiing) and my legs are shouting at me now.

Anyway I brought the site visit forward a day to just keep things moving and here are some photos from todays site visit……

Looking from old living room into the new den, which was our master bedroom

Looking back from old master bedroom into our old and new living room

Looking down the hallway

Staircase coming together - treads are on, they need staining now

Kitchen has some appliances - no doors though!!!

Another view from kitchen back towards dining room (where the circular saw is) and the stairs and bookcase

Fireplace and cupboards in our master bedroom

Shelves in our master bedroom

Looking down on stairs from 8th floor

Another view from 8th floor down on stairs and millwork

Site visit who knows what

So had a few words with the architect today during the day as while we were informed that the AC had been signed off by the mechanical engineer the slim slot diffusers that we had thought we were going to have in our master bedroom were now going to become much bigger and more hotel looking….

Anyway, headed over to Montague Street from the city to see what was what.  The contractor is trying to get us into the apartment this Friday but that would be without stairs - not too bad for us, but not such a great idea for poor wee Hippo….  So anyway the latest is that we should be able to get into the apartment next Friday at least with an air bed - left to do should be radiators, perhaps the front door for 7C, which as I am typing this has suddenly made me realize that perhaps things are not going to be ready.  They are working hard and what has been done looks great.

Not sure how well these photos will do the progress justice as was taken with phone as of course forgot my phone.  Will try and walk you through where these photos are taken from.

Not sure where we are staying next week but hopefully Monday the 10th we will be in our own flat

Purpose of this photo (if you enlarge it) is to show the silver pipes - all the steam risers and radiators are going to be painted silver - something we stole from Willow Street

Shower head - nice and large - hope it is not too low for Jon

Staircase coming together - looks a bit rough and ready in this photo, but if you have Jon's skills you can probably see through the design

Looking up from dining room

8th floor bathroom

Fireplace in our bedroom - the fan won't be in there of course

Man and dwarf cave!!!

Looking down at staircase from 8th floor

The fabulous, fabulous window!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Not much to update.  The kitchen countertop is in and looks lovely.  The windows are in.  The AC man is coming on Tues to inspect and all going well some ceilings can be put in.  The stairs are coming along.

3 days in hotel with FEMA and disaster recovery teams made us realize how fortunate we are, even though a little unsettling.

Now up in Vermont in the crisp air and blue skies….  Strange thanksgiving for us waking up with no one in the house (haven't seen that for 6 years) and nothing to prepare….  We are heading over to Emma and Leighton's for thanksgiving.  They were good and headed to the slopes this morning, we decided to relax and have a lie in - well only until 8:45 - and will hit the slopes on Saturday morning.

Some very bad photos taken with blackberry

Jon & I are officially wandering nomads :)  Checked out of 29 Willow Street, not sad to say goodbye, although it did harbor me from the storm and it is where Jon studied for and passed his Series 3.

So off to Vermont for the weekend - it is getting nice and crisp and cold so the hot tub may get some use this weekend.

The windows are in - don't believe me - well I didn't believe Jon and had to see for myself and yes they are in.

If the contractors are finishing anytime this side of Christmas I am the Queen of England :(

Bathroom tiling done..... Sorry it's at an angle

Looking down 8th floor hallway

Looking down on staircase

Windows..........

the new fireplace with the tiles added - the wood will be painted white

One more photo to come but the blackberry is taking a long time to load - so if looking at this now, please check back in