Our First Year at The Long House: Trials, Triumphs, and Transformation
From the moment we first saw The Long House on March 31, 2023 it was a clear and steady "Yes" for us.
We made an offer, and the contract was settled on May 15, 2023. A month later we moved, on the weekend of Festivo San Juan, a significant festival in Galicia, Spain. Originally a solstice celebration with bonfires to honour the sun and protect against evil spirits, Festivo San Juan later became linked to St. John the Baptist’s birth on June 24. The bonfires continued, but now with a Christian twist.
July brought gentle, warm summer days. We relished long lunches under the trees and cool evening breezes. Our little farm grew with the addition of two Rhode Island Red chickens, Rose and Betty. Rose laid her first egg on August 13, followed by Betty a month later. Sadly, we lost Betty to a fox a few weeks ago so she’s not part of our next chapter — but our new chicken Lily is!
September marked the beginning of roof repairs and our annual road trip to England. Along the way we stopped at Llanes (Asturias), Haro (Rioja), Blanes (Cataluna), then through Bonnieux, Lyon, and Epernay in France, before taking a ferry from Ouistreham to Portsmouth, England.
After staying for a week, I flew to Malaga for a business retreat while Jon drove back to Galicia with his best friend Steve Cooper.
On our return to The Long House early October we found that the Roofer had left a gaping hole in the roof. He’d nailed a piece of plastic over the hole but that was quickly ripped off with the strong winds we get here.
When Jon asked him when he was coming back he always had an excuse for the delay and things got nasty (a story for another time). Meanwhile it rained a lot and the part of the house with the hole became a muddy slosh pond. Eventually after a number of weeks, there was a break in the downpour and Jon was able to get up and cover the entire roof with tarpaulins.
November brought more rain and cooler days, the beginning of our frequent use of the kitchen fireplace. Jon organised quotes for upstairs renovations, and we chose Endre, a carpenter we knew socially.
We’d decided to go with Endre because he said he would be able to complete the renovations while we were in Australia for the month of December, and everything would be ready by the time we returned on January 3.
True to his word initially, Endre and his team removed the ceiling and confirmed the height could be lifted. Daily photo updates showcased impressive progress, and we felt relieved. However, as our return date neared, updates dwindled. By late December, Endre admitted the work wouldn't be finished on time and said he needed another week. This meant we had to rent an apartment nearby upon our return.
By the end of this one week extension the house remained a dusty construction zone, and Endre requested another 10 days. Alarmed by a further delay, we rented a cheaper apartment. Then just two days before the supposed new completion date, he asked for another two weeks.
Frustrated about not only the delay but the additional costs we were now incurring, we decided we would move back in at the end of this latest extension on February 4, ready or not.
When that time came Endre wasn’t finished. We moved back into the house missing doors, skirting boards, bannisters, and entrance way tiling. But despite the challenges of continuing our business operations and creating a warm space without doors, we made it work.
Endre carried on with the renovations for another week and then suddenly announced he needed to take two-weeks off, but ended up taking three weeks due to machinery issues.
Next we informed Endre of our 10-day trip to England in March, and he assured us everything would be complete by our return on March 28. However, upon returning, we found minimal progress. Endre had installed the bannister upstairs, which looked fabulous, but so much remained undone, and he hadn't communicated any delays.
Jon was devastated, feeling foolish for trusting Endre. He confronted Endre for a final completion date and asked him to think very carefully before making any further promises.
Endre took a day to think about it and then promised to finish everything by April 19. Yet, when the date arrived, the work was incomplete, and Endre was largely absent. With Jon unable to contain his anger and disappointment with Endre, I stepped in to keep the channel of communication open.
As of June 22, Endre hasn’t returned to finish the work, stating the reason that he feels unappreciated and used.
On a happier note we have totally transformed our upstairs living room into a cosy, colourful and inviting space. We love our new rugs, sofa, Frame TV, and even the TV cabinet that Endre handcrafted for us.
Our next priority is circling back to the roof replacement (we’ve found someone else to do this and they are due to start in the coming two weeks), then installation of central heating, a full replacement of the upstairs backroom and then the kitchen.
The journey with The Long House continues to test our patience and resilience. We’re still hopeful the Endre will return for the work we’ve paid him for, and that the roof replacement will be completed in the agreed time.
That’s all for now.
Dani x
