More renovations afoot

We took over out little spot at Man Kok Tsui ten years ago this year.   When we first took it over it was a damp, rotting and crumbling shed with a very shaky wooden lean too roof, no kitchen and a bathroom that was of a rustic theme to say the least.   The loo ran on pond water, there was no potable water and the electrical wiring was a mix of old and frayed wires connected by equally fragile looking ceramic switches that were last used on a Frankenstein movie set.    The windows were so rusted they could not close and the front door simply was not there.    Inside were three rooms, each with a mini cock loft.   

Behind the house the slope supporting wall had collapsed and backfilled to a height of almost two metres, so much so that it could almost have been said that the house was holding up the retaining wall.    Inside, it was so damp that when it rained the water would drain through the house wall into an indoor gutter, yes and indoor gutter! that ran along the floor next to the wall and out through a hole in the front wall.

Over time, we have slowly improved and made good.   We now have a kitchen and a bathroom.   We have potable water, three phase electrical wiring.    The retaining wall behind the house is now back where it should be and the house no longer holds the wall up.   The damp has gone and with the new windows and doors it is surprisingly cosy.

How it was in 2008

How it was in 2009

How it was in 2010

How its going to be in 2018
Well, the plan is simple.   Because the house roof is made of wooden beams holding up three layers of roofing materials, starting with wriggly tin then poured concrete on top of that and then a second tin roof a few inches above (presumably to create some sort of heat insulation) we have decided it is best to rust seal seal the upper roof to prevent it self destructing and then build a fourth roof to cover not only the existing buildings but also the open areas to the front.    This should create a much larger living space in front of the house.   Here goes nothing.