We had some friends visiting this weekend, and it was the first time we have been able to really appreciate the enjoyment of just living in our new house. While there are still a few minor details to be sorted out (our new easy-open loft hatch needs painting, the spare room needs tidying, and delivery of our new sofa needs to stop being delayed every week), our house is now pretty much home. It’s great to reach that point and to have made it through the last few months with a great house that we are still very much delighted with.

Of course we are still picking up little faults here and there, with the most notable one from the weekend being the distinct lack of sound insulation around the house. The noise isolation from our attached next-door neighbour is incredible good, as we only ever hear the occasional muffled shutting of a door, but within the house itself is a completely different story. The simple closing of a door or turning on of a tap can often be heard a floor away, which is quite disconcerting when my wife and I are used to being on our own. Of course this rule doesn’t apply to the door bell or the cooker timer, which can only be heard within a half metre radius.

Incidentally, while our friends were staying we took them on the obligatory trip around the show homes. Much to my delight, both houses had a strong whiff of fly spray in the air and the familiar sight of upturned fly corpses scattered liberally around the house. It’s nice to know that you’re not suffering alone.