Before returning to my office I went to see Mr Maplin, the electronics expert, at PC World's recommendation; a bit odd, that but nevertheless I obtained the different type of microphone so, now only time will tell if tomorrow will bring me any satisfaction...   more »

This morning I was an hour on the telephone trying to sort out a computer problem before my trip to Portishead, and I was advised to obtain a different type of microphone. PC World did not have it; and so I went on to my next appointment, a property that I have seen before but this time there was an issue with the drains; oh dear ...   more »

This morning I went to the largest cul-de-sac in Europe, Portishead, where I was to inspect a bungalow, right next door to one I had seen some six years earlier. I checked my files and realised at once that on the previous occasion the bungalow in question was of ‘Airey’ design, and therefore deemed defective under the Housing Act. However, although I had made arrangements with the agents to inspect today, this arrangement had not been communicated to the vendor, and somehow I wasn't that surprised. I remember thinking when I made the appointment, that the man at the end of the telephone was either not interested, disillusioned or thinking of other things; his mind was just not on the job. Nevertheless I got on with my survey in the hope that someone may return, and they did just, literally just as I was driving out of the drive. The neighbouring property that I saw today has been almost entirely rebuilt by the vendor, himself a qualified bricklayer, and it showed. However, it now transpires that he may not be selling it, and that his agents were aware of his situation so after all that I really don't know where I am...   more »

For once I got to my appointment on time, well only a few minutes late, arriving at much the same time as the vendor. Pleasantries were exchanged and I got on with the job, but Mrs Vendor, although offering me a cup of coffee which I politely declined was a bit miserable. The property was originally a farm so it was in the countryside and not only did have a very good-sized garden that included a well maintained a vegetable plot it also had a large fish pond that was the least a metre and a half deep and therefore could pose a severe threat to children, a formal garden, a paddock of about two acres and various outbuildings. I've come to like outbuildings and I like sheds but these were large, a Dutch barn, a double and single garage, a lean to barn,with a potting shed attached to it and a former cowshed or maybe pigsty. Oh! forgot the property, all fine and in good condition. It started life in the 1940s, took a break and was completed in the 1980s. It was re-roofed some five years ago and upgraded at that time, but Mrs Vendor just threw her hands in the air when I asked when the windows replaced and walked off so, heaven only knows…   more »

Today I have been to see a large semi-detached house in a most convenient tree-lined avenue close to Whiteladies Road and its many amenities. The house was privately on the market and has been sold by word-of-mouth to my Client on the quiet. Structurally it was sound but even so there are some areas that can be improved upon, though these improvements are not essential. I would have liked to have seen a lead covered flat roof rather than felt because it would have been cooler to walk on, and I would not have spent so much time there. Flat roofs covered with lead completed to the Lead Sheet Association’s recommendations just get a tick. The remaining roofs, gutters and the walls were all in reasonable condition. The windows will require some upgrading in due course, but even they are not in poor condition. Insulation within the roof could be improved but internally the house has been neatly renovated and improved; I expect the agents are green with envy…   more »

Yes, I spent the weekend listening to jazz on Friday, jazz on Saturday and jazz on Sunday at the Upton upon Severn Jazz Festival. A brilliant weekend for the 25th year anniversary, because the sun was shining, and all the usual suspects were there, but it was a bit hot under some of the tents…   more »

I have been to a warehouse apartment today, a Victorian warehouse that in later years was used as a bus depot for repairing and maintaining buses. In later years he became a photographic studio, which I think might Client will like because he is in media studies. I was asked to look specifically at the roof and here I was able to do so because the building owner was very amenable. The roof has been recently upgraded and was in reasonable condition. The building itself has been converted into numerous flats having good ceiling heights and I found this particular flat light bright and spacious oh, and I also found the water stop tap. The flat is to have a parking space and is reasonably close to good local amenities that will shortly get even closer so all in all I have few qualms about it; there is no reason for my Clients to duck out…   more »

Today I visited a four-bedroom executive detached house - that's estate agents speak for a 1970s small four-bedroom detached house. I don't think there are many executives living there or indeed in the cul-de-sac but who knows. The house was built in the late 1970s and has a small extension to the rear of the garage which houses the utility room and a good-sized conservatory had been built across the rear of the house. Structurally it was in good condition, there being no serious problems, no evidence of settlement or movement or of cracking and in general a seemingly fairly well built house. It does require certain amount of tender loving care – TLC - and I suspect my Client will wish to redecorate the whole, property, replace the bathroom and cloakroom fitments and upgrade the kitchen. The house is reasonably well insulated with double glazing and the cavity is filled with polystyrene beads, but insulation in roof space could be improved with advantage and then it doesn't matter what the weather will be like because this will become a warm house in Winterbourne…   more »

Many years ago I suspect there were both cattle and sheep grazing over the Downs and from the top floor of this flat I was at today, there is no doubt that I would have seen them. Today all I could see were joggers, dog walkers, people getting exercise (that made me feel quite faint) and people buying ice creams, and then I felt much better! The flat itself was a reasonably spacious, but it had been tenanted and it does require a certain amount of ‘TLC’ but that should not prove over expensive. There is a certain amount of decay in one of the main valley gutter bearer beams and although it seems dormant I do have slight concern about it. I also have slight concern about what damage a certain amount of dampeners penetrating below one of the bedroom windows may be causing and I think that in both cases a little bit of further opening up will be necessary. The stairs leading up to the flats were probably set up side down because the going, or treads were narrower than the risers but as they are concrete and my Client will have to get used to them. The flat is in a pleasant substantial property in a quiet location, with a parking space, but no cow sheds or bullpens…   more »

I almost felt quite at home when I arrived up on this hill today because I learnt that originally the house was a dairy together with cattle sheds and a bullpen. That was a long time ago. Today is a pleasant house in a quiet cul-de-sac but of a slightly strange or unusual construction. Perhaps for cow sheds and bullpen hollow concrete block walls were the norm but, I was advised this was built in the 1920s and, I don't think that hollow concrete block walls were available then. I found nothing wrong with these walls and internally they were dry but they were probably built by farm labourers and the elevation's do look that way. The roof on the other hand is covered with what are known as Marseille tiles, totally interlocking clay tiles probably made near Bridgwater, but come to think of it might have been down in Almondsbury where the London Brick Company manufacture bricks; it's rather immaterial, because the roof was in good condition. The house was in reasonably good condition throughout but it requires some updating, though I think my Client has found a rather pleasant property, providing the cows don't come home…   more »

Today, this morning I was privileged to look at a three bedroomed flat in a very pleasant tree lined avenue in Clifton. This afternoon I enjoyed looking at a much smaller two bedroomed flat in a quiet road in Redland. Each was on the top floor so there was little difference there. Each had internal bathrooms and each in my view needed a bit of updating and certainly my Client agreed with me in the morning. In Clifton the flat had a much larger kitchen/breakfast room whereas in Redland the kitchen was much smaller and had no door to the equally narrow living room. A previous owner and I don't know who had divided the front room to form a living room and a bedroom but because of the height of the windows and I suppose their position the living room was smaller than the bedroom. In some respects I think it might be more advantageous to take away the partition and to retain the kitchen where it is and have a much larger living room/dining area. Yes, you would lose a bedroom, but the bedroom to the rear could be made very pleasant and of course it would be even quieter than at the front. Now in Clifton one almost needs to remove the partition between the bathroom and kitchen and reposition the bathroom into the small bedroom No. 3 which has natural light and ventilation. Yes, you would again lose a bedroom but I think this may be advantageous particularly as here it may be possible to create a small study area in the existing hall. There is parking in Clifton; there is no parking in Redland but, the price differential is huge, so, who gets the Cherry? You pays yer money and yer takes yer chance ...   more »

It's probably about three months ago since I was last in this narrow but pleasant road in Westbury Park where I was looking at another three bedroomed terraced house. Roger (Rog)f the roofer failed miserably in replacing a skylight with a fixed pane of obscured, wired glass so preventing anybody and everybody from putting a ladder up to the skylight and getting out onto the roof so that the parapet gutters on either side of it could be inspected. Well done Roger. That aside Roger missed renewing the narrow zinc trade over the bay window and although it is not leaking, don't hold your breath! Main walls in reality show no signs of any significant settlement or movement. Internally the house was not in poor condition but it does require certain amount of modernisation and improvement and I have no doubt that my Clients have all of this in mind. This is a pleasant house with a good-sized conservatory and a nicely fitted kitchen even though it is a little bit, B and Q -ish, but they could go back there again and upgrade it…   more »

The Three Counties Show in Malvern has been going for as long as I can remember, possibly longer than the Bath and West show to which I have never been. They are both agricultural shows but I suspect in each case agriculture gets less and less. Never mind, I enjoyed myself looking at the sheep and pigs and the hens and the cattle and watching the judging and seeing the winners and losers. I have never seen a pack of Basset hounds, but they exist and they, along with the foxhounds and the farriers and the sheep shearers and it was a fine day so I was in my element. (It doesn't really matter to me at any rate if it rains, I'm not aware that anyone has ever drowned in the rain or died from a raindrop, you just get prepared for it.) So, all in all I had a delightful day and I came back to read reports and look forward to Saturday to the job I should've done on Friday. Don't tell my Client I had the day off, but…   more »

In the year of our Lord 1865, the God-fearing Bristol Merchant Venturers built this college and then restored it in 1907 following a major fire probably from a devil worshipping arsonist. It remained a college up until 1992 when it became vacant for 12 years but in 2004 it was bought and converted into numerous flats. The developer went into liquidation but, the flats were sold and are attractive properties. They are all housed within a steel frame that enabled mezzanine floors to be created and the flats are interesting. The parking is also interesting; it is a computerised racking system, a high tech arrangement, unfortunately probably mostly operated by low-tech owners; so occasionally it goes wrong. The flat itself was reasonably spacious and largely in good condition. I wonder if in the near future, if builders start building again there may be a street called Coalition Road???   more »

I don't suppose there is much to choose between the two, though Edward VII was obviously keen on Mrs K because she was related to the third Earl of Albermarle, so in that way he kept the relationship sort of regal. Anyway Christine was more interested in commoners, so she ended up with John Profumo. What this has got to do with where I have been today only my Client will know but, again I was able to get to the roof and look down on this property from above which of course is always pleasing. My Client was interested in the services and as the residual circuit device was the smallest I have ever seen, and it does not meet new regulations brought out in 2008, I am advising the wiring be tested. As the boiler has not been serviced since the flat was purchased in 2006, I am also advising that it is tested as well, before changing contracts. My Clients will need to obtain estimates for general overhaul of the flat so they know what money they will be spending. After that I am sure that this flat will be fit for a king or queen and of course, my Client...   more »

This week I think that I am going to have an awkward time because I'm looking at numerous flats and nothing is more frustrating than trying to get into the top floor flat to look at the roof and in the roof space, when I'm looking at a basement flat. I have numerous flats to inspect but fortunately in case number 1, I was able to use with the consent of the site manager, scaffolding on a seven story building opposite to look at the roof of this top floor pied de tierre in the centre of Bristol; so that was one hurdle over. Then, later this afternoon the block of flats I was inspecting was completely vacant so I was able to use the top floor flat and get out of the Velux skylight to examine the roof in detail with little difficulty and, I was over another hurdle. Good, in both cases my Clients have found reasonable properties each of them were entirely different as you would expect…   more »

I have been today to a small conurbation, that's a grand name for a village on the way to Portishead, to look at a traditional 1960s semi-detached house that had been extended to the rear at both ground level and at ground and first floor level, two extensions each of which were in keeping with the original. For once Bob the Builder managed to get the crossover floor levels almost exact so well done Bob! There was no evidence of any significant or serious cracking either in the original house or in the extensions, or indeed between the original house and the extensions, so that was good. The house benefits from double glazing and a garage with a nicely painted door but that doesn't disguise the fact it's all a bit wonky! The property needs a little bit of modernisation and probably redecoration but all in all it wasn't a bad house with which to finish the week, which is always pleasing…   more »

Today I have been to see a barn conversion deep in the Chew Valley, actually that's not quite correct the Chew Valley was way beneath me and I was looking over Chew Valley Lake. It's not the closest I been to Chew Valley Lake, or for that matter Blagdon Lake but the house had a very pleasant aspect. It is not a small property but it was converted to a seemingly good standard and it was very pleasant to find so much exposed oak which I believe may have come from Longleat, though I saw no stamp etched into it. It was green oak when it was brought into the house and because it dried out too quickly, it has as a result split far more so than had it been allowed to dry out quite naturally in a house that did not have central heating and double glazing. Some of the windows are oak framed and of course they also have to be constructed with green oak because otherwise the timber becomes so hard it is almost impossible to cut and drill. External windows tend to do season more naturally but even so some spitting and shrinkage occurs. The majority of windows are metal framed and of course double glazed. The metal framing is screwed into ashlar, finely dressed, Bath stone surrounds with brass screws, so they will not rust and damage the stone into which they are set; I like that sort of detail. The roof is new though some of the older trusses remain, but I doubt they are original. The chimney stack is new but where it pokes out of the roof of it is of stone and so is in keeping. The walls are of stone and largely in good condition. Internally it is well maintained. I like this property and really hope that my Client will be happy there…   more »

‘Chapellenie’ is the French term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate a series of sung Masses for a specified purpose, so I suppose it is inevitable that at some stage a house is going to be called by that name. So here I was today in a delightful South Bristol Village in the Chew Valley area where I seem to be most of this week and last and will be tomorrow to look at a quite unusual Village House. It directly fronts the pavement but that didn't matter because there was double glazing throughout. It is an old property, older than its neighbour but fortunately, for the Conservation Officer, it is not listed, because had it been he would have had apoplexy - a double apoplexy - on seeing this double glazing. The house is built on three floors but it is nicely portioned, it is well laid out and has good quality fitments. The upstairs are very winding and slightly awkward in use so care must be taken but for a small family this is a delightful property and I'm very pleased for my Clients. Incidentally the English term for this commemorative institution is a Chantry…   more »

I met some Savages in London today, so I had to work on the train going up but not on the way down…   more »

As I entered the property today I was met by rickety old five barred gate, typical of any you can see at an entrance to any field in the countryside. I did not have to get out of my car to open it, it opened quite automatically as I drove up to it; I rather liked that. The vendor could see me coming because as I found out later I was videoed in, so it was just as well I wasn't doing anything I ought not to have been. I was inspecting a six bedroomed farmhouse part of which quite probably dates back to the late 16th or early 17th century judging by some of the exposed beams in some of the rooms. Elsewhere timbers were clearly second-hand, no doubt imported from Bristol docks when ships were being broken up. Part of the house was significantly later, and was probably built within the past 15 to 20 years but in fairness very much in keeping. The house is sound but I think my Client will wish to inaugurate a programme of redecoration. There may be some alterations and adaptations to be made but all in all I found this a charming property and I finished the job just before the rain...   more »

It was such a lovely day I decided to go to Clevedon. Actually, of course I decided to go to Clevedon at the beginning of the week and it just so happened to be a lovely day to go to the seaside. I was delighted to go and see this house, a grade 2 listed building because I had seen this row of houses before and thought how attractive they looked, whist enjoying a pint in the pub opposite them. I had not been inside one before but here I am pleased to advise I found the house is in good condition. It has been lovingly restored and was largely in good condition. I suspect, however, that the owner who had been in occupation for the past 10 or so years had not seen the roof and although it was not leaking there are areas there that require attention on the basis that prevention is better than cure. So, the roof will require some repair and additional insulation after which I hope that my Client will be happy with this house by the Sea, the local pub and the Pier…   more »

But, there must be many, many places I have never been to before in Bristol although I have never even heard of this road. Nevertheless I was pleased to go there and find what is almost a triangular shaped house because it's roof is a single pitch design and along with its neighbour, it does look like a big triangle but that doesn't matter, the roof was sound. The chimney stack requires modest attention but that's more the job of the neighbour and anyway it was not leaking, as far as I could see. The gutters the walls and windows were all sound. However, insulation within the roof does need improving before the onset of next winter. That aside apart from a certain amount of redecoration, possibly replacing the kitchen and bathroom, again the nice things in life, no serious problems were evident and my Client should be happy there. There is only one thing to say; his friends and family will have to get used to the road layout, because it was very awkward and no wonder I haven't been there before, I might have got lost …   more »

Today I have been on land originally owned, I suspect by the Bishop of Gloucester, not recently you understand but many years ago. In the 1930s a number of houses were built in this short road in Redland and today I was inspecting just one of them. Actually I have seen three others in the road within the past few years and although the last house I saw had floors that went up hill and down dale the floors here were sound and more importantly level. The house has a new roof new gutters and replacement windows at some stage. There is a single-storey extension built to the rear which overlooks a very pleasant garden and then alotments. The house has a garage which is of benefit, but the walls ar a bit badly cracked. It, the house does require some modernisation but at least my Clients can modernise it and spend money on the nice things of life, kitchens and bathrooms, after which they should say little prayer to that Bishop…   more »

What a glorious day it turned out to be for my trip out of Bristol into North Somerset. Today I saw a cottage, seemingly of indeterminate age because the original clay tiles had been replaced with plain concrete tiles and the original stone walls, well three of them had been smooth mortar rendered and decorated and the original timber framed casement windows had been replaced UPVC double glazed units. It is all a bit bland, all a bit characterless which is a great shame because it was in a lovely situation. Nevertheless it is dry and stable and relatively warm so my Clients can slowly restore the house and maybe even go to the expense of reverting back to clay tiles. Whether or not they will wish to replace the double glazed windows I doubt it and of course the render will probably have to remain. Internally as usual insulation in roof void needs beefing up, but here where some of the original rafters remain I suspect the house was built in the mid 1700s. The accommodation needs a little bit of replanning and ideally a single-storey extension added to the porch so that a cloakroom can be built alongside it, directly over the drains - perfect. There are a couple of log burners for winter use as well as a Rayburn but that was out at the moment because it is summertime. The house has a very pleasant garden and paddock so, a few hens, a couple of beehives and my Clients will be able to make their own mead…   more »

I was on the east side of Bristol today during the rain and although I was kitted out for it and I don't mind the rain, I did get rather fed up with having to hack my way through the jungle to get to the front door and back again. During my initial inspection I was shown over the house and I have never walked up or down for that matter, stairs that were so noisy. It rather gave me a false impression of the house because I thought I was not going to like it and probably find numerous problems but I didn't. The house was originally built as a bungalow in the 1950s with a single-storey extension built in the 1960s and then someone builds a first-floor into the roof space and over part of the single-storey extension in the 1990s and so it became a house. Apart from the screeching staircase it wasn't in bad condition. It is been occupied for many years by the present owner and it does require some lightning and brightening and bringing into the 21st century, but no doubt my Client has all of this in mind. When he's finished modernising the house he can then turn his attention to the jungle in the rear garden, by which time it may have encroached on the house…   more »