Well, I have decided to take a year off work starting from 30th April 2013. This will give me time to concentrate on the renovation. The plan is that I will pick up the project management instead of having to pay someone else to do it.
It is a big decision. I am very grateful to CSC for giving me the sabbatical. The decision to take the time off is made a lot easier as I know that my team will be in safe hands (thanks Brian). But for me, this is the once in a lifetime opportunity to get involved with something that I have always wanted to do. It is never easy to leave something that has been such a big part of my life for the last couple of years, but I feel that it is something that I need to do.
So I have just 3 weeks left before I take off for the year. There is a lot to tidy up at work before I go. However, with the work progressing well with the building regulation details. There are a lot of decisions to be made around a number of things – most notably: Windows (plastic or wood), underfloor heating (type and supplier), ground source heat pump (type and supplier). All of this takes time to research properly and it will be good to be able to spend more effort on this.
The current plan is that the tender for Phase 1 should be ready to go out around the 12th April. By the time we have reviewed the responses and appointed a contractor, it is unlikely that the Phase 1 will start before mid May.
Good luck with the renovation, have fun!!