Good news

Yes folks, I can finally announce that our planning permission - for retention and completion of our build has been granted.

We haven't seen the 'conditions' yet, but for now I'm just relived that we can officially return to the build.

I'll admit that its been very hard with all the unforeseen complications, it dragging on, the feeling of limbo and costs while we waited ... and the massive unfairness of it all - as the map mistake was made before we owned the land and should have been sorted very quickly - without us being subject to regulations that came into force after our permission was originally granted.

That being said (i.e. rant over), its time to move on - and let go of of this issue that has driven us mad for 16 months (see, I'm still counting). I thought about it this morning, before I had officially heard the news. Despite all my self work to be happy anyway etc I really had been holding onto this - all the blame and all the pain of having our plans unhinged and messed around.

Now, I really an 'justified' in that - BUT - I can't justify it enough to keep it up. It doesn't help me move on or feel better - so ... I'm letting it go now - water under the bridge.

I am pleased that we can now move forward. In truth I am also a bit scared, as its been a poor year financially last year and our budget for the house is somewhat reduced.

So, its one step at a time. Get back and re-assess, plan what we CAN do, attempt to get down as much as possible, esp once the warmer weather kicks in (ie March) (it gives a month for the 'white' planning paper to come through), do what we can do with the materials we have to hand and finish jobs that had been started and abandoned when the 'stop' was enforced.

Of course I do have seeds to plant and a garden that I have really missed, so I'm delighted that I can tend to it while we're down ... and provide some food from it by summertime if I'm lucky. It will also be great to catch up with friends and neighbors.

Lovely leitrim - we'll be back soon.