Time to crack open the champagne

Mission accomplished!

The planners have made their decision and  
WE HAVE FULL PLANNING PERMISSION
Game on then.

Luckily we headed over to Skye last weekend and met with Dualchas on Monday to set about planning the detail of our NEW HOUSE. Ian was quite confident after his discussion with planning officer's boss that all would be well and we thought a short break on Skye is never wasted.

Considered the interior finishes - white walls (Gary very pleased), pale wood accents, pale wooden stairs, lots of glass, minimal window coverings, glossy white kitchen and tiled floor throughout the ground floor. I did manage to get my blue, slightly sparkling, worktop agreed for the kitchen. Externally we will have the corrugated roof, wood clad walls and beautifully matched in windows and doors. Add to that plenty of wall hangings, pictures and rugs for splashes of colour and you should be getting the picture.

We have worked up a schedule which should see the builders (whoever they are) on site in October - giving us a finished house by June 2013. So the timing works. Also sorted out the budget bits that were unclear so we have a better idea of what to budget for and when.

Next steps - commission a structural engineer and M&E engineer to assist with foundations, structure and how we heat the house. We have plenty of ideas after visiting the renovating and home building show in Glasgow last weekend. Also have a few contacts so will get onto that one early next week.
We also need to find man with digger (local) to dig the holes for the structural engineer.

We stayed at a lovely B&B which was literally at the end of a road outside of Broadford right at the foot of a pretty big hill. The only noise was the birds outside the window - they were very loud!
Large rooms, comfy beds, good breakfasts and the host was a guide on Skye tours so very knowledgeable about the island. The other two people staying were on their first visit to Skye and had been out climbing / walking / scrambling every day.

As for the weather - it was blue skies, sunshine and a bit of a breeze. Just the sort of weather to be working in the roof level at Dualchas. 
Two good dinners in Broadford and gorgeous views back to the mainland - dolphins in the bay which we think we spotted after they were pointed out to us.  

Reflections in Broadford bay - snow-capped mountains in the far distance

Also drove back most of the way to Elgol for more Cuillin photos before being stopped by road repairs and traffic queues and turning round. Sat by the loch instead and enjoyed the sun and the views for a while.

Bla Bheinn - looking very different from our last visit

View across Loch Slapin - a nice spot for a break

We did have some free time so explored Armadale where the ferry from Mallaig comes in. It looked so nice that we decided to go home that way on Tuesday and booked a ticket there and then. Spent several pleasant hours wandering around, out to a seal and otter hide in a private (community) owned woodland and had a nice lunch from a small shack that was tardis-like in its ability to feed a never-ending stream of hungry visitors.Will return to the Donald (clan) centre when we are residents as it will cost us 50p rather than £6.50 each.

The trip home was via the ferry, stops on white sand beaches at Morar (could be the Caribbean), Fort William and finally a stop in Glen Coe for lunch and the Green Welly in Tyndrum before arriving in Fishcross at around 17.00.

Just three days at work this week - have been busy but always with an eye on the emails just in case there was news. And now we have it - such a good feeling.

So a wee celebration is on the cards this evening, drink may be taken and toasts made.

After all this time, we are finally certain of where we will be living, what we will be living in and when. Now it's just the croft to sort out.

Further updates and, of course, plans and photos as we progress to follow.

Now, where did I save the Grand Designs details? Kevin McCloud, we're heading your way. 

NB: One of the most disconcerting sights in a Scottish heat wave is the sheer number of very pale people who insist on stripping off at the first hint of sun, becoming bright red as a result and parading their fearsome burns (and bodies) for all to see. Not pretty and almost certain to be a problem for the NHS in future years.