21st December

The winter solstice is a favourite one for me, not because of the thundering approach of Christmas but because from tomorrow, in theory, the days will start getting longer.

Last night I went down twice to try to persuade Karol, Rafal, Bartek, Sebastian and Starszek to go home. They had arrived at 7.30 in the morning. They were still here at 7.30 in the evening. We have to finish this, said Karol, deputising for Boss Builder who has cleared off to Poland until next month. Tomorrow comes Building Control. He must approve what we have done or we cannot make progress. What time is he coming I asked (blistering with hypocrisy because I, too, want the BC officer to come and tick off this stage of the work). At 12 o’clock, said Karol with the sort of assurance that carries no weight.

And indeed, no BC officer arrived at 12, so that the workers could have gone home earlier and finished up this morning. Never mind. Eventually, nearer 2pm, the BC officer (Indian) showed up and duly approved. But!

‘Please send me the layout of what this flat will be,’ he commanded, stern as only a BC officer is allowed to be. ‘This is for fire regulations.’

I pointed out that on the lower ground floor where the bedrooms will be there are three exits from the building. And upstairs there will be two. Something tells me he will consider this insufficient.