Well the asbestos wasn't a problem and was all removed safely and will be taken away tonight.

The builders seem to be good, they have swept up after themselves and left no mess behind on the base of the garage - given that they will be digging up the base tomorrow I was surprised by this, but appreciated it as the dust would have all ended up in the house.

The gas supply pipe has to be moved or it will be inside the new lounge so I've phoned Transco (www.transco.co.uk) and they seem as inefficient as I'd expect a former government department to be. They have run out of the forms that we need to fill in so I won't receive one by the end of the week.

Once the form has been received we have to fill it in and work out the cost (apparently there is a new "self-quote" system in place - shame it doesn't extend to self choosing the price) and send it back with a cheque - so with something as important as a gas supply, they are prepared to let a complete amateur fill in what needs doing, send a cheque and the first time a Transco employee sees the site is when the work is to be done...hohum.

Tomorrow they will start digging out ready to do the foundations, then they will find out where the drains are as they don't go where they expect them to go. Today has been much more relaxed than I thought it would be, fingers crossed the rest of the week goes as well and they've made good progress by the time the bathroom is delivered on Wednesday and fitting starts on Wednesday.