The kitchen was a whole 8ºC this morning; noticeably warmer than the rest of the house, which started off at 5º but dropped to 4º as the day wore on. The forecast is for -10º tonight, but then beginning to warm up a bit next week. I hope so; I feel like the Michelin man in my 5 sweaters, 2 pairs of trousers and (inspired gift from Kieran) my electrically heated socks!!! They’re brilliant!

Nick and Kieran started work on what will be the second bathroom today; the ceiling is now plasterboarded, but not plastered as we went out for a bike ride this afternoon. The brilliant sunshine belied the temperature; we had to keep moving to keep warm.

I prepared the yellow bedroom for painting this morning, but when I got the paint out, discovered that it was frozen in the tin. An hour on top of the stove in the kitchen and it was OK to use, but what a good excuse to have a heater on where I was working!

The “ice sculpture” photos are of what Nick tipped off the top of the water butt 3 days ago; it’s very beautiful, but I wish it would melt now.