Thanks for the photo, John&Kath, of the commercial centre.
Any takers yet to open shop at the smaller commercial centre up by the townhouses?

No and it does not look hopeful with the crazy requirement to pay over a % of profits as well as the lease fees being the killer blow to prospective operators.

That's a shame.
Hope you are pleased with the progress on your place.

What do you think?

Wow - great!!! Cant wait for the housewarming party!

That is an interesting build, the bricklayers have actually built corners, usually it is built like the garages part with concrete framework and filled in with straight brick walls.
Are the British bricklayers ? ;-))

Sorry won't be able to afford one ! Does Spain have church mice or will we be the first?

Hi John&Kath,
Sorry not to have replied to your post last night - early to bed.
Double wow! It does look impressive. May I ask at what time of the day this pic was taken? Is that an infinity pool above the garage?
The brickwork, as jdr points out, is a craft in itself, isn't it? Will it be covered in render? Does rendering the brick actually protect it from the sun in this climate? (Questions from a person who knows nothing about building, remember.)
Regards,
Carol

Perhaps the bodega mice have a better lifestyle, especially the ones in Jerez (sherry & tapas). A great party theme, don't you think?

No definitely Spanish! My Architect/Aquitecto he's both and me Civil Engineer both wanted a proper job and we looked at some awful examples of clay blockwork before (and this is the lucky bit) our selected builder who was expensive for his blockwork said he would not change his blockwork subbie since everyone else was rubbish. How right he was.

It just seems to the engineer in me that if you design a dam great concrete frame structure against earthquake risk and then infill with blockwork that is not jointed and and has hungry joints even if you coat it with a nice layer of render, first good shake it is going to crack. If the shake is big enough a bit might fall off inside or out and if a block fell on your head from say 2m you would be badly!

However the brickies were not perfect just Spanish with skill and typically even given drawings at 1/20 they still set the door openings out 50mm from where they should have been and were most surprised to be asked to correct the error. But they did with a big hammer and a stilsaw.

We went up late evening say 6.30 especially to get the light right for this pic (the joint owners - the children demand good briefs when we get back).
Yes there is an infinity pool looking over the fairway but that opening is not a garage just the door way to the poolhouse again the engineer in me says that if there is plant in there then you should be able to get it out if it goes wrong so a big opening is useful.

The blank concrete wall next to the hole is the cistern, we want to collect all run off to re-cycle to the trees so we have gone back to the Roman idea. I want to go all the way and have an eel in there but the girls are not keen on that bit of Roman tradition!

ps misread your post the basement above the pool is not a garage just expensive space created to hold up the house! I suppose we might find a use for it one day. If we were to rent it out it would be great for tappas parties or flamenco dancing the heels would really rattle on that concrete floor.

As I said before it will be rendered and painted white all protection against the weather. The clay block work would not be sufficient on its own to keep out the rain and sun since it is not pointed up and the blocks are not solid like Scottish bricks so over time they would decay and become porous.
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Albondigas! now that sounds good and a chilled dry fino perhaps but I like a good real ale myself goes well with most things.

Yet another wow, looks really great must try and get over and take another peek when we are down that way.

It was good to meet up again and thanks for the coffee. Glad you both got home OK.

Cheers

Steve and Anne

Hi Helen,

Our solicitor helped us to sort out utilities etc.

IF , you need to furnish there is a new company who can do the complete package , IF you are interested you can pm me for info.

Have a look at Discover Ayamonte gives lots of useful information.

Sue

Hi Sue,
Many thanks for this link. It's new, isn't it?
p.s. shall have a closer look at it today.