Our Journey

A visual story of how far we’ve come — from the very first day at Geneva Uchaf to the home and life we’re building here in West Wales. These photos capture the moments, milestones, and memories that shape our journey.

This first collection of photos captures the moment our journey at Geneva Uchaf truly began. Taken on the day we arrived — 23rd April 2022 — these images show the property exactly as we first found it: untouched, full of potential, and ready for the adventure ahead. They’re a snapshot of the excitement, the unknowns, and the feeling of stepping into a new chapter of our lives here in West Wales.

Our First Days at Geneva Uchaf

This set of photos captures our first big mission at Geneva Uchaf: turning a wild, overgrown patch of land into something we could actually walk through. For the first two weeks, Karon and Martyn were knee-deep in brambles, battling small trees, cutting grass, and discovering muscles we didn’t know we had. It was hard work, scratchy work, and occasionally hilarious — but it was the start of transforming the place into a home.

Clearing & Taming the Land

Getting the Utilities In

These photos mark the moment Geneva Uchaf started becoming a real, functioning home — when the electricity, LPG gas, and water finally went in. It was an exciting step… and an eye-watering one. Installing the utilities swallowed a big chunk of Martyn and Karon’s build budget, but it also meant the project was officially moving forward. Messy trenches, busy contractors, and a lot of crossed fingers — it’s all part of the story.

Utilities Video (Compilation)

Planning our home

Geneva Uchaf existed as a fully detailed 3D model. Using SketchUp, we designed the entire build from the ground up — starting with the floor plan, then adding the framing, roof structure, electrical layout, plumbing runs, and every key detail in between. This planning video shows how the whole project took shape long before the first materials arrived, giving us a clear vision (and a few reality checks!) of what we were about to build.

Work begins - Foundation Piers

With the plans in place, Martyn and Karon began the hands-on work of creating the foundation piers that would support the entire build. Martyn first marked out the exact location of every single pier, double-checking measurements until they were spot on. He then built wooden forms and poured the concrete pads that would anchor everything firmly to the ground. Once set, he calculated the precise levels and built the piers using hollow concrete blocks, carefully stacking and aligning each one. Finally, the blocks were backfilled with concrete and reinforced with rebar for extra strength. These photos show the hard graft, the precision, and the very first steps toward making the house a reality.

Foundation Video (Compilation)

Container Delivery

Container Delivery Video

After months of planning, Martyn and Karon’s two brand-new 40-foot high-cube containers from Cleveland Containers finally made their journey to Geneva Uchaf. Getting them in wasn’t simple — a few tree branches along the lane had to be trimmed to make way for the massive delivery truck. The whole process took around an hour, but seeing the containers set down perfectly onto the foundation piers they had worked so hard to build made it all worthwhile. These photos capture the excitement, the scale, and the moment everything suddenly felt very real.

This video captures the longest few minutes of the entire build: lowering the first 40-foot container onto the foundation piers. With every inch it descended, Martyn and Karon were holding their breath — wondering if all those measurements, levels, and late nights getting the piers just right would pay off. Watching the container settle perfectly onto each pier, one after another, was an unforgettable moment. Not only were the piers correct… they were exactly where they needed to be.