I think you underestimate that you have made really fantastic progress, particularly given the absence of local owners who can pop round to your garage and give support, share ideas, or simply listen to you cursing when things don't go as you expected. Why not put a cover over the car until after Christmas, and I'd hope that the current issues will be seen as quickly fixable baby steps when you come back. If you read the blogs, many builders look at the CC standard practices (which to be fair are usually more than fit for purpose, if sometimes not always elegant) but then elect to do certain things their preferred way, even though it takes more planning and time. I certainly did so on a number of fronts, and was supported along the way by Derek who has built a good few cars in his time.