Algernon - that was part of my concern too. Considering I have already paid about 2/3 of the contract, I would have thought it wouldn't be a problem to pay the joiners. Not planning on paying anything further until the work is actually done. I have been collecting my kitchen appliances for a little while, so I will at least get my kitchen without any further problems.
It will be nice not to have a barn any more!
The dark insulation looks rather like sheep fleece a bit compressed together, but it feels like fibreglass. There wasn't any wrapping around, so I don't know exactly what it is. There is certainly a lot of it through all the ceilings in the house.