Chris and Bev – Heads in the Clouds

We’ve had a bit of a lie-in this morning as we wait for Andrew Marr to start, reflecting on the most productive week so far and our changed views from the caravan of the garden. The bungalow is almost gone, the footings for the greenhouse and the garden store are in, and the two new gates are up. Next week promises further changes when the bungalow will be a memory, the garden store will start to take shape, and there’ll be heaps of crushed rubble and stripped soils.

We knew from the ground investigation report that we bought from the previous owners that the geology in the garden is highly variable – lots of different layers and lenses of clays, silts and sands, with frequent break-outs of ground and surface waters in the greensands and draining off Barn Hill. This is why we already know we’re going to have to have piled foundations for the house. Gavin had dreadful problems with the trenches collapsing, getting wider and wider as the water seeped in.

So the foundations for the greenhouse took a lot more concrete than planned and are wider than needed in places!

The foundation slab for the store is also in, and we did just remember the soil pipe for the outside loo! Paul the bricklayer will be back next week as the store (or ‘bothy’) comes out of the ground.

There was concrete left over so ‘bodger’ Chris quickly made a step outside the north gate, trying to copy the professionals, Gavin and Billy, and generally getting in Dave’s way.

Sadly, there’s been a spate of recent thefts in the area; garages, catalytic converters, even the church gates – is nothing sacred?! And so we won’t regret the timely installation of some CCTV.

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The grass had its first cut yesterday. One careful lady owner, seen here out on her weekend drive while Chris suffered and enjoyed the different rugby matches …

We realise that we may have found Chris’ milieu. He’s never happier than when he’s standing on-site, directing lorries, discussing the intricacies of English or Flemish Bond, or bantering with the blokes who are doing all the work – Matt the Mow, Lee the Brick, Digger Gavin, Billy (Dulcie’s favourite), Saint Dave, Paul the Other Brick, Dan Dan the Demolition Man with Ben and Levi, or Steve the Boss who always seems to get the right man in the right place on the right day, like a game of chess. All are fine chaps and tolerate Chris’ many questions and lengthy discussions.