We have a messy area in the south east corner that had a bad stretch of wall damage, another unlevel hardstanding where there’d been a stable, and what had become an untidy composting area and parking place for the ride-on. Today Dorset Sheds delivered and erected our new shed that will make best use of … More 6th July 2021
Finding ourselves in another new month highlights the time that we’ve lost through the planning process – say three months. By now we’d hoped to have some construction activity on site and instead we’re having to reinvigorate plans and get back onto contractors’ work schedules. In the meantime, we’re continuing to get things done in … More 4th July 2021
Chris last met up with Basil four years ago when they walked a stretch of Offa’s Dyke together as part of Chris’ walk from John O’Groats to Lands End. Since then he’s put on a bit of weight and is now sporting a greyish beard. Old Exeter chum, Guy, on the other hand is as … More 30th June 2021
Hurrah! Our planning consent came through yesterday afternoon. We don’t like the time it took, the conditions or the syntax, but this is good news and will allow us to press on with the project.
And this is how a professional would do it … Our spare room rolled in today. All mod cons, hot and cold running water, nice views, sleeps two, includes breakfast …
Plumbing new depths of stupidity, today Chris came up with a novel way of damaging himself using a ladder. He was lifting some of the damaged coping bricks ahead of Lee the Brick who’s with us this week repairing some of the most damaged areas of the wall. Chris thought it was a good idea … More 22nd June 2021
Chris has been distracted by the Euros and the weather’s deteriorated – cold enough to put the hearing back on! – but Bev has at long last tackled the wellhouse door. After a false start we found a paint colour – Teal Voyage – that’s close enough to the original that we’ll keep the shabby … More 20th June 2021
We inherited a ground investigation from the previous owners which was focussed on their (massive) scheme and their method of (brick) construction. This report suggested, as a precaution, that we’d need piling pretty much regardless of what is built due to the variability of the soils, the clay content, and the elevated groundwater levels. Piling … More 15th June 2021
With the fine weather, the freed up space where the storage unit used to be, and our suspiciously cheap olive trees from Costco, we now have our ‘olive grove’ for sitting and eating outside. Peter and Alison have moved down to Dorset (the favoured South-West) from Harpenden and came for lunch, and Neil and Wendy … More 14th June 2021
Apart from a coat of paint on the door, the wellhouse is pretty much finished. When we first saw it back in January 2020 it was a sorry and sad sight, and we think that without the skilled workmanship of the Burfitt and Garrett chaps – Dave the oak, Trevor the tile and Lee the … More 11th June 2021
Chris and Bev - Heads in the Clouds 