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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 23, 2009 10:50:20 GMT 1
You can say what you like, Dray - but like you, I really hope it doesn't take that long too! Lad turned up here this morning, saying he and my son were going to fence off the site today, and, although I didn't here Dyl come in last nght, when I checked he was, indeed, still in bed here! Any bets on how long it will take him to emerge? I did take him a cuppa, but it was a bit too hot to pour over him! Will give him ten minutes then get Ethan's water pistol! ;D Despite being half asleep, I managed to ascertain that he hadn't a clue where to site the gate in that fence, and was planning to put it down at the bottom, meaning horses (and me) would have to scramble up and down the dung heap, poach up the bird garden and so on before gaining access to the concrete path in front of the stables... Even opening in the wrong place and onto the ruddy car park would have been better than that! Should we need to get a JCB or tractor into the field, it would have been impossible without a major deconstruction first! I can see I'll need to keep a close eye on the builders, else I'll be finding them hanging stable doors back to front, inside out, too narrow etc. etc. ;D
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Post by mysticalmidnight on May 23, 2009 11:01:15 GMT 1
Be sure to draw a really simple map of how you want everything
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 23, 2009 11:10:11 GMT 1
Which, of course, they will think is too simple, therefore assume I mean something totally different and complicate it! I haven't forgotten the last fencing episode, where I measured and marked up a post exactly right for them to use to measure the post hole positions... and they decided then to position them in the old post holes anyway! So much for having had the rails all cut to exact length!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 23, 2009 18:01:18 GMT 1
Well, Day 4 concludes with me just getting back in time - that from going for feed and ready-mix concrete bags for the gate post holes - to prevent the gate being hung the wrong way around and therefore opening uphill into the feed instead of out into the yard. Mind you, if that gate lines up with the path properly, I'll rat my wellies! I measured it as needing four posts with rails, then the gate, whereas I reckon they have it seven posts in, but they, of course, know best... One end of the gate now sits about a foot below ground level on the opening side, so the ground will need levelling... Bronnie was her usual, helpful self... helping herself to the buckets of water brought to mix the concrete; the workers' bag of jam doughnuts, and tap dancing on the board used to mix concrete on, and generally demanding attention. In the end we had to tether her out of the way in the shade and with a haynet! There's still over half of that fence to go in tomorrow, ready for when the builders return on Tuesday, so they can finish demolishing the old building and get the machine in to level and prepare the site. I am wondering how long it will take them to realise that the other gates will have to go in before any big concrete delivery lorry will be able to access the site... ;D Dyl's complaining of getting his head sunburnt... I wonder where he's put the baseball cap I gave him for his birthday? It even had his name on it - just in case there was any doubt or he couldn't remember that! Of course, with the fence being on a slope, we'll need extra rails to step those and prevent Bronnie practicing her showjumping skills over it. So far, she thinks it has been specially designed for her to scratch against - preferably before the posts have been firmed in properly, so they end up out of alinement...
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 25, 2009 12:07:06 GMT 1
Day 5 saw the car park/site fence almost completed, just one more post and some rails to erect, but that bit has first to be cleared of stuff tossed over the wall by fly-tippers, and includes some large, rusty bed springs, sacks of rock-hard concrete, old wire etc. We may even need to get the digger driver to pull that stuff away from the wall fiirst.
Day 6 and, although the builders are working, that is up at the local doctor's surgery, to try and complete some work there while the place is closed for the Bank Holiday. Took the opportunity to pop up to see Roni, who is still convalesing after being in hospital a few weeks ago, and take her some eggs. She's looking forward to feeling better and well enough to get busy helping to create the 'bird garden' down at Llys Trerobert once the building is up. Like me, she has quite a few saplings and other plants in pots for that project.
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Post by mysticalmidnight on May 25, 2009 12:14:07 GMT 1
I am really enjoying this thread but i may have to change my origional answer of 80 days ;D ;D ;D Good luck with the rest of the project Where do your builders tether their horses ;D Dyl should of asked one of them if they had a spare stetson
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 25, 2009 12:59:18 GMT 1
...Where do your builders tether their horses ;D Dyl should of asked one of them if they had a spare stetson Mmmmmmm... I reckon cowboys would have made a better job of hanging that first gate. They, at least, would have ensured they could get their horses in and out through it, which I can't at the moment until a chunk of the banking has been dug out so the gate can open! Will see how I feel later, and perhaps get on a shovel... Was about to go down there now, but the ex and our grandson arrived to take the dogs for a walk, so I'm stuck here now until they return. To make the thread a little more interesting for you, Dray, perhaps you would like to recommend some wildlife attracting plants/trees that are no poisonous to horses, and that thrive on rich soil - i.e. an old dung heap - mixed with builders rubble? At present the area is rapidly disappearing under a sea of luch nettles and docks - including burdocks! If possible, I'd prefer not to use Roundup on the area. I've a large elder in a tub in the back yard that's destined to go down there at some point, probably not until autumn, and a rowan, but wondering if we'll be able to get them out through the house! The one is now about 10' tall! The willows are about 3' and rising, but those can be cut down anyway, so that they branch out well from the bottoms/roots. The boys took some photos yesterday on their mobile phones, but don't know how to download those to get them onto the PC!
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Post by mysticalmidnight on May 25, 2009 13:36:46 GMT 1
Yes i will get my gardening books out ASAP If you send the pictures to my phone by way of a media text message then i will send it back to you via your email address if that helps, or you could just take some pictures with a camera We have a very nice climbing Hydrangea but although it really covers any unsightly walls it's flowers are not that visible but we do have a really nice pair of Blue Tits that are raising young in a nest box that we put up last spring Our next door neighbors also have a nice bush which attracts many beautiful Butterfly and the purple/lilac flowers (many small ones that make a sort of cone shape) last for ages and they are packed full of all types As you can tell gardening is not my strong point ;D ;D ;D Dray x
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 25, 2009 22:15:43 GMT 1
There's no camera on my phone, Dray, and I don't 'do' text messages! I think the bush you mean must be a buddelia. Have a couple of those growing out the back ready to transfer to the 'bird garden'. Whatever, 'Day 7' saw me managing to dig out enough soil from the bank to enable me to open the gate to get my old horse out... by which time I was too bushed to fancy taking him for a plod anyway. However, when I tried unfastening the gate bolt, the gate hadn't been adjusted right and dropped about 3", so needs adjusting or some more digging out still before it will open properly! Think my son's ears must be burning, as he borrowed the larger spade for 'an hour' just as I was about to start that... Two hours later he still hadn't returned it! Not seen him since, in fact... I wonder why? If he think I'll be available tomorrow to unlock sheds etc., he's mistaken, as I have an appointment at the hospital, and so has his dad, a bit earlier, so I have the stock to do in the morning, and will then be rushing. (And no, I won't leave him with my set of keys... between him and his father they have three sets of them, including my spare ones, so they can darned well find a set they've lost, or else wait until I return! ;D Speak of the devil... he just phoned wanting me to babysit tomorrow! Fat chance! I lose count of the number of times I told him when I had appointments... and to think I think my memory is bad? ;D (Or is it his ears that he needs to remove the cotton wool from and to learn to listen?) Interestingly, he didn't mention 'keys', so perhaps they are still finishing off that other job and not aiming to work at the stables at all tomorrow? Time will tell.
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Post by Florrie on May 26, 2009 14:57:19 GMT 1
my guess 48
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 26, 2009 15:06:06 GMT 1
Halfway through 'Day 8' and they had the roof and front off the old feed shed, and reckoned they whole building would be down by the end of the day. Funny how they seem to have stacked the old timber and metal sheets on an area that includes some of the floor plan for the new building, though... I gather the next stage will be to mark out the site for the footings and drainage to be dug out. Also to level the 'car park and turning circle'. Once that is done, we'll have a better idea of the lay out for the 'bird garden' area and the shape of that. Much of the planting won't be able to be done before the autumn, though.
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Post by petdesigns on May 27, 2009 10:19:05 GMT 1
You could get a load of sheep in to eat everything down (apart from the nettles, they leave those!), then get somebody to pull out the nettles and then throw (local) grass/meadow seeds around.
For the wildlife, you should, of course, leave quite a few nettles around, they're firm favourites for some butterflies and quite a few spiders 'breed' in them, too. I find that Hawthorn and Hazel is quite good for wildlife apart from budleia and elder. Apparently ivy is very good, too.
Can you get somebody from the area's Wildlife Trust to help with suggestions, maybe?
I think I was just a tad too optimistic with my suggestion of days...
(If your builders are finished by the time mine start with our extension, we can do the same thing again for mine....)
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 27, 2009 13:17:43 GMT 1
Er... Jutta, I don't thik sheep will work, as the post and rail fencing would allow them to pop under and eat the grass I need for the horses. The nettles I cut and feed once dried out to the horses, as they are rich in iron and they like them. If we can get the phone, photos uploaded, you'll be able to see better what the area is like, but I'm thinking more of plants for nectar, fruit, cover for insects that will, in turn, attract birds, as well as a place to sit out and enjoy. We have to make it visibly attractive to the residents in the flats overlooking it, too. Fairly low maintenence, too, but cater also for the recycling/composting of the manure. Might grass a path alongside the paddock rails, as the horses will poke their heads through those and graze anything within reach anyway. BTW, Day 9 seems to be a washout as far as work goes because it's been raining all morning. I'm now off tot he chiropodist, having finally ceased the nightmare of baby-sitting duties, as the ex is home from his hospital appointment, thank goodness! Will clear up the mess here later...
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Post by petdesigns on May 27, 2009 15:44:16 GMT 1
Aaah, ok. I'd suggest Al's Geraniums, Al's Iris, Forget-me-nots and lots of meadow flowers, they're attracting loads of insects to our field at the moment. Pheasant berry is low maintenance and looks brilliant, but is not really native.... Also Tumbling Ted, Lobelia and those plants. I think the RSPB-website has lots of ideas on insect-attracting plants, too! (It's a washout here, too - and of course the doglets want to go for a walk now! arrgghh)
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 27, 2009 18:22:20 GMT 1
Some great plant ideas there, Jutta thanks. When I went down to feed the horses, I could see that the builders had staked out the site ready for the digger to go in (apparently next Monday), so, as it seemed small to my eye, I tried pacing it out and, sure enough, it was short... Don't ask me how, but as worked out the proportions in yards & feet etc., going my the necessary internal measurements and allowing for blockwork, when the architect translated those into metres, It shrank! Went to have a chat with the builder then, but as I've no wish to go back again to the planning department or find extra funding, we've decided to compromise on the size of the feed shed and the layout of the workshop/storage area, adding a lean-to on the end for the haylage or hay. The builder have also been busy taking tons of old rubble down there to tip into the foundations... Literally tons of the stuff! That, apparently, had been lurking in the boss's cellar for years, and the lads were complaining of their arms having been stretched after carrying it from the cellar quite a distance to their van in sacks, then from the van to were they were dumping it! I just hope that they've not narrowed the gateway too much for the digger to get through now... We shall see. (Mind you, the digger can probably shift it out of its way, along with much of the fence, if so.) Had a different chiropodist today. One who clearly thinks one of my big toenails should be removed permanently. Think she's probably right, but not looking forward to that! Especially not if I'm having to negotiate a muddy building site in my open-toed sandals while it heals! Managed another fall down there today, slipping in the mud as it is. Felt a right twit, as a couple of the near-by allotment holders saw me sprawled in the mud, as they were looking over the fence and probably discussing 'progress'! ;D I think they like that new fence, though. It seems to invite people to lean on it...
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 28, 2009 20:36:55 GMT 1
Day 10 saw quite a bit of activity, which quite surprised me. Mind you, it could have been anticipated as necessary prior to the digger commencing its work... Yes, someone realised that the debris from the old, dismantled shed that they had stacked up, was actually left in the way of the machine, therefore two lads spent much of the day moving it. Considering that much of that timber is rotten, couldn't really understand why they moved it further away from where we burn rubbish, instead of straight onto the fire but once can only assume they have their reasons... Perhaps they need the extra exercise from needing to move it a third time? Either that or someone betting on how many days it's going to take them has bribed them to spin things out and never do anything once that they could do three times? ;D My son won't be around this weekend. He leaves tonight for a long stag weekend in Amsterdam... He's supposed to return on Tuesday. I know what I think on the subject, so had best refrain from stating the obvious here...
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Post by mysticalmidnight on May 28, 2009 22:05:34 GMT 1
Are you paying these builders day rate or job and knock And also make sure you have a word with your little boy about window shopping and from what i've heard (as i have never been) the best cakes are on the bottom shelf ;D ;D ;D Hope he has a good weekend and gets back by the weekend after
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on May 28, 2009 23:57:46 GMT 1
Job and knock... probably several times, Dray! (They need the exercise!) My 'little boy' is not so 'little' - but I hope he does nothing more than window shopping, for all that! I also hope that he manages to keep the prospective groom out of jail and compromising situations, too, as well as his wallet in his pocket and his passport safe! I gather beer is £6.50p a pint! (Well, that's what he told me, perhaps as a means to reassure me he won't become drunk and incapable...
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Post by mysticalmidnight on May 29, 2009 0:19:44 GMT 1
I have never been but i have heard many a good story ;D
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Post by petdesigns on May 29, 2009 11:06:31 GMT 1
I've been... but funnily enough I only had a look at the windows! But there are other nice things in Amsterdam too - it's a brilliant city!!!
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