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Post by petdesigns on Jun 10, 2009 6:53:12 GMT 1
Oh no! I hope you can get help to sort the poor old car today. How utterly annoying!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 10, 2009 9:40:56 GMT 1
Just phoned the local garage/tyre fitters, and they said they'll pop down within the hour, swap it for the spare wheel, then take the damaged one and fit a new tyre to that. With my luck, I hate being without a spare, expecially the places I have to go, as I regularly pick up nails and screws and end up with punctures.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 11, 2009 1:28:34 GMT 1
Day 22 - and the only action I saw on the site was the delivery of more sacks of builder's rubble to go into the footings!
Had a promise of more plants for the bird garden... I do wish that they'd sorted the car park space, and we know what land was left, so could make a start on that. I am running out of space to put the pots of trees and plants already accumulating or pot on seedlings for the project! I even have a root of rhubarb to go down there and some small current bushes!
The local garage lads came and sorted my tyre, although I have yet to collect the new 'spare', as they didn't have one in stock to fit my old motor and had to order it. Will have it sorted by the afternoon though.
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Post by petdesigns on Jun 15, 2009 18:19:13 GMT 1
Did they work today? We're starting building work tomorrow... Oh, how I'm dreading it! But it should be great when it's finished!
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Post by mysticalmidnight on Jun 16, 2009 1:14:52 GMT 1
What is the new finish date the builders have given you Al and who will be the closest to the new date ;D ;D
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 16, 2009 19:21:50 GMT 1
No idea, Dray, but there's been no action apart from some more rubble appearing inthe odd bag since Day 22 and we are now on Day 28... so much for 4 weeks, eh? The plants destined for the bird garden are growing faster than the building! Saw two men down there today, but they were just looking for the neighbours and, I believe, about supplying them with some old hens... Must remember to get chicken wire or something to keep those out of the bird garden until any plants are well established...
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 19, 2009 23:36:33 GMT 1
Day 31 and don't all faint, but they finally dug out the footings! Mind you, one of the machines hit the main gate post and broke that... So glad we'd not yet fitting the new gate and posts there yet!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 20, 2009 22:30:26 GMT 1
Noticed today that, despite the hot weather, the footings are full of water... Now it seems that there could be more than one underground stream at Llys Trerobert! I knew about the one that feed the spring, but it could be we'll have to have a water feature or a bog garden in the bird garden, dig a ditch, fill ir with rubble and divert the two underground streams situated beneath the building into it!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 24, 2009 19:37:06 GMT 1
I THINK it is now Day 35, but I am losing track a bit! Whatever, I called in at the site today to find three of the builders present - too sitting down in the sun, the third using a shovel down in the footings levelling off. There was also some evidence that they've been baling out what they are calling my 'moat'! Managed to persuade one to lend me a hand to unload nine pots of 2' - 3' Lawson Leylandii trees from the back of the car, that I managed to pick up at a reasonable price, and to plant as that screen between the plant hire place and the bird garden. Got those into a safe, shady place, along with two rather sad looking clematis that I acquired as PTSBD from B & Q. Hoping those will recover after a good soaking, but time will tell. If they do, they'd look nice against the south facing end of the stable block, and help to pacify the older people in the flats over the road. Now I just need them to crack on and get the job done so that Dai 'Digger' can do the rough landscaping job in the bird garden and we can get busy planting! Don't think I dare hold my breath, though. The mounds of soil and clay debris from the footings and levelling are growing by the barrowload, and will all have to be levelled and some incorporated into that 'car park' first, but, I am told, there's a load of concrete coming in for the footings early on Friday morning! (Place your bets, folk... mine is that it will rain then and it won't arrive! Oh, well, at least I managed to meet up, as arranged, with Andrew today, and he's taken all our overlockers to be repaired, so some things are going to plan... Chiropodist was running early, too, for a change, but they seem to want to get rid of me as a patient, as they've decided my problem toenails need to be permanently removed... Suspect, if I don't agree, they'll cease treating me anyway! They want to know my decision by August... Hmmmmm! Anyone here had the op to remove big toenails? Do they really stay gone after, and are there any problems afterwards?
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 26, 2009 12:33:34 GMT 1
Day 37 and the concrete for the, already flooded, footings arrived this morning along with the rain - Met Check Forecast - and the forecast gives a period where almost 4mm is to fall this afternoon. I would have been tempted to celebrate, as the post brought me my Co-Op grocery vouchers today, but I don't fancy a) going out in it even t treat myself to a Birdseye roast dinner and b) eating at all, after picking up a tummy bug that's doing the rounds here!
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Post by petdesigns on Jun 26, 2009 14:47:47 GMT 1
Seems to be the TRPD concrete day - mine's just being plonked in! I just hope it does NOT mean I'll pick up a tummy bug, too!!
GET WELL SOON, Al!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 26, 2009 21:11:05 GMT 1
I really hope that you don't get the 'bug' too, Jutta! It's been a right beast of one much of the day. Risked a bit of lunch but couldn't keep it down. Turns out the grandchildren and their mother have had it, also my ex, and his 90 years old mother had it today, too. Just about managed to go down to feed the horses, and discovered a moat with several inches of water on top of the concrete. They also managed to get a vehicle stuck in the mud, which only yesterday had been rock hard and dry. My old stable's box profile sheets are now largely flat, as they used those to try and get the van out of the quagmire. Ducks, I am sure, would love it down there at the moment, and I watched a blackbird tussle with a giant worm it discovered rising from the muck heap, and a wagtail trying to help. The blackbird won in the end, and the wagtail then decided to take a bath in a puddle. There were plenty of those around, believe me!
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Post by petdesigns on Jun 27, 2009 9:35:53 GMT 1
Oh dear... I hope you're much better today!!! So far I haven't got a bug - but this morning my car wouldn't work and I'm now waiting for the recovery people! Yay, so much fun to be had! Hasn't rained that much here, so no moat at the back of our house.
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Post by nicki on Jun 27, 2009 15:07:23 GMT 1
Sorry to hear you've been so poorly Al - hope you're feeling better today and again I won't tell you that it's lovely and sunny up here - actually TOO hot for the dogs - and so unlike us to have the sun, we're not used to it!!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jun 29, 2009 18:36:40 GMT 1
Well, it is now Day40 and, having got the van stuck in the mud last time, today the builders planned to dump a load of hardcore in the deep, muddy ruts, and before the blocks could be delivered... Clearly they'd not heard that sayng, 'If you want to see if God has a sense of humour, tell him your plans.When they arrived, it was to discover that someone else had been on the site and had dumped a load of soil and rubble right in the way of, and on, the levelled area where they wished to drive in! We now have to get a machine back in to re-level the area again, and goodness knows when that can be arranged! How I wish I were fit enough to get stuck in with the shovel! Dylan's not very happy, either, as someone ran into the back of his car last night, and his back and neck are now aching and stiff as a result.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jul 2, 2009 0:00:15 GMT 1
Day 42 saw the arrival at lunchtime of the brickie, who began laying blocks on the footings to form a surround for the concrete slab... I am told that will be layed next week... Tempted to comment that a gander has more chance of laying an egg but... Showed a potential volunteer helper for the 'Bird Garden' around the place whilst down there. He seems to have similar ideas to myself as to the aspects of that we discussed. The clematis acquired from B & Q with the Leylandii trees still have a few green leaves amongst the brown ones, so still hopeful they will survive. Thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast for tomorrow, plus I have another physio session. Guess there won't be much building going on then!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jul 2, 2009 21:01:15 GMT 1
Day 43 and so far the rain hasn't arrived here, or the storms! However, perhaps the fact of it having been forecast was what kept the builders away today? Whatever, another day has passed with no more signs of progress, just the three sides of the footings have their blocks, and the pathway between the gates is even more of an obstacle course that ever!
I did notice some rather interesting pieces of concrete 'sculpture' under the ramp they used as a shoot to feed the concrete into the footings, though. They rather resemble what one sees in hot mud springs... Think I'll try and rescue those and use them as little features somewhere in the bird garden.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jul 4, 2009 16:56:06 GMT 1
It is now Day 45 but, as rain was forecast yesterday, the fourth (front) side of the footings wasn't blocked in. Instead, that was done this morning and, guess what? Yep, it is now pouring with rain, even if the sun is making a valiant effort to shine through the clouds and thus up the humidity. I DO hope the cement between the blocks managed to set before the 'moat' filled back up again?
When feeding the horses earlier, I rescued those strange, mud-like geyser formations that were created by spilled concrete under the ramp used to channel that into the far side footings. I can't help thinking those would look great situated in a shallow pool of natural rainwater somewhere in the bird garden, and that any birds would appreciate perching on them whilst taking a drink or preening after a bath... Okay, okay, so I'm an odd, old, and eccentric bird, but I'd have hated to see them disappear under the floor of the stables, as they are really artistic in their own way. ;D
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Post by mysticalmidnight on Jul 4, 2009 17:27:13 GMT 1
It is now Day 45 but, as rain was forecast yesterday, the fourth (front) side of the footings wasn't blocked in. Instead, that was done this morning and, guess what? Yep, it is now pouring with rain, even if the sun is making a valient effort to shine through the clouds and tus up the humidity. I DO hope the cement between the blocks managed to set before the 'moat' filled back up again? When feeding the horses earlier, I rescued those strange, mud-like geyser formations that were created by spilled concrete under the ramp used to channel that into the far side footings. I can't help thinking those would look great situated in a shallow pool of natural rainwater somewhere in the bird garden, and that any birds would appreciate perching on them whilst taking a drink or preening after a bath... Okay, okay, so I'm an odd old eccentric bird, but I'd have ahted to see them disappear under the floor of the stables, as they are really artistic in their own way. ;D As they say one persons rubbish is someone else's treasure
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Post by WarriorNik on Jul 19, 2009 13:49:09 GMT 1
If I am not mistaken, it is now Day 60 for the building project and, although the foundations have now been filled with hardcore, they have yet to be subjected to the whacker plate and compacted. I did hear that the concrete delivery had been delayed due to rain, and is now due to arrive on Tuesday. Last week, apparently the builders were ringing around all their mates seeking hardcore and rubble, but with most not working due to the recession, none could oblige. It took about four workmen with bags, shovels and a van weeks to fill the base for the building by hand. Becoming more than a little piddled-off with the lack of real progress (and that holding up other aspects of the project) when Al bumped into the owner of the plant hire firm next door, she had a little moan and discovered that poor fellow had thousands of tons of hardcore, rubble and even top soil that he was having to pay to dispose of! "Do you want a load or four of that top soil tumped up on my yard?" the chap asked. "I'd love it," said Al, "but first we need to get the car park area levelled off and a machine in to shape the garden area." "No problem," replied the man. "Plenty of machines here and available now." Al's grandson, Ethan, was well impressed. Although it wasn't deemed wise to show him how to turn the engine on. There were a few tears and tantrums when he was removed from the cab so that the real driver could take over. Shortly after doing so, he encountered some buried relics of bygone years, and in the shape of dozens of these. Undeterred, he went on to roughly level the car park ready for his boss to bring some loads of hardcore; to roughly shape the garden area and dump several loads of the top soil there, and do a couple of other little jobs before the deluge of rain almost caused to machine to be swallowed up in the mud. He managed to haul it back up the slope by dragging itself with it's bucket. The machine is still there now and a different driver will finish off that work tomorrow. Something the collection of donated plants that are building up down there will probably appreciate. There are probably five times as many plants to be located eleswhere and that are awaiting collection and transfer to the bird garden site. We are all praying for some good weather now so that progress on all aspects can speed up.
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