It was another of those “flying at the speed of light” weeks and a whirlwind of social activities. After ages of island isolation, with no external visitors, we have been inundated with pals from the mainland. It has been a really good, fun week and somehow we've managed to make some progress too! Weather in the early part of the week was generally fair but very windy, which meant that cladding the shed wasn’t possible, so Keith returned to his High Castle and did further digging of the founds. As Keith explained last week, we had agreed that we needed to dig the footing walls until we found bedrock and unfortunately this meant “deep” and the footings are now over 1.5m deep in places. The good news is we've got to bedrock everywhere and we will now back fill these trenches with hardcore and pack it down in layers.
After one night of rain we did have another water feature but that was at least expected this time. I think I would have completely disappeared into that muddy hole!
I had my second lockdown birthday this week and it was fab. The weather in the morning was dire and Keith had arranged a wee party on the beach with visiting pals so I was a bit worried. The forecast came good however and we had the most fabulous evening - tucked in behind the dunes with a BBQ (sausages and buns only!) and a lot of fizz. Keith and set up camp and opened the bar at about 6pm. We stayed there eating, drinking and chatting until the early hours. I felt suitably horrendous the following morning, as I haven’t really been drinking much over the past year or so!
The sausages were delicious and Keith had asked the lovely Phoebe to make me a cake - coffee and marscapone, so so nice. I was so lucky and spoilt rotten!
I know that my brother and his fiancée have been reading all our blogs, as I got a brilliant birthday present of some “work trousers”. Brilliant, and these will save me ruining yet more of my jeans. Such a suitable present. Thank you!
Tsala (our dog) always given me a birthday present and this year she got me a mini poly tunnel which was a great idea. Hopefully my next planting of lettuces in this polytunnel will survive the rabbits! Keith also “pimped” my hard hat...
Building-wise we have clad two sides of our shed, which is fantastic. The screws used to stitch the composite walling to the steel purlins are amazing, so much better than those crappy tek screws. They actually work which is making the job so much more pleasant. Ben, Keith and I have worked hard and have now got a wee bit of a rhythm going, each panel has 13 long screws and about 7 stitching screws - there are 10 panels down each side, 6 at the back a a further 6 at the front, and then the 10 roof panels ....I will let you do the maths. Then we still have to cut the panels out and insert the 4 windows, the side door and the motorised roller door, plus all the various “flashings”. Not to forget the roof!
It’s been so lovely having friends on the island, catching up on their news, but also that they are able to see “up close and personal” where we are and what we have done/are doing. One of my friends was quite shocked that we were actually living in a “building site” - but hey where else would we be. But overall they have been amazed at the size of the shed, I guess the photos don’t do it justice, and the number of “screws” we have put in, and also of the views over the beach - so lots of amazing photos!
We have been to the local cafe a couple of times this week, Phoebe (who made my birthday cake) bakes there and her cinnamon buns are to die for. We also had a lovely meal at the hotel.
It has been fantastic weather since Wednesday evening, and this has been brilliant for our pals, they are getting to see the island looking truly magnificent, and it was really perfect for them to come and join me swimming with the seals......and they did. What a great swim we had and with the hotter weather the water was much warmer - probably around 12 degrees... not quite the Bahamas though! We stayed in for about 20 mins, non of us in wetsuits, some with woolly hats on, and some with neoprene gloves and socks. We made a racket singing to the seals. The only thing with good weather is that we also want to get on with the build, especially if there is no wind! It makes humping the wall panels far easier and safer.
The visitors continue and today we have 2 more friends arriving with their campervan for a couple of days. Hopefully the good weather will continue!
You’re making great progress (says she who knows nothing about building)! And what FABULOUS pics of the sunsets! Amazing!
Can't believe what I am reading is this really you Ju 'The good news is we've got to bedrock everywhere and we will now back fill these trenches with hardcore and pack it down in layers' my goodness more than a minion if you ask me :-). Love that hat and your Cards, hope you have fun with the Camper Van folks and how did you ever manage to make Keith look like a worker in that photo ??? He's normally a high castle man.
Shed looks great can't wait to come when current lockdowns abate
Cheers
NC