Flight Recorder (Black Box)

Since the rise and flop of the cake party we've had loads of helpers recently. It started with Joe and Becs helping us build the frame for the greenhouse (although they arrived on the promise of us taking them mountain biking). Then the weekend after the Spring Groovers helped fit the glass. Bill n Meg came down the weekend of the cancelled cake party. They helped in the garden loads and even went on an expedition in to the lost valley of the Morris 1300 ... yes there was cake, and Bill had a party in his pants so i guess you could say it was a cake party after all...

Bill having a party in his pants!

Team Gostick were fantastic, they helped with painting, cleaning and clearing rubbish (and a fair bit of eating). Even the Burling/Virgins got in on the action with a spot of team building/conservation work by helping to find a home  for Cliff's very impressive owl box. It looks very grand, so thank you to Cliff on behalf of whatever makes the box its home.

The Conservation Team: Dad, Katie & Lily

Cliff's Owl Box

The upstairs of the barn is pretty much finished now so we have moved a bed in to the master bedroom and we're sleeping in there. We have no furniture yet but we're getting on with the painting and decorating downstairs... So it seems like a good time to say a big thank you to everyone who has lent us a hand over the last 17 months. X

Teething Problems

 We have a couple of problems that we are working through. The cooker was sitting proud of the kitchen worktop. It felt like a petty quibble but it was bothering both Sally and I. Thankfully Stuart the builder and Paul the carpenter set to work on straightening everything out and also came up with a cool idea for the shelves on the back of the kitchen Island.

Units being adjusted

Cooker back in place and looking smart

Decorative shelves on far wall and in kitchen island

The other problem is a leaky tap and a leaky toilet. We're on our 5th replacement toilet now. Three have arrived smashed, another had a mysterious leak, we never detected the source of the problem. The 5th toilet has arrived and is waiting to be fitted.

Please do not flush

During work on the foundations we had to dig down to a suitable level leaving a trench behind our property. Our neighbours drive was starting to crumble into the trench making the area look untidy. In order to resolve this we asked Stuart to build a retaining wall. The wall makes the area look much neater and should prevent any problems regarding vehicular access for our neighbours. Eventually we will extend the wall across to the garage and render it.

Wall & shuttering

Tidy boundary

Greenhouse & Tongs

 I would argue that there are a few material items that mean you are on the road to becoming a fully growed up adult (did you see what i did there?). The first item is a pair of tongs for cooking i.e. turning-over hot items on a grill (rather than burning your fingers). The second item is quite obviously a greenhouse. We are now in a position, to one day soon, wander down to our new greenhouse, pick a fresh tomato, slice it using a serrated knife, grill it turning once, add seasoning and then serve using tongs in the process. I'm sure that when this day comes it will be the day when we have officially reached adulthood. We won't need mountain bikes, snowboards, surfboards or even the frisbee. Just a subscription to Readers Digest and a reclining seat with matching tea cup and saucer set and of course appropriate head wear.

L to R: Sally, Mandy, Elspeth, Andrew

With the greenhouse in mind Sally and I want to say a big thank you to Joe & Becs who helped with the main erection and then Andrew, Elspeth and Mandy who helped square-up the aluminium structure, then slide-in and secure the glass panes. Sally did a wonderful job finishing off the automatic vent system and creating a growing bed inside.

Glass of cider anyone?

Shhhheeeet.... i need to go and water everything!!!!

I feel an automated sprinkler system coming on.