MEGAYARD: Day 33

 

We've just returned from a week in Wales. Unfortunately it was pretty drizzly all week but we did get down to the beach every day when there was a couple of hours of sunshine. Paul and Tom did a couple of days finishing off the wall and the paths while we were away, and a very nice job they did too. Check out that curve!

There's the bottom path, even filled the gap with yellow gravel. Nice touch!

And now we have a nice path up to the top garden. I think i'd like the walls to be a little bit higher, so they reach a higher level than the path. Maybe another course of stone or some coping will do the trick.

Unfortunately, down below - Houston we have a problem. The rain seems to be running off the top flagged path, pouring through the gravel and down between the concrete back-fill and the facing stones, then squirting out of whatever holes it finds. I think we're going to have to seal the top somehow and find somewhere else for the water to go.

Coming out under the BBQ.

Creeping through the blocks under the counter too.

Even managing to get past the defences of the lead flashing. Think we're going to have to have a bit of a re-think about rainproofing. Ah, the great British Summer.

MEGAYARD: Day 31

Another grotty day, they've cracked on well with the walling though, despite the rain.

First wall's now done and the path behind the rail's being filled up nicely with hard core (more hexagonal flags that turned up)

Wall 3 has turned up. Not exactly where I wanted it, but it probably makes more sense to have it there.

MEGAYARD: Day 30

It's been a pretty rainy day, I got home from work and the hand rail down the stairs is in and has been primed. Very neat job.

Paul was talking about putting a hardwood top along the railing, I think it'll make a big difference. It's looking a bit 'functional' right now.

There's the stepped up path being laid out behind the back wall. The first dry stone wall (with a tidgey bit of mortar) is coming together nicely too.

There's the string marking the centre line of the path. Lots of lovely chunky stone has been brought in too.

Reverse angle view.

The gap between next door's toilet roof and the yard roof has been sealed with lead flashing, so we don't get any drips.

A rare glimpse of sun! And then it started chucking down again. Lets take a minute to sit under the perspex and enjoy the rain hammering down...

MEGAYARD: Day 28

Couldn't resist putting the BBQ in place over the weekend, looks amazing. Really looking forward to giving it the first test drive.

That's the remaining flags cemented in, what's all that steel bar for though...?

Ta-dah! Safety rail.

Now the back yard's nearly there, i've asked Paul to help out with some terracing in the garden. I've always felt a bit overwhelmed at the size of the garden when it comes to weeding and stuff, so i'm going to try to split it into separate beds, also make the path a bit easier to climb.

Just playing around with some stones to get the general layout right, think we're going to have a flagged path running along the top of the wall and then just run in a straight line up to the foot of the wooden steps. Roughed out where I want the terraces to go with some big stones - funnily enough it's all the leftovers from our wall, the really tricky shaped ones that I never managed to use.

MEGAYARD: Day 27

Paul tinkering round with the lead flashing. He had a special bashing tool that me and Kodie were quite in to.

Back from friday night swimming and the floor is half filled in.

The stair wall has been flagged. Nice job!

Bit of reclaimed stone from the farm across the road at the bottom.

They've even replaced those concrete flags that were a bit worn out (okay, accidentally smashed in by me chopping logs up on them)

Spanish-style chimney pot. El duderino. Hopefully the smoke will draw through okay. Was a bit worried that a normal chimney pot would let too much rain pour down into the barbie.

That sombrero in close up.

MEGAYARD: Day 26

It was a bit stressful this morning when I had to point out that what they'd built wasn't the same as what was in my head, but Paul was figured out that extending it by half a brick would be no mither, so that's what he's done. And he's only gone and put a flipping mantlepiece on top too! I LOVE IT.

There's the chimbley.

Those side flaps are really cute, I can't stop looking at it!

MEGAYARD: Day 25

Leaving for work this morning, they'd already cut out the stone flag that the BBQ's going to be sunk into, can't wait to get home!

Ta-dah! Looks great, but unfortunately I realised that I should have drawn a side elevation because I had asked if it could come out the whole depth of the flag (and drew it on the plan view) but obviously it wasn't clear enough. Not really looking forward to discussing that tomorrow morning!